Resolved best linus version to install

No. There isn't.

 

linex alternative

I have used zorin for a couple of years. It is just like windows but much quicker. It is part of ubuntu

 

Given that your windows restore cd boots fine, then the problem must lie with the Cd you have burned. Either the download is corrupt or the burn was bad.

You should try downloading it again and burn the fresh image. Also as part of the burn process, make sure you check the Verify burn option to make sure that the image is burned correctly. Yes, it will take a bit longer, but it'll make sure that its a proper burn.

Alternatively, download Knoppix or Mint. There's nothing wrong with Knoppix or Mint. The links are earlier in this thread.

 

I will try one last time with ImgBurn. (I deleted Tiny Burner) Given that this will be my third or fourth burn attempt, if this does not work, I may have to give up. Even if I buy a cd it may not boot from my system if I unable to set BIOS to boot properly.

Is this also a cd boot or an install to the hd?

 

I would advise that you download Ubunbtu again, because if the download is corrupt, it doesn't matter how many times you burn it, it'll still produce a corrupted Cd.

These are boot CDs. You could also try one of the alternatives below.

Get Knoppix

Get Mint This version of Mint doesn't have codecs and extra applications but it will fit on a Cd. The other version with the codecs and apps will require burning to DVD.

Get Ubuntu

You could also try Fedora.

 

Hi dispatch trophy, I don't think you have entered BIOS at any stage of this Thread. Please read the following which is provided by Microsoft:

To configure the BIOS to search the CD drive for a startup disk before it searches the hard disk, follow these steps:

Restart your computer.
When the computer first starts, it performs the power-on self test (POST).(USUALLY A BEEP) This test checks that all connected devices are functioning. As part of the POST, the memory is checked. During the memory test, a message will appear that tells you how to access the BIOS. For example, you may see the following message or a similar message that explains how to start the BIOS setup:
PRESS DEL TO ENTER SETUP
In this example, you must press the DEL key immediately after the memory test is finished to start the setup process. You may have to press the key several times to make sure that you access the BIOS setup.

Tip There are other keys that may provide access to the BIOS. They include the following:
F1
F2
F10
CTRL+ENTER
ALT+ENTER
CTRL+ALT+ESC
CTRL+ALT+INSERT
Only try these if the first instruction doesn't work.
If you are not sure how to access the BIOS setup, see the user manual for your computer's motherboard. (You haven't stated your Motherboard Brand in your System Details).
Look for the startup sequence settings (also known as boot sequence or boot order). You can usually use the arrow keys to move through the menus and settings.
When you find the startup sequence setting, you can usually press ENTER to modify it. Press the PLUS SIGN (+) or MINUS SIGN (-) key until the CD drive is selected as the startup disk.

Tip More information about how to modify the BIOS can be found in your user manual. It usually contains descriptions of the menus and instructions on how to modify the options. The BIOS itself usually contains context-sensitive Help with the individual steps.
As soon as you have specified the CD drive as the first location to search for a startup disk, you can usually press ESC to return to the menus. In the main menu, select the option SAVE AND EXIT SETUP or a similar option. When the confirmation SAVE TO CMOS AND EXIT or a similar option appears, select YES.
If you cannot select YES, type the letter y.

Note BIOS uses a QWERTY keyboard layout. If your keyboard settings follow a different layout, you will have to press the Y key as it appears on a QWERTY keyboard.
After you exit the BIOS setup, your computer will restart.
Make sure that the computer starts by using the CD drive.
Please follow this procedure as I feel we are beating around a bush at the moment. Neil.

 

Actually Neil, DT has verified in post #67 that his restore disk will boot up his PC. Therefore, his PC must be set to boot from Cd and the problem must lie with the Cd he has produced. Thats why I'm asking him to download the image again as either the download is corrupt or the burn is bad.

Don.

 

something unusual that I noticed is that the ubuntu iso I downloaded says in properties that it has 526 KB.

But the the Mint iso I just downloaded says it has 620 MB.

How can you have such a difference in file size if both are functioning operating systems?

Another point is that on the properties windows of both files is a note that "the file may be blocked because they may be harmful to the computer." There is a choice to unblock.

I had not "unblocked" either file before burning previously.


retiredlearner--thank you for this explanation. I think you can see from posts #60 and #74 that I have accessed BIOS. There may be something that I mis-configured from previous recovery operations I have done.

 

I just burned Mint to a cd-r.
the window in ImgBurn has the verify box checked.

 

ImgBurn Report on Mint burn to cd-r

TEAC CD-W524E 2.0A (ATA)
Current Profile: CD-R

Disc Information:
Status: Complete
State of Last Session: Complete
Erasable: No
Sessions: 1
Sectors: 317,529
Size: 650,299,392 bytes
Time: 70:35:54 (MM:SS:FF)

TOC Information:
Session 1... (LBA: 0 / 00:02:00)
-> Track 01 (Mode 1, LBA: 0 / 00:02:00)
-> LeadOut (LBA: 317529 / 70:35:54)

ATIP Information:
Disc ID: 97m26s66f
Manufacturer: CMC Magnetics Corp.
Start Time of LeadIn: 97m26s66f
Last Possible Start Time of LeadOut: 79m59s71f
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ImgBurn log file

I 16:26:17 ImgBurn Version 2.5.6.0 started!
I 16:26:18 Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600 : Service Pack 3)
I 16:26:18 Total Physical Memory: 523,808 KB - Available: 271,756 KB
W 16:26:18 Duplex Secure's SPTD driver can have a detrimental effect on drive performance.
I 16:26:18 Initialising SPTI...
I 16:26:18 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...
I 16:26:18 -> Drive 1 - Info: HL-DT-ST DVD-ROM GDR8160B 0009-2B (F (ATA)
I 16:26:18 -> Drive 2 - Info: TEAC CD-W524E 2.0A (G (ATA)
I 16:26:18 Found 1 CD-RW and 1 DVD-ROM!
I 16:26:33 Operation Started!
I 16:26:33 Source File: D:\linuxmint-12-gnome-cd-nocodecs-32bit.iso
I 16:26:33 Source File Sectors: 317,529 (MODE1/2048)
I 16:26:33 Source File Size: 650,299,392 bytes
I 16:26:33 Source File Volume Identifier: Linux Mint 12 32
I 16:26:33 Source File Application Identifier: GENISOIMAGE ISO 9660/HFS FILESYSTEM CREATOR (C) 1993 E.YOUNGDALE (C) 1997-2006 J.PEARSON/J.SCHILLING (C) 2006-2007 CDRKIT TEAM
I 16:26:33 Source File File System(s): ISO9660 (Bootable), Joliet
I 16:26:33 Destination Device: [1:1:0] TEAC CD-W524E 2.0A (G (ATA)
I 16:26:33 Destination Media Type: CD-R (Disc ID: 97m26s66f, CMC Magnetics Corp.)
I 16:26:33 Destination Media Sectors: 359,844
I 16:26:33 Write Mode: CD
I 16:26:33 Write Type: SAO
I 16:26:33 Write Speed: 2x
I 16:26:33 Lock Volume: Yes
I 16:26:33 Test Mode: No
I 16:26:33 OPC: No
I 16:26:33 BURN-Proof: Enabled
W 16:26:33 Write Speed Miscompare! - Wanted: 353 KB/s (2x), Got: 706 KB/s (4x)
I 16:26:34 Filling Buffer... (20 MB)
I 16:26:35 Writing LeadIn...
I 16:27:22 Writing Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 317528)
I 16:27:22 Writing Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 317528)
I 16:44:56 Synchronising Cache...
I 16:45:23 Exporting Graph Data...
I 16:45:23 Graph Data File: C:\Documents and Settings\user account\Application Data\ImgBurn\Graph Data Files\TEAC_CD-W524E_2.0A_MONDAY-MARCH-05-2012_4-26_PM_97m26s66f_2x.ibg
I 16:45:23 Export Successfully Completed!
I 16:45:23 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:18:49
I 16:45:23 Average Write Rate: 603 KB/s (4.0x) - Maximum Write Rate: 615 KB/s (4.1x)
I 16:45:23 Cycling Tray before Verify...
I 16:45:37 Device Ready!
I 16:45:39 Operation Started!
I 16:45:39 Source Device: [1:1:0] TEAC CD-W524E 2.0A (G (ATA)
I 16:45:39 Source Media Type: CD-R (Disc ID: 97m26s66f, CMC Magnetics Corp.)
I 16:45:39 Image File: D:\linuxmint-12-gnome-cd-nocodecs-32bit.iso
I 16:45:39 Image File Sectors: 317,529 (MODE1/2048)
I 16:45:39 Image File Size: 650,299,392 bytes
I 16:45:39 Image File Volume Identifier: Linux Mint 12 32
I 16:45:39 Image File Application Identifier: GENISOIMAGE ISO 9660/HFS FILESYSTEM CREATOR (C) 1993 E.YOUNGDALE (C) 1997-2006 J.PEARSON/J.SCHILLING (C) 2006-2007 CDRKIT TEAM
I 16:45:39 Image File File System(s): ISO9660 (Bootable), Joliet
I 16:45:39 Read Speed (Data/Audio): MAX / MAX
I 16:45:42 Verifying Session 1 of 1... (1 Track, LBA: 0 - 317528)
I 16:45:42 Verifying Track 1 of 1... (MODE1/2048, LBA: 0 - 317528)
I 16:48:16 Exporting Graph Data...
I 16:48:16 Graph Data File: C:\Documents and Settings\user account\Application Data\ImgBurn\Graph Data Files\TEAC_CD-W524E_2.0A_MONDAY-MARCH-05-2012_4-26_PM_97m26s66f_2x.ibg
I 16:48:16 Export Successfully Completed!
I 16:48:16 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:02:36
I 16:48:16 Average Verify Rate: 4,150 KB/s (27.7x) - Maximum Verify Rate: 5,869 KB/s (39.1x)

 

SUCCESS!

I kept the cd in the cd drive after burning

I was attempting to get into BIOS using the DEL key, but this never works, but

the next window that appeared after the Sony logo and the test screen was Mint giving me 3 choices, one of which was "Start Mint"

the next screen gave me 3 options:
Computer
Home
Install Linus Mint (I assume this means install to hard drive which is not advisable.)

The "Help" function is not supported, which I should be.

I could not open Word .doc type documents and so far have not been able to find another application. "there is no application installed for Word document files "
Mint appears to have a document application that is now working for me.

I could not see how to get internet access but one application already on Mint opened up an internet page so I used its URL box. It appears as if Mint can use Firefox.

I have a plain text application that works.

there is also "Nautilus" a file management system for the "Gnome" desktop but I do not yet know its relevance to me.

I am wondering if I need to reinstall the other browsers.

Sometimes icons don't seem to open, for example the "Home ", and "Computer" icons on the Home screen

I am going to remove the Mint cd and reboot hopefully to get back into Windows.

 

Simple - The Ubuntu download is (as I suspected) a dud...

Otherwise, as Tony says, well done... You got there in the end

Like Tony says Mint will seem sluggish, but that's purely down to it running from the Cd. I thought that Mint came with Libre Office which is a version of open office. I'd look for Libre Office in the applications and Libre Office Writer will open your Word docs.

Enjoy exploring Linux Mint

 

I've just checked and Libre Office is indeed included in Mint. If you click on Applications in the top left, Select Office and then Libre Office Writer. Libre Office Writer will open Word documents without any problem

 

Another thing, you have downloaded the No-Codecs version. The ordinary version - with the codecs - is too large for a Cd. Therefore, you may experience problems with multimedia apps and trying to play sound files, audio Cds and DVDs. I'm not saying they won't work - just don't be surprised if they have some issues.

Now, however, that we know that your setup is ok, you can try to download Ubuntu again - or you could try to download the DVD version of Mint - complete with codecs!! The choice is entirely yours

 

Two problems that I encountered with Mint:

1. I could not find a button to shut down.

2. I could not remove the cd while Mint was running.

I finally had to shut down the entire computer then restart.

Then Mint gives me 9 seconds to switch to Windows XP.

 

If you click on "Live Session User" in the top right hand corner, one of the options in the drop down menu is Shut Down.

It won't allow you to remove the Cd while its running because it needs the Cd to be in situ to load any programs that you're going to use. Thats one of the downsides of the live Cd I'm afraid...

 

I wasted at least 7 cd's to get one good burn. I need to figure that one out.

I may test Ubuntu and Lubuntu and Xubuntu the last two recommended for older hardware as i have.

I will be looking to burn it to DVD this time to get closer to Windows functionality. If there are any special types of DVDs I should use, I would appreciate the tip.