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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](http://xubuntu.org/) or [Lubuntu](http://lubuntu.net/). 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](http://www.linuxmint.com/) 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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