Can't start Ubuntu 11.10 stuck on 'EDUBUNTU' splash

Have you installed Ubuntu or Edubuntu?

Well, that is a good question - I thought I had installed ubuntu. I don't remember installing edubuntu....but I am a teacher and it is possible that way way way back when I ordered the CD I got the Edubuntu version.......

sorry.

When the boot splash hangs. Press ESC and you can see the boot messages. What are the last few lines?

If you boot to root recovery mode (with networking) you should be able to get updates there.

Hitting escape does nothing. Actually, the PC is dead - no key response - just a big white screen with edubuntu written on it and 5 dots underneath which are also doing nothing.

I am not sure if I can boot into recovery - I hit escape when GRUB is loading and I get recovery choices but if I choose one I get the initramfs error.

Maybe I can get a command prompt from the initramfs commandline? Update from there?

Or maybe I need complete re-install and wipe my machine ;(

I have the very same issue. I've not been able to get it to load up, I'll sign in but from there nothing. I tried to log into gnu classic, nothing. Does this requrie a complete reinstall? I'll have to burn a CD for that. ARGH...

I read (somewhere) that there may be an issue with my graphics driver (nvidia) and that is why the splash screen hangs....but - I know almost nothing about what I am doing so that could be rubbish

Be sure you have an active connection (prefer wire if you have wire and wireless)

Open a terminal by pressing ctrl+alt+t
if doesn't work press ctrl+alt+f1 and made login with your user and password, then type:

sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo apt-get -f install
sudo apt-get -f upgrade
sudo apt-get -f dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get autoremove
sudo apt-get clean
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo reboot

give your user password when requested, you don't see nothing when you type it, then press enter.

Sorry - no joy - I dont get a terminal prompt. I can get to a prompt saying
"root@cameron-desktop:~#"

Is that 'terminal'?
hitting ctrl+alt+t (or the other combo) got no result from the prompt.

I did input those lines to see what would happen and I did get a series of errors along the lines of 'failed to fetch http/.............."

It makes me think that the PC has no network connection - something that wasn't true before the upgrade.

The links you provided were interesting but didn't seem to get me any further - sorry to be a pain
.

Get a wired connection. It's easier.

Could you report result of command
   ping 8.8.8.8

@dalance

Network is unreachable

If you use a laptop and WIFI, try with a wired connection.

@José: could you try to follow this question. I have currently too much to manage, despite the help of Eliah.

Can you access a root prompt with networking in recovery mode?