Comment 10 for bug 562565

I think I found a solution in https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/plymouth/+bug/551013

Don't use "GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep" and instead use v86d module:

aptitude install v86d

edit /etc/default/grub and add after word "splash" in the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT line: video=uvesafb:mode_option=<desired resolution>-32,mtrr=3,scroll=ywrap

My whole line is:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash video=uvesafb:mode_option=1280x1024-32,mtrr=3,scroll=ywrap"

sudo update-grub

I've rebooted dozens of times with this and no longer have X fail.

You may have to experiment with size .. I tried 1680x1050 and system failed to complete boot. But 1280x1024 is still better than default, and now boot splash is readable again.

hth