On laptop: splash screen doesnt come up, so I cant install Ubuntu

[Whamsterdamian]

So I have an old laptop I dont have all the specs but as far as I remember I accessed the boot menu before and installed Ubuntu on it before. I would like to do that again and have the bootable pendrive ready its just when I turn the laptop on I only get a blackscreen until I get to the desktop.
Ive seen similar threads that have solved the problem by removing and reinserting the cmos battery. But given my case is a laptop I dont trust myself to open it up.

CPU/APU: Intel Pentium Dual CPU T3200 2.00GHz 997MHz
RAM: 1.93 GB
Operating System: Windows XP Proffesional SP3

Thanks in advance.

 

[basroil]

when you restart just start spamming del, esc, f2, f9-12 and something might work

 

[Whamsterdamian]

Yes, I forgot to mention I did that and it seems to enter the bios or boot menu, problem is it stays a black screen. Meaning it got there because it doesnt proceed to the desktop, but there is no display.
Now I read somewhere that this could have something to do with a conflict between the graphics card and the internal grahics, some priority problem with the display, which can be solved entering the bios. XD But im pretty sure this laptop doesnt have a graphics card.

Also if you know of any alternative to installing ubuntu that would be great. You used to be able to install directly from the desktop on windows right?

Thanks for answering.