Posted this on the ubuntu forums, but thought I might get more help here:

Tried to install ubuntu 8 on an old Dell Dimension last year. Wouldn't work and just went to a blank screen after the initial boot process. Installed opensuse, which worked fine, but I don't particularly like it. I decided to try ubuntu again after good experiences with Netbook Remix.

Anyway, installed 9.1 and it worked a treat. Until last week when it was updated and now it won't boot. It does all the preliminary bit, then the white circle type symbol, then you get a flashing dash in the top left hand corner, then the screen just goes blank and stays blank.

I can get into recovery mode and have tried a few things I've found on the web, but nothing seems to work.

in recovery mode try
sudo update-manager -d

and see if the system will update and repair …

Now it won't even go to recovery mode. Just boots straight up without giving me the option.

I'd help but I only know SUSE I'm afraid

Sorry

No problem, cheers anyway!

looks like a reinstall maybe an option …

thinking that myself. Not a massive issue as I haven't yet used it for anything, so won't be losing any information. Does have me a bit worried that it'll happen again though, as I hadn't done anything other than install Google Chrome and run the suggested system updates.

You can always install the file system and the /home folder onto different partitions to prevent data loss in the event of a re-installation.

Won't even switch on now!

sounds like the system has bigger problems then the installed OS …

That's what I was thinking but I'm glad someone else said it first.

Sounds like it doesn't it? Weird for a computer to just stop working. Well not for a PC, I guess. Reinstalled on another machine I had lying around, so it's all okay now. (Although the new machine needs more RAM and a better graphics card.)