Comment 98 for bug 477169

Mark ...
I am sorry if I sounded ungrateful in my last post ... I am not... in fact your clearly evident expertise is appreciated more than you can know! Gives me some hope the issue is solvable. The frustrating bit is ... I know you know how to solve this ... but I can't work it out from your solutions ... (everything to to with my lack of any unix experience , I am sure!) .I just don't know how to start (no usb stick) .

sh:grub >linux /vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=/dev/sda5 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro single
sh:grub> initrd /initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
sh:grub> boot

This sequence sends a load of stuff rushing past the screen then it suddenly stops and hangs with the caps lock and numlock lights flashing . The only thing I can do at that point is to switch off the laptop and start up again .
Thanks once again for your patience