Thinking of trying ubuntu

[wetdog]

I have a 6/7 year old laptop a compaq presario that's running xp very slowly.
I am going to use this machine to try ubuntu, can anyone suggest a variant and where to download onto a USB drive, then onto laptop. I think I will have to format first, how do I do that.

Thank you.

Mick.

[Shady]

Download Ubuntu | Ubuntu

download.. burn to cd
pop cd in drive, restart pc, make sure to select 'boot from cd' is selected in ur bios (when u turn on pc, there will be some writing telling u which key to press to enter set up,)
ubuntu will do the rest with u just inputting the usual username password etc

[wetdog]

Cheers dude, getting mi pound of flesh out of you today fella :-)

Mick.

[Shady]

thats what we're here for matey

[manxspud]

If you really want to install to usb ... runs better imho ...

try the unetbootin tool :

http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

@manx

[wetdog]

reason for usb drive dude is neither of my machines has a cd writer!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i will have to burn at our maudes on that bloody vista system.

mick.

[Egren71]

Just a suggestion but if you don't want to use a CD at all then if you download Ubuntu and follow the instructions here you can create a bootable USB drive with Ubuntu on.
Alternatively if you go to the Ubuntu download site here and got to section 2 Burn your CD or Create a USB drive if you then choose I would like to create a: USB Stick and To create it, I will be using: Windows then click on show me how it gives a nice picture guide.
However something worth checking first is that your computer is able to boot from USB. 6/7 years ago is borderline for USB booting.

[wetdog]

oops, my eyes are going.

mick.

[manxspud]

just use the unetbootin tool ... no need to burn the img to disk at all ...

just follow the instructions on the downloads page ... the tool uses the iso img to make a bootable usb ... easy as that.

you then boot and run the os from the usb drive.

[wetdog]

well, thats that pretty well ~~~~ed up!!!!!!

been trying for around 4 hours now to install ubuntu, i have it on cd, usb drive, dvd, and desktop. i also have the iso on all media as well.
my laptop will not recognise any of them. i have read that much now my head is mush. its a good job there are no sharp knives or lengths of rope in the house.

goin for a sulk

mick.

[Egren71]

I take it from the fact that you have put Ubuntu on the USB drive that your computer boots from USB if so how did you create the USB version of Ubuntu. And is it a memory drive or is it a Hard Drive in a caddy.
And as far as the CD version is concerned how fast did you burn the CD for some strange reason Bootable CD's like to ce burned verrryyyyy slowly. The slower the better.
Does the bios try to boot from the CD or does it jump straight to booting the Hard Drive. And Does the bios recognise the USB Drive.

[wetdog]

Afternoon all, I tried to burn a cd with no luck at all. Just got the single icon when cd. Is opened. Tried the USB memory drive and it downloaded properly. Checked out against all.
When I change boot order, the machine coughs and splutters a little. Then boots up from hard disk. Completely ignoring the USB.
Got pissed off and tried to format c through windows and will not do that either. Saying there are programmed and processes using the disk, and to shut them down and try again. Even though I cannot see any.

Could I drag the USB files onto a cd and try that?

Mick.

[Shady]

it should have downloaded as an iso file.. download alcohol burner and install. then double click on dloaded ubuntu iso. alcohol will do everything else, u just have to click on burn
and you cannot format a system drive from within ANY operating system.. thats like taking the engine out of a car whilst its driving down the road
answer me and go GREEEEN

[wetdog]

it should have downloaded as an iso file.. download alcohol burner and install. then double click on dloaded ubuntu iso. alcohol will do everything else, u just have to click on burn
and you cannot format a system drive from within ANY operating system.. thats like taking the engine out of a car whilst its driving down the road
answer me and go GREEEEN

It did download as an iso file.

I shall never surrender


Mick.

[Egren71]

When you burned the ISO image to CD did you burn the ISO straight to Cd or did you add it to a CD compilation as the CD should show more than one file on the DIsc. What is the one file it shows?
As far as your USB Memory Disk is concerned if you put it into a windows Computer and go into Disc Manager does it show up as Fat32 and is it set as an active partition. It should be both Fat32 and Active. What type of memory drive is it? Is it Falsh ram or a real drive in a caddy?
Your computer does the bios have the option of setting different ways that it can treat USB Drives?
Lots of question but lets see if we can solve this problem for you. Ubuntu is worth giving a go, i did a few years back and now almost never use windows, no need.