I am hoping to hear from other HP laptop users with thier experiences...
Laptop was purchased about 6weeks ago. Has 240GB on dual hard drives. 1GB DDR RAM. Nvidia GeForce GO 7600, intel Centrino Duo T2250(1.73GHz)

The first H.D. is entirely windows dedicated with a separate partition for Win-backup. This H.D. is impossible for me to alter with any partitioning tool. I have tried Partition Magic, Qtparted, and the partitioning tools that come with installation CD's. I have to install linux on the second H.D. which is actually intended as a storage drive for music, video, photos...
I can't run a live distro....



Thank you.... Lawrence

i dont know your hardware, but the first thing i would try would be checking the bios to see if there is some kind of virus protection or other locking device that is preventing you from changing the hard drive or booting a live disk. i rememebr reading that some hps have a sata acceleration setting that may also cause issues.

Which M$ & Linux distro, or did you try all 5? How R your HDs setup, R both primary? Do you have a RAID (0 or 1), or as Dynamic drive (not sure of exact term, but am referring to both HD linked together so Win sees as 1 large HD, but not striped) Why would M$ doz need 100+ GB? Don't know HW (TY & BZ for listing in subj!) but as new as it is any luck @ an HP site or forum? Sorry but it maybe be awhile until an owner like yourself hacks the drivers to get it all to work! I could not find your exact model even @ HP for more info (dogpile or Big 'G'). You may need to save data & files, then reformat the HDs way U want!!
May help edit your thread, keep putting in info you find!

I couldnt find any virus protect in the BIOS. (Sorry for slow reply). Bios only has "LAPTOP HARDDRIVE". No Slave/master anywhere.

It says it has F.3 Bios. 1GB Ram, Centrino Duo 1.73 GHz, W$XP Media Center Edition.

SATA was enabled. I changed it to disable, no difference. I have tried about 10 live distros. Suse Live, Knoppix, Damn Small, Gentoo, Ubuntu, Kubuntu.........????

I would like to keep this laptop as it has the 17" monitor. But will return it if I cant get Linux to run better.

I have contacted Hp and complained the laptop barely supports Linux. I told them that I don't use W-blows because it is worthless pile of crap. Also complained that the HP tech support doesn't even know what Linux is!

More advice greatly appreciated..

Hey...


I can't help you, but I'd like YOU to help me...


We going to buy an HP notebook next week, but I am afraid it will show the same problems you are talking about.


Could you please post how did you resolved (or not) this problem?

I personaly can't imagine what happens, why you can't re-format the partition... so please, tell us the end of the story.

Well, I used Symantec Partition Magic 8 on Drive C: I deleted the partition. I assume what happenend was that it was instantly backed up by Partition D: which is the backup partition for W$. Seems like such a waste, because C: is about 90GB. It is formated with NTFS, but only 10% of that formatted space used. I could not shrink the partition either.

I just remembered that I could erase the entire first drive with "Wipe Drive". After I did this, the second H.D. which Linux is on was un-bootable. Maybe I should try this again. It most likely is my lack of experience with laptops, Linux or both?

I'm wondering, if I remove W$, where will the multitude of laptop firmware be stored? Not in Linux???

To answer your question, "how you resolved this", I have just been content to have Suse Linux functioning. Although I cant use wireless, card slot, DVD, most of the hot-buttons on the laptop.

Hope this helps