The above fixes didn't work for me, they didnt go far enough. I've tested this with 13.04 but the author on his blog used it for lower ubuntu versions. Original information from this blog: http://jechem.blogspot.be/2011/04/fix-plymouth-splash-screen-in-ubuntu-on.html
First install hwinfo by running the following command:
sudo apt-get install v86d hwinfo
After the installation run the following command and note down the highest resolution:
sudo hwinfo --framebuffer
For me this was Mode 0x0361: 1280x800 (+5120), 24 bits, next edit the following file:
gksu gedit /etc/default/grub
This will open the GRUB config file, we now look for GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash" and change it with the following, change your resolution with mine and also add the color depth (for me 24 could be 16 or 32).
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash nomodeset video=uvesafb:mode_option=1280x800-24,mtrr=3,scroll=ywrap"
Then find the following line (uncomment if needed) and change your resolution again, note that you don't include the color depth:
GRUB_GFXMODE=1280x800
Save and exit, next edit the following file:
gksu gedit /etc/initramfs-tools/modules
Scroll to the end of the file and add the following line, again add your resolution and the colordepth like you did before:
uvesafb mode_option=1280x800-24 mtrr=3 scroll=ywrap
Then in the terminal type the following commands and then reboot:
echo FRAMEBUFFER=y | sudo tee /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d/splash
sudo update-grub
sudo update-initramfs -u
For me this fixed the problem, I tried all the other suggestions and scripts, none of them worked but this does, good luck!