I was going by this
and this Right now it is just guessing.

I tried this and i dont quite get it?? I type in alt cntrl, f1? Type user and my password then? I tried that again with that code and i got this again..http://i61.tinypic.com/xlwgwn.jpg Should i do something else??

And john how do i find out what specs my computer is?? I think it was a custom build? on my old pc it had the specs written on a sticker at the front of the pc..

http://i61.tinypic.com/sg3g5c.jpg this is the inside of my pc? Where do i look or can i type in some code that will tell me the specs if i log in via alt, control, f1?

I found something similar happened with Fedora on my old laptop. You have 2 choices: boot into basic graphics mode (if you can) or use another distro. That was with a GeForce 4 440 Go GPU. I ended up with Mint.

No no no...nano is a text editor. He wants to see the contents of a system file on your disk using nano. So, from what I see here it looks like you want to get into your BIOS? If that's the case, on an HP like your laptop it is F10 when at the screen that says "HP invent". Keep tapping it until you get to the BIOS. From there you can navigate around and hopefully get some info like a model number.

Thanks for replies guys i really appreciate it, i searched nano text editor in google and found out about it and what it does as i have never used it.. But nano. /var/log/xorg.0.log where do i type that in?? I get to the nano text editor by using alt,contrl, f1 then typing in the nano command as above and all i get is the nano text editor. I really am a newb at this

On startup my pc shows the abit logo Then after loads a bunch of text, if i press f10 it shows me a bunch of stuff like ( pics below ) but it goes so fast that its un readable. And i cant pause it to take a look, snapped a bunch of shots with my ipad but didn't get it all it happens when the system is loading and i press f10.

http://i61.tinypic.com/2ikp88w.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/oh8s42.jpg


Sorry i am total newb so you will have to bare with me on this :)

linux is case sensitive it is with a capital X and will give hardware spec

Do i type this in the nano text editor or grub menu?? I tried it in nano editor and it doesn't work or i am doing somthing wrong do i need to type in something before..

type the lspci at the same prompt that you type nano,

Sorry for the late reply been busy,

View My Video i tried it but didnt work, did a video here, on the video i type in alt, contl, f4 on the black screen then my user and password then brings me to a code type black screen which i can type stuff so i type in ispci and then says command not found???

Not sure if video works either because i need flash player 9 but i am using an ipad.

This is very confusing as to what to type into which command prompt.

It sounds to me that GRUB is booting Linux, but that the video mode that Linux is trying to use is not displaying on your Monitor/Laptop. I have a monitor here that has selectively failed for 800x600 mode, while the other video modes still work.
The computer usually starts with a mode like 640x400 for the boot screens, and then switches to another mode.

If it was a computer with a monitor, I would bring up the monitor menu, and see if it will tell you what video mode it is currently using. I suppose these laptops do not have a way to do this.

If you are booting into a graphics console (XWin), the it may be that the video mode for that graphics screen is something like 1600x1200, and that video mode may not be working, or may have the wrong customizable video settings (depending on video hardware and drivers).

You could try CTRL-ALT-F2 to get to another text console. It may use a different video mode and you may see something.

GRUB has some debugging built into it.
Get to another computer and download some GRUB documentation.

If you had a way to boot a Linux install CD, I would try that. I would default to a usable video mode. Then you can use it to fix whatever file is calling for the strange video mode.
If it does not work, then you can suspect the hardware. At least you can differentiate between hardware, software, setting issues better than now. Any install CD from any Linux magazine would work this the test. You do not need to use it to install, just use its tools to investigate.

Type the command after logging into the login screen. Sudo gives root(adminitstrative) privileges. Still need to see what is in the /var/log/Xorg.0.log file. The ls command will display what is in the current directory
and so on

A lot of confusion seems to be coming from the nano instruction.
Let's forget about nano. To view a file's content, use cat instead.
E.g.
As for hardware specs let's see how much RAM you have with
And also, as suggested, post the output of

Hi i typed in alt contrl and f4 and tried to find sudo 1spci but it said command not found? But it did make me log in and then after logging in said no command found? , i then tried free -m and it came up with this - > http://i60.tinypic.com/2mnfzf5.jpg

I then tried cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log and got this -> http://i59.tinypic.com/k01xs3.jpg but thats after i typed contl alt F2, and logged it

I then tried control alt and f2 for nano /var/log/Xorg.0.org and got this ->

http://i61.tinypic.com/2rhr8jr.jpg

But sudo 1spci says no command found on both control alt f2 and alt crtl f4

I dont get it but contrl alt and f2 brings up a separate menu and alt cntrl and f4 also brings up a different menu..

Can you get a linux magazine with a free cd in any shop? Or specific?

Free -m -> http://i60.tinypic.com/2mnfzf5.jpg

cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log -> http://i59.tinypic.com/k01xs3.jpg

nano /var/log/Xorg.0.org -> http://i61.tinypic.com/2rhr8jr.jpg

Sudo 1spci = no command found?

Cheers

that is lspci with a lower case L

Found it.. Worked :) woo!! ~~>> http://i62.tinypic.com/5u1hn9.jpg