First of all I am completely new to Linux, so if you respond, please do so in a 'linux for dummies' tone so that my brain will be able to process it.

I recently installed ubuntu on my dell mini-inspiron 1010. It has one GB of ram and an intel atom processor that uses the intel 500 graphic accelerator driver for windows and can run 1024x768 comfortably in xp. When I was installing ubuntu had quite a bit of trouble with my display and I am still unable to adjust my settings from 800x600x0x0 and there is no hardware acceleration.

I visited the intel site and installed the linux drivers with the help of a friend but still no change. I tried adding resolution settings through xconf but they could not be applied even after I added the values.

I am probably going about this totally wrong, but I've spent quite a lot of time browsing through forums and still haven't found a solution. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also any other beginner tips that you have would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance, Matt