Can't get install started, infinite loop on blue power-on screen

[chavodel8]

My apologies if this is a repeat, but the only posts I can find seem to relate to problems once the Ubuntu splash screen is reached. I can't get that far.

I have Windows 7. I want to dual boot. I have a verified, good ISO of Ubuntu 12.4.2 64-bit on CD. I have installed it successfully in a VirtualBox VM on Win7 to ensure the ISO is a good copy.

When I put the ISO CD in the drive and reboot, I see the following steps:
* Blue power-on screen (with F9-Setup, F10-..., F12-Network on the bottom)
* Blank screen
* Purple Ubuntu screen with a keyboard looking icon and a person in a circle icon at the bottom
* I hit any key (usually space or enter) and get a Ubuntu menu, but first a language selection. I choose English.
* I choose either Install Ubuntu or ... I forget the exact text, but the one that means "run Ubuntu off the CD"
* It seems to try to start working on that because once I select one, I can no longer cycle between the options
* After 2 to 5 seconds, the screen goes black
* Here I enter a loop:
** Blue power-on screen shows up again
** Screen goes black

I can take the CD out and Windows won't boot either. I have to do a hard shut down by pushing the power button on the tower. I can then turn it on and boot back into Windows.

Notes:
* If I don't do anything on the first purple Ubuntu screen (the one with the keyboard and person in a circle at the bottom), it will still push into this same loop within 10 to 15 seconds or so.
* This is a corporate machine, so it is possible that IT has put some stuff in place that I know nothing about to prevent dual boots, live CD boots, or wiping and replacing the OS, etc.
EDIT: * My machine is an HP Z600 and has a RAID set up

Any ideas on this one?

Thank you much!

[oldfred]

Desktop installer does not have RAID drivers. Only server and alternative. But alternative is discontinued with 12.10.

Elimination of Alternative installer for 12.10 and no RAID support directly for Desktop.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2049021

Do you have permission to install on your machine from corporate?

An external drive or flash drive may be alternatives?

HOW TO Avoid Wubi & Install Ubuntu on USB Drive -
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1650699

Pros & cons of persistent install over direct install to flashdrives - C.S.Cameron
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1655412

[bcbc]

Use 'nomodeset'. If you have an nvidia or radeon card then this is likely the issue:

http://askubuntu.com/questions/162075/my-computer-boots-to-a-black-screen-what-options-do-i-have-to-fix-it

PS don't get in the habit of hard shutdowns. With linux it's usually unnecessary due to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_SysRq_key#Uses

In short, hold down Alt+SysRq then press (waiting a couple of seconds before each) R-E-I-S-U-B
(if it's a live CD it's not a big problem because no damage will occur, you can just use Alt+SysRq B (reboot), but if you do this on a real linux install it's possible to corrupt the drive if it's doing writes at that time).

[chavodel8]

That first link did it for me, thank you! I had to use acpi=off, nolapic, and nomodeset and I had to set them all very quickly, then do the boot, but I was able to do it! Thank you!

[bcbc]

Yikes, acpi=off is a sledgehammer solution that disables a lot of useful stuff. Hopefully you don't really need that. What computer brand/model/graphics card do you have?