If you are having problems with an big, blurry and ugly Ubuntu logo at startup or shutdown follow these steps to fix the problem, these steps will change the screen resolution to 1280×1024.
First install the v86d package, open a Terminal window (Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal) and copy+paste the following line
sudo apt-get install v86d
Now make some changes to grub, copy+paste the following line in your Terminal window:
gksu gedit /etc/default/grub
Now replace the following line (line number 9):
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”quiet splash”
with this one:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”quiet splash nomodeset video=uvesafb:mode_option=1280×1024-24,mtrr=3,scroll=ywrap”
Then replace the following line (line number 18):
#GRUB_GFXMODE=640×480
with this one:
GRUB_GFXMODE=1280×1024
Now save the file and close it.
In your Terminal window copy+paste the following line:
gksu gedit /etc/initramfs-tools/modules
At the end of the file copy+paste the following line:
uvesafb mode_option=1280×1024-24 mtrr=3 scroll=ywrap
Save the file and close it.
In your Terminal window copy+paste the following lines:
echo FRAMEBUFFER=y | sudo tee /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d/splash
sudo update-grub2
sudo update-initramfs -u
Now your done and you can close the Terminal window and after a reboot the Ubuntu logo will be nice and good looking!!