I have Ubuntu 14.04 and I want to install Windows 8 along side it. But I can't boot from any live CD or pendrive. My laptop goes into network boot and says- insert proper boot device and press any key.
My laptop is Asus x54c.
This is an isse with your BIOS/EFI boot settings. Make sure you have the right settings (CD-Drive/Pendrivve before Network-boot/HDD).
Immediately after you restart your laptop, press DEL or F12 or F2 depending upon your laptop model to ender into BIOS settings. Using Arrow keys, select Boot options, and make sure that the USB Disk is set to First Boot device and CD Drive is set to Second Boot device.
Your internal hard disk should be the third on the priority list. Then save changes (Press F10 to save and exit) and exit. This will restart your laptop.
Very specific answer to your particular laptop, but which can be useful also for other laptops if you just find out the correct keys:
For everyone who ran into this same problem also:
In case you don't see your stick present after following above steps, you might try these next steps out:
The notebook will reboot and when everything else is fine, you can pick the memory stick to boot from, using the button after the (re)boot.
Your bios is booting from Hard drive before the cd .
You can choose the boot by typing F8 keyboard button in the starting.
in the starting boot press delete button
you can change this in the bios boot .
you have to make it boot from cd before the hdd .
next time share the bios version .
if you are running linux (ubuntu,fedora,...) use this command
sudo dmidecode -t 0
if you are running windows type in command :
sysinfo
if you are running mac os
you will find it in :
'about this mac' => More Info
you will find the bios version
after you this google it & you will get how to change the boot