1

trying to install the new Ubuntu 14.04 on my old laptop I got the message:

*ERROR: PAE is disabled on this Pentium M
(PAE can potentially be enabled with kernel parameter "forcepae" - this is unsupported, may cause unknown problems, and will taint the kernel)
This kernel requires the following features not present on the CPU:
pae
Unable to boot - please use a kernel appropriate for your CPU*

The laptop is a Toshiba Satellite M30X-124, with a 1.8 GHz Pentium M (I think its a Banias type one) and 2 GB of RAM.

I have therefore tried the -- forcepae option via pressing tab during boot, F6 followed by ESC, selecting "install..." and adding the forcepae flag. I then see an "ubuntu"-logo in the middle of the screen and dots changing color below that. Only minutes later the dots stop changing color, the DVD spins down and the system stops doing anything. I've also tried booting up the live-system with and without the forcepae-option but always failed.

Does anyone have an idea how I can get Ubuntu 14.04 installed on the device? I don't have any other Linux system running and since I don't want any dual-boot on that laptop, I've already wiped the old Windows installation and cleared all partitions on the hdd so that the Ubuntu-installer can partition the hdd optimally.

Zanna
  • 72,312
user277857
  • 11

3 Answers3

1

Since your system starts to boot user space it is probably not PAE at fault.

Remove "quiet splash" from the boot parameters and add "debug" and hopefully you will see an error, or at least the point at which it hangs.

Old laptops have old hardware, and in particular, old graphics cards, which haven't been well tested on the latest kernels and Xorg. It is possible that your system is hanging or crashing as Xorg starts. You can test this by booting the Ubuntu server install image, if it works then you can then complete the install, reboot, and 'apt-get install ubuntu-desktop' to install the graphical packages.

bain
  • 12,200
0

Your system cannot support PAE,I suggest that you install the 32-bit version of 12.04 normally without any option. It seems both versions of 14.04 require PAE.

Another alternative would be to purchase a newer computer.

In case you do have a Dothan Pentium M,

See this

Elder Geek
  • 36,752
0

The following instructions were written for Lubuntu installations. However, the only important part (i.e. DUAL "FORCEPAE") is what will correct the problem. The important part of these instructions is the following line:

Add 'forcepae' to the string before and after the two dashes (forcepae -- forcepae).

The "dual forcepae" has been the solution for all Ubuntu versions after 12.04, and in cases where the "dual" statement is actually not needed, it will not hurt either.

(From) https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PAE

Boot the computer with an 32-bit Lubuntu DVD in the DVD drive. When the image of a keyboard and a little man in a circle appears, hit the tab key.

At the boot menu screen the options are:

Install
Command-line options
Advanced options
Help

With the cursor on the top choice press F6.

A menu with a number of options appear. The option 'forcepae' is not there, so press Escape to close the list.

Now a string of options is visible, often with 'quiet' or 'quiet splash --' at the end. Add 'forcepae' to the string before and after the two dashes (forcepae -- forcepae).

Press return, and the installation begins. The warning about forcepae being experimental does not matter for Pentium M or Celeron M processors.

Zanna
  • 72,312
wakeupcall
  • 1