Ubuntu 14.04 install "low graphics mode"

0men · 05-20-2014, 09:24 AM

Okay, i tried to run Windows 8.1, i really did. But developing in ruby and running windows just doesn't .... work , and i've never felt comfortable with mac either. I've been using Windows and when i sat down at work today in front of my machine, i sighed, i just can't work without a linux box. I just want a nice ubuntu 14.04 desktop on my laptop and not have to worry about anything. I run slackware on my thinkpads and have never EVER had problems (who would'd thought huh :P )

Regardless, i've ended up with a HP Pavilion 15.
The machine was running Windows 8.1
I've disabled UEFI boot, however i've enabled Legacy boot.

AMD/ATI Trinity [Radeon HD 7640G]
Audio Device AMD Trinity HDMI Audio Controller

If i boot Ubuntu from a liveUSB i have no problems. I get the installation program and the Ubuntu happily installs, even picks up my wifi. However once the installation is over, i get the whole "running in low graphics mode". I've cntrl-alt-f1'd and have read almost every bit of documentation trying to fix the problem. Including this one... http://askubuntu.com/questions/14160...ics-mode-error

Thought,
If i hold the shift button down at boot, i'm meant to be shown a grub menu, right ? But if i DO hold shift i DON'T get a grub menu. Could it be that grub maybe isn't installing correctly and that could be the problem ?

I've got no idea, i'm about to throw this shitty HP in the bin tbh.
#buyathinkpad

Thanks to anyone who's got any ideas.
Hope everyone's well.

ondoho · 05-20-2014, 01:58 PM

you can send it to me, i'll pay the shipping!

only joking.

in "low graphics mode" you still get a gui, yes?
this most probably means that the graphic card doesn't use the proper driver.

it seems you had some kind of possible solution from askubuntu, which requires you to get to the grub menu.
here's how:

boot normally.
open a terminal, type

Code:

sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

then edit these lines:

Code:

GRUB_TIMEOUT=5
#GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=5
#GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=true

meaning: put a hash in front of the "HIDDEN" lines, and set "GRUB_TIMEOUT" to 5 seconds or whatever suits you.
close gedit.
in the terminal, type

Code:

sudo update-grub

reboot.