Ubuntu Server no video after GRUB install prompt

[OBasel]

This one has me totally perplexed.

It happens with EVERY version of Ubuntu (12.04 - 13.10 daily)
System is a Supermicro X9SBAA-F Atom S1260 with ECC memory
It happens both with IPMI video and VGA video
I cannot find any way to get around it

Does anyone have an idea how to fix this? Driving me nuts. I have a system I basically cannot use at this point.

 

[cactus]

This is a non-X install? Can you still SSH to the box? Can you switch to a different shell?(Ctrl-Alt-F(1|2|3|4))

 

[OBasel]

Ubuntu Server LiveCD ISO -> GRUB loader that shows up that starts the installer.