modx-0.9.6.3 installation fails on a blank screen.

Hi all.

I’m attempting to install modx 0.9.6.3 on an ubuntu 8.10 box, with apache 2.2.9, and mysql 14.12.
php is running as a module on the server.

When I initially access my site, I get the page telling me that modx is not installed. I click the "install now" link.
... and then nothing happens.
I get a blank page. The mouse behaves as it would if the page were still loading.
But, the page loads forever.

How can I get to the root of this problem ?

Thanks

update


Looking at other posts, infinite loops can happen at this point of the install problem if there is a problem with the way php is set up to handle sessions.
When sessions are created, files are created in /var/lib/php5.
If I first delete the contents of var/lib/php, and then try again,
then during the time that the page ’hangs’. /var/lib/php5 gets flooded with new files.

Looking closely at the php.ini file, I see interesting notes for the option session.gc_probability:


I use ubuntu - a debian based distro, and have installed php via apt.
So, now I’m thinking that I possibly have a perms problem.

Looking at other posts, infinite loops can happen at this point of the install problem if there is a problem with the way php is set up to handle sessions.

So, I’ll keep digging and see what I can find.