Xubuntu installation issue.

[I_c]

I recently purchased a hard drive due to the failure of my previous one and decided to give Linux a try. Anyway, I've been having some issues getting Xubuntu 9.10 installed.

My first attempt was to install Xubuntu off of my 4gb bootable USB drive, but with no avail. I was consistently getting a render error before the animated Xubuntu logo, where it would stall for hours before simply shutting down my computer. I encountered the same issue with Ubuntu 9.10.

Eventually I decided to give a live CD a try. This time it just hangs up infinitely at the animated Xubuntu logo.

This is my first experience with Linux, who wants to help me make it a good one?lol

Specs:

Dell - Dimension 2400 series,

2gb ddr sdram
Intel Celeron processor, 2.60ghz
Not sure about video card, but it's at least 64mbs

Keep in mind that the hard drive I'm attempting to install Xubuntu on is fresh, with no preinstalled software.

[devils casper]

Hi and Welcome !

It looks like Graphics Card problem only. Linux is not configuring it properly. Doesn't LiveCD give Safe Graphics Mode option at startup?

In case LiveCD doesn't work, try Alternate Installation CD. It has text based installer and it works fine in most of machines have Graphics Card problem. Its really easy to install correct driver for Card after successful installation.

[I_c]

No success with Safe Graphics mode.

I also attempted an install using the Alternate Install CD as you recommended and it seemed to install fine except when actually booting the OS it would take ages to load and I would be unable to sign into my user account.

On a side note, I did also attempt to install Windows XP out of desperation. I partitioned the hard drive, formatted with NTFS and installed it, but when booting into Windows it was running rediculously slow and all of the processes failed to load. I don't actually plan on using Windows, but perhaps there is some sort of connections between these malfunctions?

Thanks for your help.

[devils casper]

Did you remove Xubuntu or is it still there?

I also attempted an install using the Alternate Install CD as you recommended and it seemed to install fine except when actually booting the OS it would take ages to load and I would be unable to sign into my user account.

Press Alt+Ctrl+F4. Does it switch to command line mode?

[I_c]

Did you remove Xubuntu or is it still there?

Press Alt+Ctrl+F4. Does it switch to command line mode?

I'm reinstalling Xubuntu right now. I actually did boot into command line a few times before, but was unsure how to use it. A few of the more standard commands such as "startx", "apt-get" and "sudo" were unrecognized. The installation is nearly done, I'll let you know when it's finished.

[devils casper]

There is no need to execute startx because most of distros boot up in Graphical mode by default. You can check manual of commands using man.

man apt-get

Good luck for new installation !

[I_c]

I finished installing Xubuntu, but I can only boot into command line, anything else just stalls for hours. "man" isn't recognized either.

[devils casper]

Login at command line and execute startx command. Post error message here, if any.
Post the output of this too:

lspci | grep -i vga

[I_c]

How do I login at command line?

Anyway, I executed startx and this is what I got:

error: unknown command 'startx'

As for the other command, I'm not exactly sure where the output would be listed, but it seems as though it's listing my drivers.

[devils casper]

How do I login at command line?

Anyway, I executed startx and this is what I got:

error: unknown command 'startx'

As for the other command, I'm not exactly sure where the output would be listed, but it seems as though it's listing my drivers.

It means X Server has not been installed and thats strange.

What is the output of this

ls /etc/X11

?