Boot problems

Hello all-

I'm new to CAElinux, and linux in general. I've purchased a new laptop, and am having difficulties installing the software. More specifically, upon booting, when the loading status bar reaches ~25%, I get a series of blue and white lines on the screen, it flashes for a minute or so, then the splash screen outputs a blank screen colored Ubuntu brown. The colors blur when I move the mouse around. I don't seem to get any errors, but I have no menu.

I have tried installing from DVD and liveUSB with the same result; multiple downloads and burns to make sure that the software image was good.

I have a Toshiba Satellite L305-S5962 (Intel T4200, Intel GMA 4500m, etc.) and have found the following thread and thus turned off my LAN in BIOS with no different results: bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/225749

have tried live, safe graphics mode and starting installer directly.

I've also found the following link:
ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1025507

When I press Ctrl+Alt+F2 after attempting to boot under safe video mode, I get the following error:

(gksudo:11844): Gtk-WARNING **: cannot open display:

where should I go now?
thanks!

Post edited by: Zachary Archambault, at: 2009/10/07 00:12<br /><br />Post edited by: Zachary Archambault, at: 2009/10/07 00:13

Update: I've tried installing ubuntu 8.04 x64 directly with a slightly different video issue, appearing at the same time.

Ubuntu 9.04 x64 installs without issue.

I'm excited to start exploring CAElinux!

I have been using the Live DVD for CAELinux on my desktop for a few weeks, and finally bought a new Toshiba Satellite L505 specifically to dedicate it to CAELinux- only to run in to the exact same issues that you faced. I have traced the problem to the fact that these laptops use an Intel Series 4 chip set for graphics, and CAELinux does not like that for some reason. I have been unable to figure out how to change the video specification in the BIOS to allow VESA compatibility so I, too, have gone to the Ubuntu direct install (9.04) and am grabbing the various components of interest to me individually. Not as nice an install as the LiveDVD complete packages...

Thanks for the information- I wish I had known about the issue with the Intel Series 4 chip set before I bought the computer!
I have both Ubuntu 9.04 (32-bit) and Ubuntu 9.10 (64-bit) running on the Toshiba Laptop, and have successfully loaded and tested Salome-MECA in the 9.04 instance- graphics in the mesh module is a bit challenged, but functional (using a case I set up myself, using 276,528 3D elements, with 56,929 nodes; divided into 5 groups. I originally ran this on a desktop from the Live DVD (2009) and processed it with Code_Saturne with good results. I am still struggling with getting Code_Saturne loaded onto the laptop to see if the 64-bit, 2-core system will signifcantly shorten the 12 hour run time it took from the Live DVD...
How about offering the various packages bundled with CAELinux in *.deb packages?
Charlie