Overclock.net › Forums › Software, Programming and Coding › Operating Systems › Linux, Unix › InstallingOS from a USB, having trouble
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

InstallingOS from a USB, having trouble

post #1 of 15
2/16/10 at 5:50pm
Thread Starter 
SO I came across a nice dell inspiron mini, the white one. It's like 3 pounds, I love it. BUT it doesn't have an operating system. I would like to install Linux Mint, Or, Unbuntu. This laptop does not have a cd drive, only USB ports.


Please Advise?


Thank you!

PS this would be my first time using Linux, I am excited, if I can get this to work of course.
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 15
2/16/10 at 5:52pm
Ubuntu?

This:
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download-netbook
Longshot r4
(13 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
i7 2600k Maximus IV GENE-Z eVGA GTX580 1.5GB Sniper 8GB 1600 1.25V 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
C300 128GB + 2*WD Green 2TB LG BluRay Rewriter external Windows 7 HP64 U2711 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
BlackWidow Ultimate AX850 FT03b Logitech G9x 
Mouse Pad
Bubbles Pad 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
Longshot r4
(13 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
i7 2600k Maximus IV GENE-Z eVGA GTX580 1.5GB Sniper 8GB 1600 1.25V 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
C300 128GB + 2*WD Green 2TB LG BluRay Rewriter external Windows 7 HP64 U2711 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
BlackWidow Ultimate AX850 FT03b Logitech G9x 
Mouse Pad
Bubbles Pad 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
post #3 of 15
2/16/10 at 5:54pm
http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/
New Build!
(13 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Core i5 2500K Gigabyte Z68X-UD5-B3 Sapphire 5770 Microcenter 2x2GB 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
1x64GB SSD, 2TB WD LG Sata DVD+-RW, Sony Blu Ray Windows 7 Enterprise x64 / Debian 6.0 / OSX Samsung SyncMaster P2450 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
Logitech Ergo Kingwin 650W CoolerMaster Razer Salmosa 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
New Build!
(13 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Core i5 2500K Gigabyte Z68X-UD5-B3 Sapphire 5770 Microcenter 2x2GB 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
1x64GB SSD, 2TB WD LG Sata DVD+-RW, Sony Blu Ray Windows 7 Enterprise x64 / Debian 6.0 / OSX Samsung SyncMaster P2450 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
Logitech Ergo Kingwin 650W CoolerMaster Razer Salmosa 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
post #4 of 15
2/16/10 at 6:00pm
Thread Starter 
does itload by itself, or do I have to go through boot protocols?
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 15
2/16/10 at 6:03pm
Dells typically use 'F12.'

TO install it to a USB (4GB min), just follow the steps on another computer (need admin rights).
Longshot r4
(13 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
i7 2600k Maximus IV GENE-Z eVGA GTX580 1.5GB Sniper 8GB 1600 1.25V 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
C300 128GB + 2*WD Green 2TB LG BluRay Rewriter external Windows 7 HP64 U2711 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
BlackWidow Ultimate AX850 FT03b Logitech G9x 
Mouse Pad
Bubbles Pad 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
Longshot r4
(13 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
i7 2600k Maximus IV GENE-Z eVGA GTX580 1.5GB Sniper 8GB 1600 1.25V 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
C300 128GB + 2*WD Green 2TB LG BluRay Rewriter external Windows 7 HP64 U2711 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
BlackWidow Ultimate AX850 FT03b Logitech G9x 
Mouse Pad
Bubbles Pad 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
post #6 of 15
2/16/10 at 6:31pm
Thread Starter 
soI'musing UNETBootin to format my flashdrive...Iam then going to stickthe flash into my mini dell and hit f12.

Unet seems to be frozen on 4% though.I'mgoing to wait itout but it'sunusual,it's been stuck for about 5minutes...
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 15
2/16/10 at 6:33pm
Thread Starter 
wondering,I have read that it is possible to switch between two OS's, I have windows on this computer...Iamthinking about testing my bootable drive on this computer... is this easy to do?
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 15
2/16/10 at 8:17pm
I can't tell you why Unetbootin isn't working. Never used it.

Your last post, you're talking about a dual boot. Yes, it's very easy. The first thing you want to do is install Windows.

Then, you reboot with your thumbdrive plugged in. It will load Ubuntu's live disk/install up. Click install and it gives you a few options. I think they are "Use Entire Disk", "Install Side By Side" and "Advanced".

You want to choose "Install Side By Side". There is a slider there that will allow you to set your partition sizes. If you're going to use Windows more, give it more room...

Then you go through a fairly easy to understand install series of pages. Setting up your account, passwords, time zone...

When you reboot, it will pop up with GRUB. GRUB is the boot manager. Select Linux for Linux and Windows for Windows.

Very easy.
Down with the System
(13 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q9550 Gigabyte EP45-UD3P EVGA GTX 465 4x2GB G.Skill 1066 
Hard DriveOSMonitorPower
750GB WD Caviar Black Windows 7 ASUS VW224U Dual Screens Corsair 750w HX 
Case
CM Storm Sniper Black 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
Down with the System
(13 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q9550 Gigabyte EP45-UD3P EVGA GTX 465 4x2GB G.Skill 1066 
Hard DriveOSMonitorPower
750GB WD Caviar Black Windows 7 ASUS VW224U Dual Screens Corsair 750w HX 
Case
CM Storm Sniper Black 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
post #9 of 15
2/18/10 at 2:25pm
Thread Starter 
So I got ahead of myself here. I I didnt know I had to partition my drive...I made the flash disk as instructed by the unbuntu site using UNET boot


now.

I go to the install and I get an error that reads this " Input/output error during write on /dev/sda"

I do not know the first thing about partitioning , so I tried messing with it. The flash drives does actually boot and stuff but the install has this error.

Please advise
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 15
2/18/10 at 2:26pm
Thread Starter 
theres all this stuff about swapspaces, , root files....geez
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Linux, Unix
Overclock.net › Forums › Software, Programming and Coding › Operating Systems › Linux, Unix › InstallingOS from a USB, having trouble