Ubuntu 9.10

[BeatlesSteve]

Anyone here know anything about Ubuntu 9.10? I installed it using the live CD dual boot with XP. When I choose to start Ubuntu I get a gray screen with a blinking cursor at the top, it has been like this for 10 minutes. Any ideas?

[Dragon1963]

Sounds like it didn't install properly.

[handle]

It sounds like the installation completed "successfully" and then you started up you computer and then it stops with a blinking cursor. If that is the case it is because there is a problem with the X-window system. I suggest perusing the Ubuntu forums for help. There may be an issue with your monitor or vid card with that version of Ubuntu.

[BeatlesSteve]

Are you using GRUB?

honestly, I am not sure. I have been having issues with windows on a dell laptop so I decided to try ubuntu. I inserted the live cd, installed ubuntu and then it said the computer had to restart. When I restarted the computer I have a gray screen with a blinking cursor at the top of the screen. That's it.

[mtdim]

honestly, I am not sure. I have been having issues with windows on a dell laptop so I decided to try ubuntu. I inserted the live cd, installed ubuntu and then it said the computer had to restart. When I restarted the computer I have a gray screen with a blinking cursor at the top of the screen. That's it.

I'm sorry, I misread your first post. Does it not even get you to a screen to choose between Ubuntu in Windows? If not even that is happening, then it's probably a GRUB issue. You can try what's suggested here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=224351

If that doesn't work, I'd go for a reinstall.

[BeatlesSteve]

I'm sorry, I misread your first post. Does it not even get you to a screen to choose between Ubuntu in Windows? If not even that is happening, then it's probably a GRUB issue. You can try what's suggested here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=224351

If that doesn't work, I'd go for a reinstall.

yes, I get to the screen where I can choose between ubuntu and windows. I choose ubuntu then get the gray screen, blinking cursor. I let it sit that way for about 10 minutes and then I pressed the power button and tried restarting, to no avail.

[mtdim]

Try booting directly from the Live CD. If not even that works, then there's probably some hardware or BIOS configuration that's causing the issue. If it does boot from the CD, then most likely the installation got messed up somehow and you should try reinstalling.

[edit]

I'd also suggest posting your problem at the Ubuntu forums: http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=327

There are a lot more techies over there than on the Hannity forum. :D

[BeatlesSteve]

interesting, I inserted the cd this time after selecting ubuntu and it started and is now installing system on what it looks like is the desktop. will my wireless network with this?

[mtdim]

interesting, I inserted the cd this time after selecting ubuntu and it started and is now installing system on what it looks like is the desktop. will my wireless network with this?

Well it remains to be seen whether your installation boots. Right now Ubuntu is just running off the disc, not off your hard drive.

It depends which wireless network card you have. Most manufacturers make drivers for Linux these days.

[BeatlesSteve]

Well it remains to be seen whether your installation boots. Right now Ubuntu is just running off the disc, not off your hard drive.

It depends which wireless network card you have. Most manufacturers make drivers for Linux these days.

the screen states that it is copying files, so hopefully it will work, do you use ubuntu? do you like it?

[mtdim]

the screen states that it is copying files, so hopefully it will work, do you use ubuntu? do you like it?

I use Ubuntu 9.04 and I absolutely love it. Runs very smoothly and quickly, even on older systems. Hardware compatibility, though, is the one thing you have to look out for. I always buy my systems with this in mind.

Plus it's free, and I'm cheap. :mrgreen:

[BeatlesSteve]

I use Ubuntu 9.04 and I absolutely love it. Runs very smoothly and quickly, even on older systems. Hardware compatibility, though, is the one thing you have to look out for. I always buy my systems with this in mind.

Plus it's free, and I'm cheap. :mrgreen:

right now it is 94% completed, says it is loading module usb storage for usb storage, it has been on this for a while. I hope it isn't messed up

[mtdim]

Did it work?

[Nevarwinter]

Let me tell you that i've never known anyone, in the large group of friends that are all moderately to very computer savvy to have any luck with a dual boot setup.

It'll work fine for a while, then something will go wrong. Guaranteed. I would like to claim otherwise, but I seriously have never known anyone that has been able to have a stable dual boot setup for very long.

I know this doesn't pertain to your specific problem, but I thought i'd throw it out there for you anyway. ...and as several of the linux evangelists here will note, I did not bash linux in any way.

[Dual867PowerMac]

Sounds like it didn't install properly.
Yup.

I am running 9.10. Love it.

[Dual867PowerMac]

interesting, I inserted the cd this time after selecting ubuntu and it started and is now installing system on what it looks like is the desktop. will my wireless network with this?
You'll need to download two drivers for your wireless card. Generally, Ubuntu will tell you which ones you need; all you need to do is activate them.

[Dual867PowerMac]

I use Ubuntu 9.04 and I absolutely love it. Runs very smoothly and quickly, even on older systems. Hardware compatibility, though, is the one thing you have to look out for. I always buy my systems with this in mind.
I'm running it on my Dell Inspiron. It's one of their cheaper models, but Ubuntu runs perfectly on it. Much better than Windows.

I've tried a few other distributions, (Kubuntu, Fedora, Mandriva, etc.) and both GNOME and KDE, but Ubuntu is my favorite.

[JeffR]

I'm still using 6.06 - I really need to catch up with the times!

[mtdim]

I'm running it on my Dell Inspiron. It's one of their cheaper models, but Ubuntu runs perfectly on it. Much better than Windows.

I've tried a few other distributions, (Kubuntu, Fedora, Mandriva, etc.) and both GNOME and KDE, but Ubuntu is my favorite.

I'm running it on a Dell Inspiron as well, it works much better than Vista. I haven't booted into Vista in ages.

[mtdim]

Let me tell you that i've never known anyone, in the large group of friends that are all moderately to very computer savvy to have any luck with a dual boot setup.

It'll work fine for a while, then something will go wrong. Guaranteed. I would like to claim otherwise, but I seriously have never known anyone that has been able to have a stable dual boot setup for very long.

I know this doesn't pertain to your specific problem, but I thought i'd throw it out there for you anyway. ...and as several of the linux evangelists here will note, I did not bash linux in any way.

Setting up Linux with a dual boot can be intimidating to a lot of people. But nowadays there are a lot of installers which make it trivially simply. Hell, there's one where you can do it without partitioning your hard drive; you can install Ubuntu on an hard disk image file located on your Windows partition and later transfer it to its own partition if you want.

Now, to start with Linux and then install Windows as dual boot; THAT can be a chore.

[Dual867PowerMac]

I'm running it on a Dell Inspiron as well, it works much better than Vista. I haven't booted into Vista in ages.
A few simple command lines and you really don't need Vista. I found one that lets you install fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, Verdana, etc., which is the one thing I missed.

[mtdim]

A few simple command lines and you really don't need Vista. I found one that lets you install fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, Verdana, etc., which is the one thing I missed.

The package manager is one of the best things about Ubuntu. So much software at your fingertips.

I even run Microsoft Office in Ubuntu. :D

[Dual867PowerMac]

The package manager is one of the best things about Ubuntu. So much software at your fingertips.

I even run Microsoft Office in Ubuntu. :D
OpenOffice rules!

[BeatlesSteve]

Setting up Linux with a dual boot can be intimidating to a lot of people. But nowadays there are a lot of installers which make it trivially simply. Hell, there's one where you can do it without partitioning your hard drive; you can install Ubuntu on an hard disk image file located on your Windows partition and later transfer it to its own partition if you want.

Now, to start with Linux and then install Windows as dual boot; THAT can be a chore.

I am so frustrated with this installation, I am about to give up. I have an extra computer that I have to play on that I am trying to install ubuntu on. I was having issues last night so tonight I decided to reinstall windows, in case that was the issue. So after reinstalling windows, I inserted the ubuntu live cd into the cd drive and chose the dual boot option.

It went through everything, ejected the disk. I restarted the computer, chose to boot ubuntu. For the last 5 minutes the computer has been idle with a black screen and the white symbol in the middle of the screen. I am not sure what to do next.