16 replies to this topic

[TechnofreAk93]

Hi everyone, I have a compaq evo n1000c laptop . I was recently having xp operating system issues and I could not install xp again as my CDROM wasn't working . So I removed the hard disk plugged it into external box and connectec it. To my pc through USB and install ubuntu on it ( on USB hard disk). I tried booting from it and it worked fine . Then I connected it back to my laptop and my laptop just wouldn't start . When I turn it on it shows battery charging when connected to socket but hdd light blinks for a while and laptop just shuts down . Pls. Help as I will be leaving for vacation in a week and have to work there sometimes so I need to have it working . Any suggestion will be appreciated . Thank you (in advance) .

[biyouboogie]

Questions first....

What machine did you use (with the Ubuntu DVD) to install Ubuntu onto the laptop drive?

If you used a system with a different architecture, such as AMD 64bit and installed Ubuntu (I suggest Ultimate Edition 2.4 or 2.5 at http://ultimateedition.info) then this 32bit laptop will not boot the OS.

You may possibly have the wrong kernel loaded on the laptop drive, so reinstall a version that will work on that laptopp. And be aware that the drivers for the other PC will be loaded and may not be completely compatible making the Ethernet NIC and/or Wireless NIC unusable. You may have to do some sneaker-net moving files with a USB Flash drive to get the drivers to work.

Before I installed another complete install and had driver problems, I would go to BestBuy or similar place and pick up a USB DVD drive for around $50.00 and use that to install Ubuntu directly onto the laptop. It will save you time and headaches. Also, I will reiterate that if you want to use Ubuntu do your self a favor and download Untimate Edition 2.4 or 2.5 if it's available. You will NOT be sorry. Everything pretty much works out of the box on those kernels (9.10 Karmic Koala).

Let me know how you come along and I will try to help more. I am afraid that you may have the wrong kernel loaded onto the hard drive at this point, and the system is just going to bang it's head against the wall when you try to boot the wrong kernel.

biyouboogie

[TechnofreAk93]

Thanks for replying so fast biyouboogie . You were telling about installing os directly into the laptop using USB DVD ROM . I cannot start the laptop even after formatting the hard disk and connecting it back . It does the same thing . I have downloaded ultimate edition 2.4 as you told me earlier and will write it ot DVD . About the question of pc machine , it is an Intel Dual Core 3.0 Ghz . So should I try installing through USB again or will it give me the same problem . Waiting for ur reply and thanks (again)

[biyouboogie]

I don't know why, but I think the drive MBR (master boot record) may be toasted. I suggest that you connect the USB DVD drive, then go through the bios setup (usually F2 when the PC boots) and make sure that you can boot from an external USB CD/DVD or external USB Floppy (FDD). This is usually found under Boot Options in the bios setup screen. That would be your FIRST boot device under boot priority. Then, save the configuration. Please make sure that the DVD is not just a DVD with the .iso file on it. If you have not used a program like PowerISO (free to download) to make a bootable DVD out of the .iso file, then you need to do that first using another computer. You run PowerISO, select the UltimateEdition 2.4 .iso file and tell the program to write to the DVD. That's going to be the DVD that you use to install Ubuntu. Now, once you have the DVD created, and you attempt to boot the Ubuntu LIVE DVD from the USB DVD drive, you double click the "Install" icon. This is when you are going go through partitioning the hard drive again. Answer the standard questions, and when the partition editor starts (gparted) then you will know if your hard drive is usable. If gparted sees the hard drive, use the option to manually create partitions. 1) Create a root partition using ext4 file system, with a mount point of / (that's the root mount point) And make sure you select the check mark to FORMAT the new partition to wipe out anything already installed in that partition. 2) Create a partition for SWAP space. Make the swap partition at least as big as the size of the memory in your PC. If you have 2 GB of memory, make the swap partition at lest 2048MB. I prefer to make it a little larger (3062MB or 3GB) THERE IS NO MOUNT POINT for swap space, but you do have to tell gparted that it will be used as SWAP space. If you are not familiar with editing the partition tables, you may want to read some documentation at the UbuntuForums.org, or UltimateEdition.info Once the partitions are created, then click continue to install the OS into the newly created partition. *** IF YOUR LIVE UBUNTU SESSION DOES NOT SEE A HARD DRIVE when you go through the partitioning editor, then there is a problem with the hard drive connection, or the hard drive or controller itself. I do hope this is not the case. Tips: After you install ubuntu, and reboot into the newly installed OS on your hard drive. 1) click System > Administration > Users and Groups give the root account a password. You'll have to "click here" on the padlock icon to allow changes to accounts. change the number of desktops (bottom right) from the standard 2 desktops, to 4 desktops (right click the desktops icons > properties > number of rows (change from 2 to 4)) 2) If your video card is capable of enhanced graphics then click System > Preferences > Appearance and find the last tab at the top of that page. Enable Extras by selecting the appropriate radio button. If your video card will not support it, this will fail so be satisfied with what the card will do. Just exit. If it DOES support Extras, then ... 3) Click on System > Preferences > CompizFusion. This is where you enable the Desktop Cube, and disable the Desktop Wall. Also enable Cube Rotation, Cube Reflection, etc. If you need help with this after all the other stuff works, post another reply here. biyouboogie P.S. I will try to watch the posts and continue to help until you have a working "kick rear" Ubuntu system running.

[biyouboogie]

I guess I should have told you to create the SWAP partition before the root partition. Just delete what ever partitions exist (using Edit Partitions option) and make new ones. Swap, then use the rest for the root partition.

[Mister17]

Also you wanna try to remove the battery then place it back. Just to make sure that glitch is out of the equation.

When I turn it on it shows battery charging when connected to socket but hdd light blinks for a while and laptop just shuts down .

[TechnofreAk93]

I cannot start the laptop so where do you expect me to do all this biyouboogie . Do I have to do all this by connecting through USB ? and also 1 imoportant thing is that I used to 512 mb ram but I removed one of the 256 mb and connected it to another laptop . Do you think maybe this is causing all the problems ? About the battery glitch Mister17 , there's no problem with the battery because i tried starting without external power and it's same as what it does on external power.

[Mister17]

there's no problem with the battery because i tried starting without external power and it's same as what it does on external power.

I am not referring to a "battery" defect. Often, when I am troubleshooting laptops that won't boot. (you press the power, all the leds lit up, but nothing is displayed on the screen) I remove the battery, use an external power, after that it boots.

You said your laptop wouldn't start. You mean you don't see even the bios right? That is why I am suggesting removing the battery and putting it back in Or remove the battery and use external power for the mean time.

Or you just did that?

[TechnofreAk93]

I tried that already Mister17 . But thanks for your help and what do you think about the ram thing which i posted before .

[biyouboogie]

I am not certain with this particular laptop but if you have a bad memory module or a memory module that is not seated correctly the laptop could not pass the POST (power on self test). Since you removed one of the memory modules you may have a bad or unseated memory module. Try reseating or replacing the memory that you removed. If you can not pass the POST then it doesn't matter what OS you are using. Work on the memory problem first. Also when you remove the battery with external power disconnected, push and hold the power button for about 20 seconds ro reset any settings it may remember for the battery. I have cleared a few notebooks doing that. Post your results again after you have tried both battery and memory exercises. bb

[TechnofreAk93]

I have a question about the ram which I told you about earlier . Can I replace the existing 256 mb ram that came with my laptop with 2 512 mb rams . I had checked about my laptop earlier and I found out that the max my laptop can support is 1024 . What I wanted to ask is whether that would there be any problem if I removed the ram which came with my laptop and installed new ones in it's place or would there be compatibility issues . Anyway I have not tried replacing my old ram as I thought that better than putting the old ones back why don't I use completely new ones because I have been using the same for 6 years now . Waiting for your reply .

[biyouboogie]

Yes but make sure you go to www.crucial.com and check to see the exact memory you need. Then you can but it from where ever the price is best. Take the old memory out and put the 2 512mb modules in. Also make sure you DO have 2 memory slots.

[TechnofreAk93]

I replaced the ram and guess what the laptop worked . I saved the changes . But the problem I face now is that when I start it shows compaq welcome screen and says non boot disk or disk error , replace disk and strike any key when ready . I tried reinstalling the OS through usb and connected the hard disk back to the laptop and then it shows the same message . Pls help .

[TechnofreAk93]

How do I enter Bios password . I have found out a backdoor password for entering bios ( as bios is password protected ) but how do I enter it . When I type nothing is shown and when I press enter it asks 3 more times and then gets stuck .

[TechnofreAk93]

I reset the bios password by removing the RTC (as was given in the laptop manual) . I am going to write win xp to dvd adn going to install it . About the ram I had earlier , it's toast becuase the bios does not even detect it . Thanks for all your help biyouboogie and Mister17 .