Want to change XP to ubuntu it wont let me go into the bois to boot from a cd

Backup, Repairing and Reinstalling GRUB

• To make a backup a copy of the existing menu.lst file use: cp /boot/grub/menu.lst /boot/grub/menu.lst.oldYou can try re-installing the grub using the Ubuntu Live CD, in two different ways.

GUI

1. Boot your computer up with Ubuntu CD
2. Go through all the process until you reach "[!!!] Disk Partition"
3. Select Manual Partition
4. Mount your appropriate linux partions / /boot swap .....
   
5. DO NOT FORMAT THEM.
   
6. Finish the manual partition
7. Say "Yes" when it asks you to save the changes
8. It will give you errors saying that "the system couldn't install ....." after that
9. Ignore them, keep select "continue" until you get back to the Ubuntu installation menu
10. Jump to "Install Grub ...."
11. Once it is finished, just restart your computer

Relax Sairam -- you don't have know all these answers.

First step, download Ubuntu and burn to a CD .

Second adjust your bios if necessary to change the boot preferences on your machine, so that it will try your CD/DVD device first before trying to boot from a hard disk.

Third, let the Ubuntu Live CD execute and bring up a desktop. On the desktop, there should be an icon to actually install Ubuntu. It will guide your through all the decisions that you need to make.

You may find it advantageous to have a "dual boot" configuration on your machine... i.e., having the choice of running some windows operating system, or ubuntu.

That error maybe a harddrive faulty / not connected. But you may need to go into the setup/bios and change the boot order so that it boots from CD first To get into the bios when the PC boots you should see a message on the screen for a very short while which will tell you how to get into the setup/bios - usually by pressing a key - like F2, or DEL key or F10 once in the bios you then need to go through the menus at the top until you find a menu page which includes the boot order - make sure CD is first
Another test, if you have access to another PC and CD writer, would be to create a bootable CD from ubuntu - this will boot from the CD only and test that the hardware works
goto http://www.ubuntu.com/ and download the ISO
full details are here http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/
click on the image "download ubuntu"
Select a location
then begin download
Save the file onto your PC – remember where you saved it – so you can find it again to create the image bootable CD.
You do NOT copy the ISO file onto a CD - you have to use the ISO to create a bootable CD The CD creator software you have on the PC may have an option to create an image from an ISO If not - use this free program http://www.imgburn.com/
When the UBUNTU CD boots - you will see the following options 1) Try ubunto without any change to your computer 2) Install ubuntu 3) Check CD for defects 4) Test memory 5) Boot from first hard disk.
Use OPTION 1 "Try ubunto without any change to your computer" ONLY this option this will run from the CD and not install onto your harddrive - be careful, if you do install onto the PC - you will wipe the data and software OFF your hard drive.., so repeat only use option 1
Now you should see a UBUNTU desktop This at least proves the main parts of the PC are working
With UBUNTU it may just be possible to copy any of your data onto a USB harddrive or thumbdrive

hi,

Is the hard disk drive is in secondary slave? If yes, change it to master and your dvd is into slave. Refer to the jumper settings at the back on the drive. If not work, your bootable disk may defective. Try other a botable disk.

Best regards,
geloaa

Make sure the computer starts from the cd drive.
see this page for instructions on changing the boot order
http://www.whitecanyon.com/how-to-change-boot-order.php

ones the boot order is set properly insert the cd in the drive and restart the computer.

ubuntu cd/dvd will load and give you some options on the screen, follow the prompts to install ubuntu.

if you need more help read the ubuntu documentation
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation

if the above link is broken try
http://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation

Nc4000 cannot have OS installed via disk, has to be via network.

1st, install windows or if you have already its good .

Then, download Linux distribution that suits You better
Download It and burn into a CD or DVD with ISO file you can use Magic ISO or other manufacturer

then Go to BIOS setup and set 1st priority is the CD or DVD drive and save and exit

and install follow the instruction of linux.

also if you chose capacity of windows or linux is to little dont worry you can make install a partition magic and resize what you like....

PS:
pls rate me if my solution solve the issue and you need more further information. but if is invaluable solution rate me fixya.

load up your boot xp cd ensure your bios is set to boot from the cd

1. Go to this website and download Ultimate Boot CD
2. Now download this tool to burn this Image


This is the program you should have downloaded.
Now that you have the program where it says file location look for the location you downloaded your file. Usually its C:\Downloads but it could be in a different location. Once you've located the file burn it to a CD or DVD of your choice.

4. Once you boot this cd you need to look for Partition Manager click on it. Click on HDD and then look for FDISK.

Make sure that you have an active partition which should say C: Active

seems your MBR is damage. but you can repair it if only you can boot in windows cd and entering in the recovery console.

To run the Recovery Console from the Windows XP startup disks or the Windows XP CD-ROM, follow these steps:
1.    Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer.

Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted.
2.    When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
3.    If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you must access from the Recovery Console.
4.    When you are prompted, type the Administrator password. If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
5.    At the command prompt, type this commands one at a time.

FIXMBR  C:
FIXBOOT  C:
COPY [CDDRIVE]:\I386\NTLDR  C:\
COPY [CDDRIVE]:\I386\NTDETECT.COM  C:\
BOOTCFG  /rebuild


6.    To exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer, type exit at the command prompt, and then press ENTER.

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