Ubuntu/Xubuntu 15.10 do not boot succcessfully on Inspiron 1012

[d-d-2]

I have run into major system freezes and other problems booting Ubuntu/Xubuntu 15.10 on my laptop (Inspiron 1012).

Xubuntu 15.04 works fine on this laptop. Xubuntu/Ubuntu 15.10 have issues when installed directly on this laptop.
Ubuntu 15.10 works fine on my other computer, an Inspiron 518 desktop w/ AMD graphics, (using the same hard drive) but the OS has issues when the hard drive is transplanted to this computer.
---
Specific experiences below.

I'll start by describing my experience with Xubuntu 15.10:

~What works with Xubuntu 15.10:

* First boot works fine. (However, As soon as I reboot, the systemd option gets stuck before the boot screen.)

* "Upstart" boot option in advanced options in GRUB sort of works, after updating packages. (but I can't join a wifi network after boot, and I get strange systemd-related or inadequate permissions errors when doing certain things, including joining a wifi network or trying to mount partitions.)

* Recovery mode lets me drop to command line, but other actions result in a freeze.

~What doesn't work with Xubuntu 15.10:

* default "systemd" boot option (freezes up before login screen. Strange errors. Ctrl+Alt+Del does nothing at this point. Ctrl+Alt+PrntScr + R - E - I - S - U - B does nothing. I have to press and hold power button to get out of the frozen/bugged boot sequence) (applies to second boot and onwards)

* recovery mode (boots successfully into the recover screen. Trying to activate networking results in strange errors, and an unescapable system freeze. trying to do an fsck results in an unescapable system freeze. Pressing "resume" to continue booting results in errors and a freeze.)

---

My experience with Ubuntu 15.10 is different. I got issues even without updating my packages.

~What works/fails with Ubuntu 15.10 (after installing on Inspiron 518 desktop w/ AMD graphics, then transplanting hard-drive to Inspiron 1012 laptop):

* either systemd or upstart session gets to the login screen, plays the "bongos" startup sound... then system immediately freezes and has to be shut down via holding the power button.

* "recovery mode" allows drop to command line (anything else results in a freeze.)

~What doesn't work with Ubuntu 15.10 (after using the net installer on Inspiron 1012 laptop) :

* systemd or upstart session freeze before any GUI shows up

* recovery mode allows drop to command line, but everything else causes freezes.

Very hard for me to know what the exact issue is. But I wanted to report this major boot issue, so there is some chance of finding the cause and fixing it. I am able to do further troubleshooting if asked.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 15.04
Package: ubuntu-release-upgrader-core 1:15.04.14.3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.19.0-33.38-generic 3.19.8-ckt7
Uname: Linux 3.19.0-33-generic i686
ApportVersion: 2.17.2-0ubuntu1.7
Architecture: i386
CrashDB: ubuntu
CurrentDesktop: XFCE
Date: Sat Nov 14 16:12:48 2015
InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-11-14 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 15.04 "Vivid Vervet" - Release i386 (20150422.1)
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: ubuntu-release-upgrader
Symptom: release-upgrade
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[d-d-2 (dandromb)]

I was doing some other tests to rule out certain causes; This issue does not occur, same machine, using Linux Mint Rosa (Cinnamon). I tested with these two kernel versions: 3.19.0-32; 4.2.0-18
Both work fine.
Since 4.2.0-18 is the kernel I used with Ubuntu and Xubuntu (pretty sure), this looks like it is not a kernel bug.

[d-d-2 (dandromb)]

Still affects me (same machine) trying to run Ubuntu 16.04 and other flavors.

Neither 64-bit nor 32-bit versions of the OS work.