The Ubuntu plunge

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Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 5:32 pm

Finally did it - downloaded ISO image of Linux Ubuntu 7.04 "Feisty Fawn", burned disc, installed OS as dual-boot with XP, and . . . warm, fuzzy feeling! Next, checked for updates and was offered upgrade to 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon", which I promptly installed . . . manic, monkey-ish feeling! After a period of just looking at it in slack-jawed admiration, I decided to DO something with it. Hence this post, brought to you thru Firefox 2.0.0.8 running on Ubuntu 7.10.

Works for me! Very Happy

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 6:03 pm

Dual booting makes sense for noobs. I did that to start with and then found out how to configure Ubuntu to do all the things I needed. The forum @ ubuntuforums.org is very good if you get into problems.

After a while you may find that you no longer need Microsoft's products at all!

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 6:25 pm

You might also want to install the kubuntu-desktop package and give KDE a whirl (you can select it from the "Session Type" menu when you log in once it's installed).

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 713

I did the same last week... enjoying it so far.. except that I can't get our wireless networking to operate at all.

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 593

Aggg: google ndiswrapper - should help you out, although it can be quite technical getting it sorted, but its worth it.

Ginch: if you haven't already, do a "sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager" once ur running gutsy, then
System->Prefs->Advance System Effects. Have fun Very Happy

Baiting Guru Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 3193

Gnome is pretty good, and it's further from MS land than KDE, but the KDE printing stuff beats it into a cocked hat. If you get any annoyancies from that quarter I believe the package you want is "kprinter". It runs under Gnome, no problem.

Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 2:42 am

Wireless not working can be caused by any number of things; not just a driver problem. And I would recommend you don't use ndiswrapper unless you have no other choice. Linux wifi drivers are better and are much more prevalent than they were a few years ago.

If you post what wifi chipset you have and what the symptoms of the problem are, I am confident it can be fixed.

Gnome is a modular desktop while KDE is an integrated desktop. KDE is easier to use and is close to windoz for the noob in transition. They have a setup wizard for just about everything you want to setup. Any KDE program will work in Gnome as long as you have the QT package installed with the correct libraries. Once you are comfortable, you can switch to Windowmaker, Enlightenment, Blackbox as a window manager. They are much smaller memory hogs. Enlightenment is 100% customizable. You can make it look exactly like you want and make it work exactly the way you want. I use windowmaker for normal use and KDE for admin work.

Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 5:13 am

@Ginch - I'm sure that the more you play with Ubuntu the more you will come to love it. As a desktop it is quite stable - I use my Windows box less and less these days as Ubuntu does almost everything I need.

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 713

Well, I've struggled to understand the relevant ubuntu forums and have concluded that my chipset isn't supported - so probably time to get a new usb stick.

it is a ZyDAS 802.11b WiFi 0ace:1201

Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 6:08 pm

http://linux-lc100020.sourceforge.net/

Google is your friend as well as mine.

Also check the manufacturer of the adapter as well.

Ask if you don't understand what they are saying. It does say that the 2.6.12 kernel has the drivers built in so if you want to install the newer kernel it will work automagically. If you already have that kernel installed, you may need to load the driver at boot.

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 713

Yeah I tried that - downloaded the drivers etc. Still can't get it to work.

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 11:24 pm

aggg wrote:

it is a ZyDAS 802.11b WiFi 0ace:1201

Mine ID's as a ZyDAS 0x1211 and it started working after I installed a bunch of misc wireless stuff Including the ZD1211 firmware package.

This was actually to get the internal RTL8185 wireless working. But since it didn't, and I got my usb stick working, I claimed a victory and moved on. Rolling Eyes

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 3:26 am

Did you try
"insmod {driver name}" as root?
(some distros use "modprobe {driver name}" some may have both available. I believe that modprobe is the newer usage.
The module must be located in the modules/kernel/drivers/net/wireless directory.)

This will insert the wireless drivers into the kernel and run them during booting.

Also at a root terminal run "lsmod" which will list all the drivers and modules running. If you don't see the driver you think should be running, it isn't and you should insert it with the above command and run "lsmod" again. If it is there, you should have access. If not, try to restart the wifi with (as root)

ifdown eth0
ifup eth0
/etc/init.d/network restart

Assuming your wifi network is using 'eth0'. It may be 'eth1' as well. Run "iwconfig" as root to list all your wireless network connections to find out what is assigned to what.