I'm pretty new at this so bare with me. This is actually quite simple but i haven't the slightest about what to do. I'm installing Ubuntu and after i install the software on the second partition it tells me to restart without the cd in to finish up its magic act of having anal with windows. Anyway at the end of the process a small paragraph appears that explains the copyright with a command prompt after it. This is where i'm hung up. What do i type in the prompt for it to load the OS?

THanks in advance

What command prompt is it? Is it a login?

Did you install Grub to the Master Boot Record when you installed Ubuntu? If you did, then the OS should start automatically.

--Ian

Its directly after i enter my login and password for the first time.... it shows the copyright and then goes to the prompt:

craig@ubuntu:~$

It sits here and i don't now command line arguments so i have no idea what to do.

I can't post URL's here because I need 5 posts! So I'm sorry to do this but I'm going to post more...

Skip to my last post below

I can't post URL's here because I need 5 posts! So I'm sorry to do this but I'm going to post few more posts...

two more posts to go...

1 more post... sorry!
...

OK! Sorry about that.

I'm newbie here too, but sounds like either you chose to use the "recovery mode" option on boot, or something went wrong during the installation process!

See the first picture of this site:
http://yekubuntu.free.fr/warty/c-debut.php

You should choose the first option (not the second one with the "recovery mode").

If that didn't work then try re-installing Ubuntu like it is described on this site:
http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/jabra/breezy-docs.html
Average user should follow the easy steps/screenshots of the site above. But if you have Windows and want to keep it with Ubuntu, then you need to change 1 step: partitioning. Here's information about that:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=33518
(Solution for Windows and Ubuntu dualboot)

The following site has a list of questions with detailed answers, very useful:
http://www.ubuntuguide.org/

Enough?

I've done all that stuff.. i know how to partition and i know what to choose in the bootloader, but i guess i'll just try and install it again and assume i'm doing something really dumb that fucks everything up.... thanks

I'm sure you didn't do anything dumb (and I didn't mean it like that btw), but sh*t happens lol

My point is: normal installation of Ubuntu (5.10 or 5.04) is very simple and easy and does not give me (or anybody) the chance to go wrong except for the partitioning part and the screen resolution. I had problems with screen resolution with old hardware (monitor/Graphics Card), were the wrong resolution was chosen and X couldn't start (Ubuntu left me with the command prompt).

Since I'm sure you knew all that, it must be a problem with the installation program itself, like a hardware detection or something.

Another way that I could go wrong is everytime I choose the "expert" installation, which gives alot of options. But you also get the chance to give a password for root. It always pisses me off everytime I install Ubuntu and don't get the chance to control root.

I installed and re-installed Ubuntu 3 times so far. I'm not saying Ubuntu isn't great here, because it is great. It's just that I still don't see why they take away all the power of root from me I know it's dangerous but most distros give you that power by default

you do have the power to control root; the password is the same all over the system. have you tried access gnome from the command line?

ubuntu is hard to install Anyway wen u get u to tat prompt try the command

startx

see if it takes u to the GUI

That's good to know. I didn't try it before
Thank you.