ubuntu install doesnt work

[johnmcp]

hi all,

i want to try out ubuntu and i downloaded and installed it.... or at least im sure i did.

i put in the cd let it run, restarted without the cd when it wanted to, selected appropriate options, let it do its thing and then after rebooting, it looks like its starting up (i get the "loading somthing [ok]" stuff) but then I get a blank screen with the exception of a white cursor.

any ideas why ubuntu won't run.

EXTRA INFO
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before putting the cd in, i made the bios only boot from cd.

after resetting, i made the bios only boot from the main hd.

i let it partition the main hd (which previously had xp on it plus and mbr with grub) but it didn't let me partition the 2nd hd which has fedora on it.

im running on an old machine (bios= 2001, processor= 733mhz, ram= 256mb) without internet connection just til i see how it all goes. if i like it i will dual boot with windows.

help anyone?

[johnmcp]

i scrubbed the partitions manually and installed again - still no difference