make sure the BIOS is set to boot from the cd drive before the hard drive. Many oems don't set the bios like this by default.

Ok set the BIOS and now I think there is something wrong with the CD. If i try to make it install it just pops up a message saying /casper/vmlinuz then it doesnt do anything. Did i make the cd wrong. I did just check the Hashes and they dont match. Is that my problem how can i fix that?

There is an option, I think, when ubuntu first loads up, to vcheck the CD for errors. If it finds errors, you need to either re-burn it, try a slower burn speed, or your download is corrupted. Since your internet speed isn't the greatest, you can have them send you a free CD-ROM through the mail, but I think it takes a few weeks for it to show up.

Burn a new disk, making sure to have the burn tool verify the burn before completing.

So they've changed it. It used to boot straight into a live installation and then you started the install from a shortcut on the desktop.

I think when it boots up, you can go straight to the install or run the live cd version and install from there. 8.04 had some cool updates for the installer, like verify the cd. Its more gui based too, than 6 and 7 where.

This is the MD5SUM for the iso you downloaded.
c69e34e92d5402d1b87e6babc739f774 *ubuntu-8.04.1-desktop-i386.iso

If you boot from the CD and use the terminal to run:
# md5sum ubuntu-8.04.1-desktop-i386.iso
c69e34e92d5402d1b87e6babc739f774 ubuntu-8.04.1-desktop-i386.iso
#

The results should match with what I've posted.

ok when i do an md5sum check it gives this number
329759D76672C27A7C815AE6B5FF5EFC
Does that mean the install onto my HD is wrong?

double post

No, it means the download got corrupted. You need to re-download, and re-burn.

Crap. ok thanks i will try that.

By the way, it's a GOOD idea to make sure all your hardware is supported before jumping into things like this. It can save lots of headaches. Ask me how I know...

usb wifi sucks

get ethernet wifi bridge if you really need external wifi
it's basically a box with wifi crap in it
that plugs in your wired network card

and no driver required (other then for your wired network card that is)

Ok the download went good this time. Now time to burn the cd.
the usb will be ok in this case because he just wants the comp for basic web browsing.

my beef with usb wifi , is that they cut out, don't have good antennas, low power and in my experience are a hit and miss ... half the time you boot up, the thing works, cut's out... pull it out, back in ... won't connect... reboot again...repeat

had it with different brands, on different pc's

Hmm. Guess time will tell. Signal shouldnt be an issue. Most of the use will be from his recliner about 15ft from the router

i hope it works for yours... my router was 9 feet away with clear line of sight

What brand of stuff was this?

Ok how long should that install take? I just ran it and it ran the little bar across the screen and then brought up the bird ubuntu background and then set there with just that on the screen and the cd driving running for a while and then the screen went black and it kept running the drive for about 30mins so i finally shut it off and turned back on and rebooted via hardrive and it is still running windows. i did the check disk thing on the disk itself and it said it was good