Laptop refuses to boot

[MR ZenWiz]

On Sun, Sep 6, 2020 at 4:37 PM Karl Auer <kauer at biplane.com.au> wrote:
>
:
> If that doesn't help, it would probably be fastest to re-install Linux
> and restore your partner's data from backup. Or, depending on how badly
> your partner needs the unit, go out and buy a new laptop, put Linux on
> it and restore her files to it. Then you can investigate the old one at
> leisure and with any luck end up with a spare laptop.
>
I'd be thrilled to be able to reinstall Xubuntu.

The laptop will load the DVD (or USB), but nothing ever appears on the
screen after the grub prompt to Try without installing, install, etc.

I haven;t actually tried the install anyway, but I'd like to be able
to rescue the files before I go there.

If I could afford to buy a new laptop, that would be my preferred
option, and never to buy a Dell again.  Not only has this one been
finicky from the start, they're a royal pain to open up for hardware
repairs or disk upgrades.  HP's have been a dream in that regard, at
least the older ones were.  I haven't looked too closely at the newer
ones.

Thanks.  I'll keep plugging away with what I can.  I did try disabling
the secure boot, which did not ameliorate the problem.  I also was
able to burn a new GPartEd CD and boot with it, though the laptop
complained all the way about non-secure files (this was before I
disabled the ssecure boot).

Not a happy camper right now.

Thanks.

Mark