Pre install Ubuntu help needed.

[saqib_khan]

First things first.

I m new to linux. I got my Ubuntu Hardy Heron from shipit. The live CD is working properly. Now, i wanna install it. I have 4 drives, namely C,D,E & F.
My F: is empty. So i want to install it there. I currently have Win XP SP2 running in C:. But some questions first.

What will be the file system in linux.e.g I have NTFS in Win XP.
If i install Ubuntu in F: , will i be able to access my F: through XP??

I have another question, i m not able to play even a mp3 file in Ubuntu, what's this, it says i require a codec for playing. Now this is awesome:confused:, i need a codec for a mere mp3 file???

So, if i install Ubuntu will i get a screen asking to start between XP & Ubuntu??

I will post more questions here only, i remember only these questions now.

Thanx for ur patience .

-Saqib.

[cool_techie_tvm]

Regarding accessing ext2/ext3 partitions from windows checkout http://www.thinkdigit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90070

Ubuntu contains free softwares only. MP3 coding has licensing issues. Hence mp3 codec isnt shipped with Ubuntu.

Yes, u will get a screen asking to choose between windows and ubuntu. Dont worry, u can set it to boot into windows as default too :)

[saqib_khan]

So Ubuntu will convert my NTFS file system to ext2/ext3, m i right?

[cool_techie_tvm]

Nope. The NTFS partitions will remain intact. The partition on which u install Ubuntu will be converted to ext2/3 .

[rahimveron]

While installing you have to create 2 partitions :
!: / (root) where Ubuntu will be installed on ext3 filesystem.
2: Swap partition. 512 MB is good enough for Swap.
So it will create those 2 partitions from your F: drive.
Choose "Manual" on the Partition Window when you install Ubuntu.
Remember your partitions will not be recognised as c:, d:,etc. It will be sda1,sda2,sda3,etc.

As for the codecs when you have installed Ubuntu and configured your Internet connection, then just Open Synaptic(System>Administration) and install GStreamer Codecs(Kind of a K-Lite Media Codec pack in Windows). It will make your Ubuntu Multimedia Ready.

The Perfect Desktop - Ubuntu 8.04 LTS (Hardy Heron) (http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-ubuntu-8.04-lts-hardy-heron)

[saqib_khan]

@rahimveron
Thnk u very much for guiding me regarding partitions , as i don't know how to make that.
But i know now. Thanx.

@cool_techie_tvm
Thanx to u also.

Now i m installing Ubuntu, let's see wat happens.

[rahimveron]

Dont fret. Linux is not a monster. Infant its a cuet freind especially the Brown One!!!

[T159]

worst could happen is the partition screw up
now bear with it

[cool_techie_tvm]

Ok, even if u screw up, dont worry. Everyone learns from their mistakes. I am quite new to Linux OSes too !!

Best of Luck :)

[rahimveron]

The problem with new users are getting familiar with the naming of the partitions under Linux and thats why they make the mistake and blame the OS.

[saqib_khan]

Still i m using live CD.

First time when i booted from live CD all's well, i can open my all NTFS drives, but now there's a problem.

When i booted from CD this time, i could not open any of my drives, it says "Unable to mount". Now what is the problem??

@rahimveron
U said that i have to create 2 partitions, 1 for swap & 1 for root.
Is this necessary, as i've mentioned earlier that i have my F: free(i mean no data in it) , so, can i split this f: for 2, in linux??

[ThinkFree]

@rahimveron
U said that i have to create 2 partitions, 1 for swap & 1 for root.
Is this necessary, as i've mentioned earlier that i have my F: free(i mean no data in it) , so, can i split this f: for 2, in linux??

Yes you can create two different partitions from existing one

[saqib_khan]

Now this time when i booted from CD, that "Unable to mount" problem is gone.

[rahimveron]

Go ahead Saqib and embrace the Brown Freind.

[saqib_khan]

Hurray!!!! Everthings perfect now.

I installed Ubuntu on my f: , i shrinked it & made 30 GB, this is used for /.
Another 5 GB i have allocated for swap, is this enough?

My broadband is not working in Ubuntu, any suggestions?

[cool_techie_tvm]

^^ Have u tried http://www.thinkdigit.com/forum/showpost.php?p=854228&postcount=2

[Pat]

Hurray!!!! Everthings perfect now.

I installed Ubuntu on my f: , i shrinked it & made 30 GB, this is used for /.
Another 5 GB i have allocated for swap, is this enough?

My broadband is not working in Ubuntu, any suggestions?

you dont need a 5 GB swap partition buddy! It should ideally be twice the amount of your RAM (maximum 1 GB)

Regarding broadband, do you use pppoe ?

[saqib_khan]

^^ Have u tried http://www.thinkdigit.com/forum/showpost.php?p=854228&postcount=2

yup, I have tried that.

@Pat
I use PPPOE.

Another question i would like to ask u. First the grub bootloader is loading & it is showing Ubuntu as default OS, but i want XP as my default OS , so what should i do?

[rahimveron]

Well Done Saqib.
Let me help you again :)
1:Make Win XP as Default Boot OS-
Open a Terminal and type sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst.
It will ask your password. Enter it. Navigate to #Default num and change default from 0 to 4.
Now save the file. Since WIn XP is on the 5th Line on Grub Boot Menu, numbering starts from 0, hence you have to enter 4.

Further you can change the timing before an OS boots.
Navigate to #timeout sec and change timeout to say 10 to make it 10 seconds.

2:You use pppoe to connect to the net. Are you using BSNL Dataone?
Open Terminal and type sudo pppoeconf.
Enter the details as required and remember to enter your username as yourusername@dataone without .in

Now connect to the net by typing pon dsl-provider and disconnect by typing poff -aHope this helps.

[saqib_khan]

I have used this command already
sudo pppoeconf

I don't use BSNL , my ISP is YOU.

[rahimveron]

Then my friend i cant help you there. Maybe ask your question at thinkdigit irc

Did pppoeconf started?

[saqib_khan]

yup pppoeconf started.

It is showing 2 things,
1)Wired connection
2)PPPoe connection

I m trying, lets see what happens.

[rahimveron]

It should work with pppoeconf. If you connect but web pages dont load then its a DNS problem.

[Pat]

yup pppoeconf started.

It is showing 2 things,
1)Wired connection
2)PPPoe connection

I m trying, lets see what happens.

Try this to install a frontend for pppoe, which also allows you to configure your connection!

http://www.techenclave.com/open-source/get-pppoe-started-in-ubuntu-112899.html

[saqib_khan]

Ok, got the problem solved.

I was writing wrong username in PPPOECONF therefore net was net working, now everything is fine .

Can i get another bootloader , currently i m using grub, so i want something fancy.



Now connect to the net by typing pon dsl-provider and disconnect by typing poff -aHope this helps.

It is not disconnecting by this command, it says "none stopped"