Posted: 4/5/2010 5:02:36 PM EDT
| I've been wanting to try out linux for a while now. So I dragged out one of my computers and installed Ubuntu 9.10. The install was a piece of cake, and it looks great. But I can't seem to be able to DO anything. I seriously feel like an infant trying to learn to walk again. I'm at the level where I feel like I can make windows do about anything I want, but Ubuntu makes me feel like a complete retard. In know there's a million resources online to help with this, but there are so many different avenues I just feel lost. Does this feeling ever end, and if so, when, and most importantly, is it worth it? I need some kind of positive reinforcement, here. I feel like I should be getting it, but the more I read and try the stupider I feel. |
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Just let us know what you want to do and I'm sure someone can walk you through it. Here's something to get your feet wet (everything that's italicized and underlined is what you'll type into terminal, then press Enter): 1. Open a Terminal session: Applications > Accessories > Terminal 2. Update your package sources: sudo apt-get update 3. Now let's install Tilda, a drop-down terminal: sudo apt-get install tilda 4. Now start Tilda: tilda 5. Click on the "Keybindings" tab 6. Click the "Grab Keybinding" button 7. Press a key you want to use to pull down Tilda (I chose "~" as it's never really used; it's to the left of the 1 button at the top of the keyboard). 8. Click the Close button. 9. Now if you press the "~" button the Tilda screen should disappear. 10. The first Terminal you opened is waiting on you to close Tilda, so to close it you'll either need to close Tilda (press "~", right-click on the Tilda window, click Quit), which you probably do not want to do, or force Terminal closed by clicking on the close ("X") button repeatedly. Now you can get to a quick terminal with the press of a key. It's best if it starts when you login to Ubuntu so it will always be handy. To do so: 1. System > Preferences > Startup Applications 2. Click the Add button 3. In both the Name and Command textboxes type in tilda 4. Click the Add button 5. Click the Close button Congratulations. You've now installed a program and set it to start when you login. |
Well, for example, right now I am trying to install a wireless PCI card. I found what appear to be linux drivers for the card, but the readme instructions are cryptic and appear to assume a great deal about my knowledge of linux. It's like its written in a different language. Maybe I've just been spoiled by Windows.  Now I know how my dad feels when he's trying to use a computer.
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Well, for example, right now I am trying to install a wireless PCI card. I found what appear to be linux drivers for the card, but the readme instructions are cryptic and appear to assume a great deal about my knowledge of linux. It's like its written in a different language. Maybe I've just been spoiled by Windows. Now I know how my dad feels when he's trying to use a computer.ugh, what type of wireless card is it? you may already have support for it, and you may just need to run the wireless configuration tool. open a console window and type "LSMOD" all lowercase |
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DL the free pocket guide. It'll get you on the right track.
http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/index_main.html Don't give up. IF you have to work through a driver issue, everything afterwards if pretty enjoyable. |
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Try an update; there's a chance the driver you need is integrated into a newer kernel:
- Open a terminal (I use the Yakuake drop-down terminal) - type "sudo apt-get update && apt-get upgrade -y" and press enter - let the update complete and reboot Hopefully you don't have to screw around with Windows driver wrappers and such. |
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Try an update; there's a chance the driver you need is integrated into a newer kernel: - Open a terminal (I use the Yakuake drop-down terminal) - type "sudo apt-get update && apt-get upgrade -y" and press enter - let the update complete and reboot Hopefully you don't have to screw around with Windows driver wrappers and such. apt-get draws from an online repository, though, correct? I think thats part of my problem. I can't connect to the web until I get this card installed. I think if I had a wired connection that I could use I might have an easier time. I'm still working on it, and I feel like I might be learning. Its just been a long time since a computer made me feel this stupid.
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| Have you looked in the network manager to see if it's already there? Right click on the network manager icon in the upper right part of the screen (next to the envelope on my install), select "edit connections" and a window should open. Click on the wireless tab and see if you have anything there. If so, you should click on it and choose "edit connection" and then get it configured correctly for your network, check the box that says "connect automatically". Close out of the window, right click on the network icon again, unselect "enable networking", then repeat to enable networking again. |
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Try an update; there's a chance the driver you need is integrated into a newer kernel: - Open a terminal (I use the Yakuake drop-down terminal) - type "sudo apt-get update && apt-get upgrade -y" and press enter - let the update complete and reboot Hopefully you don't have to screw around with Windows driver wrappers and such. apt-get draws from an online repository, though, correct? I think thats part of my problem. I can't connect to the web until I get this card installed. I think if I had a wired connection that I could use I might have an easier time. I'm still working on it, and I feel like I might be learning. Its just been a long time since a computer made me feel this stupid. If you have another computer running Windows, you can share the wireless connection over the Ethernet port. Connect the Windows computer to the Linux machine with a crossover cable. Or just move the Linux computer next to the router/modem while you run the update. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: This is usually why the majority of people who go from Windows to Ubuntu goes back to Windows. Yep. Thinking is hard. More like they'd rather use an operating system that is more intuitive than one that requires tinkering. Or they expected every operating system to be just like Windows, and were upset when they realized things can be done differently than the way they're used to. |
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This is usually why the majority of people who go from Windows to Ubuntu goes back to Windows. Yep. Thinking is hard. More like they'd rather use an operating system that is more intuitive than one that requires tinkering. Or they expected every operating system to be just like Windows, and were upset when they realized things can be done differently than the way they're used to. Nah, it's more the fact that Windows is usually more intitutive or easier to use than Ubuntu. Most windows installations on store bought computers come with dvd software and encoders. Usually all that's required to play a dvd is at most double clicking on a .exe file and then inserting the dvd. Linux generally is a much more complicated process than that and it doesn't offer some huge advantage at playing back DVDs than the Windows system. A lot of stuff is like that. |
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Before we get too far off track with the linux /Windows /9mm/.45acp/ best James Bond debate, am I to understand the OP doesn't have a wired ethernet jack on this computer, or is it not detected? From what I've read, there is a solution for this, however in order to deliver the wireless fix, he needs an alteranate means to install it.
Windows doesn't have every driver known to man installed on it either. If you're doing a fresh install and Windows does not have a driver, you'll have to install it from an outside source too. |
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Stick with it. After being a Windoze user for 17 years I started playing with Linux and am glad I did. I still use Windows for my work stuff but am loving Linux for the personal stuff.
Configuration of some things is more difficult but I have had even more frustrations with the Windows platforms. Recently I accidentally stumbled on a site with malware which tried installing it's virus on my linux machine. I just laughed and closed the window. Wireless configuration on some of the Linux distributions is not always easy. If you run into a roadblock, jump on a forum and they are always good at finding your issue. Currently I cannot get one of the drivers to work for my wireless card in my Dell laptop. I guess the driver is something you have to purchase so I just plugged in another card I had laying around and it works like a champ. |
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Quoted: So, where in the Linux "download-setup.exe-run,-setup.exe,-setup.exe-installs-what-it-needs,save-setup.exe-to-flash-drive-so-program-can-be-installed-later-without-internet-access"?Just let us know what you want to do and I'm sure someone can walk you through it. Here's something to get your feet wet (everything that's italicized and underlined is what you'll type into terminal, then press Enter): 1. Open a Terminal session: Applications > Accessories > Terminal 2. Update your package sources: sudo apt-get update 3. Now let's install Tilda, a drop-down terminal: sudo apt-get install tilda 4. Now start Tilda: tilda 5. Click on the "Keybindings" tab 6. Click the "Grab Keybinding" button 7. Press a key you want to use to pull down Tilda (I chose "~" as it's never really used; it's to the left of the 1 button at the top of the keyboard). 8. Click the Close button. 9. Now if you press the "~" button the Tilda screen should disappear. 10. The first Terminal you opened is waiting on you to close Tilda, so to close it you'll either need to close Tilda (press "~", right-click on the Tilda window, click Quit), which you probably do not want to do, or force Terminal closed by clicking on the close ("X") button repeatedly. Now you can get to a quick terminal with the press of a key. It's best if it starts when you login to Ubuntu so it will always be handy. To do so: 1. System > Preferences > Startup Applications 2. Click the Add button 3. In both the Name and Command textboxes type in tilda 4. Click the Add button 5. Click the Close button Congratulations. You've now installed a program and set it to start when you login. Edit:  |
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So, where in the Linux "download-setup.exe-run,-setup.exe,-setup.exe-installs-what-it-needs,save-setup.exe-to-flash-drive-so-program-can-be-installed-later-without-internet-access"?
Where did you find this setup.exe and it's accompanying files? On a disk or off the web of course! An online repository is pretty much the same thing. When you find what you're looking for, you download the install package (.deb file for Ubuntu example,) then copy it on a disk or thumb drive, and install it from there. Worst thing that hcan happen is you're missing a dependency (like missing a .dll file in Win land) however developers have been better in packing in that stuff nowadays. |
