[RJPCC]

Hi first let me begin by saying I'm a newbie. In school I'm taking software engineering and we'll be using Linux RedHat 9. Instead of going to the lab I'd like to install on my Toshiba Satelite laptop so I can work on it more often.

My current OS is Windows XP home (and I'd like to keep that on my laptop as well). I have partitioned my hard drive with 10gigs I'd like to set aside for Linux. I downloaded the iso's and burned to cds. I have set the computer to boot from cdrom. Now, my problem: When I insert the first cd I get a message saying its not a bootable disk. Have I done something wrong? How do I install?

Thank you for your help!

[Nova Dragoon]

Did you burn the CD correctly?

as in did you say burn image, instead of putting the iso as a file in a data session?

If yes, then I'll get some RH9 cds tonight and look how to create a bootfloppy for installation

[RJPCC]

Ok, that could be my first problem. I downloaded the files (the first two) and using my regular cd software allowed it to create a cd. The last one I downloaded to my hard drive and copied and pasted it onto the new cd. I'm really new to this and have never done anything like this before. I will go and redownload the files and start over I guess.

[Nova Dragoon]

The option is create image or something to that effect. Not all cdwriter software supports it though.


Does anyone know of any free windows cdwriting software that supports this?

[RJPCC]

Thank you! I used Nero to do burn the image correctly. I then installed RedHat 9 using the default info.

Now I'm afraid I have a bigger problem. It was late last night when I finished installing RedHat 9 and I just shut down my laptop. Well, this morning I tried to turn it on and I get nothing. A big black screen. I can't even boot from my Toshiba cd. Now I've really meesed things up! Is there any hope or should I take it to a computer place and have them deal with it?

Thans for your patience!!!

[Nova Dragoon]

Do you even get the big red, "Toshiba in touch wiht tommorrow" ?

if not then you may want to get it looked at. I dont know why an install of linux would damage the computer to where it wont boot off of cdrom anymore.

[RJPCC]

Hi, no I don't get anything. Just a big black screen. I'll just save some time and headache and take it in. I really appreciate your help!

[RJPCC]

Just thought I'd post what I found out. I had accepted the default boot sequence in RedHat which was LAN. That was the problem. On startup it tried looking for a Linux LAN and there was none. I popped my hard drive and went into bios to check startup. Sw the problem. Anyway - I did a total reformat of my hard drive and am now re-installing everything not accepting any defaults without checking them twice. Thought this may someday help out some other newbie who finds himself staring at a big blank screen.