Solved Which partitions do I actually need?

[Tomtom111]

I've never had problems with the stick before, and (I'm just doing Ubuntu for now) I extract the iso using winzip, then copy the contents over to the stick the try and boot from it. I will try different sticks now

 

[gregrocker]

This is not the normal method to write a bootable flash stick. I'm not familar with bootable Linux installers or OS's, however in order to boot a stick must have bootsect code applied. This is why I suggested you use the Universal installer which has all Linux apps in its dropdown. Did you read that I suggested that in my last post? Or are you trying to tell me how it's done?

 

[Tomtom111]

No, no. I was saying how I was doing it so you could tell me if I was doing anything wrong, which as it turned out, I was.

 

[Tomtom111]

Hmm, well I seem I have installed Ubuntu, without a stick. I just started the installer while in windows, restarted and Ubuntu came up, fully installed. It appears to use windows boot manager. I'm kinda puzzled. Could I do the same for xp? Btw, thank you sooooo much for your help, even though I may have been a bit of a nuisance.

 

[gregrocker]

I'd follow the steps I've given you in post 96.

 

[Tomtom111]

Ok, I'll try that out once Ubuntu updates have installed.

 

[Tomtom111]

Just read somewhere that xp boot loader overrides the one in 7, so it can't be booted. Will this actually happen?

 

[kegobeer]

Just read somewhere that xp boot loader overrides the one in 7, so it can't be booted. Will this actually happen?

Dude, just read the link given to you in post 96.

 

[Tomtom111]

I hadn't read that far yet. Still trying to boot from the disc.

 

[Tomtom111]

Ok, back again. Whenever I try to boot from a windows xp disc (no matter which one I try) it comes up with this screen after starting to loader drivers and stuff. What can I do?

 

[gregrocker]

You need XP SATA drivers in the XP CD. The only way to add them is using ancient floppy support or slipstreaming them into the ISO to burn another bootable CD. SATA Drivers - Slipstream into Windows XP CD

You can try vitualizing XP from within Win7 to avoid the hassle.

 

[Tomtom111]

how do I tell which is the correct driver for my disk?

 

[kegobeer]

You go to the motherboard manufacturer's website and download the XP SATA F6 drivers for it.

 

[Tomtom111]

I've found my drive on the manufactures site, but I don't which download it is. And also my motherboards manufactures website is fairly confusing.

WD site: WD Support / Downloads / WD Scorpio & AV-25 / WD Scorpio Black
Quanta: Quanta Computer

Help?

 

[kegobeer]

You don't get it from WD, because the hard drive manufacturer doesn't care about that. SATA drivers come from your motherboard manufacturer. For prebuilt computers, you go to the company that sold it to you. Go to HP, not Quanta - Quanta doesn't provide support for HP.

Are you sure you won't be better off just running Windows 7 and then running your other operating systems in VMs?

 

[Tomtom111]

Can't find it...

Software & Driver Downloads HP Pavilion dv6-2020sa Entertainment Notebook PC - HP technical support (United Kingdom - English)

 

[kegobeer]

That's because HP doesn't offer XP drivers for your computer.

 

[Tomtom111]

I don't suppose there are any other drivers that would be compatible with my system and allow me to run xp?

 

[gregrocker]

If you can find out your exact mobo model then you might find an XP storage driver, but it takes excellent Google Fu.

I would try installing Virtual Box, VMWare, or other freeware to see how XP runs virtually for you.

 

[kegobeer]

Really, at this point you should just run 7 and use VMs for your "fun playtime" operating systems.