cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Linux live CDs wont run on my desktop PC

Santiago
Grafter
Posts: 3,291
Thanks: 2
Registered: ‎10-08-2007

Linux live CDs wont run on my desktop PC

I have downloaded pclinuxos gnome to try out.
I made the live cd and put in my desktop pc and it won't run. It starts ok and gets to the disc menu but when I choose Live cd it wont boot at all. The processor seems to be working quite hard but nothing appears on the screen.
I put the disc in a laptop and it loaded perfectly. I tried my Ubuntu live cd in the desktop and that wouldn't load either.
So the problem seems to be the PC.
I would appreciate any suggestions as to how to fix this. Thanks
16 REPLIES 16
HairyMcbiker
All Star
Posts: 6,792
Thanks: 266
Fixes: 21
Registered: ‎16-02-2009

Re: Linux live CDs wont run on my desktop PC

Do you just get a blank screen or does the monitor turn off? I had this issue with SUSE 11 on mine, it boots but the video doesn't appear.
If the screen is still live try pressing CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE to force a reload of the X server.
Santiago
Grafter
Posts: 3,291
Thanks: 2
Registered: ‎10-08-2007

Re: Linux live CDs wont run on my desktop PC

The monitor doesn't turn off, I have checked with the settings while the screen was "blank"
I think its just a blank screen.
VileReynard
Hero
Posts: 12,616
Thanks: 582
Fixes: 20
Registered: ‎01-09-2007

Re: Linux live CDs wont run on my desktop PC

Have you sufficient memory - say at least 512MBytes?

"In The Beginning Was The Word, And The Word Was Aardvark."

Santiago
Grafter
Posts: 3,291
Thanks: 2
Registered: ‎10-08-2007

Re: Linux live CDs wont run on my desktop PC

Yes I have 1GB
The live CD allowed me to run a memory test ok, but if I choose any of the other options the screen goes blank
VileReynard
Hero
Posts: 12,616
Thanks: 582
Fixes: 20
Registered: ‎01-09-2007

Re: Linux live CDs wont run on my desktop PC

How about this then:-
http://forums.opensuse.org/install-boot-login/389182-installing-suse-11-via-live-cd-doesnt-install-a...
I would try Ubuntu Cheesy

"In The Beginning Was The Word, And The Word Was Aardvark."

Santiago
Grafter
Posts: 3,291
Thanks: 2
Registered: ‎10-08-2007

Re: Linux live CDs wont run on my desktop PC

I already did, same thing.
I have Ubuntu on my laptops, no probs.
I wanted to compare the pclos gnome and thought I would run the live cd on the desktop, didn't work. I tried the ubuntu 8.10 didn't work either Angry
It shouldn't be a grub problem, I am only trying to run the live cd
Waldo
Grafter
Posts: 473
Registered: ‎01-08-2007

Re: Linux live CDs wont run on my desktop PC

Live CDs generally have various options available for selection prior to booting; how they are accessed varies but generally the F1 key will bring up a help menu for further assistance. ACPI is probably the most common problem with live CDs - I'd start by trying a noacpi or acpi=off boot parameter.
SteveA
Pro
Posts: 1,847
Thanks: 106
Fixes: 3
Registered: ‎17-06-2007

Re: Linux live CDs wont run on my desktop PC

I've found that sometimes you can have problems if you burn them at a really fast speed on one drive and then try to read them on another.
So try burning a new on at the lowest burn speed you can.
Santiago
Grafter
Posts: 3,291
Thanks: 2
Registered: ‎10-08-2007

Re: Linux live CDs wont run on my desktop PC

Thanks for the idea Steve, I have already re-burned at the slowest speed on PowerISO, 4x I think, and it still wouldn't run on the desktop.
It will run on the laptops as will my Ubuntu live cd but none will run on the desktop. Well I say won't run, they might be running but I can't see them as the screen is blank/black.
I will try Waldo's idea over the weekend and see if it makes a difference.
HairyMcbiker
All Star
Posts: 6,792
Thanks: 266
Fixes: 21
Registered: ‎16-02-2009

Re: Linux live CDs wont run on my desktop PC

If you have one it might be worth trying an OLDER release, i.e. one that doesn't use the latest XOrg driver, since they changed with Ubuntu 8.10 and it caused all sorts of different issues, so maybe try a 8.04 if you have one.
Santiago
Grafter
Posts: 3,291
Thanks: 2
Registered: ‎10-08-2007

Re: Linux live CDs wont run on my desktop PC

Yes I do have an 8.04, I will try it. Thanks
Santiago
Grafter
Posts: 3,291
Thanks: 2
Registered: ‎10-08-2007

Re: Linux live CDs wont run on my desktop PC

I tried the Ubuntu 8.04, didn't work Sad
It also tried changing the boot options, acpi=off but the live cd would still not load.
I notice the safemode option boot settings has acpi off too, I had already tried the safe mode which didn't work either.
MrC
Grafter
Posts: 525
Thanks: 4
Registered: ‎17-07-2008

Re: Linux live CDs wont run on my desktop PC

There appears to be a few reports of this on t'web usually boiling down to graphics drivers failing to correctly detect the make and version of the installed graphics hardware. One way around this is to force the use of the generic vesa driver by using the xdrv=vesa boot option. Perhaps worth a try?
Mike
Santiago
Grafter
Posts: 3,291
Thanks: 2
Registered: ‎10-08-2007

Re: Linux live CDs wont run on my desktop PC

Ok Thanks, I will try that