Laptops :: laptop non-boot issues



i currently have xp running on my hp laptop. i had previously been running fc3 but due to wireless problems, i reluctantly switched back to xp. now i want to play with damn small linux with a new wireless card to see if i can get it functioning (and just to keep my linux skills up).

my problem is, my laptop boots from the cd and brings up the boot: prompt. i simply press enter (which ive done with dsl many times before) but now the screen turns black and the computer just sits there. does nothing.

i thought it was the cd. so i tried a cd from an older version that i know functioned before, and it did the same thing. so i tried knoppix. did the same thing. ive tried all these disks in my work desktop, and they boot fine. i would like to work with dsl and try the new versions but i have no idea why my computer wont boot normally.
i thought maybe it was the wireless card but my laptop will not boot even with 'dsl nopcmcia'.
Quote (luibh @ Aug. 20 2005,00:29)
i currently have xp running on my hp laptop. i had previously been running fc3 but due to wireless problems, i reluctantly switched back to xp. now i want to play with damn small linux with a new wireless card to see if i can get it functioning (and just to keep my linux skills up).

my problem is, my laptop boots from the cd and brings up the boot: prompt. i simply press enter (which ive done with dsl many times before) but now the screen turns black and the computer just sits there. does nothing.

i thought it was the cd. so i tried a cd from an older version that i know functioned before, and it did the same thing. so i tried knoppix. did the same thing. ive tried all these disks in my work desktop, and they boot fine. i would like to work with dsl and try the new versions but i have no idea why my computer wont boot normally.

ok lets see If I can help on this for I run a Compaq, first you will need to go into the bios and turn off your shit I for got now what it is called, mind block be right back let me check... as for the wireless if it is a newer laptop with a mini-pci card its most likly a broadcom an works fine with linux using ndiswrapper or you can do as I did and go on ebay and pick 1 up for $40.00 (atheros works well with linux not to well with fedora for some reason but works).


be right back  :)
ok sorry about that you will want to turn off the legacy USB Support after the install you can inable it if you wish.... fedora is the only os i have found that will load with it enabled or on my laptop any how.. also you may want to daul boot xp with a linux os of choice in tell you fell safe dumping it..  we have 5 computers here and my laptop is the only one that is daul boot because of the wireless and coffee shops and ect...

hope this helps
ill try turning off legacy usb support when i get home. i hope that works. as far as the wireless card is concerned, its a motorola g card (broadcom) i got for cheap at compusa. im not expecting it to work, but if i can eventually figure it out, i might switch back to linux.
Next Page...
original here.