I have been using Ubuntu for almost 5yrs, but recently had to get another computer (limited funds, so 2nd hand). Windows XP installed without a hitch and is working OK. Tried to install Ubuntu 13.04 and have dual boot as with previous computer, but it will not inastall, in fact wont even start to. At start-up "boot from cd" line appears for a few seconds then boots Windows instead. Thought maybe ISO download or disc burn problem. I then tried Ubuntu 10,11, and 12 all of which worked perfectly on old computer but wont install on this one either. They all start but, after about 10 minutes message appears, "unrecoverable error". live version wont work either. Here is system information which I hope will be helpful:
Aspire veriton.
Main board ID: J89M
Bios version 6.00PC
SMBios version: SMBios 2.3
All help greatly appreciated, I'm missing Ubuntu.

What are your CPU, RAM, and video card?

Have you tried any distros for old hardware? (such as: AntiX, CrunchBang, SliTaz, Puppy, etc.)

I have no trouble running Debian with Xfce on two computers probably older than the one you have.

One is a laptop with a floppy drive, and no wifi. Does have a DSL port and a dial up modem.

Ubuntu is looking for much more modern computers.

Posting some hardware information is crucial for anyone to give you any sort of real help. This should be listed with any help question on any forum. The details asked for by snowpine are the most crucial and should always be included.

It is impossible to give help without that information on a lot of problems and this one is definitely one of those.

Have you checked your box against the system requirements on the Ubuntu website?

Thank you for your reply, here is requested info;
CPU is Pentium 4, 2.80Ghz
RAM 3.50 Gb
Unable to find info about video card.

Are you sure it only says "boot from CD"? What happens if you hit the enter key or space bar?

Have you tried the Alternative installer?

Ubuntu quit offering the alternative install disk a couple of releases back. Some of the family members still do though. Lubuntu and Xubuntu do I am pretty sure.

I could look it up but I just don't like going to their sites at all anymore.

You know more about current Canonical products that I do, I bow down to your sage knowledge of Canonical

the "booting straight to windows" aside, it might be that you don't have enough RAM to 'take' the CD Image

you could try a minimal install disk

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...tion/MinimalCD

not used those myself ( well, not ubuntu )
likely text mode, and will certainly require a working net connection

Are you sure the CD/DVD drive in the new PC is working OK? Sounds to me like it's not able to load the CD properly which would seem to point to a bad burn but it could be the drive itself has a problem.

While there is a minute chance that this is the case, it is much more likely to be caused by the inability of his system to handle;
A> the compositing required by Unity
B> Plymouth

We need actual hardware information on his system. All we have gotten so far is information that would allow us to look up that information. I do not know about you, but the rest of us are volunteering our time to help people using Linux, even if we dislike the OS being used, in our free time.

What is needed is cooperation of the OP in answering questions easiest answered by the OP. The OP has stated that installing earlier versions works. The only charitable conclusion to draw from this is that the OP has the brains to run a md5sum check on the image downloaded.

That conclusion could be abandoned with some pertinent hardware information indicating a system capable of running Unity in its current version.

Until then, speculation, particularly expressed without the question of the use of the md5sum, is simply a waste of your time and the time the OP and every one reading this thread.

Thanks to all who have tried to assist. I have changed the DVD drive for one from another computer which I know to be working. Windows still cannot even display the disc contents.(of Ubuntu 13.04, but does for 10,11 and 12)ALL of these worked on previous computer, but not this one. I have tried again to install ubuntu 12, after about ten minutes apparently working, it just "froze". On pressing ESC, I saw a long list of I/O errors. Drawing to conclusion BIOS is faulty. Right or wrong? What can I do? Thinking of just buying new mainboard, but are they all compatible with Linux? I'm not a computer "techy" so sorry to be a pain. Have managed to find out that video card is HD 2400 Pro, 512MB AGP. All help greatly appreciated.

Before blaming bios. Usually a md5sum check is required. What can you do.
Boot up a different live cd/dvd instead of Ubuntu 13.04. Like Slitaz or something.

This Might work out better for you and is Ubuntu, http://ultimateedition.info/
Go for the mate desktop edition. Newbie Friendly.

If a gamer I would go with
http://sparkylinux.org/tag/gameover/

Anyhows. A md5sum check and a Slitaz loading up check will rule out bad bios or other
mistaken assumptions made out of in-experience.

1 members found this post helpful.

Yes, as rokytnji says you need to check the boot media first!

When you boot with the install CD you should see a menu which has an entry: "Check CD media for errors" or something along those lines. This will perform an automatic md5sum check on the media ... and will eliminate the most likely cause of the failed install(s).

1 members found this post helpful.

I would try to use a live USB. You can create it under Windows using Linux Live USB Creator. If it's a DVD drive issue, you should be able to install Ubuntu without a problem. My guess it's a video card issue. If it is then Network Installer should work for you. Though it doesn't have a shiny GUI so you should be comfortable with CLI to use Network Installer. As other guys have already said, this machine may be slow for Ubuntu. There are lots of distros for older machines of there.

I think your problem maybe your card! i have a Pentium 4 also it had a nvidia card and i had to swamp it for a ATI 9600 that i had in an HP PC in my scrap,and Lubuntu 13.04 worked on it,but Ubuntu 12.04 did not,but i don't have The UBUNTU in Cd ISO, i have the ISO on a USB stick and it doesn't even sees the USB despite i change in Bios set up the boot drive to USB,i don't know if it has to do with the brand of the USB stick witch is Scandisk.
I have ended up installing Xubuntu XFCE4 and is the most appropriate OPS for my Dell Pentium 4