I cannot install ubuntu. The Internet doesn't help.

Asked by Katrina

I think I have unusual situation since I cannot find anything about that on Internet.

I have Asus Eee PC 1201HA and the version of Ubuntu I tried to install was 11.04.

So, I followed the steps mentioned in the download page, made usb stick using the respective program mentioned there. I put the usb stick, run the install and I was able to see the test version of ubuntu. Being on this test screen I chose the install LEAVING UBUNTU AS THE ONLY Operating system. Previously I had Windows 7.

Everything was ok until at the end it said it has some apt error. I thought, oh, probably it was just not able to install some applications (as video or music players) so I was looking for a button to restart the computer. I did not find any and decided to switch the laptop manually. It was a huge mistake.

When I switched on the laptop, I got a screen with possibility to press F2 (to access bios setup utility) or tab (to see some post bios messages). When I pressed F2, it lead me to the Bios Setup Utility. When I clicked Tab I got nothing but a black screen with a blinking screen. When I did not press anything, I got black screen with blinking screen again. I need to mention, I have the usb stick inserted in while doing all those actions.

So, I was getting scared and asked for a help from a computer specialist. He said I should format my usb stick and repeat all the steps mentioned before. He also suggested to download the newest ubuntu 11.10 what I did. So, I formatted my usb stick, I put ubuntu installation on it (through the respective program, of course), in bios setup utility I changed the priority of the hard disks putting my usb stick as number one. I restarted. Then I got a screen with many options regarding Ubuntu:

1. Run Ubuntu from this USB
2. Install Ubuntu on a Hard Disk
3. Test memory
4. Boot from first hard disk
5. Advanced options >
6. Help

I tried all of those options, except Test memory.

1. I tried to Run Ubuntu from this USB - it lead me to the mystical window with sudo and root. I tried to press ctrl + alt + F7 (if I am not wrong) and got a list with many [ OK ], except for the one starting restore sound card(s') mixer state(s). It had [ fail ]. I clicked ctrl + alt + F1 and got back to the sudo screen: ubuntu@ubuntu: ...
I wrote something to be able to write sudo apt-get upgrade with my Internet cable connected in. The result was: 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not ugraded.

After this with command sudo init 0 I turned off the computer and removed the usb stick. Then I tried to start the computer again and got the black screen with blinking cursor again. It showed, nothing was really installed.

2. I tried to Install ubuntu on my hard disk. There were words running, then there was a screen with Ubuntu 11.10 and changing white-red dots under it. Then there were some more words until I got a message:

init: lightdm main process (2882) terminated with status 1

So, NOTHING really works for me :( What to do?

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#1

Did you MD5 test the ISO you downloaded?

Revision history for this message
Katrina (cielavinja) said :
#2

No, I didn't I just downloaded a program and got a code. But there is one more place where I can write a code to compare. The problem is, I don't know where to find it.

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#3

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowToMD5SUM

Without MD5 testing the ISO, you have no true way of knowing it is complete and consistant

Revision history for this message
Katrina (cielavinja) said :
#4

Yes, I just checked. MD5 checksums match.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#5

Try the boot option:

nomodeset

May help

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delance (olivier-delance) said :
#6

Could you subscribe this bug:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/lightdm/+bug/875539/comments/7
You should be able to run commands if you type Ctrl+Alt+F1 (or if nomodeset option of Andrew is set).

Revision history for this message
delance (olivier-delance) said :
#7

(http://www.ldlc.be/fiche/PB00095116.html)
Chipset graphique
Intel GMA 500

Revision history for this message
Katrina (cielavinja) said :
#8

I tried the boot option nomodeset in my own way and I am not sure if it was the right one. On the list with

1. Run Ubuntu from this USB
2. Install Ubuntu on a Hard Disk
3. Test memory
4. Boot from first hard disk
5. Advanced options >
6. Help

I clicked tab while I had the first option marked (Run Ubuntu from this USB). There I saw a sequence with words: > /casper/vmlinuz nopromt cdrom-detect/try-usb=true file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper peristent initrd=/casper/initrd.lz splash --
I put nomodeset after splash (splash nomodeset --). It lead me to the same outcome as it was without nomodeset.
On the second option (Install Ubuntu on a Hard Disk) after pressing Tab I saw this: > /casper/vmlinuz cdrom-detect/try-usb=true file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper only-ubiquity initrd=/casper/initrd.lz splash --
Here I did the same thing and nothing changed.

In an instruction on Internet I found some version with pressing F6, chosing language etc., BUT: nothing happened to me.

Regarding the sudo in the link - https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/lightdm/+bug/875539/comments/7
When I wrote this text at ubuntu@ubuntu:, it said me - wrong command, sudo aptitude doesn't exist.

I am very sorry, in computer things I am not that big specialist :( Could you help me telling what to do step by step?

Can you help with this problem?

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