Why won't my Linux disk boot up?

Question

I have a Linux disk which I tried to use to boot up my Dell PC. I have done this successfully from an older PC (now discarded). I used to put the "live" Linux disk in the DVD drive of that machine, and run Linux from it without installing it on to the hard drive. No problem!
But today, when I tried the same process with my newer PC, nothing happened. I went to Setup, and clicked on the boot sequence so that it would boot up from the Linux disk, but it wouldn't do it.
What am I doing wrong?
I have been putting the Linux disk into the slot of an external, USB DVD writer, because the onboard writer on my PC is knackered. I have used the external DVD writer successfully many times to burn films and data.
Any suggestions?

Answer 1

I suspect you have UEFI on your new machine. Manufacturers have started putting UEFI into new PCs. This is a stupid add-on to the BIOS that prevents anything but a Windows operating system from running. This is supposed to be about preventing you getting hacked, but Microsoft has made enormous difficulties for anyone trying to play along. And actually, even in the case where your Winodws gets hacked, it won't help, you will still have a dead machne and risk losing all your data.

Fix:

1. Boot into BIOS and turn UEFI off (look for any settings that claim to be about security and set them to "Legacy").

2. Save the BIOS settings and reboot.

Answer 2

The DVD drive of your newer machine is not compatible with that disc and is not able to read it.



Sometimes burned discs are just slightly out of tolerance enough that they don't work in some drives.



Drives do wear out. I have worn out four of them over the last seven years. A whopping lot of data.



Copy the iso of the linux disk to the newer PC, and then burn that iso to a blank disc using the drive in the newer PC.

Then the newer PC should be able to read the disc with no problem.

Answer 3

Make sure setup is set to boot from USB and unplug all other external USB drives that you have connected.