Can't boot laptop from USB .. or DVD

[SouthernComfort]

Have you /can you enable USB legacy support?
Is there a boot selection on posting?
Have you tried other ports?

Looking at that post, can you boot to mini XP?, within Hirens, then install from there.
Seems usb support is not enabled until OS is loaded. Old post so method may have changed but you should be able to install ubuntu, create partition from inside a live cd.

[drawflex]

Have you /can you enable USB legacy support?
Is there a boot selection on posting?
Have you tried other ports?

tried legacy usb kb/mouse setting in both states
there is a boot selection menu if i hit F2... floppy/cd/network/hdd .. tried all, no usb boots
Tried both USB ports..

Considering the LED doesn't even come on till halfway through windows loading, i don't reckon it's that simple, other peeps seem to have had problems with USB on this lappy too.. sos i'm pretty sure i aint gonna get it to play nice.

Is a network boot as hard as it looks for windows ?

[drawflex]

just found something even more puzzling...

laptop will boot to a USB floppy drive i've just dug out the drawer when USB floppy emulation is turned ON, but no other usb device... tried different USB FD, various SD-cards in a card reader.. all with the win 98 floppy disk files and tested on other PC.

messin with ma melon man

BBQ i n a while, so the laptop's going back in the cupboard again till next time i'm feeling masachistic

[SouthernComfort]

Did you try to install from within a live cd? Ubuntu should run ,from flash, inside mini xp.
Thinking out loud but could it be the drivers don't initiate until post boot?

[bidja]

Check this
Download | Ubuntu
Use toshiba "HW setup" utility
Toshiba HW Setup Utility 2.0.4 for Windows XP/Vista/7 Download
to change boot order.
It works for me on netbook.

[drawflex]

A big thank you to all who gave input on this woulda defo got the arse and given up without all the ideas being flung my way ... so a big to cunny, gaston, SoutherComfort, sunnytailor, and bidja.. turns out the bugger just wouldn't boot from a USB-key drive, FULL STOP.
Another for GastonJ for pointing me : HERE
Only managed to sort it by using this program which boots off a floppy, and then did some magic to let me boot off USB ( Much more versatile than this.. check it out.. could be handy if you need to boot off a device you're not supposed to )

Nice-one