Problem installing OS without optical drive or USB boot option.

[Gazucha]

Thanks for posting the contents of the RESULTS.txt.

I found nothing wrong in the reported boot sequence.
So, I wonder if the BIOS of your problematic PC cannot use partition which reaches a certain limit from the first sector.
In such case, you can make small /boot partition from the beginning of the HDD separately from / partition.
At installation, make a small /boot partition from the beginning of the HDD.

Hola amigo, don't mean to be thick, but could you clarify please? Which size is 'small'? Which program is best to do this task? And when exactly is 'at installation?' What is also the difference between a 'boot' and 'non-boot' partition? Thanks again for your time. Hasta luego,

[ugm6hr]

ugm6hr, But did you try booting the drive in the Evo after creating the LiveHD partition?
Yeah, tried that first, and all went well. Thanks again for all your time.

If you truly booted into the LiveHD Peppermint (and not just the same already installed Peppermint - the LiveHD should behave identically to the LiveUSB - and not require login etc) on the Evo - then the issue is with hardware compatibility on Toughbook.

If true, it may be necessary to use the "alternative" install CD (or equivalent) to try and install, if the live OS will not boot.

Else, it may be that your hardware just doesn't have Linux drivers at all.

Judging by one person's experience of your graphics card (specs from http://www.linlap.com/panasonic_toughbook_72 )...
http://www.markturner.net/2012/05/08...4-disappoints/
You may be out of luck.

[kiyop]

To Gazucha,

Read the above post of ugm6hr first.

Of course, the above written guess of mine may be wrong. If my guess is wrong, excuse me.

I answer to your questions:

Which size is 'small'?

It depends on the BIOS. Refer to
http://www.dewassoc.com/kbase/hard_d...e_barriers.htm
/boot partition should contain only kernels and initramfs files of peppermint, and files required for kernel loader (such as grub2).
So, maybe the necessary size of /boot partition is less than 100MB.

Which program is best to do this task?

I guess that Peppermint installer can partition the HDD.

And when exactly is 'at installation?'

Connect the HDD (which will be connected to Toughbook) to Evo.
Boot Peppermint Installation USB/DVD/CD.
At installation of Peppermint, you can partition.

What is also the difference between a 'boot' and 'non-boot' partition?

I could not find a good link, but refer to
http://linuxmafia.com/~karsten/Linux/FAQs/partition.html

Can you create a bootable floppy?
Can you boot any OS on the problematic Toughbook now?

[Gazucha]

Hang on, No, I didn't boot into the Live CD.. I'll get back to you...

[Gazucha]

Sheesh! they don't help by all using different HD caddy's... Anyway, NO, it is NOT booting from the Live CD partition.. It doesn't even show it at boot. Now what? Can't we just start again? Fresh install using the Evo? Everyone seems to think it should work.. Maybe I used the wrong Partition type or something? Answers to... Can you create a bootable floppy? Can you boot any OS on the problematic Toughbook now? No Floppy anything... No OS on the Toughbook... Gonna try to install PMint again...

[Gazucha]

Why do some of my posts lack any spacing???????????????????? THAT is an irritating technical glitch!

[Gazucha]

And why must I sign in (almost) EVERY time I write a Post?

[Gazucha]

Mmmm! May have found the problemo.. From the official Panasonic pages. https://www.panasonic.com/business/t...rt-faqs-28.asp THIS quote... " What operating systems can I install on the CF-28? Depending on the mark or generation of the CF-28, the following operating systems may be supported: Windows NT, Windows 98, Windows 2000 and Windows XP Professional." Sounds to me like Game Over. I flatly refuse to demean my very existence by the retarded motion of ever again using any product of the evil Bill Hates (he who promotes the W.H.O. depopulation and the Geo-Engineering programs). The "problematic" Toughbook shall now be sold to a Widows retard Thank you all for your time. Hopefully we have all learned something?

[ugm6hr]

What operating systems can I install on the CF-28? Depending on the mark or generation of the CF-28, the following operating systems may be supported: Windows NT, Windows 98, Windows 2000 and Windows XP Professional

This does not necessarily mean you can't install Linux. In fact, almost every laptop ever sold (except Macs) will have a similar description.

However, it does sound like the CF-28 is difficult to get Ubuntu (or any recent Linux) on.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1008894
http://nobles.wordpress.com/2008/12/...-28-toughbook/
http://byrd740.wordpress.com/2009/09...nasonic-cf-28/
http://www.digriz.org.uk/debian/panasonic/cf28

I can't see any mention of any successful installs since 2009. Except:
http://www.edubuntu.org/deployments

21/11/2012 update shows use of CF-28 as thin clients, which would suggest that the graphics card IS supported by 12.04.

Your choice if you want to try for longer - there is no guarantee of success, but it is likely you can install linux, assuming all CF-28 have the same graphics card.

Happy to help guide you through, since it appears you are in fact a beginner with Linux OS installations.

[kiyop]

As ugm6hr mentioned, there may be difficulty in installing current versions of many linux distributions.

But your problem may be solved by writing proper lines in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.

I suggest you to install debian:

As ugm6hr linked, two guys selected debian:

http://www.digriz.org.uk/debian/panasonic/cf28
(although finally he selected xubuntu)

http://byrd740.wordpress.com/2009/09...nasonic-cf-28/

If you want to install debian on it, how about posting to debian forum:
http://forums.debian.net/
Many unkind but clever guys will answer to you, I hope.