[SOLVED] Installing on an Old Laptop

[breisleach]

I'm trying to install LL2.2 on my 10 year old laptop running XP. The problem is that the dvd/cd driver in XP is corrupt and nothing can get it it working. So I have tried install using a USB flash drive. The BIOS is set up to boot from 'removable device' but everytime I start up up it just goes and reloads XP!
Is there a way to get LL2.2 to install on this laptop by running it from within Windows or has anyone any idea how to overcome this issue?
thanks

[bitsnpcs]

Hello breisleach,

I do not have experience of doing this myself, it is best to await confirmation before attempting, as there may be newer, or more suitable methods.

According to this tutorial link from 2007
http://www.instantfundas.com/2007/08/ins...-from.html

you can install a Linux Distro directly from the downloaded iso file in windows, eg; without burning it to a cd/dvd or using a USB flash drive. This would overcome the issue you are experiencing.

Edit: After installing Linux, there are some ways to manage partitions, it may allow you to delete windows and use the full hard drive for Linux Lite.

[altman]

Or maybe have something like this ! It s what I used to use on my Acer netbook .

http://www.amazon.com/External-CD-RW-DVD...+dvd+drive

[rokytnji]

Yes. I showed it is possible to boot LL from usb when bios does not support it

https://dfgkh547-jsdfv8.iyhkj.tk/forums/index...93#msg6993

If CD drive is toast as you say and you have a floppy drive. I have also a floppy disk with a PLOP boot manager
that works just like the cd.

1. Floppy

A floppy disk image is a file that contains every sector of the floppy disk. You cannot copy the image file on a floppy disk like a common file. It's required to use a special program that writes sector per sector of the image file to the floppy disk sectors. There are many programs available to do this.

Download the current boot manager plpbt-5.0.14.zip. Extract it to get the floppy disk image plpbt.img.

How to create the floppy:

DOS: You can use diskimg.com with diskimg -d a -w plpbt.img

Windows: Write the disk image with the program rawwritewin to the floppy disk

Linux: dd if=plpbt.img of=/dev/fd0

You can configure the plpbt.bin on the floppy with plpcfgbt.

http://www.plop.at/en/bootmanager/plpbt.bin.html#runflp

[gold_finger]

So I have tried install using a USB flash drive. The BIOS is set up to boot from 'removable device' but everytime I start up up it just goes and reloads XP!

If you have a floppy drive on there, go ahead and follow rokytnji's suggestion of Plop -- that will work to allow you to boot the USB.  (Ofcourse, that would mean you need to get your hands on a floppy -- which might not be easy.)


Usually computers have a key to hit to get into main BIOS settings where you make change to boot order and another key to hit for a special "per session" boot menu.  Sounds like you're using the main settings.  If you watch the writing that flashes by on the initial POST screen during startup it should tell you what key to hit for the boot menu.  (EG. on some computers <F2> gets into main settings and <F12> gets the separate boot menu.)  Make sure the USB is plugged into computer before you turn it on, otherwise it won't show in the boot menu as a choice.  If you get to the boot menu and it doesn't show a choice for the USB, then the BIOS doesn't support it and you'll have to try one of the other suggestions people have listed.

[shengchieh]

Do a friend have a portable CD/DVD  drive?  I never bother with computers w/ a drive anymore.  I just have a portable drive - useful for all three machines: desktop, laptop, and netbook.

Sheng-Chieh

[newtusmaximus]

what is the spec of your computer?

[lg5productions]

I'm trying to install LL2.2 on my 10 year old laptop running XP. The problem is that the dvd/cd driver in XP is corrupt and nothing can get it it working. So I have tried install using a USB flash drive. The BIOS is set up to boot from 'removable device' but everytime I start up up it just goes and reloads XP!
Is there a way to get LL2.2 to install on this laptop by running it from within Windows or has anyone any idea how to overcome this issue?
thanks

I installed on a ACER Netbook using an 8GB USB stick as well as an olde Compac Notebook. No CDROM drive on those netbooks, so USB was the only way to go. Check within the BIOS for an extended menu. This happened with my Compac Presario V2000. I had to press ENTER to expand and then had an additional menu. I disabled CDROM, and Hard Drive and left it just to REMOVABLE DEVICE. Moved it up to the top. Saved the setup and rebooted. Worked fine.
In terms of burning the image to the stick, I used a free program in Windows on my Win8 setup. Win32DiskImager is the one that worked. I've heard Free ISO to USB also is really good.

Of course, your mileage may vary. Good Luck and I'll post more info when I can if need be.  ;D

[breisleach]

Thanks to everyone. Got it installed by getting a loan of a usb cd drive. Now a 10year old laptop running better than it ever did under windows.

[bitsnpcs]

Hello breisleach,

that is great news, a useful machine put to good use