Newcomer to Linux (Ubuntu) having issues with install
 

Everything I've read up to this point suggests that Linux forum folks don't have much use for idiots... Well, hope you'll make somewhat of an exception. While I'm not a total idiot, I do feel somewhat overwhelmed.
Just recently "came across" Linux, and what I've seen so far I am really impressed. That being said, I'm having problems installing: I have a Compaq Presario C300 laptop AND an HP a350n desktop, both of which are currently running XP Pro. I did install a second hd on desktop and have "OS Linux" installed on it and know how to boot to either hd. Confused somewhat by that, I purchased book "Ubuntu for Non-Geeks" (3rd ed.) which included a Ubuntu CD.
Trying to install it beside XP on the laptop, the install "windows" were missing; trying to install on the desktop, I end up with "frequency out of range" on the monitor, so I switched monitors AND video cards. Still can't get anywhere.
Can anybody/will anybody step forward and offer any meaningful assistance? I sure would appreciate it.

Thanks.

You've lift out one important piece of information: which version number on Ubuntu did you "come across" that you are trying to install?

It may be an older Ubuntu. You may be better off downloading and burning to cd a newer Ubuntu .iso (with better hardware recognition) and try installing that.

Try booting to a text install mode which should I believe use ncurses . The autodetection for your video card or monitor may be off. Also welcome to Linux and we all started at square 1.

Go to the ubuntu's web site (www.ubuntu.com) and download the iso file for latest 32 bit version, burn it in a CD and boot your computer from it. make sure all your hardware responds to the new OS before install it.

Good luck to you!

If you download a new iso use the 64 bit if your processor supports it. If not you can always update your software afterwords if you don't want to download a new iso

If the specs of your laptop are as follow then 64BIT version is not going to work
If that is the case go with the 32 BIT version that will work for sure

Thanks for all the replies. Let me try to respond and clarify a bit more. I was/am using the CD that came with the book "Ubuntu for Non-Geeks"; sticker on the book indicates "Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron)". On the desktop here is what happened:
1) Tried to install, as the book said "beside" XP, so that I'd have the dual-boot capability. That's when all the video issues came up -- even tried different monitor and different video card; still issues that I couldn't resolve.
2)So, then I swapped out HD, returned to original monitor & video card. Seemed to get a good install, until it up and stated a revision or updated version (sorry didn't write it down), so I proceeded. Left it doing it's thing, came back hours later and had a frozen blank orange screen (blank except for cursor).
3) Turned computer off/back on and now I end up with black screen with following:

"Kernel Panic - Not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unkown - Block (0,0)"

Should I just start all over and not worry about revised update? Is that message Linux's way of telling me I've got a bad hd?

Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom.

Hardy Heron is kind of old! I recommend that you download the latest stable version of Ubuntu and install it from scratch (as mentioned in one of the posts above)

We suggest you to download the newest Ubuntu. In Linux all drivers are loaded into kernel, so when there is problem with something that may point that there is no support for the hardware yet, and Ubuntu 8.04 is very, very old. Try to download 11.04 or 11.10. If you have rather new machine that you could be sure that this old Ubuntu doesen't support this harware.

Okay. Again, thanks all. I'm in process of downloading 11.10 now, and will post results tomorrow.

Okay, rather than waiting 'til AM, I'm back now. Think I got 11.10 installed okay except that when I try to reboot I keep getting the following:

"Grub loading stage 1.5
Grub Loading, please wait...
Error 15"

but am able (though honestly not sure how) to work past it, but pops up each time I boot. My ? though is, "what's wrong?"

You probably have to install grub from a terminal using live-cd.

Edit:

Here you go. I found a solution in ubuntuforums. Take a look at this thread.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1612068

Nonamedotc, I appreciate your input, and I did follow that link you provided, but it's getting to where I'm WAY OVER MY HEAD. This is getting to be too much. I thought/had been led to believe that Linux was "the way to go" but it's starting to look to me like it's a matter of "patching this and patching that" and that is just NOT the way I want to go.

I mean that info from the link:
download the boot script to your DESKTOP and run the script in a terminal using the command given on the first page

might as well be Greek to me.

I am no expert myself but that forum did seem to solve the problem (in a way I had in my mind). May be someone who knows more might be able to suggest an easier solution ... sorry !

I downloaded the "latest" version; now I've got to find a "live" version...and just what the heck is "grub" anyhow?

Thanks, and I do appreciate your input. It's not though that I am looking for an "easier" solution. I just don't understand what's going on. I started working with computers back in the days of punch cards and main frames, and thought I pretty well "understood" Windows (95-XP), but this stuff is throwing me for a loop. And I have no right asking you folks for your time to re-educate me, even though I would like to get somewhat of a working understanding of it.

You would have download the CD of the latest version of ubuntu. That IS also the live cd. You would probably have chosen the option "Install Ubuntu" in the first screen. Instead of that, if you choose "Try Ubuntu" (or something similar), you will boot in to Live environment of the OS.

(Of course, here I have assumed you have downloaded the default download from the ubuntu webpage).

As for grub, GRUB from Wikipedia and GRUB Manual, one sub-section

live version is just the 'try it' option it runs without actually install anything so any changes you make (unless you mount your disks and make changes to them) don't save permanetly. GRUB is a bootloader.

It is o.k.
how did you install the system? did you do a wubi installation?

I am just feeling bad because you came to linux just to find yourself in trouble. however what you need to do is put the cd back in the computer and re start the computer with the cd in.
Then select try Ubuntu without installing (Because I am assuming you had already install it, right?) then when the system is all loaded make sure you have internet connection too so check the wireless or plug a wire in the computer then here we go:
Note this solution is for a installation done using a tool in the ubuntu cd called WUBI (Windows Base Ubuntu Installation)

press the key alt and also f2 at the same time, in that pop up you have there type terminal and press enter.

in the terminal you will type the following code first type (copy it from here)
press enter and
then type

press enter and you are done. Play with Ubuntu a little bit if you want from the CD or

reboot your computer remember to remove the CD from the CD tray so the PC will look for the harddrive

Good luck and let us know how you did.

Anyway I think GRUB stand for GRand Unified Bootloader, and that is the little program that help your computer boot from different operating systems, MAC has a similar program call it BootCamp and windows has also its own winloader I dont remember what its name though

Note: Here is the link to the ubuntu guide. read it when you find time and when you are wondering how to do something in your brand new Operatin System

https://help.ubuntu.com/11.10/ubuntu-help/index.html

it happens!
 

I started using linux only in 2010. So, don't worry! I am sure many in the forums (including myself) are trying to learn linux. Even I was frustrated in the beginning but you will get a hang of the OS.

Tron has outlined the procedure. Let us know how it works. Good luck.

One thing you should've mentioned: in sdXY, XY means "number" of CD/DVD ROMS. If he would try to input than it wouldn't work in his case. For example, when i want something to mount in terminal with cd/dvd rom i mount it with mount /dev/sr0 /mnt/dvd

Well, it's "the day after..." so to speak, and I've got bad news. I do appreciate all the time and input and assistance from all, but I've just realized that my entire network is corrupted. I can't boot into ANYTHING !
I am in NO WAY suggesting or implying or whatever that any of you folks gave me bad information. I don't know what happened, but I do know that I am simply not up to the crap that this Linux (with what appears to be) "secret codes", strange terminology, etc. I do know I had a stable three desktop network running flawlessly, and now, with trying to impress myself that Linux/Ubuntu was something wonderful, I have doorstops. So, for the next "x" hours, I will be reformatting and reloading WINDOWS XP and saying a fond farewell to LINUX.
Though I do wish the rest well and good luck; It's just NOT for me.
Again, thank you all. Don't waste your time responding, because I'm not going to waste my time even logging into this forum. I've got too much to do reloading three machines.