I've installed the latest version of Ubuntu and it says "no screens found" and fails to load the GUI.

My first attempt with a non windows OS, help would be appreciated.

My guess is you have nothing but console, dont use ubuntu but you should be able to use the mouse in the console. Anyhow this is what i would say.

First login
#sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf
#ctrl+w (type in screen)
look at the resolution under 24 make sure it matches your monitor.
#ctrl+w device go until to you get something that looks like its for video (no input device)
#switch driver to vesa make sure theres no caps and its in the quotes
#ctrl+x > y > enter
#startx (if it complains about X or gdm issue >)
#sudo killall -9 X (captial X) (then try >)
#startx

(If you know you vertical and horizontal refreshrate)
If that doesnt work again sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf
#ctrl+w monitor
--you should see something like horizontal refreshrate and vertical refreshrates
-make sure there the same for your monitor

1: Login at the console
2: make sure you have lynx or links (console base web browser)
In lynx navigate (sorry if you know how to use these just giving every step in case) To move up and down moves through the page note it only moves through the links not line by line, left goes back, and right goes forward or the the link your on. One Last note at the bottom of the page will be a blue bar it may ask you to accept a cookie go here yes or no etc.
g allows you to input a url
A: g linuxcomptible.org
B: navigate to this thread, then reply
_______
you dont have links/lynx
#sudo apt-get install lynx/links
(biggest difference is lynx has more color)
_______
3: switch to another console alt+Fx, alt+F1 should equal lynx,
4: cd /var/log
5: ls (look for xorg.log something to this effect)
6: nano Xorg.0.log(or whatever) now with the mouse highlight the log youll have to page down it will probaly be pretty long.
7: alt+f1 in the reply box hit either the scroll wheel button or the right button. you made need to do this a couple of times

Your other option is to upload the log file to an website, but it will make diagnosing the problem a lot easier to have the log (something like /var/log/Xorg.0.log and would also be helpful to have /etc/X11/xorg.conf)

if someone can explain this better that would be helpful.

Thanks! Changing it to vesa has solved my problem!