Cannot install Ubuntu or Xubuntu

[Colin Law]

2009/6/11 Anthony Rooney <rooneyo at iinet.net.au>:
> Hi
>
> I Cannot install Ubuntu or Xubuntu on my Compaq Presario 1200 P3 laptop
> which keeps trashing the CD drive like it unable to read the disk image on
> perfectly good disks.  I have used the check disk option and all reports to
> be fine.  The CD drive in the laptop in Windows functions fine.  The disks
> install fine on other machines.  If I choose F4 Safe Mode install  I get a
> little further – prompted for language gets to the herring splash screen
> after about 15 minutes and starts wwith a cross that after 5 minutes turns
> to a pointer but from here it stalls with the CD drive making a hell of a
> racket.
>

I do not know the Presario, Is it a reasonable spec machine?  When I
tried to install on a machine with not really enough ram or processor
power it took a very long time (several hours) with the CD clicking
and whirring away but did eventually succeed.  It was not usable in
any meaningful way however.
Colin