Ubuntu Queries by MetalheadGautham

[MetalheadGautham]

I decided to start eXperimenting with Ubuntu. So Obviously, I got lots of questions for you. So here in this thread, I decided to ask all my questions, instead of starting a new thread for every new problem.

First my system config:

• Acer AC713 17" big bulging screen ugly black monitor.
• Tech Com 2.1 speakers with the speaker holder of Right speaker broken and fixed with feviquick
• Digital(its the damn company name) 15 min 600 W ups
• iBall keyboard and mouse(optical wired) - the enter key often gets stuck, the mouse sensor aint too good.
• Some damn tower - dust the only solution
• Sony DVD+-R, +-RW, RAM, etc 18x dvd rw drive - quite good actually...
• intel pentium 4 processor 2.66 GHz - uber cool... not
• 256 mb(241 mb usable) DDR DRAM the highest RAM in this forum(if I wrote this in 1995)
• 486.3 mb swap
  
• intel GMA 900 for HD(high dreadfulness) graphics
• samsung 80 GB HDD - 40 GB ought to be enough for anybody(I mean my grandfather during the 80s)

ubuntu linux 7.04 feisty fawn
micro$oft window$ xp $p2

Comming to the Troubles:

>> Read My Last few posts for them



...And more yet to come.

[praka123]

for all video player queries,make sure u have in player configuration video driver is selected as "xv".also enable postprocessing etc in xine and mplayer manually.make deinterlacing by default.I uses xine-ui and gmplayer.so cant comment more on gxine,but it sure have config options.mplayer shud be playing if w32codecs are installed.make sure u have installed all important gstreamer0.10-** plugins.

256MB RAM is enough for feisty to work flawlessly.
Xubuntu(xfce) can be faster on ur system than Ubuntu(Gnome) or Kubuntu(kde)

search in synaptic for all themes.u can install.also install gdm-themes,metacity-themes if ur on Gnome Ubuntu.

middle button is used for caching data in Linux,if u refer to mozilla browsers like firefox,u can set option in firefox to have the drag feature.

[MetalheadGautham]

er... parka, I updated my post to tell all things.

and I use xv

w32 codecs dont work.

to place them, I used this launcher to drag and drop a folder to get root file manager privilages:

gksudo "gnome-open %u"

UPDATE: I figured out the theme installation part... There is an app under add/remove>extras. the Linsta theme from gnome look along with ubuntustudio's icons truely rocks.

here is a snap

[iMav]

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

But I realised that functionality is more important than pride. So

[MetalheadGautham]

you may laugh iMav, but atleast I did not screw up like you

[iMav]

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

you may laugh iMav, but atleast I did not screw up like you

i wasnt the 1 who screwed up cant help it wen using something screwed up (sorry praksah sir cudnt resist)

[MetalheadGautham]

the best way to do things is to start from the defaults and make your way to the customisations. I applied the same principle I used to learn windows in linux. Despite the time gap, I am learning linux at a dramatically faster rate than I did windows. so iMavji, your mistake was that you tried to do things too fast. Always follow the right learning curve. You tried to rush with things.

...OMG! what happened to my problem? we have started to discuss something else here instead of what we were supposed to

[praka123]

am getting confused by ur "colorful" questions .format it or ask one by one. let other members try to answer.will try to reply first 2

1.do u use esd also?make ur audio to esd if it doesnot play.with garbled video,i can think of only one thing,bugs!esp in ur xorg-video-intel driver.try X11 and see whether it is garbled or not.also with wmv i too felt frames dropping/hanging.
also did i mention that u have to choose in xine-ui config as "master of the universe" and try checking Xvideo is available.same with gxine config too.
also garbled video sounds like video is not playing
another thing is do u have 2D/3D DRI working?
try in a terminal "glxinfo |grep render"

2.did u enabled postprocessing in mplayer>preferenceS>misc tab?I dont know which value shud be there.try it.same to xine also.also make deinterlacing default.

3.ur config is more than enough for running ubuntu with Gnome and vanilla compiz effects installed.if possible make ur swap atleast 500MB.

4.Kde distros like suse or kubuntu will be more resource hungry,but u can use with ur config.but i recommend Ubuntu or Xubuntu(Xfce)

5.sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install alien -will solve.for doubts read "man alien"

6.icons can be changed in menu System>preferences>Appearance or "themes" in feisty.u can manually add icon set by dragging to customize theme dialog.and "customize" option allows all these changes.also themes are resting in /usr/share/themes dir.go to ur theme and edit as needed if u want(not recommended)

7.u can rollup windows by going to system>preferences>window>titlebar>rollup -for windows rolling up.
for middle click button,in linux it is used for pasting selected portions,auto scrolling is not set default.if u need autoscroll only in firefox browser go to its edit>preferences>advanced>autoscroll option.

8.had u installed w32codecs?then,it shud work

9.which i dont experiance here.may be some extension can help u

10.u can reinstall using synaptic manager which is in ur System>admin menu.
use it.also ur downloaded packages are backed in /var/cache/apt/archives/ dir.
u can do from terminal as "sudo apt-get install --reinstall packagename"
or u can install using "sudo dpkg -i urlocal package"

11.xmms uses gtk1.2 which is obsolete.the workaround is to edit ur ~/.gtkrc-1.2 some files(oops!forgot,but i think i have explained in tipsntricks sticky) .I recommend u remove all gtk1.2 apps out of ur box.use gtk2 based winamp clone beep-media-player(bmp) which got all plugins ready.else use audacious.

12.i had bad experiance with istanbul session recorder.i recommend 'gtk-recordmydesktop' BTW,u can press once in the red/green radio button shown on gnome-top panel when istanbul is launched for recording the session.(but not sure about its reliability!)

13.u have to mount the iso as loop ie,like sudo mount -t iso9660 -o loop /user/dvd.iso /mnt/ .then u have to edit grub of ur current ubuntu to launch the mounted installer to trigger.I forgot the steps.but one of our members wrote a guide on this:
http://www.foresightlinux.org/forum/topic/1/4/
http://www.instantfundas.com/2007/08...ctly-from.html
also google and search ubuntuforums for precise steps.

14.am not much into multimedia,but searching in synaptic will show u lot of gui softwares like devede,avidemux,transcode etc.and mencoder is one of the best.but it needs terminal usage.

15.that i dont know i am zero in gaming.

16.install mozilla-mplayer,mozplugger etc for that.even totem-gstreamer browser plugin is there!also install latest flash9 beta from http://labs.adobe.com

If u have too much queries,why dont u try IRC? in freenode lot of Linux/ubuntu rooms are there.try!yes,the client is xchat-gnome.
I think it is exhaustive to reply to each as essay,so bear with it

[infra_red_dude]

Nicely put up post with all the details I will answer your questions in my capacity.

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

>> I feel that 256 mb ram, 2.66 ghz prossessor and gma 900 are not good enough for ubuntu. Am I right or wrong? should I move to another OS?

If you wanna use Gutsy - 7.10 then wid 256mb RAM I'd suggest Xubuntu than Ubuntu. But Ubuntu Feisty - 7.04 will work fine on this system.

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

>> Will kubuntu or suse work well in my config?

I don't see any reason why it should NOT work!

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

>> Where can I get an rpm to deb convertor?

You can install the package "alien". Use Synaptic or from command line type "sudo apt-get install alien"

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

>> How do I use custom icons for certain filetypes? Where should I place the PNGs?

From the file manager goto /home/<user name>/.icons/<Your icon theme>/<scalable folder or the icon size folder - usually 48>/mimetypes

This folder contains the icon theme and files. If you are using the default theme then the folder is /usr/share/icons/<icon theme>/<scalable folder or the icon size folder - usually 48>/mimetypes

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

>> Why can't I use middle click for the slide up/down function as in windows? I miss it a lot.

No idea. I use Touchpad but there surely is a way out

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

>> Why does firefox open links from the digit forum in new window when I specified that new pages should be opened in a new tab? In the firefox of XP, I get no troubles. Is it because there is no force open all new-window links in new tab option in ubuntu-firefox? I really need that feature.

I do not face this problem. There surely is some configuration required to set things right.

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

>> how do I reinstall(make a fresh download of it and install it after erazing the current install) a program/package?

Use Synaptic or apt-get to remove the software. You may use the command "sudo apt-get autoremove" to remove dependencies. To clean up to a more deeper level you can goto Synaptic then on the lower left corner click the Button "Status". Now on the Left pane goto "Not install residual config" to remove all redundant config files. Finally, as root, you can goto /var/cache/apt/archive and delete all the cached installation files.

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

>> This one I really need a fix for. XMMS does not show any text on right clicking. I get something like this in the menu:< >, < L>, < shift+l>, etc. here the menu item is enclosed in angle braces.

Sincere advice: Don't use XMMS. Use audacious instead. To solve this "no text" problem just Change the Language and Locale to US English in System>Admin.

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

>> Can anybody tell me how exactly to use Istanbul Session Recorder?

I'd suggest you use "gtk-recordmydesktop" instead. Its easy and fast. Just launch, select the Video and Audio quality on a 1 to 100 scale and click Record. Thats it!

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

>> I want a transcoading, audio extracting, transmuxing solution for ubuntu. I had SUPER©, Media Coder and dBpoweramp for windows. What for ubuntu-linux? I need GUIed functionality here, because I am a multimedia power user. I care about my codecs.

If this is your requirement then I'd suggest you install UbuntuStudio. It has almost everything you want out of the box!!

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

...And more yet to come.

Sure, bring them on!

@Prakash
Yaar, are you required to pay something everytime you press Enter key??!!

[MetalheadGautham]

thanks IRD... That was great help.

how much more ram should I add to my PC? I want to keep costs minimal.

[iMav]

for media player im using Exaile and i tried alien pretty useful at times

[praka123]

@metalhead:I had formatted my reply post hope it helps

[infra_red_dude]

if you already haf 256mb then get another 256mb or 512mb if you can afford.

[MetalheadGautham]

Originally Posted by infra_red_dude

if you already haf 256mb then get another 256mb or 512mb if you can afford.

the problem is that my dad thinks more ram means more games. so I need to buy it on my own

[infra_red_dude]

^^^ Haha... interesting inference!

[iMav]

Originally Posted by infra_red_dude

This folder contains the icon theme and files. If you are using the default theme then the folder is /usr/share/icons/<icon theme>/<scalable folder or the icon size folder - usually 48>/mimetypes

the folder /home/<my username>/.icons is empty

[vish786]

many long posts here so didnt check all which has replied to ur Q's..

you can run kubuntu & suse with ur config though Suse would work little slow.

Where can I get an rpm to deb convertor?

alien would work or rpm2deb converter requirements for this are KDE & Alien

how do I reinstall(make a fresh download of it and install it after erazing the current install) a program/package?

uninstall is nothing but removing packages in any distro.

This one I really need a fix for. XMMS does not show any text on right clicking. I get something like this in the menu:< >, < L>, < shift+l>, etc. here the menu item is enclosed in angle braces.

change lang to English US

I want to install gutsy. I got it the day it came out, and I even have the DVD iso. How do I install it from the ISO? I tried mounting it, but I don't know what to do next. I can't use my Drive as its not connected properly.

http://www.digg.com/linux_unix/Insta...urning_any_DVD

Where can I get Counter-Strike Condition Zero or a similer game for Ubuntu running in my configuration?

download Cedega or crossover office or use wine.. use them to run Condition Zero.. no need of downloading seperate CS linx ver

Originally Posted by iMav

the folder /home/<my username>/.icons is empty

path IRD has given is different... recheck is post.

[infra_red_dude]

Originally Posted by iMav

the folder /home/<my username>/.icons is empty

Check both these folders:
/home/<user name>/.icons/<Your icon theme>
and
/usr/share/icons/<icon theme>/

If the icon theme is installed only for the current user then its the former. For system-wide installation its the latter.

[MetalheadGautham]

and how do I convert PNGs to SVGs for use in the theme?
thats one thing I really need to do, as all my icons are png.

lols, that was post #100

[praka123]

well,for me gimp does the job!

[ray|raven]

IMO Gimp sucks with SVG's.
Inkscape does a better job.
You could make the image a true SVG by opening it in inkscape and using the option "Trace Bitmap" to create a trace of the image.

You can then use the traced image like a vector image.

Regards,
ray

[infra_red_dude]

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

and how do I convert PNGs to SVGs for use in the theme?
thats one thing I really need to do, as all my icons are png.

lols, that was post #100

Easiest way, if you haf GNOME installed: Right click on the .svg file and select Open With > gThumb Imager Viewer. Once the image opens, goto Tools > Convert Format. Select appropriate settings and its done You can even resize your images.

[MetalheadGautham]

Originally Posted by infra_red_dude

Easiest way, if you haf GNOME installed: Right click on the .svg file and select Open With > gThumb Imager Viewer. Once the image opens, goto Tools > Convert Format. Select appropriate settings and its done You can even resize your images.

abe yaar I wanted to do pbg to svg, not svg to png

[infra_red_dude]

Inkscape and GIMP will do just fine

[mehulved]

then there's imagemagick, nifty.

[mediator]

@MHG : Guess u shud bookmark this and since u r new, then u'll be needing a list of alternatives most probably!

http://www.linuxscrew.com/2007/11/22...inux-software/
http://www.linuxrsp.ru/win-lin-soft/table-eng.html

[MetalheadGautham]

Originally Posted by mediator

@MHG : Guess u shud bookmark this and since u r new, then u'll be needing a list of alternatives most probably!

http://www.linuxscrew.com/2007/11/22...inux-software/
http://www.linuxrsp.ru/win-lin-soft/table-eng.html

thanks for the bookmarks, but I am not THAT new. I learn fast

and I still did not get any advice on weather I should upgrade from my ubuntu-feisty to ubuntu-gutsy or xubuntu-gutsy. This is the biggest question I have, with only 256MB DDR DRAM and P4 2.66 GHz.

[Faun]

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

thanks for the bookmarks, but I am not THAT new. I learn fast

and I still did not get any advice on weather I should upgrade from my ubuntu-feisty to ubuntu-gutsy or xubuntu-gutsy. This is the biggest question I have, with only 256MB DDR DRAM and P4 2.66 GHz.

use xfce manager, xubuntu

[mediator]

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

thanks for the bookmarks, but I am not THAT new. I learn fast

and I still did not get any advice on weather I should upgrade from my ubuntu-feisty to ubuntu-gutsy or xubuntu-gutsy. This is the biggest question I have, with only 256MB DDR DRAM and P4 2.66 GHz.

Practically I've experienced that Ubuntu 7.04 doesn't work smoothly with 256MB RAM. Edgy that I have on Lappy works nicely with 512 MB RAM.

So I guess u shud take a peek on fluxbox. Its kinda geeky!! Also, I've experienced Suse 10/10.2, Fedora 7 to be working nicely with 256 MB RAM. So u may try them also.

Ur processor speed is fine and better than mine. So its no hurdle!! Neways if u feel that u must go with Ubuntu than I suggest u increase the RAM.

[MetalheadGautham]

Originally Posted by mediator

Practically I've experienced that Ubuntu 7.04 doesn't work smoothly with 256MB RAM. Edgy that I have on Lappy works nicely with 512 MB RAM.

So I guess u shud take a peek on fluxbox. Its kinda geeky!! Also, I've experienced Suse 10/10.2, Fedora 7 to be working nicely with 256 MB RAM. So u may try them also.

Ur processor speed is fine and better than mine. So its no hurdle!! Neways if u feel that u must go with Ubuntu than I suggest u increase the RAM.

but many people say otherwise. I can do everything in 7.04, ecept playing songs while writing DVDs and using more than two programs while running gDesklets

fluxbox? you mean the one in Dyne:Bolic? A complete no-no as of now, unless I try to learn it for a week

How the hell can SuSE 10.2 work nicely in 256 mb ram when it even refuses to boot live in my comp, asking for doubling my ram?

fedora 7? I thought ubuntu is faster than fedora

my processor? P4 = Bull$hit. And to add to my misery I got only reltek onboard soundcard, which can't even run Hydrogen Properly(I get purring noices if I add more than 3 beats in a single point of time). Intel 915G with GMA 900 does not give the best graphics either.

I am growing tiered of trying to extract the maximum out of my PC. But no upgrades for me for another 20 months. I need to try to make this box as productive as possible, all the time making my n00bish friends with 60K windows boxes think I have some kind of a super-duper OS, because I customised Ubuntu to look to kill