Old laptop will not accept boot from USB key

TovaSLO · 2013-02-23 21:41:40

Hello
I am not only new to Linux but also to #! so I might need terms explained in very simple english...
I've been observing Linux for a while and now finaly decided to try it out myself. I have a slightly older Dell Latitude C810 from arround 2000, for wich I've decided to put a Linux distribution on. At first I wanted to try Ubuntu but when I put the CD in to boot and pressed F12 it seems like it was doing something at first but the screen was just black, nothing happened and after an hour of I gave up and tried it again on my FujitsuSiemens Desktop and I got the Ubuntu trial version on in less than 15 minutes, working normaly.
After that I decided I might get something a little less demanding. On a blog I saw written that #! is a distribution that is less demanding and works well with old computers. I downloaded the file and put it on a USB key as instructed. Then I tried to boot the laptop and wanted to select from where it will load (you know, CD drive, floppy drive...) I realised that USB was not even an option. Is it even possible to boot from the USB port on an old laptop like this? After that I put the file on a CD and put it in the laptop. I got a nice startup screen and selected Install choose languages and all of that and after a while it said ''Insert CD'' but the CD was already in the computer. Can anyone help?

Thank you, I am a complete noob.

km00 · 2013-02-23 22:54:02

According to this you are not able to boot from USB. Looking into your CD problem.

Last edited by km00 (2013-02-23 22:56:06)

TovaSLO · 2013-02-24 10:09:20

Yeah, it's too old... everytime when you are working with old computers you just know you're going to have some trouble /:
Thank you big_smile

FreewheelinFrank · 2013-02-24 10:15:07

There's a way to boot from USB in old laptops if you have a floppy drive:

http://dontsurfinthenude.blogspot.co.uk … n-old.html

But watch out, USB1 is slllooowwww. If you hit live boot and it looks like nothing is happening, be patient!

fatmac · 2013-02-24 10:20:39

Possibly an old dirty cdrom drive; try opening & closing the drive when it asks (?).

Does it run in 'live' mode, if not, did you check the MD5 sum, (perhaps a corrupt download).

orionthehunter · 2013-02-24 10:23:11

I seem to remember this being an issue in the past. It might not just be your machine... Are you using the latest Stable?

wuxmedia · 2013-02-24 11:51:16

i have a Dell Latitude C400 i seem to remember it booting from USB with some help from plop bootloader. (hint d/l hirens bootCD -> http://www.hirensbootcd.org/ because it's on a CD and choose plop from the boot menu - works great from there.)

BtW there are many other 'lightweight' distros that do happily fit on a CD http://linuxbbq.org for example.

fatmac · 2013-02-24 20:27:03

Another two distros to try if you are unsuccessful with #!, both run live, antiX (Debian based) &/or SliTaz (very small distro).

CrunchBang Linux

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#1 2013-02-23 21:41:40

Old laptop will not accept boot from USB key

#2 2013-02-23 22:54:02

Re: Old laptop will not accept boot from USB key

#3 2013-02-24 10:09:20

Re: Old laptop will not accept boot from USB key

#4 2013-02-24 10:15:07

Re: Old laptop will not accept boot from USB key

#5 2013-02-24 10:20:39

Re: Old laptop will not accept boot from USB key

#6 2013-02-24 10:23:11

Re: Old laptop will not accept boot from USB key

#7 2013-02-24 11:51:16

Re: Old laptop will not accept boot from USB key

#8 2013-02-24 20:27:03

Re: Old laptop will not accept boot from USB key

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