How do you monitor startup messages in Ubuntu?

[Derek Broughton]

Jeffrey Tooker wrote:

> I have a small problem with Gutsy when I boot up. Once bios is done the
> screen goes black for a minute or so until the login screen comes up. I
> have the same disk installation in an old 600M Compaq and the Ubuntu
> logo and the progress bar stay on until the login screen comes up. I
> know enough of command line to type it in. Is there a line command to
> bring up either the progress bar or the startup messages? I do not like
> the black screen.

I suspect you are using an invalid video mode on the console...  Try
googling "linux boot video mode" because I've never had to fix this myself. 
When X starts, it's resetting your video.
> 
> IIRC "grok" is also a verb.

Indeed - from Heinlein.
-- 
derek