Linux Lite Forums

Hello,
First, let me say that I know nothing about Linux. I'm a Windows fan, but I have been asked to try to get this computer running with Linux Lite. So I apologize if my cluelessness is obvious.
I have a Toshiba Satellite A85-S1072 that I am trying to install Linux Lite 2.0 on. (I know this is quite outdated, but it's the version I have on my installation CD, and I install all available updates as soon as the installation is complete.) At first, I get the "Automatic boot" screen. I let that pass, and then a screen with a loading bar comes up. Gradually the bar fills, and then I get a black screen. Nothing else happens. I've used this CD to install LL on another computer, so I don't think this is normal. I tried running it in safe mode, which resulted in several minutes of jargon scrolling by...and then a black screen. I used the memory tester on the CD, since I didn't know what the problem was, and that came back OK.
Does anyone know what would make Linux Lite freeze during installation like this? A hardware problem, maybe? (Just throwing out ideas here.) I'd really like to figure this out. The computer is pretty old- it has a sticker on it that says "Designed for Windows XP". The hard drive is completely wiped, so there's nothing to boot to besides the CD. I don't know anything about the computer pre-wipe. If you need technical specifications, I think they're here.

Hotwdy and Welcome

Might help. Might not.

https://www.linuxliteos.com/manual/hardw...ml#booting

(09-03-2015, 07:04 PM)rokytnji link Wrote: [ -> ]Hotwdy and Welcome

Might help. Might not.

https://www.linuxliteos.com/manual/hardw...ml#booting

Thanks for the link. I tried holding Shift while booting, and I just got a black screen with "boot: " at the very top-left. This command-prompt-like interface seems potentially useful (it responded when I hit the "L" key), but what do I enter? The manual you linked to doesn't cover it, and a quick Google search didn't turn up anything.
I think one of the issues with troubleshooting this is that Linux Lite isn't installed on the machine yet. It's still running off a CD. Therefore, I don't think I have the full LL installation to play around with.

1)  Is the installation CD for 32-bit Linux Lite?
2)  How much memory does the machine have?  What you sent in terms of specs showed the machine was configured with 256MB of RAM, but can hold as much as 1GB.  The minimum requirements are 512GB of RAM.

https://www.linuxliteos.com/download.html

(09-03-2015, 08:17 PM)torreydale link Wrote: [ -> ]1)  Is the installation CD for 32-bit Linux Lite?
2)  How much memory does the machine have?  What you sent in terms of specs showed the machine was configured with 256MB of RAM, but can hold as much as 1GB.  The minimum requirements are 512MB of RAM.

https://www.linuxliteos.com/download.html

Yes, the CD is for 32-bit Linux Lite, according to its label.
I don't know how to find the amount of RAM installed. As I said, the computer can't boot to anything except the CD. I went into the BIOS, hoping to find the answer there, but I didn't. The only things pertaining to memory there were "System Memory: 640 KB" and "Extended Memory: 190 MB", and neither of those values looks like what you want.
Edit: I realized that the memory tester on the CD might show the amount of RAM. These values look more promising- do they help?

(double post snipped out)

I'm rather confident what you wrote in the quote below isn't the issue.

Quote:I think one of the issues with troubleshooting this is that Linux Lite isn't installed on the machine yet. It's still running off a CD. Therefore, I don't think I have the full LL installation to play around with.

On the memory:
1) Does it still boot to XP?  If so, you can check the memory there.
2) If it doesn't boot to XP, you can turn the computer off, remove the battery, and flip the computer over to remove the memory cover at http://www.manualslib.com/manual/329272/...e=9#manual, to see if there's anything printed on the memory module to signify how much memory you actually have.

(09-03-2015, 08:35 PM)torreydale link Wrote: [ -> ]I'm rather confident what you wrote in the quote below isn't the issue.

Quote:I think one of the issues with troubleshooting this is that Linux Lite isn't installed on the machine yet. It's still running off a CD. Therefore, I don't think I have the full LL installation to play around with.

Ok then. I'll take your word for it, since I was just guessing.

Quote:On the memory:
1) Does it still boot to XP?  If so, you can check the memory there.
2) If it doesn't boot to XP, you can turn the computer off, remove the battery, and flip the computer over to remove the memory cover at http://www.manualslib.com/manual/329272/...e=9#manual, to see if there's anything printed on the memory module to signify how much memory you actually have.

No, it does not still boot to XP. If the picture I posted in my previous post doesn't help, I can try #2.

I can't view the picture at the moment.  So I'm assuming the reason we're continuing is because the memory is indeed at or above 512MB.

When you tried the solution rokytnji suggested, did you use the right or left shift key?  If you tried with the right, try with the left.

If that solution doesn't lead to anything, try this: https://www.linuxliteos.com/forums/insta.../#msg16328

I'm not sure what LL's requirements are, but it appears you only have a 256mb stick of ram in the machine, and a decent part of that is being reserved by the MB. I would think this would be a problem when it comes to loading the video drivers.