Ubuntu will not boot

[deckerry]

Problem Background:
I tried to install Ubuntu on my laptop. It seemed to work the first couple times. Now it won't work. The error message is below but first I will give more information.

My computer has always been running Windows Vista. I just heard of Ubuntu and it seems very fascinating so I figured I would try it.

First I went to ubuntu.com, clicked the "download ubuntu" link and followed the 4 steps listed on that page. Step 1: I downloaded the 32-bit Ubuntu 10.10 the filename is ubuntu-10.10-desktop-i386. I also downloaded wubi for some reason but I don't remember when or why.

Step 2: Since my disc drive is completely broken and non-functional, I created a usb drive to get Ubuntu started. I used the universal usb installer the filename for that program is Universal-USB-Installer-1.8.3.7.

Step 3: I restarted my computer with the usb as the first in the boot order. I chose the first option in that menu which I think just ran Ubuntu from the usb drive. I ran the installation after enabling a wireless internet connection and restarted the computer.

I removed the usb drive and Ubuntu started and had me login my username and password. I tried to connect to the internet but couldn't figure it out so I restarted the computer.

The problem.
Now here's the problem. This time Ubuntu didn't work. I get an error message and this is what I see on the screen...

Gave up waiting for root device. Common problems:
- Boot args (cat /proc/cmdline)
 - Check rootdelay= (did the system wait long enough?)
 - Check root= (did the system wait for the right device?)
- Missing modules (cat/proc/modules; ls /dev)
ALERT! /dev/disk/by-uuid/0696b9a1-0116-4dd8-bee6-9156394da148 does not exist. Dropping to a shell!
 
Busybox v1.15.3 (Ubuntu1:1.15.3-1ubuntu5) built-in shell (ash)
Enter 'help' for a list of built-in commands.
 
(initramfs) _

I know very, very, very little about linux or computers in general but I am very very willing to learn.

Does anybody know what to do?

[Hippytaff]

Hi and welcome to the forums

What graphics card do you have? and can you boot from that usb again and choose try rather than install? if so post the results.txt genereated by downloading and running this script whilst in the ubuntu usb live environment

If that usb doesn't let you try ubuntu then the iso is probably corrupt...if so then download another one

[deconstrained]

You should try using the "USB Startup Disk Creator" instead. Booting from USB requires special hooks/modules and a filesystem that Linux can use; FAT32, a common FS on USB sticks, just doesn't cut it, and NTFS support is still a bit glitchy for use as root. The startup disk creator takes care of all of this, and should be available to you if you install it (if it isn't already available) while booted to the CD (the package will be copied to and unpacked in memory). You may, however, need another external drive to store the ISO to use for creating the startup disk.

[deckerry]

Hi and welcome to the forums

What graphics card do you have? and can you boot from that usb again and choose try rather than install? if so post the results.txt genereated by downloading and running this script whilst in the ubuntu usb live environment

If that usb doesn't let you try ubuntu then the iso is probably corrupt...if so then download another one

Wow that was a really quick response thanks.

I don't know which graphics card I have. I think it's nvidia. I hope that answers that question.

I think I figured out how to post the results.txt as an attachment but it seems to be too large.
It is 21.5 and it seems that the limit is 19.5.

[deckerry]

You should try using the "USB Startup Disk Creator" instead. Booting from USB requires special hooks/modules and a filesystem that Linux can use; FAT32, a common FS on USB sticks, just doesn't cut it, and NTFS support is still a bit glitchy for use as root. The startup disk creator takes care of all of this, and should be available to you if you install it (if it isn't already available) while booted to the CD (the package will be copied to and unpacked in memory). You may, however, need another external drive to store the ISO to use for creating the startup disk.

Thanks a lot for the tip. I am going to try Hippytaff's advice first. If that doesn't work, I'll try yours next.

[Hippytaff]

Thanks a lot for the tip. I am going to try Hippytaff's advice first. If that doesn't work, I'll try yours next.

To post the results.txt file...click the New Reply icon (the grey one) paste the results.txt. Then highlight the text you pasted and click the # icon at the top of the window. That should put it in tags...and deconstrained probaly knows more that me

[deckerry]

I'm sorry, but do you delete a reply by the way? I know I can edit it but don't know how to delete it.

[Hippytaff]

There's the results.txt.

 file:///home/ubuntu/Desktop/RESULTS.txt

The contents of that file is what is useful

[deckerry]

Ha ha ha! Wow. You're absolutely right.
Can you tell I'm a complete noob!

Thanks for being so patient.
I edited some of my posts if you want to take another look above.

[Hippytaff]

Ha ha ha! Wow. You're absolutely right.
Can you tell I'm a complete noob!

Thanks for being so patient.
I edited some of my posts if you want to take another look above.

it's probably best if you post it again for the lazy people..like me