Black screen and flashing cursor after start; Ubuntu 9.10 not loading

eighty-six · 11-03-2009, 04:17 PM

Hello,

I have this problem with Ubuntu 9.10:

In about 50-60% of cases, when I start my computer, instead of starting Ubuntu 9.10, there is just black screen, in left top corner a flashing cursor and nothing happens. Otherwise everything runs fine. Previously to Ubuntu I used Win 7 Ultimate for 30 days and this problem never occured. Any help or assistance?

Computer: HP Probook 4510s; Intel Core2Duo; 4 GB RAM; 512 MB ATI Radeon Graphics
OS: Ubuntu 9.10 (as only operating system)

Thank you very much,

e-s

cantab · 11-04-2009, 09:57 AM

This means your X (the graohical environment) is somehow broken. Either it needs configuration, or you don't have the right drivers. It would help if you knew the exact name of the graphics chip, then google that along with 'linux'.

tur third · 11-04-2009, 12:40 PM

Usually your pc will go through the hardware start up sequence, then it will launch linux using a bootloader. In Ubuntu's case this is done using software called 'Grub'.

I think there have been some posts about problems with the version of Grub and 9.10. This could be the cause, as it sounds to me that sometimes Grub is not starting?

eighty-six · 11-04-2009, 01:35 PM

Thanks to both of you, I'll take a closer look at it. Last two days it booted properly, so maybe it was something with the drivers and by some update (which I install every time Ubuntu asks me to do so) it was repaired. I'll wait and see.