It may be slow, but it is encouraging.

Your nomodeset parameter should only affect the entries where you put it.
You will have to add it to each boot entry where you want to use it. If you
don't add it to the 8.10 boot lines then it won't affect 8.10.

As for your graphics driver, I would bet that a newer kernel would improve
things as 9.10 uses an older kernel than 10.04 which I am using. Kernel
upgrades are few once a distribution becomes established. You can get more
upgrades by adding backports to your repositories. see:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuBackports

Did you try to install a driver using Hardware Drivers or Synaptic? Check to
see if xserver-xorg-video-intel is installed. If not, install it.

I am sorry that you have had to go through this. It is not the norm to
experience major problems, but some hardware is problematic for various
reasons. I have long ago deleted the bottom of your message with your model,
but believe it was a Dell. Did you look at this link:
en.community.dell.com/.../consumer-linux.aspx