Ubuntu 10.04 Install freezes at Step 3 of 7

Did you MD5 test the ISO you downloaded?

Yes, both of them, with WinMd5Sum. They check.

Now I have also tried putting 10.04.2 on the USB-stick with unetbootin with 0MB reserved for saving files and settings, but with same result.
Afterwards I did a "Check disk for defects": "No errors found".

you should try the 10.04 alternate cd. there seems to be problems with the normal installer

http://ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/linux/ubuntu.iso//lucid/ubuntu-10.04.2-alternate-i386.iso

Well... that went much worse:

I downloaded the 'alternate' file you mention and checked it with WinMd5Sum, comparing it to this:
d5d07c78820490dd908bacad08784962 - ubuntu-10.04.2-alternate-i386.iso
from here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuHashes
And it checks.
Then I put it on my Kingston 4GB DataTraveler 101 with unetbootin-win-549.exe (reserving 0MB for saving files), but when I turn on my Acer netbook with the USB-memory plugged in and press F12 to get the boot-menu, the Acer BIOS can't even do that. I get a black screen with a blinking cursor. So that's the worst result so far.
When I try to put the files on my USB-memory using usb-creator.exe (from the 11.04-iso - that's the only place I have found that program so far) it is even worse: After about 2 minutes, I get the error message: "Installation failed - md5 checksum do not match."

- Henrik

Add the boot option:

nomodeset

May help

At which point in the process do I add that option, and how?
And using which iso-file and which "USB-writer"?

Right when grub shows up.

It is needed for some graphic cards that otherwise boot into a black screen or show corrupted splash screen. See http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1613132 on how to use this parameter

OK, so you want me to use the 'alternate' iso-file?

I wrote:

"OK, so you want me to use the 'alternate' iso-file?"

NO, this can't be right, because that did not boot at all.
So I will go back to ubuntu-10.04.2-desktop-i386.iso and unetbootin-win-549.exe!

Things do NOT work the way you assume!

Please tell me:
1. what iso-file to use.
2. whether to use unetbootin-win-549.exe or usb-creator.exe (from 16.11.2010??) or what?
3. unless you say something else, I will assume NOT to reserved space on the USB for saving files.

Then maybe your response will start making sense.

Thank you.

Since noone seem able to solve this, I have created another question:

https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/163196

With this subject-line:

"Is it possible to run Linux on my Acer netbook?"

- Henrik

OK..... before anyone starts a huge investigation:

I just remembered I have an external (USB) DVD-drive, so I burned 10.04.2 to a CD and booted my Acer netbook on that, and NOW the install procedure has just passed to "Step 4 of 7", so the problem MIGHT be solved.

Burning 10.04.2 to a CD and booting and installing from that, in an external USB DVD-burner solved the problems on my Acer netbook.

So my conclusions are:

1. Trying to boot and install from a USB-memory stick is still somewhat experimental, and should be avoided if possible!!
2. unetbootin-win-549.exe works better than usb-creator.exe (taken from ubuntu-11.04-desktop-i386.iso)!
3. Reserving space on the USB-memory for saving files while trying ubuntu creates more problems.

It would have been very nice - and I could have saved a lot of time, if these crucial details could be found in this document: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick

- Henrik