Head scratcher

[Magnum]

What is most interesting about life is that there is always something new to discover. :-)

I burned some Linux isos to a disk, but they will not boot.

I have tried to boot from a CD from a boot-able CD.

I tried booting  from a reliable XP install disk, but it failed.

I also tried from some other boot-able CDs.

Thanks,
             Luke Skywalker. :-)

[dedndave]

my first guess - the optical drive may have gone south
it may be something simple - that a good cleaning will fix
do not blow into the drive (compressed air, etc) - it will only stir up the dust and make matters worse
check the cables, of course

[Magnum]

I used Maxell Lens Cleaner to clean my CD/DVD recorder.

(I had problems with the drive recognizing CDs.)

I was very impressed that Linux could read the cleaning CD as it was about 10 years old.

The Lens Cleaner solved the CD reading problem.

[hutch--]

Do yourself a favour, buy a new one, the price has really come down over the last couple of years so it may not be a cost burden. I had a left over brand new Pioneer DVD writer which I used on my i7 but you can routinely get SATA DVD writers these days so supply should be no problem. The Pioneer cost me about $120 AU some years ago where the Samsung SATA cost me about $25.00 AU and its a better drive.

[Magnum]

I really appreciate your input.

I have a H.P. 6730b laptop.

It is a bee-otch to work on because of the cramped quarters.

If I can find a decent USB DVD burner, I will replace it.

I have found that USB pendrives are hit or miss in being bootable compared to CDs.

Even Linux recommends using Windows to install their O.S. to a pendrive. :-)

-------------------------------------------------

I have a SATA system, but it only has 2 Gb of RAM.

It may run XP fine.

Take care.

[Vortex]

Boot and run Linux from a USB flash memory stick

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/

[Gunther]

Boot and run Linux from a USB flash memory stick

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/

Good idea, Erol.  :t

Gunther