Thanks for your help. I wasnt aware of that link and will remember it. I actually misdiagnosed the problem. I didnt wait long enough for the installation CD to force the installation with the old BIOS. I tried the install again and after a pause it did install ubuntu ok. Later in the installation I had an I/O error with the hard disk but the installation disk overcame that too. I am now up and running fine. I am a FreeBSD user and this is my first experience with Ubuntu and I have to say Im impressed. Sharon SteVe Cook <yorvik.ubunto@googlemail.com> wrote:<blockquote class="replbq" style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(16, 16, 255); margin-left: 5px; padding-left: 5px;"> Bit Paranoid wrote: > Hello, > > I recently bought an old Compaq Armada M700 laptop. I have both the CD > and floppy drives for it, but can only have one in place at a time. > > When I tried to install Ubuntu 7.04 via the CD I received from Ubuntu in > the mail, it complained that my BIOS didnt make the cut-off date and it > was "pre-2000". > > The problem is when I go to HP to get a new BIOS update, HP requires you > download it for various flavors of Windows (only) and when I try to > update using those the laptop complains ntldr, etc., is missing. I dont > really want to fool with trying to install Windoze (dont have any CDs > for that anyway) and I just want to get Fiesty Fawn installed. > > Are there any workarounds for this? > Use FreeDos www.freedos.org I've updated the BIOS on several machines with it. steve -- ubuntu-users mailing list ubuntu-users@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users </blockquote> Choose the right car based on your needs. Check out Yahoo! Autos new Car Finder tool. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48518/*http://autos.yahoo.com/carfinder/;_ylc=X3oDMTE3NWsyMDd2BF9TAzk3MTA3MDc2BHNlYwNtYWlsdGFncwRzbGsDY2FyLWZpbmRlcg-- hot CTA = Yahoo! Autos new Car Finder tool