I just built a brand new computer and am trying to install ubuntu but i get the error "Failed to start the X server" after some research i figured out i need to install a driver for my video card. i have a

EVGA e-geforece 8600 GT

and not sure where to find this (i have found many different things). Also, since i haven't put internet on my new computer i have to burn it to a disk and load it that way. My main question is what commands do i use to recognize the cd and install it.

also i have version 5.10 Ubuntu installed. this is the only one i had lying around and just planned on updating it when i got everything running. Could this also be a problem? any tips would be greatly appreciated.

If you need any other information, or what exactly my error messages are please ask.

Thank you,
First timer

If you just want a basic gui, you might be able to get away running sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg and select either the Nvidia driver or the VESA driver. You won't have 3-D acceleration, but you should at least get an interface.

But I would recommend downloading and installing a newer version of Ubuntu instead of upgrading. It'll be less work later on getting everything going if you don't have all the cruft from the upgrades to deal with. Plus Ubuntu upgrades must be done piece-meal, so you'll have to upgrade from 5.10 to 6.04 to 6.10 to 7.04 to 7.10. Newer versions also offer a "restricted drivers" module that might support your card (basically, it's the proprietary Nvidia drivers packaged up for Ubuntu), so you may get 3-D acceleration more easily.

Wow VESA gave me an interface! Thanks a bunch! now, what would you suggest my next step to be, should i work on getting the NVIDIA choice working, or should i update ubunutu? or does it matter? thanks!

Well, typically it's best to do updates first because it takes less time to update everything BEFORE you install more stuff. But like I said, 5.10 is so far behind (two years ago) that it would be quicker for you to just reinstall with a newer version of Ubuntu. If you don't have broadband, try getting a friend to download the *.iso image for you and burn it to a CD.

I feel kind of embarressed in saying this, but i seem to be having trouble with my .iso. i burned a copy of the current version, and when i booted it up i even got the first screen but after i choose any option my monitor says "no input signal". Did the burn go bad? I am using a CD-RW and it says it was a clean burn on my other computer.
Sorry for such beginner questions.

You mean you get the boot: screen and then it just goes blank once you start the boot?

Are you using VGA or DVI to connect between your monitor and your graphics card? You might try VGA and then fiddle with DVI once you've got it installed.

You can also try the Alternate CD (just check the box at the bottom of the download page). Here's some tips on installing from the alternate cd. If it does, you can just do sudo aptitude install ubuntu-desktop.

i am using VGA (with an adapter on my monitor cable)

i am restarting my computer and allowing it to boot from cd (that is the boot screen i am talking about) and i say start install (after i put in noapic which was another 3 hour quest)then my monitor goes dead saying no input signal.

Any thoughts?

I guess I would try the alternate CD. It's a text based install, but not difficult.