ubuntu installation

Yes, you can install ubuntu without having windows - in fact, that's the
preferred method :-). There are several possible reasons why you are getting
that error. Here is a list of them:

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000465.htm

Make sure the CD you are using is good. Sometimes a downloaded disk can be
corrupted by burning too fast or if the download itself is corrupted. Check
the md5 sum and try the CD on another computer if you can to see if it will
boot.

On 6/24/07, woods <email address hidden> wrote:
>
> New question #8706 on Ubuntu:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/8706
>
> I built a computer with all new components:
>
> motherboard: ASUS A8N32 - SLI Deluxe
> CPU: AMD Athalon 64x2
> Video card: GeForce 7900 GS
> HDD: Seagate Ultra ATA/100 250GB
> RAM: 2gig Kingston Hyper X
>
> Can I install ubuntu as a stand-alone operating sys or do I need to
> install Windows first? I've set my cd drive as the boot device and when I
> istall the ubuntu disk and restart the sysem, I get "NTLDR is missing". I DO
> NOT have anything installed yet. All I've done thus far is use the set-up
> disk that came with the Seagate HD.
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you are an answer
> contact for Ubuntu.
>

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See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html

Well I figured out the problem, I forgot to change the BIOS so that it
booted from the CD-ROM. But now I have a new problem and I'm not sure what
to do. I have Unbunntu installed and I am ready to install the drivers for
my video card, motherboard, wireless network card, keyboard, and mouse. But
it wont let me do that. I keep getting an error, my friend says its because
they are executable files and only windows can run those. I'm not really
sure what the problem is but i would really like some help from someone more
experience with this os.

>From: Jim Hutchinson <email address hidden>
>Reply-To: Jim Hutchinson <email address hidden>
>To: <email address hidden>
>Subject: Re: [Question #8706]: ubuntu installation
>Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2007 18:53:51 -0000
>
>Your question #8706 on Ubuntu changed:
>https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/8706
>
>Jim Hutchinson proposed the following answer:
>That may not have been as helpful as I first thought. Sorry.
>
>That error is from reading the hard drive and not finding anything to
>boot (which is normal 'cause it's new). However, it also means that the
>CD is not being booted. If the computer is trying to boot the CD and
>then gives up that would suggest a bad CD (bad burn, bad download). If
>it is not even trying to boot the CD (does the drive light up and spin
>for a bit first?), then there is probably something wrong in the bios or
>a defective drive. I don't mean to state the obvious but since this is a
>newly built computer are you sure the drive is connected properly? Do
>you have any other bootable CDs you could try - windows? ultimate boot
>CD? I suppose you probably used a CD from seagate for the hard drive set
>up so maybe that's not it.
>
>--
>If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
>know that it is solved:
>https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/8706/+confirm?answer_id=1
>
>If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
>following page to enter your feedback:
>https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/8706
>
>You received this question notification because you are a direct
>subscriber of the question.

Thanks Jim Hutchinson, that solved my question.

I would post that as a new question. It may not be found here.

However, are you sure you need to install drivers? Linux by default has built in driver support for a lot of hardware. Based on your hardware spces, I would think that the only thing you need to do install the nvidia driver if you want to do anything 3D. It should do regular video without anything special. What are seeing that would suggest you need drivers? If your mouse, keyboard, network and such are working then you are good to go. You might need to do something with wireless depending on the hardware and video as I mentioned.

If you do need drivers the windows ones won't work. They are designed for windows. You will need linux specific drivers.

If you do need help working through this, post a new question and I'll try and help but if I can't someone else should be able to.