need help with live cd

[scuffers]

i recently tried to install linux on my laptob a dell m65. the laptop's hardrive is totally clean in fact i just put a new one. anyway i followed all the install directions on the ubuntu website and when i try to boot with the cd it usually just comes up with a black screen with white letters saying that there was an error with something, the other thing that happens is that it actually brings my to a homepage where i cant really do anything. i dont know what ive done wrong i have tried following all the steps for installing it again with a different cd and reinstalling the iso but it still doesnt work. your help is very much apreciated.

[devils casper]

Hi and Welcome !

it usually just comes up with a black screen with white letters saying that there was an error with something

Could you post exact error message here?

the other thing that happens is that it actually brings my to a homepage where i cant really do anything. i dont know what ive done wrong i have tried following all the steps for installing it again with a different cd and reinstalling the iso but it still doesnt work

We need a bit more info. From where did you download .iso image? Have you verified its Md5sum?
Try to burn .iso image at lowest possible speed supported by your Burner.

[scuffers]

ok so i checked the md5sum and it checked out the same. i cant seem to get the error message to come up again but when i turned it on it booted to a screen with a white box in the middle with an orange bar in it that says "Other..." when i click on this a box for my username pops up if a type something it then asks for my password, now i didnt make a username or password.

[scuffers]

oh and thank so much devils i really apreciate the help.

[scuffers]

THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH, writing it at a lower speed has gotten it to work im soo happy write now i could actually hug you thank you soo much

[scuffers]

i was a little over exuperant in my thinking it worked after about five minutes the computer crashed to a black screen after trying to turn on the computer again a similiar problem occured as before the error message is "error: unexpectedly disconnected from boot status daemon"

[devils casper]

That was a bug in testing .iso of Ubuntu 10.04. Which version did you download?

[MASONTX]

You said you just put a new HD in, so I'm wondering how old your computer is, and what are it's specs? Ubuntu 10.04 needs at least 1 GB Ram and a 1 Ghz cpu to run well. If your compute is older, you might try Lubuntu 10.04.

[scuffers]

my computer is about 6 years old however it has really pretty decent specs for its age, 3.5 gigs ram 2.8 Ghz cpu along with an ok nividia card. i had downloaded the newest version 11.04, so why did this error pop up? and really thanks for you help guys

[devils casper]

That error was in beta .iso images of 10.04 and it was fixed in next stable release.