[tlug] Wonky Vid in *buntu

[CL <az.4tlug@example.com>]

PROBLEM:

I am attempting to test a number of live CDs, burned from D/L'ed .iso's 
to see whether there might be a better version of *buntu / Debian-based 
OS to use in a specific machine for a specific purpose only.

When I attempt to run any of these CDs, I can view the start screen but, 
after selecting the "Run live without installing" option, never see more 
than a flashing cursor in the upper LH corner of the screen, even though 
it appears as though the OS is installed to memory.  I suspect a video 
<-> display issue but thought I'd ask whether an alternative load 
instruction might work before doing anything Truly Stupid and wrecking 
something that works, even if it does not work satisfactorily.  There is 
also that Time Waste Factor to consider.

I have Googled extensively and left questions on the *buntu fora but 
either am not seeing a problem anyone else is interested in or may just 
be giving evidence of thinking too much.

BACKGROUND:

My torrent box -- Xubuntu 12.04 amd-64-desktop on an AMD 2-core CPU / 
8Gb memory / Nvidia video + 1Gb of vid ram / several (many) Tb of in-box 
and USB-connected storage --  was running strangely during the most 
recent *buntu broken packages incident and would only upload 
intermittently.

- This led me to D/L live images of a number of "interesting" *buntu 
variants as well as the most recent Debian.

- I have a Blu-ray player but, being the cheapass that I am, do not buy 
the Blu-ray versions of any movies.  The two aging LG multiplatform 
burner / players are both IDE and have been acting up, lately.  I 
decided to replace one with a SATA unit.

- The box is connected to a television via a DVI -> HDMI converter cable 
that works extremely well for playback and torrent instruction giving, 
when my wife is not watching the latest 15-minute morning drama on NHK.

- In addition to the flashing cursor, the entire screen background 
appears to flash between two values of dark gray and almost black 
opposite the cursor (e.g. - when the cursor is white, the background is 
darkest and when the cursor is black, the screen is slightly lighter).