Can't boot my Dell Studio Hybrid using Natty v 2.6.38-8

When does it exactly freeze?

Can you give the output of:

sudo lshw -C display; lsb_release -a

Thanks

Hi Delance, In v. 2.6.38-8 generic it freezes on the last but one screen before the normal login screen appears. I am connected by HDMI and before it freezes I see four flash screens (including grub) a few seconds apart showing the HDMI port on my monitor. Here is the sequence with the monitor settings as they appear in the upper right of the monitor:
1. Power on
2. Dell screen (800x600 60hz)
3 Grub screen (640x480) 60hz
4 Blank Screen (640x480 60hz)
5 Blank Screen (No setting)
6 Freeze

When I use : v 2.6.35-28 generic I see one more flash screen which shows 1080p 50hz before the Ubuntu login screen appears with my chosen monitor setting: 1360x768
Mark

Hi Actionparsnip

output of: sudo lshw -C display; lsb_release -a

  *-display:0
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller (primary)
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
       version: 03
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
       resources: irq:45 memory:fe700000-fe7fffff memory:d0000000-dfffffff ioport:c400(size=8)
  *-display:1 UNCLAIMED
       description: Display controller
       product: Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller (secondary)
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2.1
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.1
       version: 03
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
       configuration: latency=0
       resources: memory:fe800000-fe8fffff
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 11.04
Release: 11.04
Codename: natty

Do you have the purple screen with flashing dot ?

No flashing dots at all

The latest kernel uses a new DRM module and I suspect that is the issue. You could try nomodeset option ( http://www.ubuntugeek.com/how-to-fix-ubuntu-10-04-lts-lucid-blank-screen-at-startup.html ).

Sorry, I was trying to answer another question. See 2nd option of the link.

Using the info in solution 2 (and later solution 1) by editing the script using "e" on version 2.6.38-8 generic I did manage to login to natty but I don't get the UNITY dash - only the maverick version with all of the new apps. It does not recognise my SHARP tv/monitor (like it did in Maverick) or give me the option for my preferred setting: 1360x768. Finally, I can't make the changes stick - on restart I go back to the freeze scenario.

Unity works only on some GPU and graphic chipsets. If Ubuntu detect your graphic hardware is not powerful enough, you will get the classical GUI
http://ubuntu-tutorials.com/2010/05/06/ubuntu-10-04-lucid-blank-screen-at-startup-workaround/ is a better link. It explains you how to make change persistent. By looking at this page, I see screen is forced to VESA mode, which prevents usage of Natty. VESA mode is basic mode of graphic cards used at boot when there is no driver, and it has any 3D functions.
About external monitor, I can do anything, and I'm not surprised that VESA mode prevents you to use external monitor.
Currently, only solution I see is to revert to 10.10...and to post a bug against the infamous i915 driver.

https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-intel/+question/155209
You could have a look at this link.

Check if same issue as https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-intel/+question/155456

Tried all links - i can boot into latest version of Natty by using nomodeset but without Unity and the preferred monitor settings - this does not recognise my Sharp 32"monitor by default like Maverick did.

v 2.6.35-28 generic - this is the only fully functioning Unity option on my Dell Studio Hybrid- thanks for your help - i hope this is fixed soon in a new update.

Having upgraded via update manager I was advised to try the latest ISO in a separate post re nautilus. Using both CD and USB options I can't boot the latest kernel (or get past the first screen). I have tried disconecting the HDMI to the Sharp TV/monitortv and used a smaller flatscreen monitor. The result is a little more promising because I can get further into the booting process but I receive a kernel panic error which freezes the PC.

Just to clarify: I can use
Ubuntu 11.04 (natty)
GNOME 2.32.1 (Ubuntu 2011-04-14)
 Kernel 2.6.35-28-generic (#50-Ubuntu SMP Fri Mar 18 19:00:26 UTC 2011)
GCC Version: 4.5.2 (i686-linux-gnu)
xorg version: 1.10.1 (30 April 2011 10:08:56PM)
On the following system: DELL Studio-Hybrid-140g connected to SHARP 32" TV by HDMI.

I cannot use the latest kernel version 2.6.38-8 downloaded from update manager or boot from CD or USB using the the latest ISO because the booting up process stalls and freezes the PC which then requires a reset.

Using the Natty torrent ISO which I burned to DVD (rather than CD) I could hear the PC going through the installation motions without seeing the screen (this went blank after selecting "install Ubuntu" option. I disconnected the HDMI connection and reverted to the DVI output (which is connected to the RGB input of the TV monitor via a VGA cable with VGA-to-DVI adapter. Due to the DVI, I have needed to use external speakers for audio but I now have a fully functioning system.

The issue must be related to the HDMI connection to tv/monitor with the Dell Studio Hybrid.

I preferred the simplicity and functionality of the HDMI arrangement and hopefully this can be fixed in a later upgrade.

Update: I can now use Natty 11.04 on my Dell Studio Hybrid connected to a Sharp Aquos TV by HDMI but with reduced functionality. I managed to load the Natty ISO image by selecting the nomodeset option during installation (without this the screen would have been blank ). I can only use Unity in the 2d option, but I have found the Ubuntu classic mode to function quite well given the limited resolutions available. The closest to my preferred option of 1360x768 (available in Maverick) is 800x600.

Using: $ xrandr
my options are shown below:

xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
Screen 0: minimum 640 x 480, current 800 x 600, maximum 1600 x 1200
default connected 800x600+0+0 0mm x 0mm
   1600x1200 0.0
   1280x1024 0.0
   1024x768 0.0
   800x600 0.0*
   640x480 0.0

By editing Grub, Natty boots perfectly in nomodeset mode by permanently fixing the setting in:

sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="splash vga=771"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="nomodeset"

sudo update-grub

OK, so my PC works and I have video and sound from my HDMI connected equipment, but there is still and issue with the Mobile Intel® 965 Express Chipset Family in this release and I hope I can use the full functionality of the system in the near future:
vbeinfo shows that the preferred mode is 1920x1080.

Unless someone knows how to tweak this further.....

sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

is NOT to be used, sudo is NOT suitable for GUI apps like gedit, use:

gksudo gedit /etc/default/grub

DELL Studio HYBRID 140g - There appears to be little I can do to improve the integrated Intel chipset on this trusty little machine. Just to be satisfied that this is not an isolated Ubuntu issue I have tried loading the following latest Linux ISOs with same result (blank screen after selecting the install option) every time:

Xubuntu 11.04
Fedora 15
OpenSuse 11.04

In terms of moving forward with state of the art Linux kernels this might be the end of the line for this desktop. Dropped back to Maverick 10.04 to contemplate investing in newer hardware.

Thanks for the help.

I've just upgraded to 12.10 from 12.04 and everrything is working with my HDMI coneection - brilliant and thanks to the developers at Ubuntu.