Starting a new Start !!!

[pr.itdude]

I have gone through many threads in open-source section to gain knowledge about open source and to clear my doubts.
But most of it are outdated, sticky too.....and there is a lot of improvement since then.

Actually, i am planning to go for a dual-boot, win xp with now ubuntu......,
as i dont want any panic situation and learn about open-source and linux step by step and with understanding its each aspect.

I ran ubuntu many times, to just check it but through live cd and pen drive.
I never installed it on my hard disk. But now, i am thinking of doing it.
I had some basic questions, just about its usage....!!

*How much disk space ubuntu 8 require ?
*Do ubuntu make password protected user's file private just like windows do....?
*Is there some different method of installing a software therein ??
*What is wine ? How can we use it ? Is it worth using it ?
*Do we really not need a antivirus/antispyware or a firewall in linux ?
*Do one can view the private file of a user (which can't in windows, other user cant view the my documents of a password protected user) made in windows with linux ? I mean that with booting from linux, can we view the files of a password protected user of winodows ?
*How can we make windows the default boot OS, without prompting the option screen ?

My most important concern is about private files ......
Please do suggest me, how can i make my linux experience more sweet....
Other suggestions are welcomed too..........!!

Now dont think about y i named this thread starting a new start........
i have explanation for it too...!!

[Liverpool_fan]

*How much disk space ubuntu 8 require ?

You need two partitions at least. A SWAP partition which is double or 256MB more than your RAM whichever is less and a root partition. Bare Minimum is abt. 3Gb, but if you really want to use it have 5GB, and over 10GB is recommended.
Tell you what run Ubuntu's setup in Windows with Wubi, that way you would not need to partition your HD either.

*Do ubuntu make password protected user's file private just like windows do....?

Yes it does. Other users cannot modify your user's home directory and you can set it up s.t. they can't even read it.

*Is there some different method of installing a software therein ??

Very different. Read this:
http://amitech.50webs.com/installing/index.php.html

*What is wine ? How can we use it ? Is it worth using it ?

Wine is Windows compatibility layer which facilitates running Windows software in Linux. It works sometimes and lots of times it doesn't. Don't count on it though. Look for alternatives in Linux.

*Do we really not need a antivirus/antispyware or a firewall in linux ?

No you dont. Ubuntu is much more secure than Windows by default.

*Do one can view the private file of a user (which can't in windows, other user cant view the my documents of a password protected user) made in windows with linux ? I mean that with booting from linux, can we view the files of a password protected user of winodows ?

You can read the entire Windows partition.

*How can we make windows the default boot OS, without prompting the option screen ?

Yes. Either edit /boot/grub/menu.lst or use SUM. When you have installed Ubuntu, bump this thread and ask this and anyone of us will answer. Also you could Google the results.

My most important concern is about private files ......

Um...I suggest you create a seperate home directory and encrypt it.

Please do suggest me, how can i make my linux experience more sweet....

By not thinking Linux as an another Windows, but a totally and radically different OS. Also don't be afraid of the command line.

[thewisecrab]

^^
Why use Wubi?
Partitioning and installing is relatively simple is definitely the more recommended option....
This tutorial ( by NucleusKore) gives a systematic and step-by-step explanation of the same...
http://thinkdigit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=96132

[pr.itdude]

thnx a ton to anurag nd thewisecrab for this tutorial............

btw, i hav 1GB RAM nd i too think that partitioning the HD, with seperate 15 GB for Ubuntu would not be a bad option. Although, right now 120-130 GB (out of 150 GB,left out after partitioning) is full. I have to delete some wastes.

Any suggestion about encrypting the home directory .....??

[pr.itdude]

hi guyz..........
i am all set to set up ubuntu on my pc.......
but now i am thinking to install it in the same drive which had Windows.......as i dont want to partition ...........is it a gud idea..........??
do the files of windows and ubuntu conflict.......??
any suggestions regarding that...........!!!

[Rahim]

You cant install Windows & Ubuntu in the same partition. You have to create 2 new partitions, one for "/" root and other for Swap. Its quite simple actually.

[pr.itdude]

^^
See, what i understood by ur post is that, i cant install windows in my C: drive......
I have windows in C: drive and there are three other drives too, D:, E: and F: .....
So u r trying to say that, i should format and create a new drive G: (only for ubuntu)..........??? right ??
And is 10 GB would be sufficient if latter is the case.........??

[a_k_s_h_a_y]

Listen dude
Create a separate X: Drive for Ubuntu !!!

Format one of your FAT/NTFS. Keep a note of this drive SIZE. Call it X drive X: !!
Live Boot Ubuntu, Select Manual Partition during install.
Then delete X: !! From its size you identify it.
Create new partition from left over space after deleting X:
Create a 10GB Partition for Ubuntu, Ext3 Partition, Mount Point as /
Create another 1GB partition from remaining space, set it as SWAP.
The Rest of remaining free space of the now deleted X:, just leave it Alone Or Format As NTFS.

Rest all drives don't touch. If will clearly show A TICK on drives which will be Formatted.
Rest all no format no changes absolutely.

That's the End of it.

[talktorishav]

By default your home directory isn't encrypted in Ubuntu. That means, root user or other user booting a different Linux can see your files.

To make sure that no user can read your files(including you if password forgotten), you have to encrypt it.

It's very simple in Intrepid, try it and if there's any problem let us know.

I hope this elaborates the answer to your prime concern.

[pr.itdude]

hi buddies..........
Finally, i installed Ubuntu 8.10 successfully without any hassle...
I never knew that installing an linux OS is so easy..!!!

Thnx a ton to all the Linux gurus here......nd the tuts provided by them..!!!

NOW I CAN PROUDLY SAY "THE FUTURE IS OPEN"

Now, i want solutions to some of my earlier queries.....
1. How to make windows my default OS, infact the Boot Loader (i think GRUB) must not ask for choosing Linux or other OS. I just want that whenever i switch on my pc, it loads windows as usual until and unless i manually ask for boot options (how to do that.....umhh...by pressing F8 key ?? right ?)

2. We can view the entire file system of windows password protected user after login in Ubuntu . I just want to know that how can i prevent the Ubuntu user to open the password protected user's home (My documents) files...?? Its ok to allow to open the other drives, i am concerned only abt the windows user home files .

3. How to install softwares,plugins etc in linux...? I heard there is a different method in linux than windows..?

Any other suggestions will be welcomed warmly.....!!!
Thnx linux gurus..!!

[Rahim]

---------------------
You have to edit /boot/grub/menu.lst file to make Windows your default OS. Open a Terminal and enter

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

and give YOUR password. This will open the file in Gedit. Navigate to the option "Default" and change the number accordingly. Remember Grub counts from "0" and not "1". Just see in which line Windows is displayed in the Grub Menu when booting. Example if it is the 4th Line, then edit "Default" to 3 (Remember the counting begins with 0).

Then navigate to the option "Timeout" and change it ,say, 2, which means the default OS(Windows) will be booted after 2 seconds. Now save this file.

As for permissions, enter this in a Terminal

sudo nautilus

and this will open Nautilus(File Manager) with root privileges(Admin). Now navigate to the windows directory which you want to deny access and Right-Click on that folder and change the Permissions accordingly.

Linux has A Package Manager to install the applications. Ubuntu has Synaptic Package Manager, which is a front-end for APT, a comman line package manager. Open Synaptic and search for applications and click on "Mark for Installation" and click "Apply". This will download the packages and install them. You have to enable all repositotires to see all the packages. Then click on "Reload" and then search/install packages.

I hope i have cleared some doubts of yours. Happy Linuxing

[pr.itdude]

Thnx a ton a_rahim

the boot problem sorted out.

But, i still didnt got the sol of my file permissions problem, although i tried nautilus. I think i should make it more clear now.....
Actually, i want that whenever anyone, including me (or any other Ubuntu user) try to open the "documents and settings" folder of a windows user, say X (which is password protected in windows and made the home files private)....it must deny him !!! And the permissions cant be changed by anyone through linux...!!! i hope now u got my problem better...!!!

* I installed VLC on my system using Synaptic package manager. But how can i install a package or s/w which i downloaded through net or got via other media (like through digit's cd)...Where these files are isntalled ? Can i change their location..?

* One more thing how to unrar a file or decompress a .rar or .zip file in linux ?

Thnx linux gurus out here.
Kindly u ppl plz give me some links of gud linux tuts.....so that i can go through the basics of linux and some sites to download s/w...!! Any other suggestion r welcomed....!!!

[Rahim]

Since Ubuntu used .deb as packages format, and it has other dependencies, the Package Manager makes it an easy and clean way of installing the applications. You can use AptonCD to install the packages, downloaded from the other PCs or sources. (Dependencies have to downloaded as well though)

Suppose you got/downloaded the vlc.deb file but its depencies have to be installed together with VLC package for it to work. So you can install it when connected to Net and it will download its dependencies, if required.
I would advise using Synaotic but if you are comfortable with the other method, then be my guest

You have to install "rar" and "unrar" packages from Synaptic. I believe Ark or File Roller would do your compressing/uncomressing work.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

[pr.itdude]

Originally Posted by pr.itdude

.......
.......
But, i still didnt got the sol of my file permissions problem, although i tried nautilus. I think i should make it more clear now.....
Actually, i want that whenever anyone, including me (or any other Ubuntu user) try to open the "documents and settings" folder of a windows user, say X (which is password protected in windows and made the home files private)....it must deny him !!! And the permissions cant be changed by anyone through linux...!!! i hope now u got my problem better...!!!
.......
.......

what abt this............???

[Rahim]

^ I myself am looking at the options of ntfs-3g manual. By using defaults, the folder belongs to root with 777 access. If i change it, say 770, but it reverts back to 777 (I am referring to NTFS partitions only)

[vamsi360]

Originally Posted by a_rahim

^ I myself am looking at the options of ntfs-3g manual. By using defaults, the folder belongs to root with 777 access. If i change it, say 770, but it reverts back to 777 (I am referring to NTFS partitions only)

dude 777 means write permission to all. I never checked the permissions.

In a website the public_html which is under root has 755.(off the topic)

[Rahim]

^I know vamsy about 777 My problem is that my ntfs partitions always have full access permissions(777) despite changing it with root privileges.
The default permission in Linux is 755, i guess.

[Phantom Lancer]

You may also want to look into KDE for Ubuntu .....

[Rahim]

^How will THAT solve the problem?

[FilledVoid]

But, i still didnt got the sol of my file permissions problem, although i tried nautilus. I think i should make it more clear now.....
Actually, i want that whenever anyone, including me (or any other Ubuntu user) try to open the "documents and settings" folder of a windows user, say X (which is password protected in windows and made the home files private)....it must deny him !!! And the permissions cant be changed by anyone through linux...!!! i hope now u got my problem better...!!!

You could easily restrict access to the whole drive using fstab. However if it is folder you might want to check Access Control Lists.not sure if that works but its worth a try.

[vamsi360]

Originally Posted by a_rahim

^I know vamsy about 777 My problem is that my ntfs partitions always have full access permissions(777) despite changing it with root privileges.
The default permission in Linux is 755, i guess.

i think its 755 or 644....never mind on the harddisk...for me the main problem is with the server when i uploaded my website and changed the permissions of my wordpress blog and PHPBB forum inorder to upload a book to the post....ultimately messed up and the whole website is gone now....i have worked so hard and set up the website for my class and ultimately when all the class members registered in the forum and is actively running all this happened...luckily I backed up all the databases and I will start afresh during my holidays and I am learning Dreamwaver and AJAX, FLASH, ASP myself hope they complement me......my website was in PHP and I was irritated repeatedly explaining how to configure to my classmates as they have no knowledge of PHP and for us we have webdesign in 6th semister and we are in 4th.
Going on its a long story.....better i will stop here. I think atlast all my experiences will count.
The best example is that I tried to make a project of adding out own process and application(designed using frames in java) to linux kernel and ended up in a messy way and when i finally did it after taking some time i realized that although i lost my midterm internal marks i gained knowledge.

[talktorishav]

Originally Posted by a_rahim

^I know vamsy about 777 My problem is that my ntfs partitions always have full access permissions(777) despite changing it with root privileges.
The default permission in Linux is 755, i guess.

Dude because its NTFS as you said, it ain't taking UNIX permission.

@pr.itdude

First of all, though you make your files private in Windows, administrator can view it by taking ownership and setting correct permission.
The only way to make none but the owner of the file access to the files, you have to encrypt it in windows. In that way, neither administrator in windows can see files nor anyone in Linux.

The less safe way, you may set permission so that other users other that you can't mount that drive.

[pr.itdude]

Originally Posted by FilledVoid

You could easily restrict access to the whole drive using fstab. However if it is folder you might want to check Access Control Lists.not sure if that works but its worth a try.

fstab.... wats this ....
im totally a noob in linux........so plz elaborate a bit......!!!

one more thing.....ubuntu asks for password each tym when i try to open (is it called mounting ?) another drive, say E:/ or F:/.....!!
How to skip that....?

[Rahim]

What is fstab

Understanding fstab

NTFS Write Support & Options

I hope these links would clear the doubts about /etc/fstab file.

[FilledVoid]

fstab.... wats this ....
im totally a noob in linux........so plz elaborate a bit......!!!

one more thing.....ubuntu asks for password each tym when i try to open (is it called mounting ?) another drive, say E:/ or F:/.....!!
How to skip that....?

Rahim has linked all the necessary pages for you to get a better understanding of the fstab files function. If the above doesn't work I'll check around and see if theres another alternative without having to encrypt within Windows. If it was another computer its quite easy. When its on the same computer that may be hard.

[pr.itdude]

thnx guys.........!!!

i'll try more experementing with my dual boot and....then will ask more ques to u ppl.......!!!!

[Rahim]

^Anytime

[Phantom Lancer]

Originally Posted by a_rahim

^How will THAT solve the problem?

ofcourse it wont ..... just a suggestion to a newB to Linux

[pr.itdude]

hi yaaro......

some h/w related problems.....
yesterday i inserted digit's dvd in my dvd writer in ubuntu.........but it did not responded......there was nothing on the screen........when i clicked on the Disc drive icon....it showed insert a disc ........i tried 3-4 times, infact with other cd's too.......but its not responding.......

Secondly, im unable to use my headphones in ubuntu.....but speakers r supporting...!!!

Do i need to change some settings........

Plz post some tutorials , ubuntu related (if digit's then gud) links......(tuts only) !!!

[gopi_vbboy]

^^ welcome to opensource

actually digit cds dont work as the autorun file is exe

u have to browse manually


for tuts see my sig