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broken computer

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March 13, 2008 - 4:08pm
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felexthecat
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broken computer

I have an older gateway PC at home, that for some reason doesn't work anymore. The computer has worked for more then 3 years before we got it in 2005 it broke in 2006 and i haven't touched it. Recently i have been locked out of my main computer by the system administrator Aka my parents.I wanted to reinstall an operating system on it I got a cd copy of Linux and tryed to install it but even though the cd loads to the first screen.the one that lists the options of what you can do including installing the Os but when i select the install option it goes through the motions of installing only to end up on a black screen with the little white blinking bar in the upper left hand corner. Can someone help me out?

[moved to off topic by moderator JTH]

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March 13, 2008 - 6:40pm
Simeon
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what linux?

If the copy isn't too old, the only reason it does the black screen is that your PC is rather old or the video card isn't supported.
But as this Forum isn't the best place to ask, I suggest you go to http://www.ubuntu.com/ and download a recent copy if you can. They also have excellent Forums if you run into problems.

"What about Love?" - "Overrated. Biochemically no different than eating large quantities of chocolate." - Al Pacino in The Devils Advocate

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March 13, 2008 - 7:02pm
felexthecat
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actually Ubuntu is the copy

actually Ubuntu is the copy i have it was given to me a while ago and i don't know the video card could be some old decrepit thing that doesn't even work anymore. its most likely that the computer is old i only want to use it as a file drop for my flash drive so i want a really light operating system so i can store as much as possible.

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March 13, 2008 - 8:33pm
(Reply to #3)
OliverK
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puppy linux would work

puppy linux would work fairly well- although it might take abit to get use to.

I'm partial to mepis myself.

Too many lonely hearts in the real world
Too many bridges you can burn
Too many tables you can't turn
Don't wanna live my life in the real world

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March 14, 2008 - 12:19pm
(Reply to #4)
sergentsiler
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i dont see...

why ubuntu wouldent work. the reason i get that exact same error when installing it on some of my PC's is because the bios cutoff date is y2k and the majority of mine are pre y2k's but i sucsessfully installed it into a computer that came preloaded with windows ME so my computer is way older than that.

besides, even thogh my other computer is old, the video card is supported and i would be able to install ubuntu if my bios was newer. that is you r most likely problem.

i suggest updating the bios manually to a new one. if that doesent work than check the IRC channel to see if anyone knows about that problem.

Zoop

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March 14, 2008 - 1:58pm
felexthecat
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well

i wonder can i install an operating system from my flash drive?? it has about 2 gig worth of space left but could i put puppy Linux on it? just to install because honestly i don't know how to update bios im pretty clueless with that kind of thing
the computer doesn't have internet by the way so iv got to do it via cd or flash or floppy.

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March 17, 2008 - 2:32pm
(Reply to #6)
OliverK
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I installed puppy linux to

I installed puppy linux to my 2 gig flash drive (but formatted it off later, it wasn't really all that useful to me).

But after rereading the post, I don't think thats what your after.

Mepis has a "Mepis on the Go" option- there is a chance that you could put the mepis to go on the flash drive and install from there. If you go that way, make sure you download the 6.5 version. Mepis on the Go is broken is the 7.0 release. There's also a mepis lite option.

Mepis Homepage
Mepis mirrors

Perhaps your original problem is caused by a bad iso copy that was burned to a disc. Make sure to validate your md5 checksums when you're done. You can use this.

Too many lonely hearts in the real world
Too many bridges you can burn
Too many tables you can't turn
Don't wanna live my life in the real world

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March 16, 2008 - 1:03am
alpha1
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i have a gateway E-1400 that

i have a gateway E-1400 that gives me the same problems
the only OS i managed to install was suse linux 10.3 or freenas but freenas wouldn't do you much good
pull down a suse iso and give that a try, you might try knoppix which is a live cd
knoppix.net
opensuse.org

Lead, Follow, or get out of the way.

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