It sounds like a driver issue. I am not familiar with model, but Nvidia
drivers can be tricky. The initial installation with the venetian blinds
effect was probably Ubuntu's attempt to install the Nouveau driver which
was not cooperating with your hardware. The second attempt with proprietary
drivers was likely a Compiz issue. It is the window manager for Unity,
Ubuntu's desktop. I would suggest that you test it by opening an Ubuntu 2D
session from the login screen (click on the tine icon to the right of the
password box. Choose Ubuntu 2D. It uses a different window manager. That
works just like Ubuntu (more or less). That should get you working. If it
does not work then it is still the wrong driver.

You *can* change grub to use vesa all of the time by adding a boot
parameter. Grub is just a text file that you can edit with root privileges.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootOptions
www.dedoimedo.com/.../grub-2.html#mozTocId624480

This should solve the problem of having to go into recovery mode.