I'm trying to install Ubuntu 6.10 Desktop edition x86 on my laptop (dell inspiration 5100).

About 1/4 times I can make it to the Ubuntu desktop (on the live cd)

The reason for this is that my dvd-rom on the laptop is horrible. Half the time it won't even detect that the Ubuntu cd is a live cd that it can boot from.


My question is this. When you first put in the Ubuntu live cd, you reach a menu screen that says Install/Run Ubuntu and a couple other options.

Is there a way to start the hard drive installation without first booting into the live desktop?

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I miss the days of random nut '03

I'm not sure about a command to skip booting ... you should ask the experts over at http://www.ubuntu.com/community
But in general, it would be wiser to fix that dvd-rom. What if you can start installing, but it always hangs up ? Apart from that you can start installing under Windows , if you have it running. Just put in the cd.

I haven't in fact tried too boot the ubuntu cd from windows, only from startup.

I'm going to try booting it while already in windows xp by this weekend (lots of schoolwork to do right now).

I'll post my results

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I miss the days of random nut '03

I dont think you can with the Desktop CD, however Ubuntu offers an "Alternate" CD from which you can install directly.

I'm grabbing the alternate cd right now

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I miss the days of random nut '03

but... hey, why did u not use Virtual PC or something like this... ??? Try this... i have a few OS in this situation... and work fine...

Sometimes you only want/need one OS. There is performance hit too, which can be especially noticable on a single core processor (which I think that laptop has).

... i tell u... i have one my laptop (single core preocessor) 3 OS runing one time... one is the XP who is the platform and 2 runing in VPC... and it's working very good...

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My aim is to install Linux MCE and run it as a server. I'm am just testing the setup on the laptop before I go out and buy all the hardware that it requires.

But I do agree and I think I will try to install both Ubuntu and Linux MCE on VMware and check it out there. It's more trustworthy than that 850 MHZ laptop lol.

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I miss the days of random nut '03

hope you have an nvidia card since ati pretty much suck for linux well and windows.

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