BleepingComputer.com: Linux Newbie 'lost In Installation'

Hi,

I have plenty of windows (not vista) experience but am new to linux.

I installed Ubuntu feisty as a dual boot on my XP laptop. It wasn't used much since its a work machine and we use windows.

Now i've noticed that it won't boot ubuntu. after selecting in grub, it goes to a black screen with a cursor flashing topleft (_ not a prompt).

I thought i'd try installing gutsy over the top but can't get that to work either! It prints 'Kernel Alive. Kernel direct mapping tables up to 100000000 @ 8000_d000' and freezes. Some forums suggest removing 'splash' and adding 'noapic nolapic nosplash' to the boot line but it makes no difference.

And they say ubuntu 'just works'!

Perhaps my two problems are connected. Can I reformat my linux partition and try a fresh install? or will it screw up my grub loader and MBR and I won't be able to boot windows (NOT an option!)

Thanks for any advice.

I'm using AMD athon 64, nVidia 7300Go, 1MB ram

Simon

sipickles, on Oct 22 2007, 06:32 AM, said:

Best place is in the Ubuntu forums. At first blush this sounds like a video configuration problem but there could be other things as well. See if there is an option to boot using the generic vesa drivers. Quick google shows -> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/n...mon/+bug/138868

I have never dual booted with GRUB, only LILO and have never lost a Windows partition with LILO. You should be OK reinstalling but as always, defrag and backup the important stuff on your DOS partition.

I wish I had better news, but I have had more problems with *buntu than any other mainstream distro. If you decide to try some thing else here are my picks for user and hdwr friendly distros:

full featured distros ->Mandriva and PCLinuxOS (have used these for business for two years now), Xandros (xtremely well laid out and user friendly), Mepis, CentOS (boring but very mature) and for lighter distros-> VectorLinux, SAM Linux and Kanotix .

Hope this helps

I've just tried the latest Mandrake installer and that seems to have the same problem.

In text mode it locks just after the PCI business begins.

I'll try a reformat and clean install....

sipickles, on Oct 23 2007, 01:09 PM, said:

before you try that, edit the GRUB boot line and append 'vga=normal' after 'splash'..... quotes are not required.

Well, I am afraid that makes no difference

The last line it prints, with splash removed and noapic added, is:

ACPI: Interpreter enabled

Although sometimes this differs, and sometimes it seems to be halfway through printing a line!

sipickles, on Oct 23 2007, 02:14 PM, said:

Could you post your boot line from the GRUB menu please? There is a known problem with the framebuffer but it seems to be constrained to the the recently release Gutsy Gibbon release. You are using Feisty, I believe so that shouldn't be an issue for you.

It's a little drastic but if you have the bandwidth to spare you could download the 7.10 release, which has only been out for a few days) and try that - it may well solve your issue..

Ah perhaps I didn't make myself clear...

I had feisty installed, but rarely used it and recently noticed it failed to boot.

I've since downloaded Gutsy and this is what I am presently trying to install. I've formatted the faulty feisty drives but that doesn't help.

I think it must be to do with my nvidia 7300 go gfx, and perhaps widescreen LCD. However, even booting the live cd in safe graphics mode is no better.

Thanks for your help, mindbomb

S