I am trying to use Ubuntu over Windows XP on my home computer but have completely fubared it.
I first loaded an old disc I had of version 8.xxx. It loaded fine and seemed to be running well. I ran the update function and tried to update the computer to version 10.xxx. With about 15 minutes left in the upgrade process terminal said something was wrong and was exiting, but it never did.
I turned the computer off. Upon re-boot it tries to load grub with a countdown. If I hit escape before it tries to load grub it takes me to a menu to try different versions of 10.04. One of the recovery modes seemed to do something like creating a maintenance shell and it gives me a root command line and tells me control d will terminate the shell. Is there a command I can type on this line? Other than that the computer will not load anything. it comes up with an error stqating a kernal panic etc etc etc. I have tried all of the options on the 10.04 options screen all with the same result. I made a live cd of 12.04.2 and tried to install it by re-starting the computer with the disc in the drive.
Ubuntu seems to load because I can see part of the tool bar across the top of the screen and see where the program is asking me if I want to use or intall Ubunty, but I only have about 3/4 of my screen and the part that I can see is filled with horizontal lines. I can see the cursor moving because it changes the line pattern on the screen. The screen also seems to be divided vertically into about 4 or 5 segments. I can click on some of the items in the toolbar across the top of the screen, but cannot read the menus or the window that the clicks open. Is this a graphics card problem?
Here are my thoughts. Go back and re-load the version 8.xxx and get it running and then see if I can upgrade to the version 12.04 using the live cd from a function computer. Can I jump versions or do I need to make my way up the upgrade chain? If I have to go up the chain can I download the in between versions and burn them to a disc? Anyone else have any ideas to get me back up and running?
Thank you in advance.