Hey all, a bit challenged here with getting Linux preferably Ubuntu working on my new PC build. It also has [8GB of PC3 Mushkin Radioactive and 1TB SATAII Barracuda and an LG SATA DVD/CD combo drive. At one point I got a couple of 32bit Distros to run/display sort of flaky like in live mode and one 64bit Distro to actually install but it didn't seem to run very reliable. Of course this was PinguyOS 64 bit and it was just a tad flakier here than when it ran on my 10 year old M7NCD Ultra box. Sorry but I'm really command line challenged due to dementia from brain injury and chemical injuries. So things may be missing or not in perfect order.... I keep trying to overcome it anyway. I can follow specific and detailed instructions and do copy and past command line things. I
Was surprised as heck that I got this new box to work considering my state... Something just seems different with this one than all the past builds. The BIOS looks foreboding and way intimidating. Not sure if I have to tweak BIOS settings or not tho I've experimented there with no real change except maybe the PinguyOS not displaying anymore. I apologize for the wandering and no specific question other than how can I get this build to display a screen for installation of Linux? A couple of the 32bit live Distros and the 64 bit were accessing the drives but there was no display to allow me to use live CD or install the OS. Someone on another post sent me a link dealing with VESA BIOS extensions and VBE modes and Linux Video Modes but I was unable to make heads or tails of it yet. My memory works spotty and varies at times...and sometimes jumps around from topic to topic.
I've built a dozen or so computers over the years and this is the last one I suppose.
Anyway; WindowsXP64 went on it to check hardware status to see if any of it needed to be RMA'd and it all seems to work but I'm having trouble remembering what to do to get "Doze" configured mostly cuz I want Linux there instead. I may have to register it to do much more.
Anyway again; Something happened to the PinguyOS install and I decided to reinstall it to see if this would clear any flakiness but it would not display and unable ti reinstall it.
Someone on another post [Ubuntux.org] sent me a link dealing with VESA BIOS extensions and VBE modes and Linux Video Modes etc... but I was unable to make heads or tails of it yet. My memory works spotty and varies...and sometimes jumps around from topic to topic.
I kind of need help by the numbers or a weee bit of a walk through if it's not too much trouble...
Anyway yet; I think there is missing from the CD that's preventing the video from being detected and used to full extent. As CD is first booting I see some text telling me what it's loading and then Blank or black it goes while cd spins and flashes and hard rive noise can be heard and then there is Live desktop music but screen is still black. When I choose install
the screen goes black and drives make some noise for a while and the stop with screen still black.
I may need your help to formulate a question but this is the best I can do for now. How do I get the screen to display what I need to see to use LiveCD and or Install Ubuntu 11.04 or 11.10? Thanx %:]sweetwater
Did I mention that when putting HSF on the last 1/4 of the lock down arm movement there was a ratcheting crunching sound not dissimilar to CPU core being compressed?

The A8-3850 CPU with its integrated graphics chip is fairly new and may be not well supported from the free radeon drivers, which can cause your issues. I suggest to use a text-mode installer, like the Ubuntu alternative install CD and to install the latest proprietary AMD graphics driver.

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Thanx TobiSGD
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I got Alternative install cds for Ubuntu 11.04 1nd 11.10 to install [separate occasions only OS on drive] using the text mode but on reboot following installation the display screen is still blank aka no desktop GUI or prompt visible. I was unable to work my way completely through the expert text install as I was unable to determine how to find some of the information it was requesting or understand why it was asking for or remember what I was looking for. I can't remember details from it but I may go back and try some more later.
Tomorrow: I will be meeting with a [YVLUG/BMLUG local Linux group] fellow for him to assess the situation. However if yo have any further suggestions or help it would be very appreciated. I kind of need maximum prompting or queing to be able to get anything done. Thanx again

After installation start the system in text mode, may named rescue or something similar in your boot menu. The LUG guy should know how to do that. Once booted into rescue mode install the AMD driver using the text inetrface of jockey (which is the driver installer of Ubuntu). This should be the command to do this: