Linux Live CD wont boot

elliott · Post by **elliott** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:09 pm

Here is an osnews article where they were testing Linux LiveCDs, as luck would have it the HP a520n was one of their test machines. They didn't seem to have any problem with incompatiblity.

Pretty much any x86 distro should boot without problem.

Joes2Silly · Post by **Joes2Silly** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:33 pm

problem: the CD boots but after the boot screen nothing happens, wtf is going on

Post by **bicostp** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 9:00 pm

Maybe your monitor doesn't like the res or scan rate the Live CDs are trying to run at...

elliott · Post by **elliott** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 9:18 pm

Let's go with the Ubuntu LiveCD, since I am familiar with it and should be able to help you.

I think by boot screen you mean where it has the big Ubuntu image at the top and says something about "press enter for default kernel" and has a "boot:" prompt at the bottom, right?

You press enter and then nothing happens, meaning it freezes or the screen goes blank?

If the screen goes blank after that screen it may be your monitor turning off to protect itself, try putting "livecd xres=800x600" at the "boot:" prompt, this is a safe resolution that should work on all monitors.

If it is freezing after that it may be the computer's power management messing with the kernel try "livecd acpi=off" at the "boot:" prompt.

When you enter the kernel parameters, remember not to put the quotations around the commands.

EDIT: I just realized I have version 5.04 of the LiveCD, you probably have 5.10. The steps should be similar though, I will get the latest verion and see if I can give some more specific help.

Joes2Silly · Post by **Joes2Silly** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 9:22 pm

I dont press the enter button, am I supposed to?

elliott · Post by **elliott** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 9:27 pm

It says press enter for default kernel and has the boot: prompt, right? Then yes press enter.

Some have a timer that automatically boots the default after 30 seconds or so, I don't remember if the Ubuntu CD does or not.

If all of this was because you didn't press enter, my head is going to go through the desk.

Joes2Silly · Post by **Joes2Silly** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 9:49 pm

wait elliot, check this out:

and it also pups a screen saying something about a plugin and how it cant find/run the plugin

elliott · Post by **elliott** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 10:19 pm

OK...........that is a Windows error message.

Hmmm....OK I give up, what does this have to do with your Linux problem?

Post by **SpongeBuell** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 10:54 pm

whoa, whatever it is you are trying to do, you are waaaaaay off. Linux is 100% independent of Windows, and you do not run Linux within Windows (except in rare cases, I know it's possible to with DSL)

You have to take the iso file you downloaded, and burn it to a cd. Do NOT simply burn the .iso file and be done. The should be some kind of "record disc from image" option in Nero or whatever you use. You know you did it correctly if you have multiple files on the cd when you are done, not just one.

Ok, now that your cd is burned, keep it in your cd drive. Reboot your computer. Your disc should boot up before it says anything about windows. If it doesn't, you'll need to change your boot order in the BIOS setup. To do this, restart your computer again. When it first turns on, it will say something like "press del to enter setup" Watch for it, it will come and go quickly. sometimes del may be something like F2 (I think that's what Dell uses) You should get a screen with a relatively crappy looking interface. look around for boot order, and change it so that your cdrom is before your hard drive (sometimes called c: ) escape to the main menu, and exit with saving changes (usually F10) Reboot your computer again, and that should get you started. To go back into windows, restart your computer and take out the cd when it first starts up (but before it starts booting from the cd)

Joes2Silly · Post by **Joes2Silly** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 7:26 am

okay, I have more than one file on my boot CD and I think I just have modify the boot order in my bios screen

Harshboy · Post by **Harshboy** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 4:04 pm

umm....that was said a while ago

Anyway, I got my Live CDs to work except SuSE Doesnt work right.

Joes2Silly · Post by **Joes2Silly** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 4:07 pm

but it is still not working, and I am still just booting up Windows. I cant find the option to where I can change booting form the hard drive to my DVD Drive in my bios

Harshboy · Post by **Harshboy** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 4:17 pm

when you turn on your computer, press F12 or F2 while it loads...then change it.

Joes2Silly · Post by **Joes2Silly** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 4:21 pm

its not that, I just can find the option

Harshboy · Post by **Harshboy** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 4:23 pm

Your BIOS may not support it then.....too bad.