Ubuntu for dummies:

maybe some of the community fund should be used to have a 'class' now and then where all you linux chaps can actually show us the ins and outs of linux? Just an idea ........
 
DJK said:
Fsck free, I'll pay for something that works instead.

Sorry guys - not getting at you. Just a little pissed at the fact that I want to change and am prepared to give Linux a shot, but not if I have to have an intimate IT knowledge to do so...
Click to expand...

That's why you have enterprise linux ;)

Pay for a pre-installed box and you get support with it.
 
Okay, so I am giving Kubuntu a shot now, in fact I am posting from Konqueror in Kubuntu, but I need someone to give me a quick guide as to how to use Adept Package Manager so I can install some stuff. I downloaded Firefox and extracted it to home using Ark, but I have no idea how to tell Adept where to find the package now so it can install it. Adept finds a whole bunch of stuff to update and install but it seems thats all online.

In fact I installed FF3 when I couldnt figure it out from the net using Adept but I have no idea where it installed to or how to launch FF now?
 
So I have been playing around with it a bit and I reckon I was a bit harsh at first. It isnt all that bad. But I do have a few issues:

  • No sound, yet there was sound the first time.
  • No mp3 playback
  • No video codecs
  • Vista picks up 3 bars wireless signal yet at the same location Kubuntu picks up nothing - it works if I am closer it just doesnt seem to be very sensitive.
  • I have no idea how to install programs still or where they go once they are installed :confused:
  • EDIT: New issue now it tells me that the APT database cannot be opened so I cant change anything pretty much. Says this might be due to incorrect configuration, yet I changed nothing that I know of. It says I should run apt-setup and apt-get update in terminal to see if it resolves the issue but apt-setup says the command is not found and apt-get update says: E: Type '/home/*****/firefox/' is not known on line 63 in source list /etc/apt/sources.list

But it does look promising and a viable alternative. Its just a pity it doesnt support ASIO or VST, otherwise I might consider it for my studio pcs as well. But I understand this to be an issue with MS and Steinberg and not Linux itself.

On the plus side, it seems to be slick and quick - no hangs, no "not responding" rubbish and things like bluetooth and other peripherals just seemed to work without any issues.
 
Last edited:
DJK said:
Okay, so I am giving Kubuntu a shot now, in fact I am posting from Konqueror in Kubuntu, but I need someone to give me a quick guide as to how to use Adept Package Manager so I can install some stuff. I downloaded Firefox and extracted it to home using Ark, but I have no idea how to tell Adept where to find the package now so it can install it. Adept finds a whole bunch of stuff to update and install but it seems thats all online.

In fact I installed FF3 when I couldnt figure it out from the net using Adept but I have no idea where it installed to or how to launch FF now?
Click to expand...

Step 1: Read this, and forget all the windows stuff you know.

Step 2: You don't need to go and find anything or download anything - adept / synaptic does all of that for you. To install FF3 : open adept, type firefox in the search box, then click install on the result you want. There will then be a FF3 icon and link under the Internet section of your menu*.

It's that easy and, to me, much simpler than going to some website looking for the app I want, downloading, installing etc etc. You're just used to doing it a different way.


*Sorry I can't be more specific - not sitting in front of a linux 'puter at the moment.
 
DJK said:
So I have been playing around with it a bit and I reckon I was a bit harsh at first. It isnt all that bad. But I do have a few issues:

  • No sound, yet there was sound the first time.
  • No mp3 playback
  • No video codecs
  • Vista picks up 3 bars wireless signal yet at the same location Kubuntu picks up nothing - it works if I am closer it just doesnt seem to be very sensitive.
  • I have no idea how to install programs still or where they go once they are installed :confused:
  • EDIT: New issue now it tells me that the APT database cannot be opened so I cant change anything pretty much. Says this might be due to incorrect configuration, yet I changed nothing that I know of. It says I should run apt-setup and apt-get update in terminal to see if it resolves the issue but apt-setup says the command is not found and apt-get update says: E: Type '/home/*****/firefox/' is not known on line 63 in source list /etc/apt/sources.list

But it does look promising and a viable alternative. Its just a pity it doesnt support ASIO or VST, otherwise I might consider it for my studio pcs as well. But I understand this to be an issue with MS and Steinberg and not Linux itself.

On the plus side, it seems to be slick and quick - no hangs, no "not responding" rubbish and things like bluetooth and other peripherals just seemed to work without any issues.
Click to expand...


I think you have "old school" in mind, or non-Debian thoughts (or non-Suse, etc) for that matter. As mentioned above, You can do all your installs with Adept/Synaptic package managers.
After downloading/installing (your downloads are cached until a newer available version is detected, this is in /vat/cache/apt/...), you will be able to open it from the start menu->Internet->Firefox, etc.

For sound, look for an ALSA driver. My sound worked out of the box.
Video codecs- this is usually to do with proprietary software (the idea behind Linux is complete-opensourceness). Go to Adept and install "ffmpeg".
For mp3 playback, if you try to play an mp3 from Amarok, it will say you don't have the drivers and offers to download and install the drivers for you (via an automated adept-installer).
My wireless in Ubuntu works exactly like it did in Vista/XP. No difference for me there.
You don't run programs from the filesystem itself, go to the menu (mentioned above).
If you can't open/install at Adept, you might already have it open (it works on a Singleton framework, thus multiples are read-only). Maybe you are busy with an install atm? If it still does not work, go to your process monitor (System Monitor in Ubuntu) and look for adept. Kill it if need be. (right-click, send signal, sigkill).
If you do a "sudo apt-get update", it should say the following:
root@*********:~# apt-get update
Hit http://za.archive.ubuntu.com hardy Release.gpg
****************8
Ign http://za.archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/multiverse Packages
Hit http://za.archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/multiverse Sources
Reading package lists... Done

It downloads the newest list of available downloads.
Running sudo "apt-get upgrade" does this:
root@********:~# apt-get upgrade
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.

This says that there are no updates available (for installed programs/drivers, etc).
 
I also use VLC. It installs ffmpeg anyways, if I am not mistaken.
Amarok does not have mp3 compatability by default.
 
froot said:
Amarok does not have mp3 compatability by default.
Click to expand...

No, but with all recent versions of k/ubuntu, when I've tried to play an mp3 it has popped up a warning that I don't have the codec, and asked whether I want to install it.
 
Thanks guys - as I said though I cant use the add/remove function because it tells me:

the APT database cannot be opened. Says this might be due to incorrect configuration, yet I changed nothing that I know of. It says I should run apt-setup and apt-get update in terminal to see if it resolves the issue but apt-setup says the command is not found and apt-get update says: E: Type '/home/*****/firefox/' is not known on line 63 in source list /etc/apt/sources.list

Anyone know what to do for this issue?
 
DJK said:
Thanks guys - as I said though I cant use the add/remove function because it tells me:

the APT database cannot be opened. Says this might be due to incorrect configuration, yet I changed nothing that I know of. It says I should run apt-setup and apt-get update in terminal to see if it resolves the issue but apt-setup says the command is not found and apt-get update says: E: Type '/home/*****/firefox/' is not known on line 63 in source list /etc/apt/sources.list

Anyone know what to do for this issue?
Click to expand...

Okay - explaining this using the command line because I don't have kde here and the command line will be consistent:

at the prompt type:
sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list​
then enter your password when prompted.

This will allow you to edit your sources list as the superuser. Scroll down to line 63 that will say something about /home/*****/firefox/ - comment out that line (so that it is not read) by putting a # at the beginning of the line.

Press Ctrl-X to exit, and Y to save when prompted.

Open Adept, and click on the icon that says update repositories (or something similar).

PM me if you're stuck.
 
Thanks Chiskop. But when I type in that command, I just get the following:

# deb cdrom:[Kubuntu 8.04.1 _Hardy Heron_ - Release i386 (20080701.2)]/ hardy m$
# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.

deb http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy main restricted
deb-src http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy main restricted

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates main restricted
deb-src http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates main restricted

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## universe WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu security
## team.
deb http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy universe
deb-src http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy universe
[ Read 63 lines ]
^G Get Help ^O WriteOut ^R Read File ^Y Prev Page ^K Cut Text ^C Cur Pos
^X Exit ^J Justify ^W Where Is ^V Next Page ^U UnCut Text^T To Spell
Click to expand...

Not sure what to do from here. I am posting it here instead of a PM so other users can benefit moving forward as well if they have issues. ;)
 
I use ubuntu not kubuntu so cant really help you but under system preferences I can launch "software sources" and configure my sources there with a GUI, not sure if kubuntu has this.
 
Try this one.

#
# deb cdrom:[Kubuntu 8.04 _Hardy Heron_ - Release amd64 (20080422.1)]/ hardy main restricted
# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.

deb http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy main restricted
deb-src http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy main restricted

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates main restricted
deb-src http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates main restricted

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## universe WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu security
## team.
deb http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy universe
deb-src http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy universe
deb http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates universe
deb-src http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates universe

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu
## security team.
deb http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy multiverse
deb-src http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy multiverse
deb http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates multiverse
deb-src http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates multiverse

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'backports'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
# deb http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
# deb-src http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-backports main restricted universe multiverse

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from Canonical's
## 'partner' repository. This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is
## offered by Canonical and the respective vendors as a service to Ubuntu
## users.
# deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu hardy partner
# deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu hardy partner
 
Yep - but that doesn't look like the whole file. Is there a line anywhere there that says anything about /home/<your name>/firefox ? (Arrow keys to scroll up/down)
 
d0b33 said:
I use ubuntu not kubuntu so cant really help you but under system preferences I can launch "software sources" and configure my sources there with a GUI, not sure if kubuntu has this.
Click to expand...

I cant find that. I dont have system preferences, I have system settings and nothing resembling software sources in that menu...
 
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