trouble booting computer, low graphics mode...

I dont know what started this, but here we go:
I start the computer. I see the Ubuntu logo, then the screen flashes, a dialogue box appears saying Ubuntu is running in low graphics mode. Your screen, graphics card, and input device settings could not be detected correctly. You will need to configure these yourself. I click ok.
Dialogue box #2 comes up. What would you like to do? Following options are: Run Ubuntu in low grapgics mode for just one session, Reconfigure graphics, troubleshoot the error & exit to console login.
I click Run in low graphics mode for jjust one session, dialogue box says, Stand by one minute while the display restarts. i click ok.
screen goes black w/white letters:
Boot from (hd0,0) ext3 03648a1c-4093-46e5-96c2-6fe36acd2bd
Ubuntu 9.10 ringo tty1

ringo login:

so i type in the login & password, then get:
Last login: Thu Nov 4 14:23:33 CDT 2010 on tty2
Linux ringo 2.6.31-22-generic #63-Ubuntu SMP Wed Aug 18 22:54:26 UTC 2010 i686

To access official Ubuntu documentation, please visit:
http://help.ubuntu.com
mark@ringo:~$

I MUST RESTART COMPUTER AT THIS POINT.

I start it up again, choose option #2, Reconfigure graphics.
New dialogue box appears saying, How would you like to reconfigure your display? Use default(generic) configuration, create new configuration for this hardware or use your backed-up configuration. Clicked on use default.
Failure restoring configuration to default. Your config has not been changed. Click ok.
Then try option #2, create new configuration for this hardware. Box appears saying "a new configuration has been generated, and your old configuration backed up. Please restart. I restart & get back to Dialogue box #1.

So I click on Troubleshoot the error.
Get a box that says: What information would you like to review? review the xserver log file, review the startup errors, edit configuration file, or archive configuration and logs...

i could keep typing, but have literally tried EVERY OPTION it's given me & have gotten nowhere.

I have dwnloaded the latest version of Ubuntu onto my external hard drive, from a friends computer & hope to write it to a disc & re install it, but am not sure if thats the best idea. Any help would be Awesome. I'm just trying to get to the login screen & update my Ubuntu software!!!!