Linux distros aren't installing...

[ocryan]

I have an older laptop (hp pavilion dv1000), specs are:

Intel Pentium M 1.5 GHz
512mb RAM
60gb HD

Before attempting the below, I had XP installed on it, and it ran without issues, other than being a little slow.

I'm looking to install a linux distro, but I've had a ridiculous amount of issues so far. Currently, there isn't anything installed on the machine. I've tried (booting via cd iso's):

1. Ubuntu 10.04.2-desktop-i386: Got to splash screen, then black screen. Never got to iso boot menu.

2. XUbuntu-10.04.2-desktop-i386: Got to splash screen, then boot menu. Chose the install option, and it went to a black screen. Nothing else happened.

3. openSUSE-11.4-KDE-LiveCD-i686: Installed all the way, except the graphics didn't behave correctly, the whole thing was glitchy and problematic, I decided to move on.

4. XUbuntu-10.04.2-alternate-i386: After a seemingly perfect installation, upon reboot I get this...
"The disk drive is not ready yet /dev/mapper/crystswap is not ready yet or not present", then gives me the option to wait or do a recovery. I tried waiting, it boots to a black screen. I tried the recovery, and now it doesn't boot at all.

Anyone have any good recommendations for a linux distro that should work out of the box with this laptop? I'd like to install NetBeans, firefox, and etc, so nothing too basic. Just something that will run quickly given my specs.

[MikeTbob]

It's probably just a graphics/video card problem. Any idea what kind of graphics card you have?

[ocryan]

The specs are available under cnet reviews, for the HP Pavilion dv1000, it is the stock graphics card, listed below. I can't post links since I don't have enough posts yet. ^^

But, if XP ran fine, shouldn't a linux distro run fine as well? How am I suppose to install drivers or any software to solve graphics issues if I have no OS?

From the specs, looks like... Intel Extreme Graphics 2 Shared video memory (UMA), a real POS.

Thanks for the response!

[MASONTX]

AntiX has always worked well for me with problematic laptops, you might also try Legacy os, as it has graphics compatibility with some older cards.

[ocryan]

Downloading AntiX now, we'll see if it works out. If it doesn't, I'll try out Legacy OS, then, presumably, come back here if all fails.

Thanks for the tip.

[ocryan]

AntiX works great! Thanks a lot for the recommendation. I'm loving it.

[MASONTX]

Glad you found one you liked. Enjoy, and keep us posted.

[MikeTbob]

AntiX works great! Thanks a lot for the recommendation. I'm loving it.

Sweet!
Kudos to you for sticking with it, you deserved a break and you got it. Do let us know how it goes, we all love a good success story.