want to install Linux on my uncle's machine but can't

trandoductin · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2015 11:46 pm **(#1)**

I want to install Linux on my uncle's machine (Sony Vaio laptop).

Laptop because it keeps showing me this black screen saying that there's something wrong with recent hardware or software change. I haven't done anything to change it.
I tried to get into reset factory setting by hitting F10 and Alt-F10 nothing works the same black screen keeps showing up.

So I tried downloading the Fedora 21 ISO and burned to DVD stuck that in and the same black screen still starts up.

So I want to try an older version of Fedora that fits on a CD (I am thinking maybe it'll boot from live CD, since last time i installed linux Fedora on my mom's laptop it was Fedora 13).

So I started searching for older Fedora's Live CDs (which would fit on a CD) but can't find any.

Any thoughts or can anyone point me in the right direction?

Odinbc · **Posted:** Sat Mar 21, 2015 12:06 am **(#2)**

To eliminate hardware issues, hook a monitor up to the laptop and see what happens. Try a separate keyboard as well. The screen and/or keypad could be dead.

trandoductin · **Posted:** Sat Mar 21, 2015 12:15 am **(#3)**

the screen works as it shows text from the error messages.
and hitting enter or esc works as it resets the computer and tries to boot up again except that error screen is shown again.

lylejk · **Joined:** Sep 24, 2010 **Posts:** 12853

I wonder if you could boot with a thumbdrive Tran. If so, you might be able to use that interface to install the OS.

trandoductin · **Posted:** Sat Mar 21, 2015 12:21 am **(#5)**

what's a thumbdrive? like USB?
I don't have one handy

might have to go pick one up tomorrow

Matera · **Joined:** Oct 06, 2013 **Posts:** 143

Please give model number for more relevant info search (after I get some sleep, lol)

When the error msg comes up, hit the Pause/Break key (it's in the same row as Prnt Scrn) and write down exact message. Post here.

Need sleep atm but will be on it ASAP. I like a challenge. Even after my own RAM saga yesterday. lol

lylejk · **Joined:** Sep 24, 2010 **Posts:** 12853

You did say your laptop was old. Not all laptops have the ability to boot from thumbdrive (USB) so you need to check your bios settings for that Tran.

saulgoode · **Posted:** Sat Mar 21, 2015 2:18 am **(#8)**

If your uncle's laptop is a newer machine, it may come with "SecureBoot" enabled. I don't know too much about the details (I would never buy such a machine), however, SecureBoot is built into the hardware and intended to make it impossible to replace the original operating system with another (it does not matter if the other OS is Fedora, Slackware, BSD, or even a different copy of Windows)

If this applies, the following page might be informative:

http://docs.esupport.sony.com/pc/SVT111 ... rch=secure

GnuTux · **Posted:** Sat Mar 21, 2015 3:44 am **(#9)**

That message is from Windows boot so you're never booting from the DVD. There might be a boot menu or you might need to enter the BIOS to ensure the DVD drive is the 1st boot device.

This does assume that you burned the Fedora 21 Live ISO as an image and not as a data file.

on the changing the BIOS to legacy boot. You won't need UEFI/Secure boot, if you plan on using that laptop for Linux only.

ofnuts · **Joined:** Oct 25, 2010 **Posts:** 4812

Matera wrote:

When the error msg comes up, hit the Pause/Break key (it's in the same row as Prnt Scrn) and write down exact message. Post here.

How low-tech. Anyone can take a picture with a camera/smartphone instead

Odinbc · **Posted:** Sat Mar 21, 2015 10:27 am **(#11)**

I have a Sony VAIO laptop; F2 key BIOS, F8 key Advanced Boot Options screen.

Nite Shadow · **Joined:** Feb 07, 2015 **Posts:** 66

At the boot screen, press F8 to select the device you wish to boot from (In this case, your DVD drive)
If that doesn't work, try checking the data on the DVD, make certain that you have burned ISO's data structure, and not the ISO itself, and make sure that the ISO isn't corrupted.

IMGBurn should do the trick as far as verifying the ISO, and burning the disc goes.
http://www.imgburn.com/

If this doesn't help, you might start looking at the possibility of hardware failure.

Edit:
If it's a blue screen error you may simply need to look at trying an older version of Linux.
Just a possibility.

trandoductin · **Posted:** Sat Mar 21, 2015 1:51 pm **(#13)**

thanks people for all the help.
I hit F2 and it lets me choose booting priority and i moved internal optical drive to top and now it boots from DVD so i think i got it.

Thanks again for all of your efforts.

Booting from DVD takes a while but after it loaded, i tried it out and i can browse the internet and watch Youtube videos (I was suprised because previously when installed for my mom's laptop fedora 13, i had to install flash manually after installing fedora) which will be great for my uncle's uses.
So this new/current version of fedora is kick butt since i don't have install flash it seemed to have come with it. Great.

GnuTux · **Posted:** Sat Mar 21, 2015 2:21 pm **(#14)**

Fedora does not come with Flash installed or for that matter, any software which in not fully open source. Youtube supports HTML5 now so lots of their videos don't require flash these days.

For software that doesn't meet Fedora's licensing, you'll need to install RPM Fusion repositories. For Flash, you'll need to install it from Adobe's repository. See the link below for more details on post F21 installation.

http://www.tecmint.com/things-to-do-aft ... rkstation/

lylejk · **Joined:** Sep 24, 2010 **Posts:** 12853

Tux beat me too it (Youtube now is HTML5 compatible that is). lol

It will just be a simple matter of installing the OS now Tran; guess you didn't need the thumbdrive boot afterall. Hopefully it won't take too long to install. Live CDs are definitely the bomb. When I was playing with them several years ago, it found all my hardware, even sound drivers if my memory recalls correctly. It was an Ubuntu CD though.