Just installed ubuntu version 5.10
 

When I try to start gdm, I get this message:
* Starting GNOME Display Manager ... [fail]

gdm fails to start - what might i have done wrong during installation? Thanks

Hi Al and welcome to LQ!
For starters you have a VERY VERY OLD version of Ubuntu. Why not burn a more recent (as in 2011) version of Ubuntu and install that?
ciao,
jdk

Depending on the age of the computer, it might have hardware significantly newer than such an old Ubuntu.

Indeed 5.1 is a very OLD version of Ubuntu, released in 2005 and support ended in 2007. If you have a unique need to use that version, you might want to try to update the kernel to a more recent one that is compatible for that version. What particular reason do you have to be using Ubuntu 5.10

I just happened to have a CD with 5.10 on it. I'll download the latest version and try again.
now I'm reading up more about Ubuntu on the website. Many thanks for your help folks. If I run
into problems again I'll read the FAQs - failing that I'llpost another message. If it still fails
I'll need to re-install windows on the laptop (
Peace to all
AL

It would be helpful to know the specs of that machine to know if a recent Ubuntu will run on it.

Hi, my laptop is a lenovo T60 with an Intel T1300 processor,
speed 1.66 GHz and memory of 2048MB.

How do i uninstall ubuntu v 5.10 so that I can try and install the latest version?

No need to uninstall.
Download the latest iso, burn it to CD/DVD and boot from the CD.
Let the installer format the drive, and install the latest version.
If you have important files you don't want to loose, first make a backup.

Kind regards

The processor speed is on the slow side, but it should be fine with a recent Ubuntu. Most linux distro's dont require a high speed processor.