Video Problem in Ubuntu 8.04

[Michael "TheZorch" Haney]

I'm new to Ubuntu and I have a few problems.  I really like it, I ran 
7.10 as my main OS on my desktop system for a long time before it blew 
up on me.  I've decided that now that 8.04 is out I'd install Ubuntu 
again.  Well I have problems getting video to work right.  Basically, 
when I installed the Nvidia graphic card drivers via "Hardware Drivers" 
my desktop is fix at 640x480 and there are no other resolution options 
available.  I am visual impaired and I love the full desktop zoom and 
the ability to inverse the colors with Compiz Fusion.  It puts the Vista 
Aero Glass desktop to shame.  Can anyone give me some advice.  Below are 
my desktop system specs and another problem I've having with my new 
laptop and Ubuntu.

Here is my configuration
Motherboard:  PC-Chips K7 SiS Chipset (Compatible with up to 333MHz FSB 
AMD CPUs, 400MHz Overclockable)
CPU:  AMD Athlon XP 2000+ 1.2 GHz (Not Overclocked)
OS#1:  Windows XP Professional SP2 (For games that Wine cannot run)
OS#2:  Ubuntu Hardy Heron 8.04 (via Wubi)
RAM:  2GB PC2700
Video Card:  8x AGP Nvidia Geforce FX 5600 w/256MB DDR RAM
Monitor:  VGA Compatible 21inch Sum Microsystems Monitor (max resolution 
capable of 1280x1024)
NIC:  SiS 900 Ethernet Controller
Sound Card:  Sound Blaster LIVE 32-bit Internal
Hard Drive1:  160GB Maxstor ATA133 (NTFS)
Hard Drive2:  80GB Western Digital ATA100 (NTFS)
Optical Drive:  16x NEC DVD+/-RW

I have a laptop which I've been trying to get Ubuntu to on run on but 
I'm having lots of trouble with a few things.
First, Hardware Drivers installs the drivers and says they are In Use 
for my Athena AR5007EG Wireless Adapter, yet I've found nothing which 
will let me configure a connection to my router or search for hotshots.  
The second problem is that I can get the GLX desktop started.  Hardware 
Drivers downloads and installs the drivers but when I try to enable the 
desktop effects in Appearances I get the message that they failed to 
start and Hardware Drivers shows the drivers installed but Not In Use.

Here is my laptop configuration:
Model:  Acer Aspire 4520
CPU:  AMD64x2 1.8GHz
RAM:  1GB DDR2
OS#1:  Windows Vista Home Premium SP1
OS#2:  Ubuntu Hardy Heron 8.04 AMD64 Version (via Wubi)
Video Card:  Nvidia Geforce 7000M/nForce 610M (256MB Dedicated RAM, 383 
Max Turbocache)
NIC:  Nvidia nForce Network Controller (works just fine in Ubuntu)
WiFi:  Athena AR2007EG 802.11b/g
Sound Card:  RealTech HD Audio
Hard Drive:  120GB Toshiba ATA
Optical Drive:  Optiarc DVD-RW ATA

-- 
Michael "TheZorch" Haney
thezorch at gmail.com
http://thezorch.googlepages.com/home
AIM: thezorch at gmail.com
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MSN Messeger: haneymichael at hotmail.com: