t0p
January 20th, 2016, 02:23 AM
I have a HP15 laptop - model 15-g261sa - and try as I might I cannot get Ubuntu on it. It has Windows 8.1 on it, which I would like to keep as a dual-install, but I am willing to wipe that and replace it with Ubuntu, if I was sure the install would work. I have looked around a lot for info on how I could get Ubuntu on my laptop and tried out many how-tos, but the result has always been that the laptop will only boot to Windows. If I went for the Ubuntu-only install, I'm terrified I'd just end up bricking my machine, which I can't afford to have happen.
I can't even install Ubuntu in VirtualBox on the computer. And I have tried, many times, with many versions of Ubuntu. I tend to get an error message at the start of the install process, when I run the .iso - it's a very quick message, white text on the black background, I don't get a chance to read exactly what it says, but the gist is that I should "update my BIOS". I'm running the latest version of VBox, so that message doesn't make sense to me. Then sometimes the "live session" will start, I'll go through the installation process, restart it - and I get an input username password loop. Or it will not let me start an install at all.
The only way I can use Ubuntu on my laptop is by using persistent usb sticks (at first it wouldn't see my wireless card, but after a strange, unfinished install of "bcmwl-kernel-source" on the persistent stick it now does let me use wifi...) but of course running Ubuntu in live session is a poor imitation of the real thing. Every time I want to get online I have to install ad-blocker and https-everywhere on firefox (why aren't they persistent when the wifi driver is?) I can't use my VPN account, and of course it's slooow compared to a bare-metal install. When I'm out I get tempted to use Windows when I'm near a wifi hot-spot... but that wouldn't be a good move, what with my complete lack of Windows street-smarts (I've been an Ubuntu user for years).
I have been driven to this ranting plea for help because I have tried everything I've found online to get this install done and none of it has worked. Is there anyone who knows how to do it? It's a Hewlett Packard HP15, model 15-g261sa - it's blue, if that makes any difference (see how unbalanced I've become?). Someone, please, HELLLP!</rant>
If you're still reading this, thank you.
I can't even install Ubuntu in VirtualBox on the computer. And I have tried, many times, with many versions of Ubuntu. I tend to get an error message at the start of the install process, when I run the .iso - it's a very quick message, white text on the black background, I don't get a chance to read exactly what it says, but the gist is that I should "update my BIOS". I'm running the latest version of VBox, so that message doesn't make sense to me. Then sometimes the "live session" will start, I'll go through the installation process, restart it - and I get an input username password loop. Or it will not let me start an install at all.
The only way I can use Ubuntu on my laptop is by using persistent usb sticks (at first it wouldn't see my wireless card, but after a strange, unfinished install of "bcmwl-kernel-source" on the persistent stick it now does let me use wifi...) but of course running Ubuntu in live session is a poor imitation of the real thing. Every time I want to get online I have to install ad-blocker and https-everywhere on firefox (why aren't they persistent when the wifi driver is?) I can't use my VPN account, and of course it's slooow compared to a bare-metal install. When I'm out I get tempted to use Windows when I'm near a wifi hot-spot... but that wouldn't be a good move, what with my complete lack of Windows street-smarts (I've been an Ubuntu user for years).
I have been driven to this ranting plea for help because I have tried everything I've found online to get this install done and none of it has worked. Is there anyone who knows how to do it? It's a Hewlett Packard HP15, model 15-g261sa - it's blue, if that makes any difference (see how unbalanced I've become?). Someone, please, HELLLP!</rant>
If you're still reading this, thank you.