Can't load Ubuntu

[chris]

On Sat, 2011-04-23 at 21:54 -0400, Ric Moore wrote:
> On Sat, 2011-04-23 at 16:32 -0400, Douglas Pollard wrote: 
> > On 04/23/2011 02:31 PM, Ric Moore wrote:
> > > On Sat, 2011-04-23 at 13:23 -0400, Douglas Pollard wrote:
> > >> Hi All,  I have an old Dell computer that had xp on it. I accidentaly
> > >> wiped windows out but I don't need it anyway.  It is one Ghz with 512
> > >> memory card.  I am trying to install 10.04 with EMC . I have a CNC
> > >> milling machine almost finished and want to use EMC as my controler.  I
> > >> put a desktop cd in the drive and it ran right to the end but would not
> > >> open up in the monitor. After several tries I tried a complete install
> > >> of Ubuntu 10.04  from another cd. It seems to install but does not start
> > >> up only a blank screen and no sound of starting. In this operation I
> > >> accidentally did away with windows.  Grub comes up and I can select
> > >> Ubuntu. The monitor is and older one that I have used with Ubuntu before
> > >> I Moved it out the the workshop I think I used it with 8.04 so I guess
> > >> there are drivers in 10.4 that will work with IT??  The monitor did work
> > >> with XP.
> > > I just installed 10.10 to an old Dell with a Pentium 4 and 1 gig of ram.
> > > I dinked and hammered on it for almost a entire wasted day, and finally
> > > noticed that at random times the keyboard didn't respond. It had a USB
> > > keyboard hooked up to it. So, I scrounged and found a old PS-2 Dell
> > > branded keyboard, plugged it in and the install went forth smooth as a
> > > greased eel. I also jammed an elderly nVidia board into it, for better
> > > graphics. But, the best resolution I could get was 640/480. So, I
> > > replaced that monitor for a newer old one. Now, it runs at 1280/1024.
> > > Old Iron can be picky. It sure didn't like that USB keyboard and the
> > > monitor was for crap, it's on it's way to the bone yard, to rest in
> > > peace.
> > >
> > > "If thy eye offendeth thee, pluck it out." works on installs.
> > >
> > > If Ubuntu is the only OS on that machine, I wouldn't think you would
> > > have to select it. Now that you've lost that Win partition, just let the
> > > installer run on cruise control, let it do the choosing by formatting
> > > everything, erasing the all of the old partitions completely, to start
> > > over from scratch. Also, check your bios to make sure that it can write
> > > to the boot track, with virus protection turned off, before starting.
> > > Trouble shooting with a shotgun, Ric
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > OK, I do have a new usb keyboard so that may be a problem. When grub 
> > starts I get the usual choices of safe mode etc.  But Ubuntu does not 
> > start on it's own after 30 seconds or so and I have to click enter.
> 
> Sounds close to what I experienced. The USB keyboard might work just
> fine, once you're installed. But, in that dark place between booting up
> and completely installed, you've entered a strange land. A land where
> there is neither sight, nor sound. A strange place called THE
> INSTALLATION ZONE! Your Dell bios still calls the shots, while Linux is
> trying to take over. 
> 
> > After that I get a blank screen. I'll bring the old machine into the 
> > house and hook it up to my new monitor.  I also have an old key board, 
> > kind of sticky but it will tell me if the keyboard is a problem. Thanks 
> > this is all something to work with.    Thanks,    Doug
> 
> Tonight's story: Doug, a new user of an OS, feels strangely compelled to
> enter that land of darkness, where nothing formatted exists, ...where
> email does not send, where browsers are a thing of the past and of the
> future, but do not exist in the here and now. His computer no longer
> breathes and it's fate is hinged on the reliability of a single CD. 
> 
> He has entered ...the Installation Zone. <ZOT!> <poof!> 
> 
> -- 
> My father, Victor Moore (Vic) used to say:
> "There are two Great Sins in the world...
> ..the Sin of Ignorance, and the Sin of Stupidity.
> Only the former may be overcome." R.I.P. Dad.
> Linux user# 44256 
> 
> 

Is that akin to the "Dark Side" aka Vader Country?

-- 
Cheers the kiwi