Cannot Install Ubuntu

[ccrn]

Greetings
I have tried multiple times from to install Ubuntu from a good CD onto an older Gateway laptop with no success.

I think I tried to install 10.4 although it may have been 11.10.

The laptop is a Gateway Model - MX6124 circu 2005. I think it would be a perfect linux machine. It has a 60G HD and 512 or RAM though I can upgrade that easily.

Do I need to install an older version of Ubuntu? Or perhaps a different OS all together?

I did a mil grade wipe with Wipedrive.

Thanks in advance

[glc]

I would highly recommend Linux Mint LXDE. That's made for older hardware.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Main Page - Linux Mint

[glc]

LXDE:

Linux Mint 11 "Katya" - LXDE (32-bit) - Linux Mint

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by glc LXDE: Linux Mint 11 "Katya" - LXDE (32-bit) - Linux Mint

That is the one I would recommend as well.

[ccrn]

But its no longer being supported?

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by ccrn But its no longer being supported?

What? Support for what? It just plain works and well. I have it on my X60

You could also go with Mint LMDE (xfce), it's a rolling distribution.

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=90

[ccrn]

Well apparently it wont install without an internet connection.

And I cant get it to see any of the wireless connections here although my card used to work fine before I wiped the HDD.

Dont know what to say. Its very frustrating....

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by ccrn Well apparently it wont install without an internet connection. And I cant get it to see any of the wireless connections here although my card used to work fine before I wiped the HDD. Dont know what to say. Its very frustrating....

What won't install?

Plug your lan line in while installing. It could be several things.

[ccrn]

I have. And Im on the net. But still wont install. I dont think it can see my 60 Go of HDD. The wizard keeps tellimg me to make sure I have 3.8 Go of drive space yet I have 60. Sheesh

[ccrn]

Yeah I guess the intall doesnt like my HDD. I know it works because it was running XP just days ago. Ubunto tried to let me partition it but, I kept getting errors.

This install wont even let me ge to that point.

Ive put hours into trying to install linux on this machine to no avail. I just dont get it. I thought linux was supposed to be the best and free etc etc.

I guess I get what I paid for which was out a couple discs not to mention some valuable time.

[glc]

You have a hardware problem, it's not Linux's fault. I got a flawless Mint 11 LXDE install on an old Dell Dimension 4550.

[Detonate]

You may want to try formatting the disk first, before beginning the install. You can do that with the Gparted live disk. Download the iso from here and create a a Gparted live disk. Boot up with that and created two partitions on your hard disk. One with the Ext4 file system and a small partition, say 1GB for swap. Then try the Ubuntu install again. When you get to the step in the install where you set up the partitions, select the manual setup and choose the partitions you just created. On the ext4 partition mark it to mount / and mark the swap partition as swap.

GParted -- Download

[kilgoretrout]

Assuming your hardware is this:

Gateway Support - MX6124 Notebook Specifications

I don't see anything there that would cause a problem hardware wise.

Yeah I guess the intall doesnt like my HDD. I know it works because it was running XP just days ago. Ubunto tried to let me partition it but, I kept getting errors.

That may indicate a faulty hard drive. Before trying to repartition and format with gparted, I would recommend that you download the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic utilities and run them in thorough mode on that drive.

[ccrn]

Originally Posted by Detonate You may want to try formatting the disk first, before beginning the install. You can do that with the Gparted live disk. Download the iso from here and create a a Gparted live disk. Boot up with that and created two partitions on your hard disk. One with the Ext4 file system and a small partition, say 1GB for swap. Then try the Ubuntu install again. When you get to the step in the install where you set up the partitions, select the manual setup and choose the partitions you just created. On the ext4 partition mark it to mount / and mark the swap partition as swap. GParted -- Download

This had occured to me as I did do a thorough wipe, that maybe I needed to manualy format and partition the HD first before attempting to install a new OS.

And if I remember correctly the error I recieved while attempting to install Ubuntu involved ext4.

I took this machine to a competent tech who believed it was an OS issue and not the hardware. But of course, he could be in error.

In a worse case scenario a new HD would cost about 80 dollars, and some extra RAM about 20. So for a 100 bucks I basically would have a good running laptop, and my foot into the Linux game. Or, if the format works then all it costs me is time (what doesnt).

Problem is concurrently Im in a very demanding course of study tat requires about 4 hours of homework a day, a 12 hour work day, and all day study on the weekends. So time comes at a premium.

On goes the learning process. Thanks everyone, for your replies I truly appreciat it-

[ccrn]

I ran gparted and it says "No devices detected."

I took the HD out and put it back in to make sure its seated correctly (I think it is). No luck.

Now, several days ago this laptop slowed down then wouldnt run. A tech told me he thought it was a software issue.

I was able to recovered all the data via safemode (windows xp home ed), then successfully wipe the HD with wipedrive 6 and confirm it.

Now, nothing.

Any suggestions?

[ccrn]

I just ran wipedrive 6 just to see if it would recognize the drive. It doesnt see it either. And a loud clicking noise is coming from the drive as well (from where its located anyway).

Looks like Im SOL. I guess my only hope is I can replace the drive cheaply and go from there.

But how don I know there arent other fatal problems with this machine? It seems to run live environments. Would this be indicative that everything else is ok? Or.......?

[Detonate]

If it will run a live CD or USB, then chances are everything else is OK. A new hard disk seems to be required.

[glc]

If it will run a live Linux CD, it should be fine. Replace the hard drive and you should be good to go.

Seagate Momentus 5400.3 80GB UDMA/100 5400RPM 8MB 2.5" IDE Hard Drive Seagate 9S1038-508 ST980815A

[ccrn]

Originally Posted by glc If it will run a live Linux CD, it should be fine. Replace the hard drive and you should be good to go. Seagate Momentus 5400.3 80GB UDMA/100 5400RPM 8MB 2.5" IDE Hard Drive Seagate 9S1038-508 ST980815A

Few questions:

When you chose this HDD did you reference my laptop and know that it fits?

On newegg their IDE are listed as IDE Ultra ATA100/ATA-6 and IDE Ultra ATA 133/ATA-7.

The one you listed doesnt say if its SATA or ATA, but then again I guess Im showing my ignorance here. If I remember correctly all IDE are ATA?

The OEM HDD I have simply says ATA/IDE 4200 RPM 5V 1.0 AMP dc 60GB.

So powerwise the one youve listed shouldnt be a problem. But Im not sure about the connection or fit.

The little Hitachi HDD Ive taken out was held in my four small set screws. Are the trays holding these HDD universal? Otherwise how will I know it will fit in its holder?

Sorry for the trouble, and thanks in advance-

[jdeb]

That is the correct hard drive to order for your laptop

[Detonate]

Originally Posted by ccrn The little Hitachi HDD Ive taken out was held in my four small set screws. Are the trays holding these HDD universal? Otherwise how will I know it will fit in its holder?

The drives are pretty much universal, but the tray it mounts in is not, so you will need to save that. Also some laptops have a little interface connector that fits between the drive and the computer mount point. If yours has one be sure and save that also.

[glc]

That is in fact a compatible drive, and I chose it for price. Drives at Newegg are considerably more expensive. The Seagate Momentus IDE laptop drives are fast, quiet, and reliable.

[ccrn]

Originally Posted by glc That is in fact a compatible drive, and I chose it for price. Drives at Newegg are considerably more expensive. The Seagate Momentus IDE laptop drives are fast, quiet, and reliable.

Ordered.

And I like Seagate drives. All my external drives are Seagate.

My main concern was that the chassis of the HDD wouldnt fit the metal clip the old HDD was screwed into. Im assuming (maybe incorrectly) that these are uniform through all IDE ATA type drives (hoping).

Thanks, everyone. I truly appreciate the advice. Im learning a lot. I hope to use Linux for the bulk of my work etc and use the Windows machine for backup.

PS My tenative plan now is, to partition my HDD so I can install both OS (Mint and Ubuntu, or...) and use them.

Id like to wipe the drive when I get it, partition it using gparted, then install the OS and go from there.