Ubuntu Installation :: Distro On 2 Computers 4 Different Distros Tried On One Of Them?

I appologize if this has already been posted but there are 1001 pages here and I did do some searching - I'm just soooo tired by this point. This whole linux thing is starting to lose it's luster. I've never used linux before and wouldn't know how do deal wtih command line anything - whether its understanding what the system generates or entering it.

For the last 3 days I've tried to install, first - xubuntu, then openSuSe, then ubuntu desktop on my desktop unit then to run ubuntu netbook live on my laptop with the intent of doing a permanent install (if I could see I would be able to get everything working right by trying live first).

So I follow the instructons given on the ubuntu site, using the universal usb creator - it tells me that the operation was successful or something like that. So I proceed to 'attempt to' boot from usb but I find out my bios (on the laptop) does not support booting from usb (go figure!). So I go get this thing called PLoP, burn the .iso to a cd, put the cd in my drive and the usb inserted in the computer too and I reboot and enter my boot menu, select to boot from the optical device (my cd with PLoP on it) and use PLoP to select and boot from usb. Ubuntu runs for a bit I get past the logo with the status bar under it, then I get all this techo whatchamo spit out at me on the screen. Don't know what it means, just know it means I won't be enjoyin any Ubuntu tonight. Very sad.

I did manage to type in help and hit enter and in the list of commands given I noticed one that I though was interesting. "exit" So I put in exit and hit enter and it spit out a bunch more stuff at me. I only mention this because that is what is in the pictures I've attached. One pictures is before entering "exit" (on the laptop) and the othe after entering "exit" (on the laptop). There is also one that shows the screen from my desktop (after entering "exit"). I tried to run Ubuntu live one last time on it right after my last laptop fiasco; and, if you notice, some of the same information is given between the desktop and laptop. (matching infromation between the machines is after entering "exit" on both machines).

I attached the pictures and specs on my laptop hoping they may be useful. I've done all I know how and I'm just starting to get really tired here. If I wasn't so sick of Windows I'd have probably given up by now. I just can't bring myself to blame Ubuntu though. I am certain that Ubuntu is fine. Its either, first, user error, or somthing with my machine. Just that Ubuntu says the same thing about both machines. Hope someon can help. Sorry for the long post.