Ubuntu will not install.

When I restart my laptop without the CD in the drive, the windows startup is normal untill it asks me to choose an os. Then it has Windows and Ubuntu as available OS options. Windows starts up normal and Ubuntu fails to load. I'm not sure what type of installation i tried did this.

It sounds as though you tried the Wubi installer which isn't as good as this method

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootFromCD

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot

Most of us keep a working Windows as part of a dual-boot although i can't even remember how long ago i last booted into Windows to actually do anything useful. It's handy to have it there tho :)

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

Even though I don't want Windows on my computer, I still tried Dual Boot and got the same issues. I'm downloading 9.04 right now in blind hope of it being a hardware compatibility issue. While i'm downloading i've been reading about the boot options but i don't know enough about Ubuntu or Linux for the explanations to make much sense yet.

It takes time to get used to Ubuntu but most of what you learn is good for other linux distros too. Often a good way to learn one distro, such as Ubuntu, faster it's a good idea to try out a couple of other distros too. That way you get to see similarities and differences. Most have the option to boot into a LiveCd session from the Cd so you don't even need to actually install anything just to have a quick look around. Ones that appear quite radically different from each other and from Ubuntu are AntiX (uses a right-click on the desktop instead of a "Start" button) , sliTaz, Tiny Core. Wolvix is very similar in style to Ubuntu but "under the bonnet" it's really very different, i prefer their "Hunter" to Cub or the new beta version although their new beta is probably fantastic on decent hardware. Wolvix Hunter might help you understand the Boot Options/Parameters in Ubuntu, especially if you press F1 when prompted in bootup. their default user is "root" (usually a really bad plan) and the default password is "toor"

Good luck and have fun exploring :)
Regards from
Tom :)

DistroWatch is a great place to find a compare different distros. Here are the pages for some of my favourite distros

http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=wolvix
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=slitaz
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=tinycore
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=antix

Hmmm, the AntiX page goes to their big sister Mepis instead. Actually it seems really difficult to find AniX now. Ahh well
Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

Errr, on the dual-boot page it's worth noting the special instructions for Vista. As you've noticed Vista is much less helpful at working with other OS's than Xp. Xp is brilliant now. In linux-land we would almost consider it about ready for release where previously it has seemed more like a beta version, not quite ready for release ;)

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot#Resizing%20partitions%20with%20Windows%20Vista

Again. good luck and regards from
Tom :)

I opted to install 9.04 as a dual boot through wubi (it was the only option at the time), though i still have some wrinkles to iron out. I have most of my desktop set up the way I like it, tweaking the arrow speed and general arrangement.

I didn't get the links until after I installed Ubuntu but I bookmarked them. I plan on checking them out once I get things settled in. Thanks for posting them.

Thanks Peeyush Chandel, that solved my question.

Nicely done :)

If you got the Wubi working then there's no need to explore the other links although they might be interesting. Hopefully soon you'll be able to move the Wubi onto it's own space, making it into a proper dual boot. Part 8 of section 8 is helpful with that ...
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WubiGuide

Good luck and congrats from
Tom :))

Dual boot was working fine in the end but I got the burner I needed to make a proper boot disk and got rid of vista on my laptop anyway. I still have backup disks for Basic and Premium if I ever miss Vista but i doubt i will ever go back. Thanks for your help.

I managed to miss Vista completely but Xp seems quite good now, not that i've actually used it recently :)
Regards from
Tom :)