So my laptop is a bit old, but prior to this moment it's given me many months of problem free service using windows 7. Well that changed when I decided to switch to Ubuntu. I'm able to install the OS from a live CD, but when I go to reboot after installing, I'm met with a black screen and a blinking white line.

I'm using an Ubuntu 11.10 disk. It was burned at the slowest setting on a Sony disk. I'm not sure what to do. Shouldn't I have a boot menu?