Laptop doesn't boot following install

Have a look at: https://answers.launchpad.net/grub/+faqs Black screen when Ubuntu starts

Did you MD5 test the ISO you downloaded?
DId you burn the CD as slowly as possible?

Did not MD5 test the iso and burned it as max speed. Never had a problem
with the burning of any other product ever due to speed of burning.
This was burned on a Macbook pro with superdrive.
Hal

On 10/8/11 2:10 PM, actionparsnip wrote:
> Your question #173677 on ubiquity in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+question/173677
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> actionparsnip requested more information:
> Did you MD5 test the ISO you downloaded?
> DId you burn the CD as slowly as possible?
>

You have no way of knowing the image you downloaded was complete or consistent. Bad data will make a bad disk. Burning CDs slowly, especially ones to boot from benefit GREATLY from being burnt slowly. It makes a better image on the CD and burning at full speed saves, what 60 seconds.....

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowToMD5SUM

With all due respect, the disk image is good. delance has better info
which I'm following up on now. Thanks.
Hal

On 10/8/11 3:05 PM, actionparsnip wrote:
> Your question #173677 on ubiquity in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+question/173677
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
> You have no way of knowing the image you downloaded was complete or
> consistent. Bad data will make a bad disk. Burning CDs slowly,
> especially ones to boot from benefit GREATLY from being burnt slowly. It
> makes a better image on the CD and burning at full speed saves, what 60
> seconds.....
>
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowToMD5SUM
>

You don't know for sure, PCs cannot think for themseves, so the data MUST be pristine.

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo lshw -C display
   *-display
        description: VGA compatible controller
        product: G73 [GeForce Go 7600]
        vendor: nVidia Corporation
        physical id: 0
        bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
        version: a1
        width: 64 bits
        clock: 33MHz
        capabilities: pm msi pciexpress vga_controller bus_master
cap_list rom
        configuration: driver=nouveau latency=0
        resources: irq:16 memory:dd000000-ddffffff
memory:c0000000-cfffffff memory:dc000000-dcffffff ioport:2000(size=128)

Hal

On 10/8/11 1:55 PM, delance wrote:
> Your question #173677 on ubiquity in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+question/173677
>
> delance posted a new comment:
> Have a look at: https://answers.launchpad.net/grub/+faqs Black screen
> when Ubuntu starts
>

The install experienced NO errors, ejected the CD and said remove media, close drawer and hit enter. If that's not a pristine install, then what would be?

Add the boot option:

nouveau.blacklist=1

It should now boot and you can install the proprietary driver as well as get updates

Since this is my first time to install Ubuntu, I am unfamiliar with some
of the nuances of "customizing" the install.

Just WHERE would I put this "boot option" you mention? When I hit the F6
button of the F8 button to try to do something different, it just goes
ahead and starts the install without allowing ANY other changes, so I am
at a loss as to HOW or WHERE I would put this "option".
Thanks for your interest and forgive my newbieishness to Ubuntu. I was
able to get 7 different versions of Windows (over the years), two
different versions of linux (Red Hat and OpenSuse) without any such
problems. It seems to me this is an installer issue since the installer
"uses my screen so beautifully" during the install. Why can't it
remember those same settings AFTER the install? Oh, and I was able to
get the same CD to install perfectly on a desktop (using the same DELL
monitor). Since your first message regarding the integrity of my CD, I
checked the MD5 checksum (perfect) and wrote a new CD at 8x instead of
24X. took longer and the result was exactly the same. Desktop boots up
great. Laptop doesn't. I know HP laptops use some screwy hw, but this is
ridiculous.
Hal

On 10/9/11 12:30 AM, actionparsnip wrote:
> Your question #173677 on ubiquity in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+question/173677
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
> Add the boot option:
>
> nouveau.blacklist=1
>
> It should now boot and you can install the proprietary driver as well as
> get updates
>

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1613132

Shows how to add the nomodeset option, just change it to nouveau.blacklist=1 instead

OK, I followed the link. It applies to 10.04. I'm trying to load 11.04.
Even so, I'm guessing the versions
are not the problem.

The link has instructions for making a change to the permanent grub file
using gedit.

Here is the results of that attempt.
To run a command as administrator (user "root"), use "sudo <command>".
See "man sudo_root" for details.

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ gksudo gedit /etc/default/grub

(gedit:3622): Gtk-WARNING **: Attempting to store changes into
`/root/.local/share/recently-used.xbel', but failed: Failed to create
file '/root/.local/share/recently-used.xbel.UOVE3V': No such file or
directory

(gedit:3622): Gtk-WARNING **: Attempting to set the permissions of
`/root/.local/share/recently-used.xbel', but failed: No such file or
directory

(gedit:3622): Gtk-WARNING **: Attempting to store changes into
`/root/.local/share/recently-used.xbel', but failed: Failed to create
file '/root/.local/share/recently-used.xbel.3TEF3V': No such file or
directory

(gedit:3622): Gtk-WARNING **: Attempting to set the permissions of
`/root/.local/share/recently-used.xbel', but failed: No such file or
directory
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo update-grub
/usr/sbin/grub-probe: error: cannot stat `aufs'.
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

After the gksudo gedit line (while in the gedit editor), I added
"nomodeset" to the specified line.
I don't think the changes took effect, and the update-grub didn't appear
to work either.

What I would like to know is how to login as root (not sudo) and then
do the editing. I prefer vi.
Then I could be sure that the change is actually taking place and that
the update was actually taking effect.

Then when I reboot, the installed grub should take that line with the
nomodeset and hopefully, allow ubuntu to start up
and at some point when xserver takes over, will not be a blank (black)
screen.
Does this sound reasonable?

As I get more familiar with this system, I'll probably remember a lot of
my Unix stuff that I used for about 15 years. Since retiring, I haven't
had a Unix system
to work on and this is just an attempt to make some use out of this old
laptop. I do all of my REAL work now on a MAC. (Yes, I'm aware that it
is Unix under the hood.)
Hal

On 10/10/11 10:30 AM, actionparsnip wrote:
> Your question #173677 on ubiquity in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+question/173677
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
> http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1613132
>
> Shows how to add the nomodeset option, just change it to
> nouveau.blacklist=1 instead
>

That worked great. Now, why do I get the "can't stat aufs" when I try to
update-grub? I realize it's trying to rebuild the grub.conf (or some
type configuration file).
Hal

On 10/10/11 3:15 PM, actionparsnip wrote:
> Your question #173677 on ubiquity in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+question/173677
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
> You can use:
>
> sudo -i
>
> And get a root console. You can also use:
>
> sudo vi /etc/default/grub
>

Could you run following procedure:

There is a standard script provided to analyse boot configuration. Could you download script at:

   http://sourceforge.net/projects/bootinfoscript/

Then in a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) run command:

    sudo bash [path/to/the/download_folder]/boot_info_script.sh

This will produce a file named: RESULTS.txt. Paste content of this file in http://paste.ubuntu.com/ and provide in this thread the link to Web page. Please don't post file directly in thread, else it will make thread difficult to read.

delance,
I just posted the RESULTS.txt in the Paste bin.
Hal Hackney

I need the link address returned by paste bin.

I wish you'd told me I needed it BEFORE. Truthfully, I didn't see anything like that but it must have been there. Sorry. It will probably be tomorrow before I can get it again as I will need to run the entire process again since I am in the process of wiping the disks clean and starting over anyway. I am 100% certain I'll get the exact same error again, so not to worry.

http://paste.ubuntu.com/706361/

I hope this is what you were looking for.
I'm keepiong this page open in case you need something else.

If not, then here is what I get when I click on the**"download as text
line."*
*

*MOD_PYTHON ERROR

ProcessId: 6865
Interpreter: 'pastebin.ubuntu.com'

ServerName: 'pastebin.ubuntu.com'
DocumentRoot: '/htdocs'

URI: '/openid/login/'
Location: '/'
Directory: None
Filename: '/htdocs'
PathInfo: '/openid/login/'

Phase: 'PythonHandler'
Handler: 'django.core.handlers.modpython'

Traceback (most recent call last):

   File "/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/mod_python/importer.py", line 1537, in HandlerDispatch
     default=default_handler, arg=req, silent=hlist.silent)

   File "/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/mod_python/importer.py", line 1229, in _process_target
     result = _execute_target(config, req, object, arg)

   File "/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/mod_python/importer.py", line 1128, in _execute_target
     result = object(arg)

   File "/var/lib/python-support/python2.5/django/core/handlers/modpython.py", line 228, in handler
     return ModPythonHandler()(req)

   File "/var/lib/python-support/python2.5/django/core/handlers/modpython.py", line 205, in __call__
     response = middleware_method(request, response)

   File "/var/lib/python-support/python2.5/django/contrib/sessions/middleware.py", line 35, in process_response
     request.session.save()

   File "/var/lib/python-support/python2.5/django/contrib/sessions/backends/db.py", line 58, in save
     obj.save(force_insert=must_create)

   File "/var/lib/python-support/python2.5/django/db/models/base.py", line 311, in save
     self.save_base(force_insert=force_insert, force_update=force_update)

   File "/var/lib/python-support/python2.5/django/db/models/base.py", line 383, in save_base
     result = manager._insert(values, return_id=update_pk)

   File "/var/lib/python-support/python2.5/django/db/models/manager.py", line 138, in _insert
     return insert_query(self.model, values, **kwargs)

   File "/var/lib/python-support/python2.5/django/db/models/query.py", line 894, in insert_query
     return query.execute_sql(return_id)

   File "/var/lib/python-support/python2.5/django/db/models/sql/subqueries.py", line 309, in execute_sql
     cursor = super(InsertQuery, self).execute_sql(None)

   File "/var/lib/python-support/python2.5/django/db/models/sql/query.py", line 1734, in execute_sql
     cursor.execute(sql, params)

   File "/var/lib/python-support/python2.5/django/db/backends/sqlite3/base.py", line 168, in execute
     return Database.Cursor.execute(self, query, params)

DatabaseError: database disk image is malformed*

Hal

On 10/11/11 1:56 PM, delance wrote:
> Your question #173677 on ubiquity in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+question/173677
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> delance requested more information:
> I need the link address returned by paste bin.
>

http://paste.ubuntu.com/706361/

Is this what you need from paste bin?

It's another bug!

The state of first disk seems consistent (bootloader points on same disk, partition schema looks sensible, grub.cfg looks OK)
The state of your 2nd disk is inconsistent. What is this second disk ? It's same size as 1st one: do you have a RAID configuration or Windows logical partitions?
The last reported bug could means the packages database is inconsistent (it's not my area of expertise).

I see any obvious solution. I can only advise you to wait Oneiric 11.10, download ISO (the alternative one should be better than the desktop one, the installer is more reliable if your configuration is "special"), MD5 it, check CD and retry installation using whole disk. I'm sorry, but can't do more.

This is just a laptop with two identical 200 GB disks. Actually, two
separate disk drives. No RAID involved unless the installer somehow
implied it erroneously.
I've tried the beta2 11.10 and it has the same plus other problems.
Neither works. Guess I'll go back to OpenSuse. Bah, humbug! :-)
Hal

On 10/12/11 2:31 PM, delance wrote:
> Your question #173677 on ubiquity in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+question/173677
>
> delance posted a new comment:
> It's another bug!
>
> The state of first disk seems consistent (bootloader points on same disk, partition schema looks sensible, grub.cfg looks OK)
> The state of your 2nd disk is inconsistent. What is this second disk ? It's same size as 1st one: do you have a RAID configuration or Windows logical partitions?
> The last reported bug could means the packages database is inconsistent (it's not my area of expertise).
>
> I see any obvious solution. I can only advise you to wait Oneiric 11.10,
> download ISO (the alternative one should be better than the desktop one,
> the installer is more reliable if your configuration is "special"), MD5
> it, check CD and retry installation using whole disk. I'm sorry, but
> can't do more.
>

Thanks actionparsnip, that solved my question.

OK, never did solve the blank screen issue. In fact, today I destroyed the stupid laptop.

Thanks to everyone who assisted on this project.

Decided to go back to my homebrew system (desktop) and loaded 11.04, discovered that 11.10 was available and upgraded.
Bad idea in one sense, but I'm there.