[ladavis89]

Hi, I have a dell inspiron 2200 and I am trying to install ubuntu on it but I can't seem to get it to boot from the ubuntu disc. I also tried to boot from a mepis disc but that didn't work either. I set my bios to boot from disc drive but the screen just goes black. I am new to linux but I think my laptop will run better with it than xp. Can someone tell me what I am missing here?

Thanks, Landon

[arochester]

Have you burnt the disks yourself? Have you done it properly? A common mistake among beginners is just to make a copy of the iso, instead of burning the iso - which is a special process to make a linux bootable disk.

If in any doubt have a look at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto

[ladavis89]

no i know it is a valid copy because i used it for a dual boot install on my desktop.

[dick471]

This will happen if the CD doesn't include video drivers for your laptop.

[ladavis89]

Is there any way to get them on the disc?

[arochester]

Is the screen TOTALLY black or is there a blinking cursor or something else?

[ladavis89]

Completely black....

[tomdkat]

You could always try using an alternate desktop CD for the installation. On the Ubuntu download page, check the "Check here if you need the alternate desktop CD. This CD does not include the Live CD, instead it uses a text-based installer." box underneath where it says "Start Download" to download it the ISO.

Peace...

[arochester]

How much RAM do you have? The Dell Inspiron 2200 was normally shipped with 256Mb. The Alternate disk USED TO install at 64Mb but the LiveCD USED to install at 192Mb. BUT NOW Ubuntu 7.10 has Compiz built in...

According to the Ubuntu site (http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/releasenotes/710) "The minimum memory requirement for Ubuntu 7.10 is 384MB of memory for desktop CDs, and 256MB for other installation methods. (Note that some of your system's memory may be unavailable due to being used for the graphics card.)"

Compiz will normally run on an Nvidia or ATI card.

[ladavis89]

i have 1024mb of ram.....

[svbob]

Ladavis89........Do you have any boot discs of any kind that boot? If the Linux disc worked on other machines then perhaps you have a CD Rom problem and not a Linux or driver problem.

[arochester]

Two thing occur to me:

1) In the boot up options (you can see those?) where is says F1, F2 etc one boot option is for "quiet splash". You should delete the words "quite splash" and go for a "verbose splash". You will be hit by a torrent of words. Does it stick at any particular point?

2) If it is a LiveCD does it in fact boot - but go into a black screen? Does the CD-Rom light indicate activity? Do you hear any noise e.g. music? What happens if you wait a while and then try to leave the "graphical" (OK black) mode by pressing Alt+Ctrl+F1? Normally this would take you out of the graphical mode and into the terminal/ command line mode.

[dick471]

If you can't get to the first Ubuntu menu where it asks to install/oem install/run from first HD/etc. You have a system problem: NOT linux. If you can just get to the first menu select "OEM installation" and you can add any drivers you want from another CD with linux drivers on the CD.
Also you could try a bootable live CD like "Puppy Linux". If it won't run your problem is system related.

[arochester]

I disagree in part. DO NOT use the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) install!!! It is meant for manufacturers selling a computer with Linux preinstalled and is not completed until a config is run to remove OEM and put in another named user. If you can use the text install.