New Laptop - Nightmare With Linpus Linux 2.6.32 :(

[davejonesbkk]

Just bought a brand new Acer Aspire 5745G, straight away I wanted to install Ubuntu 10.10, I stuck in the cd and rebooted the new laptop that currently only seemed to have Linpus Linux, I then got masses of error messages saying something such as cannot run var/ etc etc and then

:cannot touch 'var/lock/subsys/local': input/output error

and then...

EXT2-fs error (device sda1) : ext2_lookup: deleted inode referenced (lots of numbers here)

It does this for many, many lines then sites there for ages doing nothing and wont allow me to type any commands ( I dont know any command really apart from 'reboot') and then finally after 5 mins or so shows the command prompt [root@localhost /]# but I cant do anything from here.

I've done some searches and found this thread:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...o-open-759461/

but startx and system-cofig-display dont work and just says bad commands.

Ive also tried changing the settings so it always reboots from dvd, same problem, made a USB ubuntu start up, forced booting from usb, same again.

Brand new laptop and cant do anything and lots of work to do

Any help would be appreciated...

[siamect]

Are you sure that the thing is really booting from the CD or USB. To me it seems like you have a screwed up Linpus install and that it is that one that boots.

I have had one experience with an old Acer that it was impossible to make it boot from anything else than the HD unless all alternatives in the boot list were disabled.

I don't remember how I did than but you could mark the items in the boot list in the bios settings and move them out from the list.

If only the USB was in the boot list it booted from the USB but if the HD was in the list at all, it would boot from it even if it was one the lowest priority.

Another issue that you may run into during install on a system that was previously installed, is that the swap partition of the HD is used by the system when it is booted from the USB or CD. That can cause problem when you install because the Swap partition cannot be deleted.

A swapoff -a command from the command line before you start the install should solve that problem.

Martin

Edited November 5, 2010 by siamect

[Jiu-Jitsu]

As Siamect has suggested, it doesn't seem as if you are booting from the optical drive. Perhaps try formatting the disc first.

I've sent you a PM with links to a suitable disc.

[davejonesbkk]

thanks, I did try moving both dvd drive and usb to top of the boot list in settings but neither worked, taking it to someone's place now who has a bit more experience in this than me

[elshaheen]

Why not just buy and install Windows 7. Saves you the time and energy.

[tariq786]

Put Ubuntu CD in DVD and boot from it.

[davejonesbkk]

Id prefer to use ubuntu. I burnt the ubuntu 10.10 boot disc to both dvd and usb and it wouldnt boot from either, even when I went into settings and moved them both to 1 in the boot priority list.

[kpmsprtd]

Maybe try a 10.04 CD? There's a newness to 10.10 that could cause a few problems.

[keeniau96]

Pretty clear from the /var and similar items you are getting that you are in the previous installed OS and probably had a failed installation. So first you have to set the BIOS to boot from the DVD. Check your manual on how to do that. It should be from a cold star:

- start the computer, then repeatedly tap the Delete key, the BIOS menu should pop up

if no BIOS menu and something else comes up then restart and try again. You need to get into BIOS

[Your computer may have an alternative way to do one-time boot device choice, typically tapping F11 or similar. That would bring up a short listing of available devices so choose the CD/DVD. This is a simpler method so look for it in your manual.]

- on BIOS menu use arrow key to find the page with boot priority, on that page move the start sequence to have CD/DVD first, then HDD

- Save the change and restart with the Ubuntu disk in the CD/DVD drive. Look for the drive activity light to go on and show life, wait for the loading process

- You will get the Ubuntu menu with choice to run Live CD, make install, check memory

- if you want to see what ubuntu looks like choose the Live, otherwise proceed with the install

The Ubuntu install process is very simple and takes about 10 minutes. Choose to use the entire HD for the install unless you know enough to set up partitions.

Set up the time zone, time, your name, password (very strong recommendation to use one). A few other simple items then wait a few minutes and Bob's your uncle.