why I despise Linux -> another weekend lost to a blinking cursor

[raxman]

I built a cutting edge system more than a year ago. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1927626
I spent a weekend trying to install Linux (details in that post). I have used Linux for more than 10 years and used it regually at work and am quite cofortable with emacs, sed, bash scripting, and gcc. But one waisted weekend and I did the unthinkable: I bought windows 7 and it installed with no problems.

For the last year I occasionally checked out new Linux edtions hoping they would install on my desktop system. Finally, Ubuntu 13.04 booted! Of course, it had problems with my GTX 590 so I had to use nomodeset but after that the installer at least ran. I installed it along windows7 and booted to a blinking cursor. No GRUB, just a black screen with a blinking cursor. No windows either. In a fit of anger I installed Ubuntu 13.04 over windows hoping it would fix the blinking cursor. Of course it did not. So then I spend Saturday and Sunday trying to figure out why.

I wasted a lot of time just trying to write ISO images to USB in linux. The dd command never produced a bootable USB device. Unetbootin works for most of them but not for Ubuntu 13.04. I installed it on Windows with the Universal USB installer but of course I don't have a Windows install anymore so that's no use. But Mint, Manjaro,...all give the blinking cursor. The main problem I'm having I think is related to having UEFI and a SSD only system. I'm too burnt out to go into details but probably these two links have the info I need
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UEFI
http://www.rodsbooks.com/efi-bootloaders/index.html

I started off wanting to install the Intel C++ compiler for Linux along with MKL to compare some of my code with GCC and Visual Studio and instead I end up with blinking cursor. I think I'll install Windows7 again and go back to Visual Studio and go back to spending my weekends doing things more enjoyable.

[coldraven]

Sorry to hear that your hardware has a problem with Linux.
I have had the opposite experience, Linux has installed on everything I tried and using Win7 at work is a pain.
When I do have a problem I remind myself that Linux did not cost me any money.
Even Photoshop had bugs that would delete all your images, no kidding. I used automate with the destination folder above the source folder and without warning all my images were permanently gone.
I agree that computers in general can be incredibly annoying and crash or freeze just when you are in a rush to get something done.
Of course when you're not in a rush they work perfectly. Sod's law I suppose
I hope that your situation improves.

[oldos2er]

Moved to Ubuntu, Linux & OS Chat.

[GameX2]

When I do have a problem I remind myself that Linux did not cost me any money.

Same here, I perfectly agree with that (I do have problems, a few times, for sure!) .

[codingman]

Hmm... That's odd. I have a UEFI board with an SSD only and have a Fermi based GPU (Quadro 2000) and can run Ubuntu 13.04 just fine. In a way, I have the same specs as you do, unless you can find a difference in the engine of two Fermi devices.

[Bashing-om]

I also attest I have never had a serious problem installing 'buntu. I can not count how many installs I have done over the years; friends, clients and passerbys.
I am running three flavors on this beast of a box I built myself with no problems at all// My old radeon card might not hack it when I install 13.04 in a week or so// But, that I can understand.

ubuntu, when all said and done, my operating system Of CHOICE

[angryfirelord]

UEFI is tricky and I've had issues with other distros getting it to work. If the USB method doesn't work, it's advisable to just boot it from a disc.

Just by chance, is Secure Boot disabled on your computer? Leaving it enabled might cause the "blinking cursor" symptom. I've also read posts where the drive was formatted as MBR instead of GPT or the boot flag wasn't active on the EFI partition.

[lykwydchykyn]

You use an OS for 10 years, buy an incompatible piece of hardware, decide to ragequit over it, then come back to make your very first post to Ubuntu forums to tell us about it. Thanks so much for sharing.

[iamkuriouspurpleoranj]

Despise? Fit of anger? LOL

These moments are annoying. You'll sort it out, though, with help from the friendly people on this forum. That's why I love Linux.

[oldfred]

Whether BIOS or UEFI, you need nomodeset on every boot with installer, and on first boot after install.

Then you install the nVidia version you want, as now the system settings offers several versions of nVidia proprietary driver.

You will need to use the 64 bit version of 13.04, 12.10 or 12.04.2 and from the UEFI menu boot the flash drive in UEFI mode. That way it will install in UEFI mode.
Systems need quick boot or fast boot turned off in UEFI settings. Vital for some systems.
Use Windows Disk Tools to shrink Windows main partition, but not to create any new partitions, if installing on same drive. Reboot after shrink so it can run its repairs to its new size.
Backup efi partition and Windows partition before Install of Ubuntu.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UEFI
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/UEFI
As of 12.04.2, it is possible to install on UEFI systems with Secure Boot enabled (using signed versions of Shim, GRUB, and the Linux kernel). This is only currently set up for Ubuntu (desktop, alternate, and server) and Edubuntu images due to pressures of time; we expect to enable it across the entire Ubuntu family for 12.04.3. Details:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PrecisePango.../UbuntuDesktop
Installing Grub for UEFI secure boot is only possible if you have booted your system using EFI.

Grub still has a bug in creating correct entries to dual boot Windows in UEFI mode. But Boot-Repair will fix that.

With UEFI you only get the grub sceens not the normal BIOS boot screens. The editing of grub menu then is the same on installer boot and first boot after install. You have to manually edit grub with e and replace splash quiet with nomodeset. Some new systems do need additional boot parameters also.


Graphics Resolution- Upgrade /Blank Screen after reboot mega thread - MAFoElffen
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1743535
How to set NOMODESET and other kernel boot options in grub2 - both liveCD & first boot, but different
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1613132
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootOptions