Newbie, ubuntu XP dual boot install on T42 will not boot!

[Franasia]

Hi everyone,

Have installed ubuntu 8.10 with XP dual boot. It run fine for a couple of days until, looking for what works and what doesn't, I put system on standby from ubuntu. It never recovered ... there's no HDD activity light, no C: prompt, just black dead screen.

IBM blue button does nothing. Have recovery partition and recovery discs but nothing works.

I tried with another hdd with no OS on it hoping I could run recovery on it but still exact same symptoms as before. Help please.

Thanks!

[GomJabbar]

See if the solution in the following thread will work for you.

battery drained - now won't start

[Superego]

You mentioned using the recovery discs, but have you tried booting with your Ubuntu disc (or you XP disc)?

I tried with another hdd with no OS on it hoping I could run recovery on it but still exact same symptoms as before

So you put a blank hard drive in and then tried to run rescue and recovery? I don't use Windows or Resucue & Recovery but that doesn't sound like it would work. My assumption is that R&R requires an existing operating system but, like I said, I don't use R&R.

What steps, if any, did you take to set up standby?

[Franasia]

See if the solution in the following thread will work for you.

battery drained - now won't start

Interesting solution – tried it but did nothing. Have a strong battery normally showing 98~100%.

Thinking it could be a BIOS setting. Previous to installing ubuntu, I changed the boot sequence, so I could run the live CD, so the optical drive is No.1. This machine is normally docked to the Dock II, which has a floppy drive. I inserted FDISK and nothing.

When powered up most of the lights at the base of the screen light up except the HDD’s.
Screen is black. The machine does not respond or react to any keystroke or individual keys. Suspect the MBR … maybe?

[Franasia]

You mentioned using the recovery discs, but have you tried booting with your Ubuntu disc (or you XP disc)?

I tried with another hdd with no OS on it hoping I could run recovery on it but still exact same symptoms as before

What steps, if any, did you take to set up standby?

I do not have an XP disk. Just the original recovery discs and recovery partition.

I don’t know what you mean for steps to set up standby … I used the Fn + F4 keystroke.

[Superego]

I don’t know what you mean for steps to set up standby … I used the Fn + F4 keystroke.

I was wondering if you had to do any kind of configuration to use standby; sound like you didn't so that answers that question.

My apologies about the "XP disc", I meant the recovery discs and misspoke. Have you tried booting with the Ubuntu disc?

When you installed Ubuntu where did you install GRUB (to the MBR, a seperate boot partition,etc.)? If you installed to the MBR then you would lose the functionality of the thinkvantage button.

[Franasia]

I don’t know what you mean for steps to set up standby … I used the Fn + F4 keystroke.

I was wondering if you had to do any kind of configuration to use standby; sound like you didn't so that answers that question.

My apologies about the "XP disc", I meant the recovery discs and misspoke. Have you tried booting with the Ubuntu disc?

It will not boot up with the ububtu disc or anything I have tried so far.

When you installed Ubuntu where did you install GRUB (to the MBR, a seperate boot partition,etc.)? If you installed to the MBR then you would lose the functionality of the thinkvantage button.

I believe you're on the right track ... I don't recall having installed GRUB. I have a 20GB partition where I installed ubuntu. But still, the machine will not "see" another HDD I tried ... there's no HDD activity light, screen is all black ...

Cheers

[phubai]

That would tell us something. Try booting from the CD by holding the F12 key down so that you can choose to boot from your CD/DVD drive. Do that, and see if your screen works.