Ubuntu Freeze on install

[zapp]

trying Ubuntu as workaround
got the most up to date iso ver.
successful CD
boot CD in a winxp Pro ill-fated system
boot goes ok
except, when choosing any selection [run with no changes, install, whatever] the Kernel Install claims it goes to 100% but at that point all bets off. system is frozen. no keys functional.

any clues?
thx
z

[Adrynalyne]

What was ill fated about the XP install?

[zapp]

thx for responding.... i despair.
to go back: HP Pavilion dv5117 laptop with factory software. little-used. the owner says they shut lid during a win update. lovely.
thought it would be a quick fix but nothing works.
if you chase the original install, you get endless one file after another "corrupt or missing.... please replace".
so give up and do parallel install.
all parallels fail to boot properly - three of them end in an enternal loop going back to blue 'setup' screen then rebooting.
chkdsk /r required overnight to run. "corrected errors".... so.....

in the interim while these multi-hour affairs are running I download knoppix, ubuntu, and go to geek store to get hardware mounting stuff to set drive as slave to other XP system for fetching files. Odd Toshiba HD mechanical that nothing fits!!! jumper block at end of ide connector pins. odd use of pins period. smart guy at store says "give it up"
great.....

so, the XP installation that demands an Admin password is number 4 including the original. its the only one that actually booted to a GUI and a request to login. but it thinks its a Domain Controller or something.... looking for a pwd. none was ever set.

i'll try a fifth, sixth, seventh parallel I guess . no other hope

Originally Posted by Adrynalyne

What was ill fated about the XP install?

[Adrynalyne]

You have some hardware failure going on there.

I'd do a memtest overnight and see what errors come up.