Problem installing Ubuntu on laptop

[Blintok]

so got a new laptop and am trying to install the latest Ubuntu version on my old laptop.

Dell Inspiron 1501 (old i know but system requirements for ubuntu says it ok)

CPU=AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK55 / 1.8 GHz
RAM = 2gig
HD=120gig
Graphics=ATI Radeon Xpress1150 - 256.0 MB (1280 x 800 max resolution)-

so i burned the iso to a dvd. (it shows file folders and not just the .iso)
When i boot the Dell the dvd starts and it reads. I get 2 icons at the bottom
middle of screen.

Then the screen flashes a couple of times and hangs. I get several multi-colored thin vertical lines on the screen.

Ubuntu graphics driver issue? The machine works fine otherwise in the stock WinXP.
Need it to be a user friendly version of Linux (thus Ubuntu) as am donating Dell to a non-techy computer user.

 

[Blintok]

ok so i found this............

--------------------------------
according to this page:

Ubuntu Forums

You should do:

Open terminal and enter.

sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

Now change

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""

to

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="nomodeset"

Close gedit to return to the terminal window. Now we need to update grub.cfg

update-grub

That should do the trick
-------------------------------------------

lol. ok but but but... how do i open terminal if i cant get it to get to the install screen?

(not at home so cant look at the CD. is the terminal on the CD?)

 

[lxskllr]

When you're booting, press [Del] when you get the screen with 2 icons, select your language, then press [F6] for other options and choose nomodeset. Continue booting with the menu option you want.

 

[FrankRamiro]

so got a new laptop and am trying to install the latest Ubuntu version on my old laptop.

Dell Inspiron 1501 (old i know but system requirements for ubuntu says it ok)

CPU=AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK55 / 1.8 GHz
RAM = 2gig
HD=120gig
Graphics=ATI Radeon Xpress1150 - 256.0 MB (1280 x 800 max resolution)-

so i burned the iso to a dvd. (it shows file folders and not just the .iso)
When i boot the Dell the dvd starts and it reads. I get 2 icons at the bottom
middle of screen.

Then the screen flashes a couple of times and hangs. I get several multi-colored thin vertical lines on the screen.

Ubuntu graphics driver issue? The machine works fine otherwise in the stock WinXP.
Need it to be a user friendly version of Linux (thus Ubuntu) as am donating Dell to a non-techy computer user.

I think your problem might be your laptop maybe Non PAE and ubuntu doesn't run on non PAE systems, i have a Vaio old Laptop that doesn't run Ubuntu 12.04 either, but i can run Xubuntu,Debian Wheezy but i chose Xubuntu cause the Wireless runs great and the debian doesn't.

Google what PAE means and you'll know what i'm talking about if you don't already know.

 

[Blintok]

I think i will try Xubuntu. I actually got Ubuntu installed and running >BUT< it only worked because i hooked up an external monitor. The laptop screen was still black with verticle lines. I did manage to get the laptop screen up by playing with the Ubuntu display settings.
But i cant run by lap top alone as when i try changing settings off of multi display the screen blacks out again with the lines. I think it may be that my laptop has a strange default setting of 1440 x 900 and there is nothing like that in ubuntu settings. Closest is 1280x768.

 

[Blintok]

Well i tried the various fixes that are out there for the Dell Inspiron 1501 and they did not work for me. Tried Ubuntu.Xubuntu.Kubuntu.Mint 15 and all give me the colored lines on the screen. They all appear to install as i can use Ubuntu (and i assume the other builds install as well) on the external monitor but the only one that activated the external monitor was Ubuntu.

So i have given up on that for now. But i did blow up the partitions on my new laptop (deleted) and with that the removal of that abortion Win8. I have successfully installed Mint 15 Cinnamon and it is working fantastic. Had a bit of a bother getting the Broadcom wireless to work, but all is working now and i love it.

 

[some_guy]

FYI even though you got Mint running nicely

"In some distributions, such as Ubuntu, you will need to add pci=nomsi to your boot options for the system to boot properly."


This Dell 1390 wireless controller in the Inspiron 1501 doesn't have any native drivers for Linux so using the ndiswrapper module is necessary. You can review our Configuring the ndiswrapper module for information on how to use this driver. The windows driver is available from Dell's website. There is also at set of native drivers which are available here, but these have note been tested yet. Using the BIOS configuration page, turning off the Wireless Hotkey (Fn-F2 control) seems to help the card work better with ndiswrapper and the Windows driver. (Without turning off the Wireless Hotkey control, the card may get detected, but not find any networks with &#8220;iwlist scan&#8221;, and the little green WiFi light may not come on.)

Some versions of the Inspiron include the Dell 1490. This works with the bcm43xx module.

Summary

The Dell Inspiron 1501 does require some intermediate level configuration work for it to work well under Linux. Unfortunately this can be quite tricky for new Linux users.

(From comments) Ubuntu 12.04 32 bit runs amazing in this little bad boy."

http://www.linlap.com/dell_inspiron_1501