"Boot Error" when trying to boot from 8.10 bootable thumb drive

[ratdog]

Hello,
I'm trying to install Ubuntu 8.10 on an older windows system with no CDROM drive.
I've used the "Create a USB startup disk" app in Intrepid to create a bootable 1G thumb drive.
I have setup the BIOS on the old system to boot from USB (it gives me 2 usb options:USB FDD and USB ZIP, I have tried them both with the same results).
When I try to boot from the thumb drive it gets past the system tests and just says "Boot error"
The old system had an ASUS A7V8X-X motherboard with a BIOS from 2003. Is this system too old? I'm confused because it does give me the option to boot from USB in the BIOS.
Any info greatly appreciated.

[logos34]

does the machine have an OS installed? windows, another linux?

Edit: nm, you said 'older windows system', duh

Try this guide:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromWindows
('CD image approach' or automatic)

[ratdog]

Yeah, it has Windows 2000 installed. I can access the USB drive from within windows and run the Ubuntu installer, but to do a fresh install the only way I see is to boot from the disk. Is there another way? I want windows off of there completely!
Thanks

[logos34]

if you decide to use the cd image approach and have any questions, let me know. Haven't tried it in around a year but it used to work great

[ratdog]

Cool, I will try UNetbootin.

[ratdog]

UNetbootin didn't work for me :(

I used an .iso I already downloaded and installed to another machine just fine. When I rebooted to the Ubuntu installer, I got some error like "ATA2: link is slow to respond, please be patient." then "ATA2: SRST FAILED"

There is also another error when scanning scsi drives.
"Driver 'sd' needs updating - please use bus_type methods"
Does this mean I need to update the BIOS?

Does anyone have any other idea for how to install from the thumb drive.
I'm about to throw this old machine in the dumpster!

[logos34]

"ATA2: link is slow to respond, please be patient." then "ATA2: SRST FAILED"

found this over at launchpad:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/220706

might want to search there for info on the other message.

maybe try the cd image approach but its possible you'll end up with same errors

[ratdog]

I actually did try it from the cd image because there is no internet access where that computer is right now.