After a long time of neglect, I powered on my old desktop yesterday and decided to install Ubuntu 8.10 on it. I rarely use my old desktop which is why I decided to make it a test machine and run it dual boot with Windows XP and Ubuntu.

I installed ubuntu in dual boot using Wubi : See this tutorial on Install Ubuntu (Linux) Inside Windows Without Formatting Hard-Disk

I had done installation on my HP Pavallion laptop, it worked fine, but not my old desktop.

On my desktop after I enter user id and password at Ubuntu login screen, it will accept username and password, but it will not show the ubuntu desktop after login.

I searched for the reason for this problem on ubuntu forums and found an easy solution. I will share the same with you in this post.

Fix:

Before I tell you the fix lets talk why this problem occurred in the first place. In ubuntu 8.10 CD, there is a Software Problem in  Intel video driver for the older Intel 830 and 845 integrated video cards. My old desktop had Intel 845 card. Because of the graphics driver issue, the desktop was not loading.

The solution is fairly simple, disable these derivers and then restart the computer and ubuntu will load without any problems. It will update the drivers to latest drivers afterwards during online upgrade of Ubuntu.

Follow these simple steps to disable the Intel drivers which stop the Desktop to load properly :

1. After entering the username and password, the screen will go blank with the Mouse Cursor still working. In this condition, press these three keys on keyboard together : Ctrl + Alt + F1 . Pressing these three keys together will load the recovery console. It will ask your password, type the password and press enter.

2. On recovery console type the following commands one by one and press enter.

sudo apt-get remove compiz
sudo apt-get remove compiz-core
exit

While running the above commands, it will ask for your password or confirmation. Proceed with Y for yes and press enter.

3. Restart the computer and Ubuntu 8.10 will load normally.

It worked for me, try it out. Share your comments and suggestions below.

Credit Ubuntu forums.

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