[SOLVED] Multiple install/boot issues from a Linux Noob

[Utopia1138]

Initially I tried installing Ubuntu 10.04 to a new HD, but the installer would always fail to create the swap partition. I used the disc checking tool to see if that was the fault, but the disc was fine (I even burnt another disc to make sure :\ ). A friend then introduced me to UbuntuStudio, so I was curious to see whether that would install where the other hadn't, which it did (though had issues with the dhcp network configuration, and the software installation).

After the install, upon boot it wouldn't show up in the chameleon bootloader with the rest of my OS'es, so I set its HD as the first booted device, and it would attempt to boot but fail for some reason (the errors were too quick for me to write down :\ ) and launch the maintenance mode (I think that's what it is- sorry I'm new to this, but basically the command-line style thing) which prompted me to login, after which I get the following error from 'start x': "Failed to connect to socket /var/run/dbus/system_bus_socket".

From browsing the net I haven't come across any similar problems... any ideas?

[hatebreed]

are you typing startx or start x? the proper way is startx.

[Utopia1138]

'Start X'
'Startx' seems to come up with a bash error. Unless I'm actually so tired I couldn't type startx right XD. I'll give it another go now...

[devils casper]

Is machine booting up fine from LiveCDs?

Something is wrong with installation only. Lets check your Harddisk's partition structure and Graphics Card.
Boot up from LiveCD of any Linux distro and execute this in Terminal :

lspci | grep -i vga
sudo fdisk -l

Post output here.
* Its small L in fdisk -l.

[hatebreed]

Utopia, don't forget you need to run these commands as root. sudo then the command like devils casper indicated. so it would be sudo startx.

[Utopia1138]

@Devils Casper- Yes it seems fine with LiveCD's (I'm typing this from it now :P)

The graphics card:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ lspci | grep -i vga
05:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation Device 05eb (rev a1)

The Partition Structure:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0000fb2b

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1       61047   490359996    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2           61048      121601   486400005    7  HPFS/NTFS

WARNING: GPT (GUID Partition Table) detected on '/dev/sdb'! The util fdisk doesn't support GPT. Use GNU Parted.


Disk /dev/sdb: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1   *           1      121602   976761527   ee  GPT

Disk /dev/sdc: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000ca640

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdc1   *           1      121601   976760001    7  HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdd: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00024baf

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdd1   *           1       30407   244237312   83  Linux
/dev/sdd2           30407       31440     8299521    5  Extended
/dev/sdd5           30407       31440     8299520   82  Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sde: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xa4b57300

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sde1               1       30401   244196001    7  HPFS/NTFS

The relevant part of the HDD partitions is in sdd 500.01 GB, but I kept the rest in case there could be any kind of conflict issues :/

@hatebreed- Yeah I've been using sudo, but startx still doesn't seem to register :/

Thanks for the responses

[hatebreed]

what graphics card do you have? have you tried to reload yet?

[Utopia1138]

The graphics card is an Nvidia GTX 295. What do you mean by 'reload', as in reboot, or reinstall? Or is there some method of reloading the VGA drivers for the graphics card?- sorry if it's something I should know :\

[hatebreed]

I was referring to re install.as far as graphics goes, nvidia has some issues sometimes. you should try to run nvidia-xconfig as root. this will give you a default xorg config for your card.

[Utopia1138]

I tried the nvidia-xconfig, but it came up with the same error: "Failed to connect to socket /var/run/dbus/system_bus_socket".