Only get white space (can not enter text) when in terminal

Options:
ctrl+alt+F1
gconftool-2 --recursive-unset /apps/gnome-terminal

right click profile, in case uncheck 'start with userdefined command'
check starter command
try a different font

alt+F2
xterm

disable visual effects
change theme
purge/reinstall gnome-terminal

When I do the ctrl+alt+F1 I do get a full screen with white on black background with the typical terminal nomenclature and I can do much of what I could do if I were in Terminal.
     I do not know what you mean by gconftool-2 --recursive-unset/apps/gnome-terminal
though, when I type that in I do not get any response.
What do you mean by Right click profile, in case uncheck 'start with userdefined command'?
I do not get an indication of a profile or choice of anythingt to click on.
Also, I can not find a way to get out of this where I have the white text on a black background, i.e. get back to the desktop.

Also, if, when in the desktop, if I go to System>Administration.Synoptic packages the computer locks up and hangs.
I reinstalled 8.10 and repeated the same problems as originaly had. Thanks for what you have helped on so far and I am eagerly awaiting any further suggestions. Rodney

I have found out how to exit the black screen after doing the cnt+alt+F1 but still have not found a solution to the white screen with no ability to input text. To exit, I found the "sudo halt" works. It asks for the password then makes a normal shut down.
      Would a lack of memory cause this problem, this only has 512 MB of memory?

More info. I checked the screen resolution and it is at 800X600 (the maximum that flat panel display will do). Also, when I do any of the applications such as games, office etc., the game or application comes up but part of all displays are missing. The bar at the top of each application does not show up, the one with title and the -, +,X symbols in the upper right edge that let you minimize, maximize or close the application. To exit the application, I have to go to the bottom of the screen, right click on the name of the active screen then click on "close" to exit the program. I have reinstalled theentire operating system from the disk with no change in performance. Any ideas on what I should check on next, please?

Seems like those apps running in fullscreen mode, try F11 twice or more.

btw. about virtual console (tty)
CTRL+ALT+F1 (session)
CTRL+ALT+F2 to F6 (free tty)
CTRL+ALT+F7 (GUI) ## switch back to desktop
CTRL+ALT+F8 (control)

The mentioned gconftool cmd will reset settings of gnome-terminal, if in case misconfigured, it doesn't give any feedback, it just unsets what you tell to unset via command line. (see also manpage of gconftool)
http://library.gnome.org/users/gconf-editor/2.22/getting-started.html.en

With right click directly in the terminal window a context menu appears where a line says 'profile', in which you're able to edit settings e.g. text size. The settings can be changed also in gconf-editor mentioned above.
Another option is to resize the terminal window by editing the starter cmd, e.g.
gnome-terminal --geometry=95x30+0+0

Other option is to add preferred modes to xorg.conf e.g.:

SubSection "Display"
  Depth 24
  Modes "1024x768" "800x600"
  Virtual 1024 768
 EndSubSection

##please note to backup any system files before editing, in case to restore original file (e.g. via LiveCD).

or to add vga parameter to menu.lst, the related line is 'defoptions' (the second line is the cmd, so please don't remove #)
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash vga=789

e.g. option table
for 800×600
8 bit 256 colors vga 771
16 bit 65.536 colors vga 788
24 bit 16,7 Mio colors vga 789

for 1024×768
773
791
792

512 MB is plenty and shouldn't be an issue.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/SystemRequirements

Related to 'older machine' you may try minimal installation.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation#Minimal%20installations

> I have Ubuntu on another machine and have no problems

But obviously with different architecture, e.g. graphic card

However, the contrary to above and if it doesn't matter try Hardy LTS or Karmic right away, both are top releases; had no bigger issues here.
http://releases.ubuntu.com/
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KarmicKoala/TechnicalOverview

I have swapped out the mainframe (mother board, hard drive, DVD and memory) and reinstalled V8.10. I get the same results, i.e. can do most opertions but; if I go to Applications>Terminal (or Games) I do not get the header at the top and, in terminal, just a white square that I can not type or communicate with. I can play the games but to exit them, I have to right click at the bottom of the screen on their title and then click on "Close" to exit the program. I can get into a text mode by CNTL+ALT+F1 where I can do some basic commands like cd, ls, etc. I can then get back to the desktop with CNTL+ALT+F7. I am not sure how to use gconftool as suggested. I also tried the F11 key with no success other than expanding or contracting the all white space (still all white with no text as a normal terminal has at the beginning line.
Any further suggestions or hints as to what I am doing wrong or not doing?

Tried one more solution with no good results. I downloaded Ubuntu 9.04 (ISO file), converted it to a usable file, installed it on this same machine. I still have the white space problem, i.e. no ability to use terminal or type into the white spaces. Works the same if I use it as a live CD or whether the system is installed. Everything miss performs as stated in the above post when I had version 8.10 installed. Out of time right now but will install 9.04 on a third machine next week (an old Gateway E4000 machine) and see if I get the same results. The puzzling thing to me, is why do most things work yet have this problem displaying a complete window when using "Terminal", "games", etc. I will still welcome any suggestions or possible explanations, thanks, Rodney

While my original question has never been answered or solved, I am giving up on it. I suspect that there is some strange (not normal) equipment in the two different units giving me problems. I have now installed 9.04 on a third machine (using same source disk) and it works properly. Maybe I'll have time later to try to find the cause of the problem but for now, I'll mark this question as solved so that it can be cleared out. Thanks to all for the effort they have expended in trying to help me solve the problem. Many thanks, rodney

The solution for me was here:
System => Preferences => Appearance => Visual Effects, Change to NONE.