Ubuntu

Black screen with white cursor at start-up

Asked by Cindy Cromar

Hello. I have a System 76 netbook (recently purchased) which uses Ubuntu. Just so you know I am pretty ignorant about computers and a complete novice to Ubuntu. Anyway, I installed some updates and it was asking about Grub and I ticked the boxes. Now when I start up the netbook all I get is a black screen with a white cursor (like a DOS screen). I have no idea what to do. I looked at some of the other questions and answers above but I am not sure if I would just make things worse if I just jumped in trying to resolve this issue. If someone could list step-by-step instructions of how to fix this I would be extremely grateful.

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marcus aurelius
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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

www.ubuntugeek.com/how-to-fix-ubuntu-10-04-lts-lucid-blank-screen-at-startup.html

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Cindy Cromar (cindycromar) said : 		#2

Please note that I do not have a CD. All I have is the netbook which came with Ubuntu already progammed on it.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

Same applys

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Cindy Cromar (cindycromar) said : 		#4

Hi. I am really confused because the first solution is to go the install screen, which I can't/don't know how to. The second solutions is to go to the screen with the rectangle and human figure on it, which I don't have showing. I just have a black screen with a blinking cursor. And the third solution is to Boot from the Ubuntu CD, which I don't have. Can you tell me what I need to do starting from the blinking cursor? Do I need to type in something to get to the install screen? Obviously I am totally clueless and if it can be put in laymen's terms, I would appreciate it.

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Cindy Cromar (cindycromar) said : 		#5

Hi. I am really confused because the first solution is to go the install screen, which I can't/don't know how to. The second solutions is to go to the screen with the rectangle and human figure on it, which I don't have showing. I just have a black screen with a blinking cursor. And the third solution is to Boot from the Ubuntu CD, which I don't have. Can you tell me what I need to do starting from the blinking cursor? Do I need to type in something to get to the install screen? Obviously I am totally clueless and if it can be put in laymen's terms, I would appreciate it.

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Best marcus aurelius (adbiz) said : 		#6

Cindy. just follow solution #1 on the link that actionparson supplied. that will solve your problem.

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Cindy Cromar (cindycromar) said : 		#7

Hi

Between the assistance of the System 76 person and my brother, NOW I understand what solution #1 meant. I was not kidding when I said I have no clue about computers. I have learned how to download onto a USB stick, change the booting order of my netbook, how to open a terminal drive, and reinstall Grub. Going forward, a simple instruction like that may make sense to me, but it did not before. It's all sorted now. Thank you actionparsnip and marcus aurelius for your kind help.