Linux on Toshiba Satellite C655

[MechaWumpa]

Is there anyway I can install Linux on a Toshiba Satellite C655 laptop? It always freezes at the boot and my CD Drive starts and infinitely reads fast until I turn off the laptop.

 

[Emerald]

Have you tried installing via USB Stick?

 

[MechaWumpa]

Have you tried installing via USB Stick?

No, can I remove the installed iso from the USB when I'm done?

 

[skittle]

Have you tried installing via USB Stick?

No, can I remove the installed iso from the USB when I'm done?

Yes, use LiLi to install your linux iso to a usb drive. After installation is complete, you can remove the usb drive.
http://www.linuxliveusb.com/

 

[MechaWumpa]

Will Linux work as fast as normal if it's running off a USB with Linux installed? I know I can dual-boot but I've heard it can be hard to remove the dual-boot.

 

[skittle]

Will Linux work as fast as normal if it's running off a USB with Linux installed? I know I can dual-boot but I've heard it can be hard to remove the dual-boot.

A regular install will not be as fast as a HDD, but much faster than a CD-ROM.
However some linux distro's like puppy linux, can load completely into ram. These are very fast.

 

[MechaWumpa]

I kinda figured that, all the processes would load into the RAM, and the only slow part would really be trying to access files saved to the USB right?

 

[skittle]

I kinda figured that, all the processes would load into the RAM, and the only slow part would really be trying to access files saved to the USB right?

Yes, on a normal usb installation, reading files from the flash drive is relatively slow. writing to flash is abysmally slow.

Puppy on the other hand, loads everything into ram first, and intermittently writes changes to a special save file (and on shut down)
(aka "frugal installation")

Great example from today in my class: Professor complains that his ubuntu based distro running off a flash drive cannot run an "R" script very well.
Run the same script from puppy and it works just fine.

Here is a list of other drstro's that run from ram if puppy doesn't fit your needs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_distributions_that_run_from_RAM

 

[MechaWumpa]

I'm probably going to try to dual-boot install via USB. What do you do to uninstall a dual-boot?

 

[skittle]

I'm probably going to try to dual-boot install via USB. What do you do to uninstall a dual-boot?

Depends on the setup you choose.

1) Easiest way: install linux to a separate hard drive. In this case, you are able to just use BIOS options to change the boot device. Uninstalling would be as simple as formatting the drive.

2) Install ubuntu after windows on the same drive will overwrite the windows bootloader and install GRUB.
To uninstall, and restore the windows bootloader you need the format/delete the partition that your linux installation. Then you need your windows installation DVD, and use the 'boot repair' option.

3) Add linux entry to windows boot loader:
After installing your linux distribution: use the boot repair option from your windows dvd, to restore the windows bootloader, then use software EasyBCD to add linux to your windows boot options.
uninstalling linux in this case just requires you to format/delete the linux partiton then again modify the bootloader with EasyBCD and simply remove the linux entry.

 

[ksham]

You can also install Windows after Linux as a dual boot. At which point, just run a Live CD Linux copy and restore grub.