Ubuntu/Linux. Need info.

[RedM]

Yep, that's what I had to do on Fedora. I added "compiz-manager" to startup items. That might or might not be the same for you.. whatever you're firing up now is what you'll want to add under sessions -> startup items.

 

Compiz started automatically this morning. I didn't need to do anything to the start-up. Cool desktopification that just works.

[JustGav]

Groovy. You're doing pretty well then

Do you have to build your own init scripts and corresponding config files with Gentoo, or is the end result still a sort of packaged delivery, IYSWIM?

 

To be fair, most of the config's so far have worked out the box, obviously the initial getting up to stage3 is still very much a manual process of fdisk, mkfs and all that. I did have a slight issue with the avahi deamons starting before dbus, but that is because gentoo processes it's runlevels in an alphabetical order, and the original avahi init script didn't include a {depend avahi}, so that was easily fixed.

 

Still using a modified genkernel, I have removed all the modules that I really won't need, and compiled certain things directly into the kernel such as video/audio/ide (The stuff that can't physically change on the laptop)

 

One thing that I did like (in a twisted way), I've been installing various packages as I've gone along, initially I built gnome first, and then install qt3, qt4 and avahi, obviously gnome was not aware of these libraries during the it's initial build, but a simple emerge world, recompiled all the packages that would benefit from having the additional libraries. (Not a clue how long it took, I went to bed at that stage).

 

Admittedly compiling each item is a little tedious, but so far it seems to be going rather well. Compiz-fusion is in the next queue once I sort out the AiGXL stuff.

 

Should really add, that is is not my first usage of gentoo as I use it when I build a linux server for myself... and I've even had it running on an old g3 macintosh

 

To be honest, unless you are a real sucker for punishment I wouldn't recommend the gentoo option unless you really want to tune the nuts out of it, and even then I don't know how much real world performance gains you will get from a completely custom compiled OS. I personally can't see a HUGE improvement compiling from i86 to i686 code, MAYBE it would be different with 64 bit, but then ubuntu already has a 64 bit offering...

[carl0s]

To be fair, most of the config's so far have worked out the box, obviously the initial getting up to stage3 is still very much a manual process of fdisk, mkfs and all that. I did have a slight issue with the avahi deamons starting before dbus, but that is because gentoo processes it's runlevels in an alphabetical order, and the original avahi init script didn't include a {depend avahi}, so that was easily fixed.

 

Still using a modified genkernel, I have removed all the modules that I really won't need, and compiled certain things directly into the kernel such as video/audio/ide (The stuff that can't physically change on the laptop)

 

One thing that I did like (in a twisted way), I've been installing various packages as I've gone along, initially I built gnome first, and then install qt3, qt4 and avahi, obviously gnome was not aware of these libraries during the it's initial build, but a simple emerge world, recompiled all the packages that would benefit from having the additional libraries. (Not a clue how long it took, I went to bed at that stage).

 

Admittedly compiling each item is a little tedious, but so far it seems to be going rather well. Compiz-fusion is in the next queue once I sort out the AiGXL stuff.

 

Should really add, that is is not my first usage of gentoo as I use it when I build a linux server for myself... and I've even had it running on an old g3 macintosh

 

To be honest, unless you are a real sucker for punishment I wouldn't recommend the gentoo option unless you really want to tune the nuts out of it, and even then I don't know how much real world performance gains you will get from a completely custom compiled OS. I personally can't see a HUGE improvement compiling from i86 to i686 code, MAYBE it would be different with 64 bit, but then ubuntu already has a 64 bit offering...

 

I think most (all?) distributions process the init scripts alphabetically, that's why the symlinks are called S20whatever, S30whatever, so that S20 starts before S30, and correspondingly the shutdown symlinks are called K20whatever and K30whatever as well.

 

I'm glad you've got it going. I wonder if the end result will be as polished as something like Ubuntu or Fedora where a lot of work has gone into tieing things in together. That's why I was wondering if the end result was equivilant to a package of sorts, and I suppose it is.

[RedM]

Any ideas on getting DVDs to play? I've installed Mplayer and the restricted formats gubbins and nothing.

 

Tried Regionset but that appears not to do anything!

[carl0s]

Any ideas on getting DVDs to play? I've installed Mplayer and the restricted formats gubbins and nothing.

 

Tried Regionset but that appears not to do anything!

 

I think you need decss intalled.

 

try:

sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2

[JustGav]

Any ideas on getting DVDs to play? I've installed Mplayer and the restricted formats gubbins and nothing.

 

Tried Regionset but that appears not to do anything!

 

Not that far yet on mine, but I assume you have installed things such as libdecss and mpeg2 libraries?

[carl0s]

To be fair, most of the config's so far have worked out the box, obviously the initial getting up to stage3 is still very much a manual process of fdisk, mkfs and all that. I did have a slight issue with the avahi deamons starting before dbus, but that is because gentoo processes it's runlevels in an alphabetical order, and the original avahi init script didn't include a {depend avahi}, so that was easily fixed.

 

Still using a modified genkernel, I have removed all the modules that I really won't need, and compiled certain things directly into the kernel such as video/audio/ide (The stuff that can't physically change on the laptop)

 

One thing that I did like (in a twisted way), I've been installing various packages as I've gone along, initially I built gnome first, and then install qt3, qt4 and avahi, obviously gnome was not aware of these libraries during the it's initial build, but a simple emerge world, recompiled all the packages that would benefit from having the additional libraries. (Not a clue how long it took, I went to bed at that stage).

 

Admittedly compiling each item is a little tedious, but so far it seems to be going rather well. Compiz-fusion is in the next queue once I sort out the AiGXL stuff.

 

Should really add, that is is not my first usage of gentoo as I use it when I build a linux server for myself... and I've even had it running on an old g3 macintosh

 

To be honest, unless you are a real sucker for punishment I wouldn't recommend the gentoo option unless you really want to tune the nuts out of it, and even then I don't know how much real world performance gains you will get from a completely custom compiled OS. I personally can't see a HUGE improvement compiling from i86 to i686 code, MAYBE it would be different with 64 bit, but then ubuntu already has a 64 bit offering...

 

I think most (all?) distributions process the init scripts alphabetically, that's why the symlinks are called S20whatever, S30whatever, so that S20 starts before S30, and correspondingly the shutdown symlinks are called K20whatever and K30whatever as well.

 

I'm glad you've got it going. I wonder if the end result will be as polished as something like Ubuntu or Fedora where a lot of work has gone into tieing things in together. That's why I was wondering if the end result was equivilant to a package of sorts, but I suppose it is.

[JustGav]

I think most (all?) distributions process the init scripts alphabetically, that's why the symlinks are called S20whatever, S30whatever, so that S20 starts before S30, and correspondingly the shutdown symlinks are called K20whatever and K30whatever as well.

 

I'm glad you've got it going. I wonder if the end result will be as polished as something like Ubuntu or Fedora where a lot of work has gone into tieing things in together. That's why I was wondering if the end result was equivilant to a package of sorts, but I suppose it is.

 

Which is why I prefer using depend statements rather than explict 'you will start in this order' approach, as it means you can ensure a certain part is running before activating other modules.

 

The resulting ebuild is in fact a package really, but you just have a tighter control on which aspects and modules are installed, such as qt3/qt4 in my case and I don't have ANY kde libraries or support.

[carl0s]

Which is why I prefer using depend statements rather than explict 'you will start in this order' approach, as it means you can ensure a certain part is running before activating other modules.

 

I see what you mean. It sounds better your way. I can't script/code to save my life though unfortunatley so I'm stuck with how it comes out of the box There are so many languages, and between learning to fly my model helicopter, learning to play the guitar, and keeping abreast of and learning new general computer stuff, I just don't think I have the time (or talent for learning languages?). If I did though, I think I'd maybe think about learning Perl.

[carl0s]

Any ideas on getting DVDs to play? I've installed Mplayer and the restricted formats gubbins and nothing.

 

Tried Regionset but that appears not to do anything!

 

Ubuntu wiki says:

Playing Restricted Formats

 

Follow these steps to play most common multimedia formats, including MP3, DVD, Flash, Quicktime, WMA and WMV, including both standalone files and content embedded in web pages.

Ubuntu 8.04

Synaptic

 

*

 

Go to Applications → Add/Remove...

*

 

Set Show: to All available applications

*

 

Search for ubuntu-restricted-extras and install it. Note that there is also xubuntu-restricted-extras and kubuntu-restricted-extras.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats

 

You might still need to add libdvdcss2 yourself though.. that's the thing that decrypts encrypted commercial DVDs. I don't know if that's included in the ubuntu restricted extras package.

[carl0s]

Which is why I prefer using depend statements rather than explict 'you will start in this order' approach, as it means you can ensure a certain part is running before activating other modules.

 

I remember there being talk of a proper replacement for init which would put an end to the inittab and initscripts and give proper advanced service control. Can't remember much else though.

 

edit: it's upstart .. an Ubuntu thing: http://upstart.ubuntu.com/

[Wez]

I was going to give the latrest xubuntu a go on an old Dell GX260 with nvidia graphics, does the ubuntu releases support nvidia hardware directly or will I need to mess about to get it working.

 

On fedora I use patch the kernel and install nvidia drivers.

[carl0s]

I was going to give the latrest xubuntu a go on an old Dell GX260 with nvidia graphics, does the ubuntu releases support nvidia hardware directly or will I need to mess about to get it working.

 

On fedora I use patch the kernel and install nvidia drivers.

 

It's meant to pop up and give you the option to install the proprietry nvidia driver.

[RedM]

I had to install nvidia drivers. If I can do it then anyone can!

 

I'm still marvelling at compiz!

[RedM]

It's meant to pop up and give you the option to install the proprietry nvidia driver.

 

It didn't on mine!

 

I'm also struggling to get nvidia X server to remember my screen refresh rate. I've sudo'd to now avail and now I've gksudo'd which I hope will work this time.

[Wez]

I will give it a go over the weekend

[Thorin]

Any ideas on getting DVDs to play? I've installed Mplayer and the restricted formats gubbins and nothing.

 

Tried Regionset but that appears not to do anything!

 

https://help.ubuntu.com/8.04/musicvideophotos/C/video.html

[RedM]

https://help.ubuntu.com/8.04/musicvideophotos/C/video.html

 

I've already seen that page and the one carl0s posted but still no DVD!

[RedM]

New question time:

 

Trying to install 8.04 onto my new laptop. I'm getting stuck at the partitioning section.

 

Normally it gives you four options but I'm only getting two. One is to use the whole drive and the other is a manual set-up. I don't fancy losing Vista and I can't work out which partition to put Ubuntu on or how to do so.

 

I have four partitions. One and Four are under 10gb and EISA while Two and Three are both over 110gb. One is the Vista partition, the other is 99% empty. The two small ones must be the manufacturers recover partitions and the like.

 

Assuming then that I should put Ubuntu onto the 99% empty, 110gb+ partition, how do I go about setting it up manually in the Ubuntu install program?

[carl0s]

New question time:

 

Trying to install 8.04 onto my new laptop. I'm getting stuck at the partitioning section.

 

Normally it gives you four options but I'm only getting two. One is to use the whole drive and the other is a manual set-up. I don't fancy losing Vista and I can't work out which partition to put Ubuntu on or how to do so.

 

I have four partitions. One and Four are under 10gb and EISA while Two and Three are both over 110gb. One is the Vista partition, the other is 99% empty. The two small ones must be the manufacturers recover partitions and the like.

 

Assuming then that I should put Ubuntu onto the 99% empty, 110gb+ partition, how do I go about setting it up manually in the Ubuntu install program?

 

As a bare minimum you need to create a root partition of type 83 (linux ext), size as much as you can/want, and a swap partition of type 82 (linux swap) at least equal to the amount of RAM you have. Probably worth going for 2x the amount of RAM you have.

 

Not sure if Ubuntu requires a separate boot partition.

 

The boot/root one will most certainly need to be a primary partition.

 

In fact, it's just occurred to me that this might be why you're having problems.. You can only have four primary partitions, further to that you have to create a logical partitions within an extended partition (which would be in place of one of the four primary partitions.)

 

I suggest you remove that spare 110gb partition and restart the installer to see if it gives you the auto option that you're more comfortable with.

[carl0s]

You can delete the spare 110gb partition through Vista's Computer Management if you're more comfortable with that. On most laptops it's the D: drive and labeled as Backup so that you can stick your data on that before you use the manufacturers recovery utility which restores/wipes the C: drive.

[Konrad]

Use Mandriva 2008 Spring disc to create partitions, I found Ubuntu slightly stubborn, Mandriba is using different partitioner, which is doing ext2, ext3 and swap partitions alone. It also recognize all Windows partitons and allow you to choose one of them to put linux onto. Did you try to use Kaffeine to watch DVD's? DVD works perfectly on mine (just watching some random Reebok workout disc )

Generally I prefer Ubuntu as this one found my 3COM wireless card and made it work without any hassle. My laptop is quite old Sony Vaio with 2.8Ghz Celeron, 512 RAM and some sad ATI graphic card.

[Conrad]

Every two years or so I get this unfathomable urge to try Linux again. Every time I get to bed late, have terrible hassles, get headaches, curse and end up re formatting and going back to Windows. I liken it to a cheap single turbo conversion. The ads read well, the product looks different and shiny, and the performance gains promised are awesome. In reality the thing takes over an unhealthy amount of your time and life, it DOESN'T work properly, you have to search for missing stuff, patch things up, and work around umpteen "gotchas" you are never forewarned of. You wonder why you bothered, and you wish you could magic the wasted time and money back IMHO Bill Gates is very wealthy for a good reason. He created a product that, to the layman, works, has worldwide support, and doesn't expect you to learn a new and totally arcane language, and mix with people of dubious sanity who live for "free software" (that basically is full of bugs and should still be called experimental) I'll probably be back in another 2 years though, just unable to resist seeing if Linux is any nearer being polished product that works on 99% of PC's without recourse to hours of blood and toil.

 

Phew, glad you posted your comments up Chris.

 

I'm in the process of building my first PC (a HTPC). I've been reading this thread for the last half hour and I was starting to feel Linux was the way forward, afterall it's 'free'!.

 

My only concern is I'm nowhere near as PC smart as the guys posting on this thread. Think I'm sticking with my original choice of OS - XP Pro...

[RedM]

You can delete the spare 110gb partition through Vista's Computer Management if you're more comfortable with that. On most laptops it's the D: drive and labeled as Backup so that you can stick your data on that before you use the manufacturers recovery utility which restores/wipes the C: drive.

 

Let me see if I've got this.

 

I delete the partition in Vista. Start the Ubuntu install process and it will see that ex-partition as 'free space'. Is that correct?

 

If so then I just use that and away it goes.

 

Seems easy enough. Is there any way of seeing what's on the two small partitions?

[Konrad]

Let me see if I've got this.

 

I delete the partition in Vista. Start the Ubuntu install process and it will see that ex-partition as 'free space'. Is that correct?

 

If so then I just use that and away it goes.

 

Seems easy enough. Is there any way of seeing what's on the two small partitions?

 

You do not need to delete partition. Just show to partition program, which "disc" you want to format and sacrifice for linux. Partitioner at Mandriva CD see all partitions as a seperate discs, choose proper one and let program do rest of the work. Yes, you will see all stuff on other partitons no problem. If you still struggle, just get Ubuntu manual option, create 1 partition ext2 (here Ubuntu will put all system) and set mount point at " / ". Then set another one ext3, mount point is " /home". Rest of the disc leave as a swap.