Using the Bios and making a bootable disk

[Linux for blind general discussion]

Hello Harmony,

Le 14/01/2018 à 18:52, Linux for blind general discussion a écrit :
> Hello,
> 
> I recently got a new computer with 1 TB of memory, 8 GB of RAM, and here 
> are the rest of my specs using the msinfo32.  System Model; Value: HP 
> Laptop 15-b System Type; Value: x64-based P Processor; Value: AMD 
> A9-9420 RADEON R5, 5 COMPUTE CORES 2C+3G, 3000 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical 
> Processor( Anyhow, I found out that the bios on this machine is 
> activated by pressing the F10 continuously at startup. It will make a 
> loud beeping noise to let you know you are at the bios. You use the 
> arrow keys. I heard that blind people have been able to install Linux 
> using the Bios despite not having any sighted assistance even though we 
> know that bios's are not accessible. How did they go about doing this?
> 
> I went on a Linux web site and downloaded a few distros, Ubuntu 16.04 
> desktop, and Debian 8 Desktop. Both are iso files. Unfortunately, I 
> don't have any blank DVD's right now, though I have a few flash drives. 
> I heard that you need to specially configure your flash drive to make it 
> bootable. Are there any accessible tools that let you do this, and if 
> you can provide a link to it I would greatly appreciate it.

I have written instructions on this page:
http://slint.fr/wiki/en/installation

They are for Slint64-14.2.1. But the "Download and Verify" part they are
also applicable to any ISO.

Let me know if that page itself is accessible, else I will provide the
information in another format.

> If someone knows how to use this particular bios, can someone send me a 
> list of shortcuts, like how many times to press the arrow key in which 
> direction for a certain number of times to arrive at a specific menu?

Not knowing the reference of the this particular bios it is hard to tell.

Hopefully you will just have to plug in the USB stick then switch on the
laptop, as a good bios should start it priority, at least  if there is
no other installed system.

If that is the case if you install Slint you will just have to press
Enter 20 seconds or so after switch on to start the installer, that
should then begin to speak after less that one minute.

If you go that way, read this page first:
http://slint.fr/wiki/en/accessibility

For other distributions I think that you would have to do something to
get speech liking pressing a specific key. I will let others who know
them tell you what.

Greetings,

Didier