Newbie video problems

[James Takac]

On Monday 03 December 2007 09:04:20 Hal Davis wrote:
>  James,
>
>  Thanks for taking the time.
>
>  I tried to be careful to tell it to set up the new partition to 50% (moved
> the slider almost all the way to the left). However, after it was done, I
> think it reported that there was now only 8mb of free space on the Windows
> partition.
>
>  When I boot with the Ubuntu installation CD out, I don't get an initial
> menu.
>
>  When I boot with the Ubuntu installation CD in, the menu is includes Start
> Ubuntu, start in video safe mode, etc. I can change the video selections,
> but they apparently don't get saved and doesn't change what  happens when I
> reboot without the CD in.
>
>  After the splash Ubuntu screen, I see about four of the login screen
> horizontally, and it goes down about 80% of the screen, with gibberish
> underneath that. The screen has "untuubuntuubuntuubuntuub" going across,
> with 4 logos, and a half username box, 3 username boxes, and another half
> username box.
>
>  Laptop is a HP Pavilion zd7000. HP's site says the video card is nvidia
> geforce 4. Don't know the exact model of the screen to put into the ubuntu
> settings, but it's widescreen and 17".
>
>  So, how do I boot in video safe mode, change video settings, and then get
> them to stick when I reboot without the CD? And, any idea which video
> settings I should pick from the menu?
>
>  Thanks so much.
>
>  Hal Davis
>
>  James Takac wrote:
> On Monday 03 December 2007 07:10:44 Hal Davis wrote:
>
> I grew up in DOS and Windows, but just getting started in Linux.
> Installed Ubuntu 7.10, and had it set up a partition on my Windows laptop.
>
> First, I don't know how to interrupt the boot process to tell it to load
> Windows instead of Unix.
>
> Second, the Linux install didn't work until it reloaded using Video Safe
> Mode (or something like that). Then, noticed that the bottom of my
> screen wasn't being displayed, so if I moved the toolbar to the bottom,
> I couldn't see it (but I was able to move the mouse down all the way,
> right click, and access properties to move it somewhere else). Then,
> like a genius, I thought I'd change the video selection to solve the
> problem. I guess I was expecting the Windows-like temporary
> installation, that requires me to tell it that it works before it's
> really switched. But now, I can't read ANYTHING on the screen after the
> initial Ubuntu logo.
>
> Tried to figure out how to change the video (went online and looked at
> help), and it gave me some scripts to run. Problem is, I don't know how
> to run the scripts. The only DOS-like prompt I've been able to reach is
> GRUB> and it doesn't like the text I input. I'm guessing that if I knew
> how to get to the correct prompt the scripts would work fine.
>
> Can someone tell me how to get my Linux system out of the ditch?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Hal Davis
>
>
>
> Hi Hal
>
> Your system should have a menu when you first boot unless you told it to
> use the entire drive at which point windows would be gone. Assuming you
> resized the partion windows was on via the install you should see a boot
> menu. Just use the up and down arrows on the keyboard to navigate and enter
> to select
>
> As for the rest we need more info. What are the system specs, e.g. graphic
> card, etc. Even if we know the laptop in question we might be able to look
> up the specs online
>
> Can you get to a terminal via CTRL-ALT-F1
> You can think of that as a DOS prompt when you get there. It will ask you
> to log in at that prompt first time you enter it
>
> You also mention you can't read anything on the screen anymore. Fonts too
> small? Blury,............ You don't give any detail
>
> You mentioned changing video selection so I'm guessing you either changed
> the default graphic card or you changed the resolution or refresh rate
>
> James



Hi Hal

Forgot to mention. Best thing for a newbie to install nvidia drivers is likely 
to be the envy script which can be found at 

http://albertomilone.com/nvidia_scripts1.html

James