ubuntu won't start without cd

[DAIPWYSO]

Hi All

I hope you can help.

I've loaded ubuntu 9.10 onto my pc, it doesn't have windows now. The problem is ubuntu won't start, push the power button and the power light stays on the other lights flicker, but nothing happens on screen.

Insert the ubuntu cd and start up again and it's ok!

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Dave

[LinkindinkinPark]

ide or sata hard drive? guess its ide. check in bios it is configured properly.

 

if it is all ok, reformat using ubuntu util, gparted i think, to one partition and swap partition and reinstall

[DAIPWYSO]

Hi LinkindinkinPark

Thanks for that but unfortunately it doesn't mean a thing to me.

I believe the pc is IDE. But being a complete numpty I'll need leading by the hand if you'd be so kind.

I inserted the Ubuntu cd and selected 'use the whole disc' for the installation, it worked ok for the first 4 or 5 startups but now pretty much nothing happens. First the CD 'D' drive light flickers for a short while then the 'C' drive light flickers for a very short while and then nothing! If I insert the CD and restart, Ubuntu eventually starts up.

I hope this can be remedied because I really don't want to reinstall MS XP.

Many thanks in anticipation Dave.

[Plastic Nev]

I am not too sure about what is happening here Dave, it may be that you are only booting the system from the CD and therefore Ubuntu hasn't installed to your hard drive.

 

There may be one or two reasons for that, first is, the disk you have may be for booting from disk only and not a full installation one, other Ubuntu users may know better on that score.

 

The other reason may be the hard drive has failed, I assume it was working OK previously to trying to install Ubuntu?

 

Nev.

[DAIPWYSO]

Hi Plastic Nev

Yes the hard drive was working ok prior to installing Ubuntu. I'm fairly sure that once it's up and running I can remove the CD and still work with Ubuntu, but I'm at work so will have to check that out this evening. (would that indicate the hard drive is ok?)

Hopefully someone will be able to advise how to check what type of CD I have.

Many thanks Dave

[DAIPWYSO]

Hi All

I checked it out last night and this is what happens:

Ubuntu starts almost always with the CD in.

Remove CD and Ubuntu continues to function ok.

‘Restart’ without CD is ok.

‘Hibernate’ without CD and it wakes ok.

‘Shut down’ without CD in then start. Small Ubuntu logo appears on screen for a short while and then nothing!

If this can't be resolved I'm ok with using 'hibernate', will that be ok in the long term?

Regards Dave

[LinkindinkinPark]

restart without cd is ok ......start without cd gives you ubuntu icon....

 

means it is installed just as it should be

 

i reckon theres a hardware fault, maybe a drive playing up or a psu a bit weak when cold.tricky to diagnose on a forum,could do with swapping psu to see if it goes away, then installing on a different drive to check same

[DAIPWYSO]

Hello LinkindinkinPark

Thanks for that, the PC is about 7 years old so you could well be right about the hardware failure. We have been preparing ourselves to replace it with a cheap laptop.

As I want to avoid MS products I will continue aclimatising myself to Ubuntu (using hibernate). And when the time comes we hope the forum will be able to advise us on getting a laptop without MS loaded.

And thanks again for your help with this. Dave