Ubuntu diary

Discussion in 'Computer Science & Culture' started by Syzygys, May 18, 2009.

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  1. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    In this thread I will cronicle my adventures in Linux land.

    After checking out a few videos on Youtube, I am willing to give a try to Ubuntu. I generally don't like to overcomplicate things, so for the first sign of stupidity or impracticality I will abandone the idea and messing with it.

    So far I have been gathering data, what I am supposed to do etc. Since I probably will use Windows programs too, I also have to use Wine. Tonight I just got a new HD on Ebay, and I downloaded Ubuntu and burnt it on a CD. So when the new HD arrives in 3-4 days, the first thing will be trying to install Ubuntu on it.

    Eventually if I like it I will still want to use it as a dual boot, that might complicate the issue and also the computer will have 2 HDs.

    You guys can advise me which OS should go on which HD or both on the master...

    Well, another question: The other computer already has 2 HD, I use one strictly for back ups. Now could I install Ubuntu on this without deleting the backed up data? My undertsanding is that no, I can't...
     
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  3. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    Will it be a horror story ?

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  5. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    It depends on how simple is to use Linux. As I mentioned, I am not really the patient type, so it better be easy....
     
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  7. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    I heard it's as easy as Windows as long as you use the Windows-like interface.
    It's biggest problem is compatibility though.
     
  8. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    Since mostly I want to use it for webbrowsing, Skyping, picture handling, I don't expect too many problems with those...
     
  9. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    Ah I see. Yep, I think you'll be fine

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  10. James R Just this guy, you know? Staff Member

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    Be aware that Wine won't run everything, and it won't run all windows programs in exactly the same way as normal.

    If you're dual-booting, Ubuntu will create a new boot record on the master drive that points to the Ubuntu drive to load the boot loader, which is what gives you the menu asking whether you want to start Linux or Windows. I think this means that you'll want your Ubuntu drive to be the boot drive - you'll need to set your bios to boot from it first.

    It depends. When you say backups, are you saying that you have two independent drives, one of which you just use to store data copied over manually (or with a backup program)? Or are you running the two drives in RAID configuration?

    If its the former, there should be no problem. During the installation of Ubuntu, you'll be given the option to repartition part of the backup drive to make room for Ubuntu, its swap partition and so on. (I'd recommend you create a partition for documents/data etc., separate from the main Ubuntu OS partition). It will resize your existing windows (NTFS) partition to make the required room. Be very careful that you know what you're doing, though, or you risk losing your existing backup partition. I suggest backing up the backup before you start (or be willing to lose it, since it's only a backup of your Windows drive anyway, and that drive should stay essentially unaltered).

    If you're running a RAID system, things are much more complicated. (I'm no expert on RAID.)
     
  11. Repo Man Valued Senior Member

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  12. brokenpower Registered Senior Member

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    Ubuntu is fantastic.

    I run all 3 of the OS platforms, and i would have to say that minus the gaming aspect Ubuntu is the easiest hassle free OS i have used.

    Ubuntu has a lot better compatibility with computer hardware and peripherals... so you shouldn't have any problems there.

    Also, Wine is constantly being updated and added on... so if one of your usual windows programs doesn't work, there may be an add-on listed in the many support pages that Ubuntu offers.

    Pictures, videos and music couldn't be easier to navigate, organize and alter with Ubuntu.

    I hope you enjoy it. I am not a Linux fanboy... i have actually only recently gotten into the world of Linux being a windows guy myself.
     
  13. lixluke Refined Reinvention Valued Senior Member

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    I never never really figured out the Linux file system. Good luck with Ubuntu.

    If you have 2 hard drives you can install the OS in one, and install a filesystem on the 2nd one that is used for filestorage.

    On the first hard drive, zero it out, and install Ubuntu.

    On the 2nd hard drive, zero it out, and format it (install a filesystem on it). I use NTFS because it is recognized by Windows. Hopefully Ubuntu will recogniz it, and be able to read/write onto it.

    So the first hard drive is where you will install your OS and applications. Your second hard drive is where you will install a filesystem recognized by your OS so that you may use it for file storage.
     
  14. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    On ebay I found still pretty good machines preinstalled with linux around a hundred bucks. Now I am entertaining the idea just to buy one of those to tinker and experience with...

    Last night one went for $110 and there are more lined up currently for $50 or so...
     
  15. ElectricFetus Sanity going, going, gone Valued Senior Member

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    Boot from cd to makes sure everything works with your system before installing, especially if your installing 9.04 as it just came out and many of the drivers are still buggy for it.

    Despite my attempts I can't like KDE more than Gnome, but your going to at one point or another want to install KDE to run KDE apps, KDE apps will work in gnome after installing it so you don't need to run on the KDE GUI.
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2009
  16. lixluke Refined Reinvention Valued Senior Member

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    I just checked out the latest version of ubuntu. The live CD works great. I was able to navigate the files in my internal hard drive and external USB hard drive.
     
  17. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    One reason I started this journal for those who want to give it a try later on and they can use my experiences as a guide.

    Since I haven't burnt a CD for at least 2 years, I had trouble making the Live CD (That is the bootable CD for Ubuntu) mostly because I just copied the files into the CD instead of burning it as an ISO image!

    So that's when you know you made a good Live CD when the Ubuntu logo shows up on your CD drive. Finally this morning I made a good copy, so I am going to run it in demo mode and see what's going on. It should be slower (since it is running from the CD) than from the HD, but still should be fully functional.

    What I am curious about is if the internet speed is going to increase, specially on the old computer where currently it is between 3-5 Mb/s...
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2009
  18. ElectricFetus Sanity going, going, gone Valued Senior Member

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    Yeah they really compress those CD to unstable land, why they haven't thought of making DVD iso is beyond me.

    ¿que?
     
  19. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    The HD has been used for 7 years on the old computer and full of junk. Since it doesn't want to crash, I am going to reinstall the original OS (XP) and might add Ubuntu.

    Now right now I am having trouble booting from the CD, because XP keeps starting, although I did change the bootsequence...I am downloading an extra CD boot helper, it is pretty slow. (I tried 2 desktops, same results)

    It looks like I could actually load Ubuntu as just one application without extra partitioning the HD.

    Edit: It takes 6 mins to install a simple CD boot helper? Looks slow to me. I am not sure why it didn't boot directly after restarting the computer...

    Edit2: Alright, that helper did the job, Ubuntu is running!
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2009
  20. ElectricFetus Sanity going, going, gone Valued Senior Member

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    yes that very strange, you sure you did not set your bios to boot from CD?
     
  21. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    Well, websites seem to load faster then with XP, but I am having trouble with the speedtest because now I have to install flash player. I did that, but I am not sure if I have to restart the computer, also since Ubuntu is running from the CD, the flasplayer was installed on the HD, so that might still not work properly...

    I did set the bios to boot from CD, because I was told to do so originally.

    I got a speed measurement on a different site (1.7 Mb/s) but the problem is that every site measures different speeds, so for a good comparison, I am trying to use the same speadtest.net

    Youtube videos also don't play without the flash player....
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2009
  22. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    I am tinkering with the applications and preinstalled (puzzle) games. So far it seems nice and pleasant. As long as the required plug-ins and players gonna be easy to install, I think people with enough HD space should have this as a nice addition for the PC experience.

    Now I am going to try to download a more complicated linux game and see how that works...
     
  23. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    I was right. Suddenly the flashplayer started to work ( I think the browser needed to be closed and reopened) and speedtest.net is measuring now 11 Mb/s as compared to XP's max. 5 Mb/s.

    Now I am sure once I reinstall XP the speed in Windows is going to improve a lot too, but running Ubuntu from a CD 11 Mb/s is pretty impressive and pretty much at the high end of the provider's promised speed.
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2009
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