Please help me install Ubuntu to harddrive

[Raygreen]

I am going to post this question again. I got a couple of responses but still no one was able to address what might be done to solve the problem. On this computer which is a Dell Dimension 8100, I ran killdisk on it and the computer had Windows XP, and then I tried loading Ubuntu 9.04 and then Ubuntu 8.10. Both would error out when trying to install. Now I can run both in LiveCD, or dual booting with Wubi. But after over 4 attempts to load them on here either by running the install from the Live version or by telling it to install after inserting the CD, each time it errors out. I have similar problems getting Mandriva, Fedora, Linux Mint, PuppyLinux, PCLinuxOS, SUSE too. Now I can get Linpulite, and Freespire both to load on this computer. I can get WindowsXP to load, I can even get Window 7 beta to load on here, although I can't get internet, or sound with Windows 7, there are no drivers that work. I had Sound issues with SUSE or Mandriva.

I am typing this right now from Live version of Ubuntu 8.10. I just would like to get Ubuntu to install on this computer as the sole operating system. I tried running gpart to partition the drive. I have tried running the Alternative Ubuntu 9.04. Then I get an error when it asks to load the CD.

Any suggestions would be very very appreciated!!!

[starcraft.man]

I see then, quite the trouble, well I'll try and give you a hand. I'm gonna need a lot more info. I just checked, and that is quite the old PC, a P4 with only a 4x AGP slot. Nonetheless, it should work, I mean linux supports old machines, worked on my aged IBM netvista.... until the mainboard died.

Can you elaborate on "error out"? What kinda of error message is displayed? Can you provide a screenshot or picture (if not in live CD). Can you get through all the steps of configuring options (live CD) and it errors during the install? If so, what stage in the install does it give an error and what does it say?

On the hardware side, how much RAM is installed? In the specification it can vary from 128 to 2GB. I doubt low RAM could give such trouble, but it wouldn't help.

Also, why did you use killdisk (a hard drive formater no?) originally?

More detail always > less detail.

[presence1960]

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootOptions

Did you try safe graphics mode? Scroll down the link till you hit the section dealing with F4

[presence1960]

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootOptions

Did you try safe graphics mode? Scroll down the link till you hit the section dealing with F4

I know merlinus suggested this but did you try the alternate text based installer? http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/downloadmirrors#alternate

[raymondh]

I know merlinus suggested this but did you try the alternate text based installer? [url]http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/downloadmirrors#alternate

+1 on trying the alternate install

[Raygreen]

Thanks for the number of responses. I got errors indicating that their may be a problem with the cd/dvd drive or harddrive. Even though I have successfully loaded freespire, Windows XP, and LinpusLite. I suspect that the DVD drive may have some issues.

I have seen where the drive gives errors from time to time when it is being used.