nixCraft

I am trying to install CentOS using 4.2 i386 .iso binaries on windows vista home edition preminum on dell inspiron 530 desktop. The hardware specs are Intel pentium dual core E2180 2.0Ghz processor, 2GB RAM, 320GB serial ATA 2, 7200 RPM, DIM, M.
The CentOS install is crashing/hanging without any message after showing the Choose a Language screen. It does not accept anything from the keyboard. I have tried downloading and making another copy of the CentOS binary CD but that did not help.
I have tried CentOS 4.6 i386 and that also is hanging at the same screen.
Did anyone try installing CentOS on wndows vista desktop system? I have got the formatting done by Dell support by using debug and moving some register values, but I have no way of verifying if they have formatted and removed any partitions created for vista OS.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks
kamalv

First get latest CentOS version. This should fix the problem. Some CD/DVD drivers known to have problem with Linux.


For Laptop usage I recommend Ubuntu Linux. CentOS is more suitable for servers and workstations.

Download Ubuntu Linux:
Get Ubuntu - Download, request a CD, or buy on CD/DVD | Ubuntu

Burn disk and boot from CD.

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Vivek | My personal blog
Linux Evangelist
Play hard stay cool

I am trying CentOS for some testing with oracle. When I tried Linux noprobe for disable hardware probing by selecting F2 during install, it has started moving further and allowed me to select keyboard - US and then the Installation method: What type of media contains the packages to be installed - Local CDROM, Hard drive, NFS image, FTP, HTTP- I have selected LOcal CDROM, then it displayed no drivers found to b installed and showed an option select device driver to load: Example Adaptec AHA-1522, Qlogic 1280 , VIA SATA controller (sata-via) etc. I am not sure which one select.
It looks like some thing relating to keyboard and mouse (USB) and the drivers.
Any help is apprecaited?
kamalv