Hi all. I've been trying to install Linux Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (Lucid Lynx) on my laptop. But I keep getting this problem. When I get to the install screen http://tinyurl.com/3wx3n9r and choose either install Ubuntu or try without installing Ubuntu it goes to this screen http://tinyurl.com/3bjusas. Once all the dots turn red about 5 mins later my computer screen goes blank no blinking. There is absolutely nothing on the screen. So I waited for 1/2 an hour hoping that was just taking a while. but it wasn't so I had to restart my computer. Any ideas on how to fix this?

1. Did you try checking the disc for defects?

2. What graphics card do you have?

3. Have you tried 11.04?

1 yes I have it says the disc is totally fine.

2 How do I figure out what type of graphics card I have on a laptop?

3 no I tried burning it to a disc and just ended up frustrated.

Do you have a USB stick? That's what I use.

That sounds like a good idea could you show me exactly what you did to install ubuntu. like how do you get it to boot off a usb stick?

http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

Edit: As to how to find out your graphics card: Just run dxdiag on Windows, and it'll say on the display tab.

Edit2: Also, telling us your CPU would be helpful. As I recall your laptop has only a 30 GiB hard drive, which means it's probably very old. I've had trouble running modern *buntus on really old laptops before because they don't have enough power.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick

Maybe something like that?

Will this one from ubuntu's site work to? http://www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/download

That's what I used.

I managed to get ubuntu 11.04 on to a usb stick. How do you set your computer to boot from a usb stick?

Either go into the BIOS and set it as the primary boot device, or open up the boot menu during startup (try F12) and select it from the list.

I tried f12 but it didn't give me the boot menu. Are there any other keys that I could try?

You may have to change the boot order from within the BIOS itself. When the BIOS splash screen appears, press the page break (pause break) key on your keyboard and that should cause the screen to hold, giving you enough time to figure out how to get into the BIOS.

Or you could google your Motherboard brand and model and I'm certain you'll find how the BIOS is accessed for that particular board.