skip to main content

Debian Installation Problem - No DVD Drive

14 years ago

I have an old laptop that I want to install Debian Linux on.

The problem I have is, I have an install .iso file that is

for a DVD, but the laptop doesn't have a DVD drive

I think the computer supports booting from USB.

Can I use an external USB DVD drive?

Pooh Bear

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

Richard (Vero Beach, Florida)
14 years ago
I'm no expert and it's been awhile since I've installed Linux but that's what I would try. Just burn the ISO as a bootable image and try booting to it in the external drive. May have to press F2 or whatever to select the boot device but I'd think it should work fine.

Another idea... if it has a CD drive and network card you could maybe burn the net-install image to CD and use that? I've done that before. http://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/ Probably get a more up-to-date install that way too.

Either way, good luck.
Richard
Pooh Bear
Original Author
14 years ago
I couldn't get the DVD image file to burn to disk.
It installed in a virtual machine just fine.

I'm downloading the CD image file now.

I also ordered a DVD drive on Ebay ($8.00)

The laptop is an IBM Thinkpad T22.
256megs RAM, 900Mhz processor.
I also ordered 512 megs of RAM for it.
I have XP on it currently. It just boots
up and runs so slow. Was hoping Linux would
solve that problem. It did in Virtual Machine.

Pooh Bear
Related Discussions
dvd/cd burner won't burn a dvd/2nd pc wont burn either
Q
Comments (9)
Coho, I posted on the other thread before I saw this. Several years ago, I purchased a computer that had Norton installed. I could not burn a DVD on that computer until after I removed every trace of Norton. When I called Tech support at Norton, they told me that it was a known problem, and sent me a refund check. That was many years ago however, and I wouldn't think they would still be having that problem.
...See More
CD/DVD drive {E} will not read 'install ' disc.
Q
Comments (5)
I wanted to thank each of you for your suggestions about solving my problem. I tried each of your suggestions but without success, I wound up calling tec support and talked with a young man in the Philippines, he was very patient and got me through the process and I got the printer installed. Word of caution, read carefully the instructions when installing new hardware and when it says not to hook up the machine to the usb port before being told to do so during the installation process, DON'T DO IT. I was careless and it caused me a lot of aggravation........
...See More
Hard Drive problems - Again- Worse - Windows won't start
Q
Comments (8)
Whew! I took out the replacement second internal hard drive (and the external hard drive). Rebooted - everything booted up fine. Then I shut down. Reattached the external drive - booted up - everything's fine. So does it seem that the replacement drive from WD is bad as well? (I did not put the 2TB drive back in - but it was working fine before. Again - this drive was bought for when I get around to setting up a dual boot XP/Windows 7 drive - and until my family crisis - and multiple electronic/tech failures are resolved, I'm not going to tackle that one.) Don't know why it wouldn't boot from the original hard drive when the replacement second drive was installed. Any thoughts? since it does boot with the bad drive - although it mentions the hard drive problem and allows me to select F1 to continue. At least I'm up and running - and the main, original drive seems fine. (I have used Acronis - and did a back up and incremental over the summer. Then did a full clone in December when I thought the drive was failing. But I am still quite confused by the acronis instructions - and would like to start from scratch. Now I have a 2TB external drive and would like to make the proper kind of back up. How should I do this - as the words on some of instructions Raven often links use clone at one point but seem to be talking about a different kind of back up. One complication is that the original thread for acronis 2010 - with pics - is gone now and acronis 2011 instructions are more fleshed out). I have Acronis 2010. Thank you. Lynn.
...See More
DVD/video problem
Q
Comments (12)
Here's all of it..I didn't know if it would all come through on here, but I think it does: Operating System new � server roles System Model Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 (build 2600) Install Language: English (United States) System Locale: English (United States) Installed: 12/14/2006 8:46:58 AM Hewlett-Packard HP Compaq dc7700p Convertible Minitower System Serial Number: MXL64800ZF Asset Tag: MXL64800ZF Chassis Serial Number: MXL64800ZF Enclosure Type: Mini-Tower Processor a Main Circuit Board b 2.13 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo 64 kilobyte primary memory cache 2048 kilobyte secondary memory cache 64-bit ready Multi-core (2 total) Not hyper-threaded Board: Hewlett-Packard 0A58h Serial Number: MXL64800ZF Bus Clock: 1066 megahertz BIOS: Hewlett-Packard 786E1 v01.05 08/30/2006 new USB Storage Use in past 30 Days (mouse over last used for details) new Hosted Virtual Machines (mouse over name for details) Last Used HP Photosmart C5180, rev 1.00 6/17/2012 8:25:26 AM* * Possibly used again before the reboot following this time. None discovered Drives new � drive encryption Memory Modules c,d 491.41 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity 432.05 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GSA-H31L [Optical drive] ST3250824AS [Hard drive] (250.06 GB) -- drive 1, s/n 9ND0B8Y3, rev 3.AHJ, SMART Status: Healthy WDC WD2500AAKX-083CA1 [Hard drive] (250.06 GB) -- drive 0, s/n WD-WCAYV0892374, rev 17.01H17, SMART Status: Healthy 2032 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory Slot 'XMM1' has 1024 MB (serial number 110CAEC5) Slot 'XMM2' is Empty Slot 'XMM3' has 1024 MB (serial number 140CB19A) Slot 'XMM4' is Empty Local Drive Volumes new � volume encryption c: (NTFS on drive 0) * 241.35 GB 193.94 GB free d: (NTFS on drive 1) 250.06 GB 238.10 GB free * Operating System is installed on c: Network Drives None discovered Users (mouse over user name for details) Printers local user accounts last logon Administrator 6/18/2012 12:16:11 PM (admin) local system accounts Admin never (admin) ASPNET never Guest never HelpAssistant never SUPPORT_388945a0 never Marks a disabled account; Marks a locked account HP Photosmart C5100 series on USB003 Microsoft Office Document Image Writer Driver on Microsoft Document Imaging Writer Port: Microsoft XPS Document Writer on XPSPort: Controllers Display Standard floppy disk controller Intel(R) ICH8 4 port Serial ATA Storage Controller - 2820 Primary IDE Channel [Controller] (2x) Secondary IDE Channel [Controller] (2x) Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller ATI Radeon HD 3600 Series [Display adapter] Acer V223W [Monitor] (22.0"vis, s/n ETLC3081381320C9224238, August 2011) Bus Adapters Multimedia Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2830 Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2831 Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2834 Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2835 Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 2836 Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 283A AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio Virus Protection [Back to Top] Group Policies Microsoft Security Essentials Version 4.0.1526.0 Scan Engine Version 1.1.8403.0 Virus Definitions Version 1.127.2180.0 Realtime File Scanning On Microsoft Security Essentials Version 2.1.6805.0 Virus Definitions Version Up To Date Realtime File Scanning Off None discovered Communications new � connection speed & status Other Devices U.S. Robotics V92 Fax PCI [Modem] ↑ Intel(R) 82566DM Gigabit Network Connection primary Auto IP Address: 192.168.1.10 / 24 Gateway: 192.168.1.1 Dhcp Server: 192.168.1.1 Physical Address: 00:0F:FE:48:02:BF Networking Dns Server: 192.168.1.1 USB Human Interface Device Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard HID-compliant mouse PS/2 Compatible Mouse Generic USB Hub USB Root Hub (6x) See your entire network map... click for Belarc's System Management products Network Map (mouse over IP address for physical address) [Back to Top] IP Device Type Device Details Device Roles 192.168.1.1 Router Netgear DHCP Server, Gateway, Domain Name Server, Web Server 192.168.1.10 Windows XP Workstation Pcs4464 (in WORKGROUP) Print Server, Browse Master Find your security vulnerabilities... click for Belarc's System Management products Missing Microsoft Security Hotfixes [Back to Top] All required security hotfixes (using the 06/12/2012 Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary) have been installed. Hotfixes from Microsoft Update (agent version 7.4.7600.226) wait for download and install approval. Last install: 6/4/2012 7:41:09 AM, download: 6/4/2012 7:39:20 AM, check: 6/18/2012 5:13:47 AM.
...See More
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
14 years ago
there are some distros of linux that will work fine from a usb stick so those would be options for you. Did you use a burner that burns iso images? if so set the burn to the lowest speed to do the burn that way you get less failure.

You should look at the lite version of Mephis it is called AntiX
antiX
Pooh Bear
Original Author
14 years ago
I tried burning the .iso in Nero at 16x.
The CD .iso burned just fine.

I'll give AntiX a try in VM. It looks better than Debian.
I'm downloading AntiX and Mephis right now.
Probably be tomorrow before I can try them.
Thanks for the suggestion.

Pooh Bear
Pooh Bear
Original Author
14 years ago
Cool, I got Debian installed and I am posting this from my laptop.
Got wi-fi working. Got a new battery. Got a DVD Drive.
I am officially mobile.

It was alful getting the display drivers and wi-fi card to work.
And I still don't trust the display drivers. I get blank screens.
But I sure have learned a lot about finding my way around
using only the command line interface.

Now to see what this thing will do.
It runs a lot better than when it had XP on it. A lot faster.
I just may become a Linux convert.

Pooh Bear

IBM Thinkpad T22
900Mhz processor
512 MB RAM
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
14 years ago
Mephis is one of the easiest to get those set up on, it has a built in assistant.
I have been using Mephis for years now and only rarely use windows.
I do really need to update to the most recent version but every thing works so well I hate to mess with it.
Good luck with your new hobby.
I rarely ever do command line, heck my brain refuses to retain all that but most things can be done by gui.

Related Stories

DECORATING GUIDES 5 Ways to Organize Your Home Electronics

By Vanessa Brunner

Always losing your phone charger? Tired of digging for that missing DVD? Try these ideas for managing your favorite home gadgets

HOME TECH New Strategies for Hiding the TV

By Becky Harris

Its easy to be discreet when you've got cabinets, panels and high-tech TV hiders like these

HOME TECH Plug Into Home Power Monitors That Pay for Themselves

Stop throwing away money on wasted electricity with help from new monitors that work with your phone or computer

LIFE The Moving-Day Survival Kit: Lifesaving Items and Niceties

By Becky Harris

Gather these must-haves in advance for a smooth move and more comfortable first days in your new home

DECLUTTERING 9 Exit Strategies for Your Clutter

By Alison Hodgson

How to efficiently — and regularly — rid your home of the things you don’t want

HOUSEKEEPING 10 Chores You Can Whip Through During Commercials

By Becky Harris

Use ad time for getting tasks done, and it’s like fast-forwarding your house into cleanliness

REMODELING GUIDES Home Elevators: A Rising Trend

By Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

The increasing popularity of aging in place and universal design are giving home elevators a boost, spurring innovation and lower cost

BATHROOM DESIGN How to Settle on a Shower Bench

By By Any Design Ltd.

We help a Houzz user ask all the right questions for designing a stylish, practical and safe shower bench

ORGANIZING Your Total Home Organizing and Decluttering Guide

By Vanessa Brunner

Take it slow or be a speed demon — this room-by-room approach to organizing and storage will get your home in shape no matter how you roll

MOST POPULAR Blast Decluttering Roadblocks Once and for All

By Laura Gaskill

Change your thinking to get the streamlined, organized home of your dreams

Sponsored

More Discussions

Tired of MS Office 365 Monthly Fees?

1