Unable to install linux on WINXP acer travelmate-help

[lesley57]

hi guys/gals,

Firstly, I'm a newbie, so be gentle. Recently got hold of acer travelmate with intention of installing mint 12 on it for my mum. Attempted to install mint 12 by:
inserting installation cd/dvd (not sure which), esc boot, change boot to cd drive - response booted to XP.

inserting cd/dvd, booted, attempted to enter set-up - requested password ???, so tried changing to previous - same response latter

inserted usb install mepis, esc boot, change boot to usb, booted to XP.

Both these options had worked with compaq presario!!! Thought last option not working might be due to unetbootin not being on laptop? have read similar posts, wondering if following might work - would appreciate some advice:

boot with a Plop boot cd in my cd drive ( http://www.plop.at/en/bootmanager/index.html ) and the usbkey in a usb slot. It booted Plop as expected, I used this to transfer the boot to usb and what do you know, it started! Not only that but it installed as well. So success with attempt number 10.

Thanks Lez

[AlbertP]

Perhaps you used a DVD in a drive that can only boot from CD's?
I have no idea how old your Acer Travelmate is, by the way.

[lesley57]

Well, went away & tried that with mint 10 on cd-r & ubuntu on cd-r. No luck. boots to WINXP

[AlbertP]

In that case I'd just use Plop to boot your CD's.

But perhaps there's an easy fix to get the laptop to boot from Linux CD's. Did you try burning the discs at a slower speed? Already tried both CD and DVD? (CD editions can be burnt on a DVD without any problem)
Or perhaps you need to upgrade the BIOS from Windows.