[elephantman5]

I was trying to install ubuntu on my mum's piece of sh!! computer, which had been running xp relatively normally, despite very slowly.

It's a Compaq 5300 US (yeah.) and won't boot from cd-rom. I've tried all sorts of BIOS settings, and sometimes it will boot, like it did a couple times for holding down escape, but never consecutively, and not for the windows disk either.
So far I've popped in the x32 intel version of ubuntu (the newer version, and hardy) and both booted, but after several several times of restarting, and fu!!ing around. And there's no real pattern to it, so I can't really tell when it'll boot from it. I've done quite a bunch of googling and only found sh!!. I've reburned the installation disk, and checked it for errors, and ran it in a virtual machine on my computer, and nothing gives.
I formatted it with disk director, I tried different file systems, I wiped it for an hour, I just plain deleted the partition, NFTS, ext3, Rieser
But it just sits there, with the cd-rom running but not doing anything, with a screen either stuck on BIOS or "Error Loading operating system" or "Ntdlm (something) not found (nfts format)"
When Ubuntu actually boots, this fu##er runs through a nice ****load of errors: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...ux/+bug/172937
The second one I burned (with slower speed, and Blindwrite) hasn't even booted yet. I'd rather throw windows on and leave it in her room, but I can't get anything to boot.
I really don't know what to do.

[arochester]

How much RAM does the computer have? Which install disk have you tried - the Desktop or the Alternate?

[briealeida]

In addition to the above questions, it might be useful to know:

Can you confirm that these CDs will properly boot another machine.
Did you md5sum the download?
Have you tried a different distro? PCLinuxOS or Fedora are also good for new users.

[elephantman5]

Originally Posted by arochester

How much RAM does the computer have? Which install disk have you tried - the Desktop or the Alternate?

Originally Posted by briealeida

In addition to the above questions, it might be useful to know:

Can you confirm that these CDs will properly boot another machine.
Did you md5sum the download?
Have you tried a different distro? PCLinuxOS or Fedora are also good for new users.

I did the Desktop cds. I tried two different versions of Ubuntu. Intrepid, and Hardy. Both of them are the right architectures for this computer. The cds will boot another computer just fine.
I didn't md5, but since I've tried them on another computer, burned them slower, and the second one was with Blindwrite with no errors...
Fedora is definitelly not what I'm putting on my mom's computer. I am thinking about trying knoppix, but an interesting thing here:

"Ok. So, weird thing. I took my box out, fiddled around until I had my backup drive out (note this, not primary) And I finally figured out the sh#t to plug in so I can get my mum's hd in there. My comp came with plugins for other hds than SATA. I just looked and finally got this hd in there. When I actually, successfully booted with the right wires hooked in and everything, replacing my backup drive with my mum's f#cked drive, it was interesting.

Grub didn't load.

Nothing loaded. In fact, the exact same thing showed up on the screen. "operating system can't be found," something or other.

So, I just took it out, replaced it with mine again, and all, was fine, but still, that never came up when mine was out, I had taken it out before that, and both OS's booted fine.
You're suggesting using S.M.A.R.T and fsck, but I am not sure how I'd go about that if my machine won't function when it's plugged in. I'm looking at these things you mentioned, and looking.
But yeah..."

(This is what I sent to a friend.)

[arochester]

How much RAM does the computer have please?

The Desktop disk is a LiveCD and takes a lot more RAM than the alternate disk.

Beware Intrepid. It is Alpha and will be very buggy. It is not officially due out until October

[elephantman5]

Originally Posted by arochester

How much RAM does the computer have please?

The Desktop disk is a LiveCD and takes a lot more RAM than the alternate disk.

Beware Intrepid. It is Alpha and will be very buggy. It is not officially due out until October

Sorry dude. I thought I put it in my reply. It's 256mb.
So I should try the alternate?

[arochester]

Ubuntu with theoretically work on 64Mb. Very, very, very s-l-o-w-l-y. The recommended system requirements are (believe it or not) 384Mb.

Try Xubuntu. It has an Xfce desktop rather than Gnome. Or get more RAM?

Use the Alternate install!

[elephantman5]

I should have looked.
I'm used to running on my 3g's and never having a problem with anything.

Thanks, now I know what the alternate install is for.