Problems Connecting to the Internet

kodakjack said:

I am using Windows 7 Home edition. I am using whatever comes with it. I am not using Windows Pro and have a real Dell machine. I have specifically asked if there is something inherently different with Dell's version of Windows 7, but have not received an answer. It is entirely possible that we are talking apples and oranges as the things you guys are asking me to do aren't working as prescribed.

Windows 7 Home edition should show you the same context menu for this task and Windows 7 Pro.

Dell might have installed 3rd party software to handle the burning of DVDs. There is a warning about that in the pink box in the tutorial that we linked to. But don't concern yourself with that. Just let us know what you see when you right click on the ISO file.

kodakjack said:

As soon as I powered up my iPad, I got a connection on my Windows 7 machine. It seems to be more than a coincidence because it's happened a few times before.

That is interesting. I'm not sure what to make of that just yet.

kodakjack said:

IF the solution to a Windows 7 problem is downloading a completely different operating system, then maybe you can download the same file the same way I did and burn a DVD like I did and verify it works, because it sure looks like I can't. If you can get it to work, please come back with detailed instructions on what to do and tell me what I'm doing wrong.

I downloaded both the 32bit and the 64bit ISO files and tested them. I was able to boot to both using a virtual machine. I did not burn them to a DVD because I don't have any blank DVDs.

kodakjack said:

...please come back with detailed instructions on what to do...

I do not think that I can get any more detailed that that tutorial. Starting the process via right click should yield different results than double clicking on the ISO file.

FWIW, I have done all of my posting activity from my iPad today because I could not get a connection on the Windows 7 machine. The last time I tried, it took a good 15 minutes before it did connect. I know I mentioned the iPad trick, but I guess, for as often as it did work, that it was a fluke. It did not work for me this last time.
Even though I get exactly the same screen whether I right click or double click on the file, I'll make yet another DVD and see if it work.

Can you right click the ISO and take a screenshot when the context menu is open? or just write the menu down. Whichever you feel is easier.

I suggested making another DVD only if the wording on the context menu is exactly as I stated. If it is not, then do not make another DVD... just let us know what the exact wording is.

Eureka, I have a "good" DVD, but it will not boot. This time when I stuck the DVD in the drive, it ran and I was asked what I wanted it to do. The only selection from Windows Media Player (Auto Play) was to "Open Folder to View Files". I did that and it showed me what was on the DVD and it did have a boot file, but it didn't do an auto boot. I did this while still in Windows to see if it would work. Remember, the Linux Mint site said it was not bootable.

Does it look like this?



And did you try restarting PC with that loaded?

I just tried starting with the DVD in the drive and the drive ran, but Windows completely bypassed it and did its usual boot routine.
Yes, the files look like that. There is a boot file. For clarification, the download is:
Linuxmint-17.2-mate-64bit

Yes, I downloaded a while back so mine is 17.1. Did you get any Press any key to boot from the CD warning?
Would you try again please? Just keep tapping space right after you see Dell logo until Windows logo.

We can't do anything if we can't get into BIOS, maybe repair install but you would need the Windows 7 Installation ISO\DVD\USB

And we are trying to boot Linux to see if it's a hardware issue or not

kodakjack said:

Eureka, I have a "good" DVD,...

kodakjack said:

..."Open Folder to View Files". I did that and it showed me what was on the DVD and it did have a boot file, but it didn't do an auto boot....

I do not know what you mean by "it didn't do an auto boot". Where you expecting the computer to reboot just because you looked at the file on the DVD via Windows (file) Explorer?

kodakjack said:

...Remember, the Linux Mint site said it was not bootable.

Are you talking about the secure boot statement?