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ubiquity package

Ubuntu 11.10 installation halts with blank screen with visible cursor or sometimes complete gobbledegook

Asked by Martin Mack

Im trying to install Ubuntu 11.10 on an IMB Lenovo machine running on Pentium 4, with 2Gb ram and 512mb Nvidia Nd210 graphics.

I get the initial purple options screen but after that the installation eventually comes to a halt with a black screen and a white cursor. On moving the cursor the screen begins to blink and then eventually turns black completely. Sometimes the screen goes all funny colours on me.

Ive tried running the intallation by replacing 'quiet splash' parameter with 'nomodset' like suggested but it still gives the same result.

Ive also tried running the alternate installation cd which runs ok until the reboot when I get the same problem again. Ive tried XUbuntu 11.10 with the exact same results.

I am really annoyed because Ive had to install winxp on this aging machine where I would have loved to play with Ubuntu.

Any help would be appreciated..oh and please explain in plain english as to where and what configurations need to be altered.

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Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

Use the boot option:

nouveau.blacklist=1

Should help

Revision history for this message
Martin Mack (martin5739) said : 		#2

Thanks actionparsnip???!

I replaced 'quiet splash' with 'nouveau.blacklist=1' but got very similar result. This time the screen blinks and I can see some text between blinks but otherwise once I move my mouse the screen freezes up and goes blank as before.

Im typing this from a fresh WinXP build and its really really upsetting me.

Please help.

Revision history for this message
Chris (fabricator4) said : 		#3

Can you get to a console login screen with <ctrl><alt><F2> ?

You might then be able to install an Nvidia driver that works with:

sudo apt-get install nvidia-current

You could also try booting into recovery mode with a command prompt:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1904347

Lubuntu might be a better fit for that machine:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Lubuntu/GetLubuntu

Maybe set the machine up dual boot so that you still have the Windows boot, at least until you the graphics problems sorted out.

Chris

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