This is an extremely frustrating problem. I have this old Dell box which I installed Ubuntu on a while ago and have been using it as a server. I was controlling it remotely over my home network, but then I messed with some settings which caused it to disconnect from the network, and now I have no way of controlling it because it doesn’t seem to respond to my keyboard and mouse, which work perfectly fine in other computers. I have also tried other keyboards and mice to no avail.
I have tried plugging them into every USB port this computer has; they are never recognized. So I said fuck it, took the only hard drive out (which had the OS installed on it), put it in my other computer, formatted it clean, and put it back in the Dell. I created a clean Ubuntu install disc and put it in there, thinking I would be able to re-install everything.
But what happened when I booted was very weird - it still tried to boot to Ubuntu the same way it did before, and then it says “disk for media/[a bunch of numbers and letters] is either not ready or not available”, and hangs. It says press “S” to skip or “M” to recover manually, but of course it does not take my keyboard input. What’s weird is even if I take the Ubuntu boot disc out, it still boots in exactly the same way. Why would it do that even after I formatted the HD? Why the fuck can’t I control my computer?! Is there anything I can do at this point to regain control? (I still have the original Windows discs as well, but putting that in did not seem to do anything - it still tries to boot to Ubuntu and fails)
The bootloader is probably still on the MBR and it’s trying to load the system like normal. Go into the BIOS and make sure the computer is set to boot off the CDROM first, and hard drive second. Then the install disc should work.
Barring that, I dunno. Although it’s supposed to be simple and newbie friendly, I’ve spent 12 years using Linux but never once been able to successfully install Ubuntu.
Here’s the problem - I can’t get into the BIOS either. I’ve tried hitting F12/F5 (or is it F4? Whatever it says at the first screen for setup) furiously at the boot screen, and it doesn’t even recognize my keyboard input at that stage. I’m afraid this old computer might be FUBAR, but I don’t want to give up so easily.
Edit: OK, I just tried with a different keyboard and I managed to get into the BIOS (I don’t know why it would recognize one and not the other when I know both keyboards work). Now I might be getting somewhere…
OK, this new keyboard is shedding some light on the situation - I think the USB ports themselves are damaged. Reason being that this keyboard lights up when it’s being powered - well I was starting the install using keyboard only and then the lights start flickering and go out, and I lose control. Then I tried plugging it in some of the other ports, and several didn’t work but then I hit one where it lit up and now it’s flickering again on and off. So it seems my USB ports are fucked. Is there a way to fix that?
You really must have experienced a streak of bad luck. I have done clean installs of Ubuntu Linux and of Windows in the past on generic PCs, i. e. not too old machines, but not brand new either.
The Windows installs were much more tricky and included looking for all sorts of drivers and rebooting numerous times. The Ubuntu installs on the other hand went through almost unattended.
Linux traditionally has had a reputation for being hard to install because most PCs come with Windows pre-installed. The average user has never installed an operating system.
Another potential source of trouble are parallel installations of Windows and Linux.
If you can’t get a keyboard response, even before OS boot, then try resetting the BIOS.
If you can’t find the clear CMOS jumper, then take out the battery and wait a bit before putting it back.
You didn’t try anything extreme when this problem first happened, like flashing a new BIOS did you? (A screwed up BIOS flash can cause all sorts of problems.)
Yeah, I really don’t know what the deal was. On one computer, the monitor shut off and wouldn’t come back on when the live CD booted because of some kernel parameter. Once I figured it out and got it installed, the monitor shut off when it tried to boot. The same kernel option, and others I tried, didn’t work so I gave up. On another computer, it would never boot after the install and I don’t really remember the symptoms. On my newest computer, the live CD for Ubuntu, Kununtu, and Xubuntu simply wouldn’t boot. They would all spin up and churn for 20 minutes until I did a hard reset.
I don’t think I would like Ubuntu anyway. I just think about trying it every so often to see why it’s so popular. I’ve used Slackware for at least 10 years and it’s never crashed or failed me, and I have 2 Debian Pogoplugs that can come close enough to providing the “ubuntu” feel, without the desktop of course, but that’s the one thing I know I wouldn’t like anyway.
There are keyboards and mice that don’t use USB?! Well I certainly don’t own any.
I think the best route is the PCI card that adds new USB ports as I’m fairly certain that the ports are the problem (it’s a pretty old PC) - I’m gonna pick one up at Fry’s when I get a chance.
Yes, and if you have a used computer store or Goodwill computer center around you can get one for a song, possibly even with the understanding that you might need to bring it back if it doesn’t help.
(Or is this a whoosh?)