Can't see bootable Linux CD on startup?

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March 19th, 2006, 04:54 PM
Miff Mole

Can't see bootable Linux CD on startup?

Hi

I'm only semi-technical so forgive if I'm asking something dumb.

I'm trying out a couple Linux systems-on-a-CD: Knoppix and Puppy Linux.

The image CDs I burned both work in my friend's notebook--I used Knoppix as a rescue disk to pull off his hard drive files before restoring his crashed system.

But neither is seen as bootable by my 5-year old desktop. I get a message something like "No bootable ATAPI CD seen".

What gives? A BIOS issue? Something I need to change in ISOLINUX?

I have an AOpen AX34 motherboard R1.09, Award BIOS 4.60.

Any help will be appreciated.
March 19th, 2006, 07:38 PM
Ferrit

Well its possible that your cdrom will not read the disk.
March 19th, 2006, 08:26 PM
Miff Mole

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferrit

Well its possible that your cdrom will not read the disk.

I can see the contents of the disk if I'm in Windows.
March 19th, 2006, 08:45 PM
Ferrit

That is irrelevant to whether your cdrom will boot from the burnt disk or not.
Thats where your issue is Can it boot from the cd
March 19th, 2006, 10:26 PM
shamus

When you burn the disk make sure you finalize the burn, depending on the burner software, you don't want the ability to add files at a later date. Got a bunch of Gateways that won't read cds unless they're finalized.
March 20th, 2006, 03:33 AM
Miff Mole

Quote:

Originally Posted by shamus

When you burn the disk make sure you finalize the burn, depending on the burner software, you don't want the ability to add files at a later date. Got a bunch of Gateways that won't read cds unless they're finalized.

I think I did that.

Anyway, I now realize that my system won't recognize any bootable CDs, apparently.

I have an old Norton Systemworks 2001 CD that's bootable--at least, it'll boot up other systems. I feel like it used to boot up on mine, but now it doesn't. Wonder why.

I've changed out my CD drive last fall...maybe it has something to do with my new SONY drive.

I have two CD drives on one IDE cable, one set to master and one to slave. I wonder if that matters?

Oh well, at least I know its probably not a Linux problem, eh?
March 20th, 2006, 06:35 AM
Miff Mole

Well, I solved my problem by trial and error...in fact I'm using Knoppix right now.

I had to burn it to a CD-R, rather than a CD-RW, and it only works in the drive I have configured as master (an older TEAC), not the newer (slave) SONY drive.