Try booting with the vesafb.anything=1 kernel parameter. This wiki page has details about how to add a kernel boot parameter for testing:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/KernelBootParameters ** Changed in: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau (Ubuntu) Status: New => Incomplete ** Also affects: linux (Ubuntu) Importance: Undecided Status: New -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/713781 Title: [natty] Video corruption on kernel 2.6.38-1-generic and nVidia Corporation GT216 [GeForce GT 230M] (rev a2) -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs