Hello! I'm new to the forum and new to Linux. Although I'm an intermediate Windows user, I am unfamiliar with Linux terminology and commands. So, I'd appreciate if anyone could help me in Linux for Dummies terms. Thanx!

I'm trying to install Ubuntu 8.10 on a Vaio VGN-FW245J and I'm having a hard time. The Laptop has 1600x900 Full HD resolution running on the Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family. I successfully installed it using Wubi within Windows Vista Home Premium. When I restart the computer, it begins to load Ubuntu. As soon as I clear the progress bar screen, I get a white screen with fuzz surrounded by a faded black 1930's style picture frame. Straight to the point, there's something wrong with the video settings or video driver compatibility. I know this for a fact because I had tried installing PCLinuxOS with the same outcome.

I can only run the Live session from the LiveCD if I hit F4 and select the Safe video setting mode. Which I'm guessing the Windows equivalent would be "Start Windows in VGA Mode". The Live session has a horrible resolution. Can anyone tell me how to correct this issue?

According to the specs i pulled on you laptop you need to install the intel 965 driver for your video card. would suggest googling ubuntu and this driver for a how to set it up.

one link i found is

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Intel_...elerator_X3100

I would try getting ubuntu to install the restricted driver the ubuntu way first though.

Thanks for replying. I was able locate where to download the driver but, have no idea how to install it. Do I have to burn it to a CD or save it on a USB drive and try to install it in Ubuntu? And if so, ho do I go about doing this? I've googled, and all I find are instructions like this that make no sense to me:

Try installing the "xserver-xorg-video-intel" package and changing your
video driver in xorg.conf from "i810" or "vesa" (whatever it is set to) to
"intel".

Can you tell me what this means?

http://intellinuxgraphics.org/install.html

Will need 'build essentials' and your kernel source. Will have to rebuild it manually every kernel update.

Actually if you are running Ubuntu 8.10 the appropriate driver is 'intel'
Your system should have installed that driver by default and autoconfigured your video card to use it

To verify your system is using that driver you can check the log files..
cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep -i autoconfigured

you should get a result like..

if it says vesa, instead of intel, then the driver probably isn't installed..

sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-video-intel

then restart X, and check the log file again
CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE