Unable to boot

Try to reset X and make a new xorg.conf by

$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

...from a command prompt.

the only command prompt i can get to is the command prompt built into the liveCD by pressing escape.

and that command did not work there. it didn't recognize it. i think that's a command for when you are already booted to the desktop?

Ok, can you access the harddisk where Linux is installed from the LiveCD?

If so, see if you can find the backup file /etc/X11/xorg.conf~ there. This is an earlier version of your X setup. You must prefix any commands with the path to your harddisk. It's probably "/media/sda1", but you can check this with:

$ mount

...and get a list of all your current mounts.

Then copy the current setup to a backup (example):

$ sudo cp /media/sda1/etc/X11/xorg.conf /media/sda1/etc/xorg.conf.backup

Then restore the old backup:

$ sudo cp /media/sda1/etc/X11/xorg.conf~ /media/sda1/etc/xorg.conf

And try to reboot from the harddisk again.

"Could not find kernel image $"

i don't think im at the right command prompt.

the only prompt i can get to is from the liveCD. i just press escape at the main menu. other than that it locks before i can get to it.

You're not supposed to type the $-sign. That is the end of the prompt itself and is here only for visibility.

You can do this from the command prompt inside the LiveCD, provided you can access your harddisk.

When you search for the backup file, remember that it's a hidden type, so you must use the "-a" (all) option in the list command. For example:

$ ls -a /sda1/media/etc/X11/xorg*

...but it's easier to use the graphic shell Nautilus if you can, of course. In Nautilus, just press Ctrl + H to turn on display of hidden files.

Sorry, that ls command should've been

$ ls -a /media/sda1/etc/X11/xorg*

...but as I said earlier, you must first check what the disk name is on your PC (It's not certain it's sda1).

alright i don't think im at the right prompt. the only place i can get to where i can type anything is when i press escape at the main menu from the liveCD.

"You are leaving the graphical boot menu and starting the text mode interface."

if i click ok, all i see is...

"boot:"

then i can type things here. if i try to get to a command prompt by pressing enter in graphics mode or Ctrl+alt+f2 or anything like that, it locks up before i can get to a prompt.

no matter what i type after the "boot:", i just get...

"Could not find kernel image sudo"
or
"could not find kernel image ls".

maybe im just being a n00b about this, but i can't get it to work, but it's the only place i can get to that lets me type anything.

Do I understand you correctly if I say that you can't boot the LiveCD into the graphical desktop, because it freezes up?

The LiveCD doesn't use the xserver configuration on your current installation on harddisk, so if you're unable to run the LiveCD then something else must be wrong also.

Please run the Memroy test and the Check CD from the boot menu, and see if they come up with anything.

i ran both and both are fine.

right now i am, however, having the wierdest problem ever. in windows, making it very difficult to respond.

its like everything is in a constant backwards... my computer will constantly be backing up pages, all the browsers will do the same.

however-- it's not a stuck key. i tried switching keyboards and it keeps happening. any ideas?

YEAH! alright im reopening this topic. ignore my last comments about the computer problems... it was a simple mouse malfunction.

but i got to ubuntu desktop!

I went into the BIOS, and i switched the graphics mode to onboard VGA, and was able to get to my normal ubuntu desktop without the disk!

the question is, what command do i type in to let it accept a new video card? i don't want to do it just yet because i have my new one on the way, but id like to know!

Glad that you managed to boot into the desktop! Now you need to reset your xserver:

$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

It will create a new /etc/X11/xorg.conf file for you and thereby replace the old one which doesn't work anymore.

When you're asked if you want the "nv" or "nvidia" driver, the first one will let you use the inbuilt open source driver that comes with Ubuntu. If you select "nvidia" it will use the propriatary Nvidia driver. Now, since you haven't downloaded and installed any Nvidia driver yet, I recommend that you first reset settings to the default driver by selecting "nv".

After you've finished the xserver reconfigure program, reboot and go into BIOS and try to set back to external graphic card again. Reboot.

When you get into the Ubuntu desktop, you can install the propriatary Nvidia driver if you want 3D acceleration, running Beryl/Compiz, and use other features special to your video card. You then need to install the restricted driver called nvidia-glx-new (ref: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedDrivers/NVIDIA), which is the right one for your card. Search for this in System->Administration->Synaptic Package Manager. See also System->Preferences->Control Center->Restricted Driver Manager.

After installing the Nvidia driver, you may need to edit the /etc/X11/xorg.conf and change "nv" to "nvidia". Be careful with this file and backup it before you edit:

$ cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf_backup

...then start the editor:

$ sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Browse down to section "Device" and change Driver "nv" to Driver "nvidia".

Reboot.

Reference: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedDrivers