Cant boot from ubuntu cd

also, how do i copy or put in the files into a thumbdrive and boot from it? if that way is also possible.

visit http://www.linuxliveusb.com/ and download the software. you can use it to install linux from pen drive. this will only work if your bios supports it and the pen drive is formatted as fat32

what do you mean by unpacking. you are not supposed to extract the iso.

this might help you https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GraphicalInstall

then wad are the exact steps to make to burn ubuntu into a disc?

Just burn the image as an ISO IMAGE whatever burner software you use . It should work . i think ur error lies in unpacking the iso . as arjun said , the image is not meant to be unpacked . Just run the burner software and select the iso image , the burner will burn it . Just make sure that u are not burning a data dvd , but as an iso image .

this might help you https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto

Here some general note and howto:

The main ubuntu site is this: www.ubuntu.com and the download location is this
http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download

Prerequisites: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/SystemRequirements
Please also be sure to read the release notes: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LucidLynx/ReleaseNotes

1) please download the 700 mb file http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download simply press on download button
To avoid download errors please prefer to download the desired ubuntu iso install cd image using the torrent protocol.
2) check the md5sum of downloaded file to be sure it have no error https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowToMD5SUM

Only if the md5sum number match with this: http://releases.ubuntu.com/10.04/MD5SUMS go to the next steps otherwise
install a torrent client i suggest you http://deluge-torrent.org/ if you are using Windows and download the iso using a .torrent link from here:
http://releases.ubuntu.com/10.04/ubuntu-10.04-desktop-i386.iso.torrent

3) burn the iso image onto a cd, to do it install and use http://infrarecorder.org/?page_id=5
4) insert the self made install cd into your pc cdrom drive and reboot your pc. You must not see Windows starting and you can try Ubuntu from cdrom and then install it

If you have trouble with installation (the system freeze or you can't complete it) be sure to read the above suggestions, then:

1.a ) Please boot entirely (you must not see windows starting) from Ubuntu live install cd and when the system start to boot from cd you will see two bottom screen icons (keyboard and man inside circle ) please press space (choose your desired language) then a screen textual center menu will appear to you with this items in it:

Try Ubuntu without installing
Install Ubuntu
Check disc for defects
Test memory
Boot from first hard disk

Please select "Check disc for defects" and press enter to test if your cd-driver can read in a good way the live install cd... or if the install cd have some defective file in it.
Then please also perform a Test memory to be sure your pc RAM memory have not any issue

http://www.ubuntugeek.com/how-to-fix-ubuntu-10-04-lts-lucid-blank-screen-at-startup.html

---- Trouble with intel8xxx graphic cards:

please try this: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Bugs/Lucidi8xxFreezes