I was recently given a laptop that had problems with windows not working properly. I decided to install linux on it. I've never installed another os before, but I ran the live cd on my main pc. I'm plan on installing ubuntu on it at the end of the semester.

I've tried ubuntu and xubuntu on the laptop. It goes to a copyright screen and stays there. Is it the laptop itself, or am I doing something wrong?

I have the os file installed on a usb drive. When the laptop boots up I press f12, then the same screen. The purple ubuntu screen came up once, but never did anything. That's when I realized the computer was 32 bit, I was trying to install 64 bit.

It's a decently new toshiba laptop, and is running windows vista.

Can anyone help? I can give more info if needeed.

That sounds like a good reason for it not to work. Why not try getting a 32 bit version to run on your 32 bit machine.
jdk

I'm referring to the first time I tried.
I've since attempted to install 32 bit.

And what happened? And what is this "copyright screen"? I've never seen one or heard of it before.
jdk