[clug-talk] ubuntu 9.10 won't boot on Intel 3i consumer laptops?!

[John Clarke]

Hi folks,

Yesterday I took a Ubuntu 9.10 cd in to the Northland Futureshop to 
identify sub $1000 laptops with Intel 3i processors that support Linux.

To my chagrin all three Toshiba, Sony and HP laptops I sampled did not 
want to boot. No messages or any signs of life after several minutes of 
waiting either. The initial livecd boot menu displayed fine and I could 
select between livecd and install menu items as expected, but after that 
no clues of activity.

Moe and the other helpful Futureshop guys shrugged with surprise. When I 
got home I confirmed the LiveCD would boot, so apparently that was not 
the problem source.

I Googled 'Intel 3i laptops won't boot ubuntu' but no problem reports 
caught my attention.

Has anyone some insight or similar experience with this issue?  I would 
like to find out what the problem and remedy is. A network boot or some 
other drastic measure?

Would Knoppix or some other livecd likely work - that shouldn't matter, 
right?

The laptops to be had nowadays for < $1000 are remarkable. But off 
limits to Linux?! Thanks for any tips.

John