Ubuntu only booting every 2nd or third time

Dangreen · 03-21-2007, 05:56 AM

Hi I am a complete Newbie to linux.

I have just installed Ubuntu on an old Thinkpad T21 using the alternative CD (ISO downloaded from ubuntu.com),

The problem i have is that Ubuntu only loads every 2nd or third time. Otherwise it stops just after the splash screen( the cursor flashs for about 2- e seconds in the top left hand corner of the screen and then stops.

Can someone please offer some advice as to how to get Ubuntu to boot everytime.

Many Thanks
Dan

Dangreen · 03-21-2007, 05:59 AM

sorry perhaps i sholud have posted this in the newbie forum

Redeye2 · 03-21-2007, 08:16 AM

Can you start it in a more verbose mode (like recovery for example), to get more output while booting? That will help a lot to determine the cause of the hangs.

Dangreen · 03-21-2007, 09:08 AM

Hi Redeye2

I have managed to log in using the single user mode (at least i think was the single user mode?) I pressed escape on log-in to come into the grub menu.

Then i went into the kernel line. Pressed 'e' for edit, and then cleared the line, and typed init=/bin/shthen pressed enter.
pressed 'b' to boot the modified entry. It works now , but obviously this isn't ideal everytime....

Dangreen · 03-22-2007, 04:17 AM

no progress I 'm afraid

I have no idea why this happening.

I have tried following a set of instructions ( some what blindly I'll admit) for installation on to my thinkpad T21.

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Instal...a_ThinkPad_T21

From what i can gather it seems its some sort of problem with acpi or something to do with the way the thinkpad shuts down. the crazy thing is i can restart the computer and 3 out of 5 times it will get to the log-in screen.

I'm beginning to bang my head - thecomputer was supposed to be a present for my wife, and i had planned to give it to her for her birthday next week. Perhaps i'm better off to try another distro ?