[ubuntu-uk] Hardy (RC) Live CD no display (xorg 7.3)?

[alan c]

I have a Dell Inspiron 1100 laptop which is not working well with 
hardy 8.04 RC Live CD Ubuntu. On many occasions the live CD produces a 
blank black screen. On some occasions the display comes up normal. 
This is a demo machine and I want a better demo certainty than this   :-)

I have tried a lot of different things, but none have come good. 
However, I notice that in the log file
/var/log/Xorg.0.log
there was a loaded kernel module for "i915" driver.
In the past, I have only had acceptable results from this 
(troublesome) laptop by using i810 driver.

Bearing in mind that hardy uses the xorg version 7.3 which has a 
minimal xorg.conf file, I have no idea where to look or what to do to 
either initially force use of i810 during booting of how to change it 
later by editing one way or another.

Any comments much appreciated.
-- 
alan cocks
Kubuntu user#10391