Loading /casper/vmlinuz............... forever

[rippedcb]

which version of mint did u download?? thats really weird.
Plus u shouldn't really get a choice to "start mint" if you downloaded the universal version.
you should set your bio's to boot from CD/DVD first and restart comp, then when it starts up u will see a option like "to boot from CD/DVD press any button"
or
when you first start your computer (before it gets to windows) you should see an option something like "for boot options press F12" or something like that. Then when you press F12 it will give you a choices to where to boot from and you pick ur CD drive and then just let it do everything. You don't need to "start mint" you will get a logon screen.. but don't do anything, it will log in automatically in 10 seconds..

not sure if this fixes ur prob..

[rippedcb]

what if u don't press the space bar?? just let it count down and see if it lets u in..
u shouldn't have to see the screen where it gives u those options.. u can install it while ur already up and running in the live cd...

[mick55]

Hi V

First run a CD error check.
No point going further if you've got a bad burn.

Next try these boot options

Press F4. Graphics Modes. select the "Safe graphics mode"

If that doesn't work

Press F6. Other Options. select acpi=off and noapic and/or nolapic

If that doesn't do it let us know.

Incidentally Compaq makes about 300 different models
in the Presario CQ60 series, so the complete Compaq
name would be helpful so I know exactly what your Laptop
specifications are.

cheers
mick

[MaddogF16]

I'd download from a different source and burn with a different utility, if you're burning from Windows there's tons of free choices that burn well, IMGBurn being just one.

[MaddogF16]

Maybe check the Mint wiki for possible cheatcodes, I also am new to Mint (not linux)and have one desktop that I'm working to get loaded also, mine gets past loading but can't complete. My issue may come down to a faulty or buggy cd drive.

[mick55]

Hi again V

I see from your posts that you originally had a bad burn .

With your newly burned DVD have you tried all the strategies I
outlined in my original post

If not try all those strategies and report back.

Incidentally are you burning the CD/DVD on the same Laptop you
are trying to install Mint on

Also, disconnect all external devices from the Laptop.
No external drives,ipods,wireless mice, keyboards, dongles or anything else
should be connected when you try to boot.
I couldn't boot the live CD with my ipod connected, you may have
a similar issue.

cheers
mick

[rippedcb]

also.. make sure u burn the image at the slowest speed possible....
try different brand of DVD-R discs

don't give up on mint yet.. i know it seems like a pain in the butt right now.. but its worth it my friend
CB

[DrHu]

Speed of burned CD; try 4x rating, about the same speed as a dvd or CDRW media
--some distributions seem overly sensitive to speed settings/readability

I might also use a more generic Linux application for CD writing/burn iso
http://www.yolinux.com/TUTORIALS/LinuxT ... DBurn.html

• Burn ISO image onto CD:
  Linux 2.6 kernel: cdrecord -v -eject speed=16 dev=ATA:1,0,0 RedHat-7.0-i386-powertools.iso

Replace speed= and distribution name, and device if not an IDE to match your settings