help with linux?

Question

anybody know about the linux system ubuntu?

I recently downloaded the program ubuntu its supposed to be a linux based operating system.. I downloaded it and saved it to a disk acording to the directions. I then set my pc to boot from the CDROM first and it did not recognize the cd at all and went right to windows XP any help i would apreciate

yeah I just used the program that windows uses to burn files onto CD's any one know any burning software that will let me burn a bootable ISO file

Answer 1

I had the same problem with Ubuntu not booting from CD. And my CDs were shipped (free) from their site. No idea why it didn't boot, but I tried various CDs (i ordered 10) and even ran them on other systems with no luck.

Unrelated: I run Fedora on my system now though which is gorgeous

Answer 2

If you have Ubuntu, I think it is a "LiveCD" so it should run right off the CD. What you need to do is burn the CD image as an ISO (bootable) image. The download file should be .iso file type. Depending upon what software you use, you will have to figure out how to make a bootable ISO disc. Then when you boot up your PC, you will have to tell the PC to look for the CD drive to boot from before the HD. Depends on your system if you have to change the BIOS boot order, or if there is a hotkey at reboot time (it will say something on the screen, like boot order).
Good luck.

P.S. I have been having problems burning ISO images on my computer lately.

Answer 3

What you need to do bud, is burn the Ubuntu CD/DVD as an ISO image. Most burning software lets you do this (Sonic, Alcohol, etc). This is different than just burning the file onto the CD. It actually creates a disk image that allows the computer to boot off of it. If you don't have any sort of software other than what windows has to burn ISO's, download this: http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm
This will enable windows to burn ISOs, and you will be on your way to enjoying Ubuntu in no time.

--Using Mandriva 2007 here.....

Zach

Answer 4

First, I am not sure your CD got burned right...you have to download an "ISO image", and burn it as ISO, otherwise it will not be a bootable CD. Download the ISO, do an MD5 sums check on it to verify the integrity of the download (should find on the Ubuntu site), burn it as ISO to CD, verify the burn, then you should able to boot from it if you have set the computer's BIOS correctly, which you said you did.

About verifying your CD itself:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/CDIntegrityCheck

** Only free program I found to burn ISOs (300MB size limit):
http://www.ezbsystems.com/ultraiso/

Otherwise, it sounds like you missed something...you have to do more work to have a dual-boot system. To have 2 operating systems, you also need to have a boot loader that will allow you the choice at boot ("LILO" or "GRUB", LILO is easier to use now and more popular).

These are not instructions (I could not presume to remember them), just the 3 main tasks.

1) Back up all data, write down websites where you can get your software again or if software on CDs will need updates again.

2) Install Windows -- unless you have 2 hard drives, you will need to split the current 1 into 2 partitions -- you should write over your old Windows install, but this time, choose to make a 2nd partition during the install process.

3) Install Linux *always AFTER Windows, never before*

4) During the Linux install, choose to install a bootloader, such as LILO.

*** Any Linux website will have a specific set of installation instructions for a "dual-boot" system ***

* When configuring LILO, you will be able to choose if the bootloader should ask you which operating system you want to use, how long it should wait for you to select the OS to use, and which OS to automatically load if you don't select one in a specified period of time, which you can adjust. *

I am reading the documentation myself, and it appears Ubuntu's graphical install does the bootloader configuration automatically? They don't say which bootloader it uses.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/I386

There is information specifically about dual-boots here:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot

When they warn you about the NTFS filesystem and unreliability of writing to proprietary filesystem from Linux, that only matters if you want to access your documents from both operating systems. The solution is make a 3rd partition and format it as FAT32, both systems will have full read/write support to it, the disadvantage is you don't have fine-grained control over file/folder permissions like you do with NTFS.

Your most important resource is the Community Forums, where users help each other:
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/

Answer 5

i think you should save the software you have downloaded to an iso image. you can use nero or any other burner that supports burning an iso image file then try to boot using the cd.

Answer 6

I think sooner or later we are going to need linux a lot more here in the states. Its looking better and better, but I'm still cool with Windows XP.
I Cr 13;8a
12-10-6

Answer 7

Yes, I am currently using Ubuntu on my laptop. I highly recommend it for the Linux newbie.

Answer 8

Hi there,
You can download UltraISO here http://bitly.com/Ufs3wv
Very useful program!
Bye Bye

Answer 9

Ubuntu is a nice distro of linux, but not sure what help you need with it? I love using it.

Answer 10

Sorry, never heard of it. Try google. Good luck