Live CD install does not agree with my hardware video ATI

[smiley_lauf]

Hi Mint Users,
I am newcomer to mint; just downloaded mint 5 Ely and burned iso and checked mdsum--all ok. start the live cd and boot splash loads fine, until it gets to load the desktop=at this point the screen goes blank, intense white flashing, all pixels light up, glows, then blackens; strange thing is the sound loads (bootup sound); I am suspecting that live cd is unable to load x-server appropriately for my ati card (Specs: HP compaq nw8240 notebook, 15.4" WUXGA, ATI firegl, 1920x1200 res).

I am using Ubuntu 8.04 perfectly: no issues with live cd, screen is auto-sensed using bullet-proofX, and correct resolution loaded; ati graphics drivers loaded once successfully into GUI desktop.

What do I do to make live cd boot up, and pick my graphics cards just as in Ubuntu 8.04? Boot parameters i.e. VESA settings, etc.
Thanks
S
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Registered Ubuntu user; registered linux user

[Husse]

Have you tried compatibility mode?
If not you might not have found it
At boot when the time counts down press any key and the rest is self explanatory

[smiley_lauf]

Have you tried compatibility mode?
If not you might not have found it
At boot when the time counts down press any key and the rest is self explanatory

I have tried compat mode [pressed F6]; terminal activity came on; till it went to terminal login at prompt "mint@mint $"; I even forced xserver to start, startx, but gave me "fatal error" message. I know about this error, it has happened to me inall RPM based live cd that use Peter Arvin's boot process.
Ubuntu does not use the same boot process.

tx,
S

[Husse]

You came to a terminal - not a busy box?