Problem installing/running Ubuntu/Mint on Toshiba notebook

I've been chatting with someone who's having a problem loading Ubuntu/Mint on a Toshiba notebook. Has anyone had a similar experience?

Here's the details he's given me Toshiba Satellite C655D AMD V120 2.20 GHz 2 GB RAM (1.74 usable) It's currently running 64 bit MS Win7 Home Prem. The symptom appears to be, in his words "The initial color Mint 9 screen shows up. And the countdown clock goes." So based on what he's told me it hangs somewhere in the initial boot process. I know the Image is ok as he's been able to boot the CD on a different machine. I'm trying to get hime to give me the details on the Video card.