Ubuntu 10.04.1 boots to black screen

[skandranon]

I am been trying to install Ubuntu 10.04.1 x86 for 4 days now.

I have installed and reinstalled over two dozen times.

I have tried 3 different live cds. I have tried usb install with both the x86 and with the x86 alternate cd.

My system:

q6600
nvidia 9800 gtx
msi motherboard (forget model atm)

I can boot the live cd just fine. However when I try to install, it goes though the entire process and seems to have worked. It then boots to a black screen.

I have searched and searched without avail for a solution to this problem.

I forget everything I have tried or I would list it all here.

I should mention that I am a linux noob. Please spell out any suggestions in detail.

[KaIIen]

When you get the GRUB, hit E. This will bring up GRUB commands that yo can change. Any changes you make will only work on this boot. When you reboot, these changes will be gone, so you cna not screw anything up here.

Anyways, after you hit E move the cursor to the bottom and make sure there's a space and type "acpi=off" without the quotes. To boot with the updated temporary GRUB press CTRL-X. Post back results.

[skandranon]

When you get the GRUB, hit E. This will bring up GRUB commands that yo can change. Any changes you make will only work on this boot. When you reboot, these changes will be gone, so you cna not screw anything up here.

Anyways, after you hit E move the cursor to the bottom and make sure there's a space and type "acpi=off" without the quotes. To boot with the updated temporary GRUB press CTRL-X. Post back results.

Thx for the reply!!

I honestly dont know what GRUB looks like. However I am 99% sure its not loading.

As soon as my pc leave the post screen it goes to a all black screen with a blinking white cursor on it.

I have read a bunch of posts that sujest pressing E... I have tried to start pressing it prior to the pc leaving post and I end up on the same screen.

At the black screen the only button combo that works that I can find is ctrl alt del for a reboot.

Ctrl + Alt + F1 Does not thing. As does ctrl + f1 or alt f1.

I did try installing by hitting space to bring up a options menu while booting the live cd, then hiting f6 and bring up the options prior to install, and installed it with acpi=off, noapic, nomodeset.. All one at a time in different install attempts. Same black screen with cursor was the result each time.

[KaIIen]

Oh, OK. I assumed that thew GRUB was working. The GRUB is a menu that pops up to allow you to choose OS (if you're dual booting) or to choose different kernal options and so forth. Sorry about that.

Ok, try this. Boot into the Ubuntu CD. When you get to the desktop open a terminal (click on Applications>Accessories>Terminal)
Type this:

sudo fdisk -l

Post output. Note that the -l is -L, but the L is lowercase.

[skandranon]

Thank you for your time and detailed responses

Note that I installed Ubuntu sdb and that it is set to boot in the bios. I am sure of this as I tried booting from both of the velociraptor's to make sure.

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 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: 0x02f94d51

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1       19458   156295361    7  HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdb: 74.4 GB, 74355769344 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9039 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: 0x000e7608

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1               1        8666    69606400   83  Linux
/dev/sdb2            8666        9040     3004417    5  Extended
/dev/sdb5            8666        9040     3004416   82  Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdc: 74.4 GB, 74355769344 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9039 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: 0x000d3503

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdc1               1        9040    72610816    b  W95 FAT32

Disk /dev/sdd: 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: 0x0195c00b

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdd1               2       30401   244188000    f  W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sdd5               2       30401   244187968+   7  HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sde: 8287 MB, 8287944704 bytes
255 heads, 62 sectors/track, 1023 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 15810 * 512 = 8094720 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0008aaaf

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sde1   *           1        1023     8086784    c  W95 FAT32 (LBA)
Partition 1 has different physical/logical endings:
     phys=(1023, 254, 62) logical=(1022, 254, 62)
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

[KaIIen]

Oh, so your Ubuntu install is on an external HD? If so, that makes a difference. And, unfortunately, I can't help with that. I tried this a few years ago and it took me forever to get it running. I don't remember how either. i think it involved installing the GRUB on the external HD. We could try that, but I would be over my head....

[skandranon]

Its on a internal HD.

I booted from USB to do as you asked simply cause it boots faster than the CD does. I think that may be the external HD your are refering to. If I am reading the info correct (I may not be) that usb HD is:

Disk /dev/sde: 8287 MB, 8287944704 bytes

I have ubuntu installed on:

Disk /dev/sdb: 74.4 GB, 74355769344 bytes


...

I even tryed before posting unpluging all but the one drive. Changed nothing.

[yancek]

Here's a link to a site that claims to have a solution:

Black Screen On Boot With Ubuntu 10.4 Lucid Lynx? Solution!

Haven't tried it myself?

Are you able to boot windows? Where did you install Grub? sdb1 partition? mbr of sdb? mbr of sda?

[skandranon]

Here's a link to a site that claims to have a solution:

[it.toolbox.com/blogs/securitymonkey/black-screen-on-boot-with-ubuntu-104-lucid-lynx-solution-38426]Black Screen On Boot With Ubuntu 10.4 Lucid Lynx? Solution!

Haven't tried it myself?

Are you able to boot windows? Where did you install Grub? sdb1 partition? mbr of sdb? mbr of sda?

Due to not being able to get GRUB even with pressing and holding shift in several different fashions / and times during the boot.

Not sure where GRUB was installed... I think I found that option in the GUI under the "advanced" section but I didnt know where to put it so I left it alone every time.

Somewhere along the line I corrupted my windows install. So instead of messing with trying to make dual boot work, I decided to just get ubuntu to work first then figure that out. So I wiped both the drives that had OS's on them and started over.. Having the same problem.


EDIT - Reinstalling with GRUB on sdb1 - will update with results

EDIT 2 - After a reinstall with manually setting grub to load on sdb1 via the advanced menu Ubuntu boots... got some other things to figure out but it running finally!

Thank you to yancek for the idea and KaIIen for the suggestions!

[KaIIen]

What made you think you corrupted your Windows drive? And what are the other issues you are having?

Glad you got Ubuntu running! The next step I was getting ready to post was going to have you manually install a new GRUB in sda pointing to your sdb install. That's where I got messed up, was I didn't realize it was 2 drives to being with. Since you wiped both drives, do you now have Ubuntu installed on the primary or the slave HD?

And, a word of warning if you plan on reinstalling windows, it will overwrite your MBR. So then, when you boot your PC, it will go straight into windows like it always has. You will need to reinstall the GRUB at that point, and that can be done without reinstalling Ubuntu.