i am having a problem installing ubuntu 10.10. i had windows vista and used ubuntu inside windows with no problem. then, i wanted to reset my vista to its factory conditions (just to clean up space and get rid of hidden or unnecessary things) using the recovery disk - and the recovery disk partially worked, removed my os and didn't 'restore' anything. so i decided to just go all the way to ubuntu anyway, which was the plan all along, just sooner now.

i have the disk and i can easily make it to the 'try ubuntu' feature. however, when i try to actually install ubuntu, i make it all the way to the 'who are you page?' but the 'forward' button isn't accessible (which is how i noticed something might be wrong). this happens whether i try to install after trying ubuntu or if i try to direcly install without trying it first. i fill in the data, the installation says it's copying files, etc... and then, when it's done, it says 'ready when you are'. that's it. i can't click on 'forward', and none of the 'information about ubuntu' features and pics scroll by while the setup is taking place. i can't do anything at this point. the system isn't really frozen but it just does nothing. (i thought i might have to restart the computer but the only options i have are 'hibernate' and 'suspend'. also, once i manually restart everything it reloads all over again. when i take the disk out and restart, i see NOTHING. the vaio logo comes on, then the screen goes black and i see the cursor prompt but nothing else at all and i can't do anything at all.

i thought it might be my disk, but the same thing happens when i use the pendrive.

even with all this trouble (going on day 3), i do NOT want to go back to closed source stuff and especially not back to windows. i want ubuntu.

if anyone can help me out i'd be very happy and grateful. thanks so much for your effort.

brad

After you fill in the information in Screenshot does it make it to Screenshot-1?

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GraphicalInstall

What step does it freeze on? Give the number from the above link.

What do you mean when you say the forward button isn't accessible? Do you mean it isn't showing on the screen, or do you mean it's greyed out and not functioning?

If it isn't visible on screen, you should be able to use the keyboard to advance to the next screen. In examining the Ubuntu 10.10 install guide, it looks like the default action when pressing the enter key is to move back one screen. But, if you press tab once to highlight the Forward button then press Enter, that should move you to the next screen.

You can see more of the instal guide here.

Hi hobomystical,

I'm no expert in linux but I had very similar trouble when I tried installing my mint 10. I found that I had to use only small letters for my system name and stuff. the system does not accept capital letters. I too suffered for a couple of days before coming across this solution. I don't know if this is your problem too, but I just thought that I'd let you know.

hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!

it was the capital letters!!!! thank you so much, inkit! unbelievable! (and the funny thing is that i usually type with small letters, but this time i used capitals in some places and it caused problems! lol!)

and to answer the other questions:

@bigrigdriver: it showed on the screen but was greyed out. thanks for trying to help me.

@andrewthomas: i was able to make it all the way to screenshot 7 and filled in all the information (using capitals in some places) but the forward button never highlighted; it remained greyed out. but when i used only small letters, everything worked like a charm. thanks for trying to help me.

thanks to everyone, again, for your assistance. and inkit, a special thank you to you!

You're welcome. I got nearly bald myself before I came across someone else who helped. Just passing it forward.