Acer Aspire 3000

[Ultimatefry]

I'm seeing if the computer can handle this one first before going up one (It's an Acer Aspire 3000 that I got for $7 at a thrift shop to see if it could be fixed up).

[Ultimatefry]

Okay, it seems that installing with the receiving flash drive plugged into where the installer was got me the option I was supposed to use from the installation instructions, but it still keeps flashing between the screen with the lil' underscore guy and a black screen with the cursor centered (the logo appears when it first loads, though).

[Bashing-om]

Ultimatefry; Hey !

Let's presume that the kernel is unhappy with your graphics card, this will get around that situation and if that is a true condition allow you to install a recommended graphics driver:

Try this: Boot up ubuntu from cold boot, soon as the bios screen clears, depress the shift key -> grub menu>
Insure a "non recovery" kernel option is highlighted and press the "e"key for edit mode -> boot parameters; arrow down to the line similar to this "linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-24-generic root=UUID=dbd69ed2-530c-4409-8f5a-a3f1ea41fc67 ro quiet splash"
; arrow across to the term "quiet splash" and insert the term "nomodeset" -without the quotes-; ctl+x to continue the boot process. GUI login -> user name and password -> desktop. Left side of screen is the launcher ->System Settings ->Additional Drivers [must have 'net connectivity ]//assumes that 3rd party software sources have been enabled// Install the recommended driver.

just try'n to help

[Ultimatefry]

I was able to get to the nomodeset step, but the thing still flashed black and purple.

[Bashing-om]

Ultimatefry; Disappointing !

Ok let's back up a step or so ..Let's see if the system it's self is stable.
Edit once more the grub boot parameter, this time remove quiet and splash, inset the term text.
At this time when booting one should boot to a text login console (TTY1).
At this prompt enter your username and then password when requested ... bear in mind on the password there will be no response back to the screen.
Enter your password blindly and hit the enter key.

Now enter:

sudo service lightdm start

What happens ?... pass back to us any errors displayed on the screen. If you are able to boot to the CLI (Command Line Interface), then we can look at why the GUI is not launching.

where there is life there is hope

[Ultimatefry]

Term text?

[Bashing-om]

Ultimatefry; Yep.

Delete the terms "quiet splash" and type in "text" - without the quotes- and one should boot to that CLI environment.

more than one way to skin a cat

[Ultimatefry]

I was able to log in and type in the command, but it continued flashing, but this time it said this sometimes inbetween flashes:

* ??????? AppArmor profiles
??????? profile in /etc/apparmor??/????????????                    [OK]

?????ing ??? server ???? (maybe failed/start, unsure what it says) [OK]
                                                                      *
???? ??????????????? edit /etc/default/?????
                                       *Checking battery state...  [OK]

I see similar stuff when shutting down my computer (starting/stopping bluetooth, other things) when running my working Ubuntu 11.10.

[Bashing-om]

Ultimatefry; Shucks;

Not enough info at this time to suggest a solution.. indications are:
1. Grub is hosed up;
2. /etc/fstab file is hosed up
3. Partition is hosed up
4. file system is hosed up
maybe any and all of the above.

OK .. can you successfully boot the install liveDVD/USB to the "try ubuntu" mode ? -> rules out hardware problems and gives a means of access to the hard drive.
can you successfully boot the install to the text login prompt ? Will make diagnostics much simpler.

We need to know your status in order to provide proper diagnostic commands.

You have come a long way, but not made it home yet.

keep on keep'n on

[Ultimatefry]

Lubuntu installer only provides 'Boot from first hard disk', and since it is that, it just reboots itself.