Installing ubuntu on benq joybook a52e (7 yo laptop)

Question

so here is my problem. I am trying to install ubuntu from usb (CD drive is dead) on benq joybook a52e laptop. But the problem is that usb drive larger than 256mb can not be recognized as bootable device, or I just don't know how to set it up. Here is a list of boot options in bios: hdd usb key usb fdd network

So when i plug 256 mb Transcend 120MB JetFlash 110 USB 2.0 Thumb Drive it is seen in bios, but I can't make bootable 14.01 installation version on that. And the usb's i have are 4gb and 16gb that are not recognized in bios (i have no idea why, maybe because it is old laptop?).

I have tried to make a smaller partition in partitioning software, and it did not work. I have also tried different partition formats (fat, fat32) also didn't work.

So can someone help me how to install it properly, and yes I would like 12.xx or later version of Ubuntu on that machine.

Answer 1

The ultimate solution that I currently used in 2020 for a Joybook A52 device or any old device with similar configurations, is using another newer laptop that are able to boot from USB stick larger than 1 GB.

The case:

A friend of mine asked me to install new operating system on his old BenQ Joybook A52 laptop that already runs Windows XP. I downloaded 32 bit Peppermint OS iso and fired it on an 4 GB USB stick and of course, the laptop does not recognize it during boot, in spite of it was fired on its Windows XP.

I, physically, checked out the laptop's hard disk and I have found it, externally, looks like my own Toshiba Satellite L850 (64 bit device) laptop's hard disk. i.e the dimensions and the SATA interface. Hence, I decided to perform the installation on my own laptop, by removing my laptop's hard disk and replace it with the Joybook's hard disk. The installation worked as a breeze and after complete the installation, I had shutdown my Satellite laptop, removing the hard disk, installing it into the Joybook again and power it on.

Now the Joybook runs its new OS very fine with no any issue.

Answer 2

A cd drive would not have helped you either: you need a dvd drive for 14.04.

From your list:

• "network" PXE install might be an option. See How do I set up a network installation?
• "hdd" create a 700 Mb-ish partition and put the Ubuntu ISO in there and have the system boot from that partition. See Install Ubuntu from ISO image directly from hard disk of a system running Linux?