I want to take advantage of Lunix but dont know how!

latieungao · 01-09-2008, 10:56 PM

Hi TSF members,

Some virus got into my sister's old sony laptop. Since she doesn't have any documents in the 20 gb harddrive, and the only things she does is use Internet Explorer, I decided to do a full system recovery using the restore cds Sony provided. Half way through, it stopped and every time i turn it on, "unable to load Operating system..."

I want to put Lunix into the laptop to give it an OS and lessen the risk of virus. I read some of the WWW and want to get Ubuntu. I downloaded the ~693MB file on their website. and burned into a cd, put into cd drive and turn laptop on... the cd drive made some "reading" noise for a couple of seconds and stop and there it is again.."erro loading OS system....." GoSh!!

Please tell me how?
*note: like almost everybody, i would like to use free stuff.

Thanks!!

bigrigdriver · 01-09-2008, 11:53 PM

There is a utility called memtest86, which should be in the Ubuntu cd. When you boot the cd, look for a menu (probably offers to install, boot from hd, boot from cd, etc). Memtest is usually the last item in the list.

Run memtest86 bofore booting the operating system. It will run a series to tests on the RAM chips. If one has failed, you would get the kind of error you mentioned.

latieungao · 01-10-2008, 12:37 AM

oh geess.. hehe

i dont know how to do that, i mean if i can't turn on the laptop, and get stuck at "error loading os.." how do i run that app?

thanks for you quick reply!

**Bartender** · 01-10-2008, 12:59 AM

I'll bet you let your burner fly at top speed.
Try again at 8X or slower.

Also, take that same disc and try it on someone else's PC. If it does the same thing th edisc is probly no good.

How much RAM on that laptop? If less than 256 you should download the alt-install .iso. Probly on the same page where you got the first download, but if you look closely you'll find a little checkbox for the "alternate desktop" CD. It's not any harder to use than the LiveCD. But the alt-install CD just installs Ubuntu. You can't test-drive it.

If the laptop doesn't have enough RAM you can't test-drive the LiveCD anyway, so no harm done.

latieungao · 01-10-2008, 01:08 AM

the laptop's got AMD athlon xp 1400 (i think) and 512 mb ram (2x 252)

hum...talking about the burner, i used the program ImgBurner and set to auto, and i saw it burned at 16.x X, i guess you are right about the speed that messed it up.

but just incase, is there another free software that burns the file i downloaded to a cd like i should?

Clark76 · 01-10-2008, 10:32 AM

Quote:

but just incase, is there another free software that burns the file i downloaded to a cd like i should?

I use ISO Recorder and have no problems with it.
http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm

latieungao · 01-10-2008, 11:43 AM

"yay" and "hey...."

using ISOrecorder, i was able to write the disc, SET TO 8x (min) and got the disc. put it in, turn on laptop. it installs. 5 minutes later the destop appears. BUT ONLY HALF of it!! T_T

I cant read anything at half bottom of the screen, has anyone experienced this? how to fix?

I see the icon "install" I am guessing to instal the OS into my computer permanently. I clicked and it asked some questions. but i cant answer...because i can only read top half of the screen...the bottom half is solid dark brown...

Bronson7 · 01-10-2008, 02:51 PM

Did you run a media check on the CD? I'm not sure about Ubuntu, But mine (PClinuxOS) has an option at the boot screen to do a media check. Perhaps Ubuntu has the same.
Bronson7

**Bartender** · 01-10-2008, 07:47 PM

If it's not a burden to download more .iso's, I'd try PC LinuxOS, either the Gnome or KDE version.
The screen trouble has something to do with the X configuration, but I'm not very good at editing X.
Might be easier to just try a couple of different distros and see if they all do the same thing.

Also, might want to try Burncdcc for burning .iso's on a Windows PC. Some of the guys over at Notebook Review forums recommend that utility.

Try that second CD on another PC.

latieungao · 01-10-2008, 11:21 PM

Yay!!

alright! the real problem was how i wrote/made the cd.

anyway, i am happpy! ***Solved***

Thanks all!!

--------------------------
steps i did that worked:

download Ubuntu at http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

download and install ISOrecorder at
http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm

waited for the Ubuntu download to complete, pop a blank 700 mb cd into the tray and closed, choosed "do nothing".

then open ISOrecorder, and choose "burn image" option on the menu. selected the .iso file of Ubuntu and chose to write at 8x speed.

went to get a snack, then come back and get the cd to put in the laptop and turn on the laptop. and Ubuntu takes over. went to get more snacks and come back the OS was installed as "test drive"

then i clicked on the icon "install"

ONE trick!: i had a problem: the half bottom of the screen was "defective" and i cant read anything... so i guessed, and trial and error i pressed "enter" to answer "questions" and arrow keys to select another...

sucess!

i like it! Ubuntu is so simple and easy to use!

01-09-2008, 10:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
latieungao Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Vista Home Premium	I want to take advantage of Lunix but dont know how! Hi TSF members, Some virus got into my sister's old sony laptop. Since she doesn't have any documents in the 20 gb harddrive, and the only things she does is use Internet Explorer, I decided to do a full system recovery using the restore cds Sony provided. Half way through, it stopped and every time i turn it on, "unable to load Operating system..." I want to put Lunix into the laptop to give it an OS and lessen the risk of virus. I read some of the WWW and want to get Ubuntu. I downloaded the ~693MB file on their website. and burned into a cd, put into cd drive and turn laptop on... the cd drive made some "reading" noise for a couple of seconds and stop and there it is again.."erro loading OS system....." GoSh!! Please tell me how? *note: like almost everybody, i would like to use free stuff. Thanks!!

01-09-2008, 11:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
bigrigdriver Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 5 OS: Linux	Re: I want to take advantage of Lunix but dont know how! There is a utility called memtest86, which should be in the Ubuntu cd. When you boot the cd, look for a menu (probably offers to install, boot from hd, boot from cd, etc). Memtest is usually the last item in the list. Run memtest86 bofore booting the operating system. It will run a series to tests on the RAM chips. If one has failed, you would get the kind of error you mentioned.

01-10-2008, 12:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
latieungao Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Vista Home Premium	Re: I want to take advantage of Lunix but dont know how! oh geess.. hehe i dont know how to do that, i mean if i can't turn on the laptop, and get stuck at "error loading os.." how do i run that app? thanks for you quick reply!

01-10-2008, 12:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,285 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	Re: I want to take advantage of Lunix but dont know how! I'll bet you let your burner fly at top speed. Try again at 8X or slower. Also, take that same disc and try it on someone else's PC. If it does the same thing th edisc is probly no good. How much RAM on that laptop? If less than 256 you should download the alt-install .iso. Probly on the same page where you got the first download, but if you look closely you'll find a little checkbox for the "alternate desktop" CD. It's not any harder to use than the LiveCD. But the alt-install CD just installs Ubuntu. You can't test-drive it. If the laptop doesn't have enough RAM you can't test-drive the LiveCD anyway, so no harm done.

01-10-2008, 01:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
latieungao Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Vista Home Premium	Re: I want to take advantage of Lunix but dont know how! the laptop's got AMD athlon xp 1400 (i think) and 512 mb ram (2x 252) hum...talking about the burner, i used the program ImgBurner and set to auto, and i saw it burned at 16.x X, i guess you are right about the speed that messed it up. but just incase, is there another free software that burns the file i downloaded to a cd like i should?

01-10-2008, 11:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
latieungao Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Vista Home Premium	Re: I want to take advantage of Lunix but dont know how! "yay" and "hey...." using ISOrecorder, i was able to write the disc, SET TO 8x (min) and got the disc. put it in, turn on laptop. it installs. 5 minutes later the destop appears. BUT ONLY HALF of it!! T_T I cant read anything at half bottom of the screen, has anyone experienced this? how to fix? I see the icon "install" I am guessing to instal the OS into my computer permanently. I clicked and it asked some questions. but i cant answer...because i can only read top half of the screen...the bottom half is solid dark brown...

01-10-2008, 02:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
Bronson7 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 74 OS: XP Home	Re: I want to take advantage of Lunix but dont know how! Did you run a media check on the CD? I'm not sure about Ubuntu, But mine (PClinuxOS) has an option at the boot screen to do a media check. Perhaps Ubuntu has the same. Bronson7

01-10-2008, 07:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,285 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	Re: I want to take advantage of Lunix but dont know how! If it's not a burden to download more .iso's, I'd try PC LinuxOS, either the Gnome or KDE version. The screen trouble has something to do with the X configuration, but I'm not very good at editing X. Might be easier to just try a couple of different distros and see if they all do the same thing. Also, might want to try Burncdcc for burning .iso's on a Windows PC. Some of the guys over at Notebook Review forums recommend that utility. Try that second CD on another PC.

01-10-2008, 11:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
latieungao Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Vista Home Premium	Re: I want to take advantage of Lunix but dont know how! Yay!! alright! the real problem was how i wrote/made the cd. anyway, i am happpy! *Solved* Thanks all!! -------------------------- steps i did that worked: download Ubuntu at http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download download and install ISOrecorder at http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm waited for the Ubuntu download to complete, pop a blank 700 mb cd into the tray and closed, choosed "do nothing". then open ISOrecorder, and choose "burn image" option on the menu. selected the .iso file of Ubuntu and chose to write at 8x speed. went to get a snack, then come back and get the cd to put in the laptop and turn on the laptop. and Ubuntu takes over. went to get more snacks and come back the OS was installed as "test drive" then i clicked on the icon "install" ONE trick!: i had a problem: the half bottom of the screen was "defective" and i cant read anything... so i guessed, and trial and error i pressed "enter" to answer "questions" and arrow keys to select another... sucess! i like it! Ubuntu is so simple and easy to use!