I'm really hoping someone can help me with this, as I've spent three days reading countless Linux forums to no avail. I've been using Linux for many years now, so am not quite a noob, but don't really get too much into the technical stuff, so simplified solutions would be greatly appreciated.
Background:
I recently got a couple of Acer Aspire One netbooks (running win XP), which I would like to dual boot with either Mint 6 or 7. Obviously the netbooks don't have an optical drive (and I don't have an external), so I'm stuck using USBs. I have a desktop running PCLOS and a laptop running Mint 6, which I'm using to download the ISOs and make the USBs.
I've tried every possible combination I can think of, but nothing seems to work.
I have downloaded the LinuxMint-6.iso the LinuxMint-7.iso as well as the Ubuntu Netbook Remix. The Md5 sums of each downloaded file are correct. I have also burned working CDs from each ISO; so I know the files are good.
I have tried creating the usb using UNetbootin (both using the existing downloaded ISO, as well as letting it re-download it itself). I have also tried creating the USB using usb-creator. I have tried making the usb (using each of those methods) from my installed Mint 6 machine, as well as from both the Mint 6 and Mint 7 live CDs ... all with no luck.
I have tried making both persistent, and non-persistent USBs. Doesn't seem to make any difference.
The Errors:
I always seem to get one of the two following errors.
Every time I've tried a usb created with UNetbootin, I simply get the error
Code: Select all
Boot error.
Code: Select all
SYSLINUX 3.63 Debian-2008-07-15 EBIOS Copyright (C) 1994-2008 H. Peter Anvin
Unknown keyword in configuration file.
Unknown keyword in configuration file.
Unknown keyword in configuration file.
Unknown keyword in configuration file.
Unknown keyword in configuration file.
Unknown keyword in configuration file.
boot:
Could not find kernel image: linux
boot: _
- - I have tested that the netbooks can boot okay from USB, by booting them with known/working live USBs of other distros. They boot just fine with Puppy, an older PCLOS MiniMe, and gOS.
- I have 4 different USB sticks that I have tested (by making bootable drives of those other distros); all of the actual drives work fine.
- I have tried leaving the syslinux.cfg file as-is, as well as replacing it with the 'custom' file, as suggested on Pendrivelinux.com
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! I want to Linux up these netbooks before I spend too much time surfing with them, before their 'trial' software expires, and before the win XP install corrupts itself too badly (it's already updating itself despite my turning the auto update "off" ... darn microsith!)
Cheers,
Neil