Boyo do I need help:(

[wanderingarticfox]

Ok I can LOL now but it has been a rough go of it I got my 8.10 CD in the mail, popped it in the drive and restarted via CD. I selected instal Ubuntu and wound up with a 'clean' install and looking at a command prompt with no clue and no way here for help. I've spent the past 20 hours on reinstalling my XP-Home, servicepacks and updates/upgrades and ISP stuff. This is what I thought would happen, I hit enter and I would get a graphical inteface, nope. Should I have gone for the F4 key and graphical instal??? Would this be where I missed the boat? I have a second HDD available; will GRUB see it and can I install Ubunto to that and still have a dual boot option at start-up and or restart? Please help. I'm going to wait for some instructions other than the reading I've done for 3+ weeks online. I really want to learn and practice this on this system before I do my new build in Sept. System specs: Athlon 1500+ @ 1.33GHz, 1 GB PC2100 @ 2.66MHz, Windows XP-Home SP3. I've got 24GB open free on C-drive and the second drive has 28.4 out of 28.6 so I just need step by step help. Maybe I read too much:lolflag:

[drs305]

Welcome to the ubuntu forums. Here are a few "how to" links that can walk you through the install process.

The last one is a good review of how to plan your installation:

Install Links:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation)

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Installing-Ubuntu-8-04-LTS-84314.shtml (http://news.softpedia.com/news/Installing-Ubuntu-8-04-LTS-84314.shtml)


http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/ (http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/)

You said after the initial install you were looking at a cursor. Did you try booting the livecd just to the Desktop without actually installing it to see how ubuntu would run on your machine?

[Partyboi2]

Hi, another useful link if you are wanting to dual boot is:

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed _first.htm

[sailthesea]

I think you might have been a little hasty! Sounds like no damage damage really done though
You got your XP back on ? 20 hours about right! Tidy it up then boot into the Ubuntu CD and check things out to see if it works Get a feel for things then you can get yourself a dual boot going You can do this from the disc just make sure you read up on your hardware before committing yourself this time
Grub and all that you will find out about the hard way! These things aren't easy at first but someone will always be willing to help you!
Your machine can handle all this its up to you User !;)

[wanderingarticfox]

I've been looking at the last one [from the first answer] and it is like others I've looked at and read. When I hit enter after arrowing down one to 'instal ubuntu' I watched a window with a 'progress bar' but it went back and forth and I never got the screen to select any kind of options. I booted, hit enter for english, down one space for instal then after I watchec ping pong for a long while I watched data stream which ended with a command prompt. HELP

[drs305]

Does ubuntu run ok if you select the first option after language - "Try ubuntu without any change to your computer"?

Have you also tried to verify the CD with the third option?

[wanderingarticfox]

OK I'll get some rest and defrag again in the AM an have another go at it.](*,)I'll ch with third and then try with first , that probably would have been a good idea the first time. I'm a typical windows user ya know, just jump at it at it runs. I really do want to get into Ubuntu though:)

[wanderingarticfox]

I'm up and running with 8.10 in dual boot mode, thx for all the help:)