why is my Ubuntu 10.10 runs only in safe mode session
 

Hello, I am a new member in this forum and I just need help with Ubuntu 10.10, I'm in my second quarter of my associate program and I got Linux class. I tried to install Ubuntu in my P3 computer so i can play with it, everything works fine but not after i reboot it. Now i got the user and password window on the desktop and drop-down-list of sessions, language, keyboard, date & Time and Shutdown button at the bottom.

Drop-down-list session:
Recovery Console
Ubuntu Desktop Edition
Ubuntu Desktop Edition (Safe Mode)
User Defined Session

With these 4 options, the third one which is the safe mode is the only option I was able to get through. Others are just desktop without toolbar or anything, right click with folder option are working though. Recovery console is just the CLI window but I don't know anything about Linux commands.

Please, anyone can help me i really appreciate it, I apologies for my English i am trying to make it clear as much as i can. Thank you

Hi,
Maybe your system is too old for Ubuntu 10.10 since it is the latest one. You might be able to do better with older versions. Or you could also bypass the desktop and only use the console by typing Ctrl+Alt+F1-F6, because college courses usually only concentrate on the command-line from what I've experienced.

Please post the specs of your machine, like CPU, RAM, videocard, etc. This way we can better help you.

Thanks a lot guys, i guess both of you are right, its the hardware issues. Actually I thought that Linux runs even in older computer, Windows XP Pro was previously installed with it but I format it so I can install a fresh Linux OS.

Anyway, here is the specs of my computer.

Brand / Model: HP Pavillion 7850 Desktop
Processor: Intel Pentium III 937MHz
Memory: 384 MB SIMM Ram
Video Card: Intel 82810E Graphics Controller
Hard Drive: Maxtor 28GB IDE Hard Drive
Sound Card Creative Audio PCI

If its not really possible to work, then I might use the fedora virtual file I got and run it in my P4 computer with vmplayer then. We actually works with CLI and desktop in my Linux class so I need both. One more thing I would like to ask, is their any tutorial on how to install Linux over my Windows Vista? I mean having Vista and Linux in one partition. I think that will help too.

Again thanks a lot for all your help, I really appreciate it.

Its not that Linux will not run on this hardware, but you just need to choose a right distribution with a smaller footprint for old hardware. With this RAM, you may just be able to pull off with Xubuntu, i.e Ubuntu with XFCE rather than Gnome. You may also try different variants with LXDE as well. Any stable distribution with custom install can be stripped down to bare minimal to work with older hardware with minimalistic GUI.
You can also look for Puppy, Damm Small Linux, Tiny Core, Dream Linux. All of them come with small footprint for slower machines.

---------- Post added 29th Mar 2011 at 21:36 ----------

Its not that Linux will not run on this hardware, but you just need to choose a right distribution with a smaller footprint for old hardware. With this RAM, you may just be able to pull off with Xubuntu, i.e Ubuntu with XFCE rather than Gnome. You may also try different variants with LXDE as well. Any stable distribution with custom install can be stripped down to bare minimal to work with older hardware with minimalistic GUI.
You can also look for Puppy, Damm Small Linux, Tiny Core, Dream Linux. All of them come with small footprint for slower machines.

Just put in your Ubuntu-CD when running Windows, it will ask you to do a WUBI-install, that is the type of install you want.

Thanks a lot for all the info... I will try and check which one works with my old machine. I really appreciated it all your help!! Have a good one!!

It may run if you disable remove compiz. I have an older desktop that on login it would take me back to login window and if it went beyond that it would start loading desktop and freeze. I removed compiz and it would login.