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Please be patient, I am new to the Linux world. I am running Win XP on an old desktop PC. I want to install Ubuntu over or beside Windows. The mobo is Matsonic MS9388E. The onboard graphics adapter is described as: "Embedded 3D Ultra AGP VGA" The PC has only 512MB memory installed.

I downloaded Ubuntu Desktop 12.04 and burnt a CD. I booted from the CD. It went straight into Linux boot type output on the screen - all looking 'normal'. After a long time (5/10 minutes) I got the dreaded 'low graphics mode' message. Clicking OK got me the 'what would you like to do' menu. I tried the various options but can get nowhere.

I am concluding that the Ubuntu CD cannot support my onboard graphics. Would this be a good assumption? But what to do about it? I see lots of 'sudo' talk in other posts - but I don't speak sudo :(

I've looked at this Question - but it only covers "low graphics mode" AFTER installation - my problem occurs DURING the installation.

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ger dalton
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  • Yes, it's a support problem with your graphics card. What other posts have you been reading? – Seth Mar 24 '13 at 20:33
  • All the ones I could find AND understand. I am afraid that talk of wubi and grub and sudo are just way over my head. I thought this was now a GUI world. It seems to me that since Ubuntu is not installed, it will have nowhere to save any updates or downloads. So if I am to get new graphics drivers it must be via some external mechanism? – ger dalton Mar 24 '13 at 20:42
  • It is, but when you can't access the GUI because of problems like these you have no other option. – Seth Mar 24 '13 at 20:45
  • OK, firstly, thank you for your help - I do appreciate your time. But when I type in some of these arcane commands I get pages of text usually ending in 'no space' messages. Are there any other Linux distributions which are more tolerant of different graphics chips? Ger. – ger dalton Mar 24 '13 at 20:49
  • Since this is an older computer, I don't recommend using the regular Ubuntu. It was made and designed with the newer, better graphics cards in mind. Instead I recommend you try a lighter version. Try either Xubuntu or Lubuntu. These will give you the same basic Ubuntu, but with a different desktop environment (or "GUI") that is easier on older hardware. You will still be able to get support here if you need help. You could also try Linux Mint although we don't support it here. The people at [unix.se] do. – Seth Mar 24 '13 at 20:55
  • Thank you Seth. I have just had a look at your profile. As Alice would no doubt have said to the cat "I'm out of here". Back to the bosom of MS where all graphics cards are supported ;) Take care. – ger dalton Mar 24 '13 at 20:59
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    @gerdalton - given your last comment I have closed this question. If you wish to at least have a crack at installation with our help, please flag and ask for this to be reopened. – fossfreedom Mar 24 '13 at 21:08

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