Ubuntu instalation help

To start off. I have never used Linux, but have wanted to for some time now. I downloaded ubuntu 7.10 the other day, and burned it to a disk. I then tried to install it on an older p4 desktop. The main screen comes up then I hit install. I then get a message:

Code:

BusyBox v1.1.3 (Debian 1:1.13.5ubuntu7) Built-in shell (ash) Enter 'Help' for a list of built in commands. (initramfs)

I don't know what to do. I googled the error message, poked around on a few sites and didn't really find much out. Any thoughts?

 

You insert the CD, then you select "Install Ubuntu" and then you get the error message from the boot screen, right?

 

Sounds like maybe it doesn't support your video card out of the box. Normally it should boot straight into X.

I had a similar problem with 7.04 with my old desktop which has a Matrox G400 card - a card which is supposed to be supported, but a bug in the driver version on the install CD meant it just didn't work properly. I ended up using the Alternate CD to install and then copying over an older driver version which worked perfectly.

 

Try booting the installation CD with the following option;

all_generic_ide

and see if this fixes the startup problem.

(I think with Ubuntu if you want to boot the install CD with additional options you hit F6 when it's loading, but someone can correct me if I'm wrong.)

Good Luck..

(hey.. my 200th post.. time flies..)

 

How fast did you burn the CD? With a modern PC you can get away with burning the CD at maybe 8X or so. With an older PC, such as a 1 MHz PIII or thereabouts, you can't burn the disc any faster than 2X or maybe 4X tops. If your optical drive has seen better days it won't matter how fast the CPU.
Did you use CD-R? Don't use CD-RW.
What program did you use to burn the CD?

I'm thinking the CD is probably no good. Most straightforward way to test that theory is try it out on a couple of other PC's. If you get the same error or other errors then toss that CD and try again.

Some of the guys on this forum have recommended BurnCDCC for burning .iso's on a Windows PC.
On our P4 3Ghz PC I've burned dozens of Linux .iso's at 8X using a 4 year old Sony optical drive and the accompanying NTI burn utility.
Just recently bought a Samsung SATA optical drive. The burn program that came with it doesn't go any slower than 16X! The P4 started burning coasters so that hasn't worked out too well.

 

@ Telkwa I burned the disc twice and also did a check disk. I burned it at 48x and I think I used a Ulead to burn it.

@ John_B that is correct

@ Baserk I have no clue what your talking about. - "Did the ISO MD5sum match?" Are you talking about the check disk thing?

@ AndyC_772 It is a P4 desktop with an older ATI all in wonder card.

 

If you don't want to play with command line, an alternative would be to try the Alternate CD.

 

There's nothing wrong with your installation media. This is a known problem. As John stated, if you don't want to try booting with the option others in the Ubuntu forum have recommended, and as I noted previously in this thread, then you will probably have better luck installing using the Alternate CD method.

Good Luck..

 

Same thing happened to me Jason. Don't worry, it's easy to fix. Check the md5sum of the ISO you downloaded, make sure it matches against the online file, then burn at 1x.