[NTLUG:Discuss] Ubuntu Install Problems

[Johnny Cybermyth]

I've tried installing Ubuntu(hoary) and am having problems.  This is how 
the install went:
Copy packages off of the CD. All OK.
Then reboot. All OK.
Apt gets configured and packages actually get installed. OK again.
Start X session and your back in Kansas.  Tank.

X starts up and I get a wallpaper and a mouse pointer that will move 
around but doesn't respond to clicks.  Furthermore, nothing will 
respond.  I can't switch to virtual consoles, kill X(ctl-alt-bksp), or 
anything.  The top 8th of the screen where the launch panels are 
supposed to be is black with scrambled pixels.

I rebooted the computer into Ubuntu recovery mode(pressing ESC to get 
the GRUB menu) and the system boots fine.  I looked at the X logs and 
there weren't any glaring errors that I caught, but, I haven't studied 
it too closely yet.  I tried to boot into another runlevel and all three 
that I've tried(2,3,4) start gdm automatically(and I thought it stood 
for Gnome Display manager).

I noticed that my home directory(user account) was completely empty and 
I guess that makes sense because I haven't ever gotten to log in as that 
user.

That is all the time that I had for troubleshooting last night.  I feel 
let down by Ubuntu again.

Has anyone else had this much trouble with either of the releases of Ubuntu?

Any help would be appreciated greatly.