Trying & Learning Ubuntu. My Query Thread

[narangz]

Hi guys!
Well I am trying ubuntu & kubuntu. I must say its a great experience. I'll use this thread for my queries. I've used Red Hat a little bit sometime back & learned its commands but you may consider me a linux n00b & please don't laugh at my questions.

Right now I am using Live CDs as my desktop HDD is gone for replacement.

Here start my queries:
1. The fonts aren't that clear. I mean they appear like smudged on the LCD screen. There's isn't any LCD problem as Vista runs fine. Do I need to tweak some font settings? I've read & heard Linux has bad fonts & font rendering problems. So please help

2. How can I make my desktop like this:
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/4690/myubuntuvl6.png
Its posted by MetalHeadGautham. How can I install/use these gadgets like clock etc?

[CadCrazy]

try this

[Rahim]

Narang welcome to Linux world
You can use gdesklets for the widgets(clocks, etc)
Open Synaptic Manager( Systems>Administration>Synaptic) and search for gdesklets and install it. Use the link given byCadCrazy,

Regarding your second query about fonts, I have no problems with it, maybe in the Live CD mode the fonts are too big, you can change the resolution to rectify it.
Just be patience and i am sure you will love Ubuntu.

[narangz]

Thanks for the replies- Cad & Rahim.
I would do the customizations when I get the HDD back.
The fonts aren't big & resolution is perfect but they appear smudged.

EDIT- I enabled subpixel smoothing(LCD). But that didnt help either.

EDIT 2- I changed Font DPI & it helped. Its 90 DPI now. But still a little bit of problem is there.

[nvidia]

This font problem was there when i installed linux... But its fine now after installing the graphics driver... Did you install your graphics driver??
Try this - System > Preferences > Appearance and there goto the fonts tab and choose the ones which are suitable for you...

[narangz]

^^Can only install drivers after i install ubuntu i guess.

[ray|raven]

Not really, you can install drivers on a live cd.
Only thing is you gotta do it every time you boot, as changes wont be saved from a live-cd.

[narangz]

But then it asks for reboot.

[praka123]

^press CTRL+ALT+BKSPC Then and again wait for auto-login

[ray|raven]

Yeah restarting X should do it,
but its a pain to install the drivers and restarting X every time.

[narangz]

Originally Posted by praka123

^press CTRL+ALT+BKSPC Then and again wait for auto-login

After pressing ctrl+alt+bkspc i was presented with a dialog box to choose my display type & driver. After selecting it just gave an error msg in terminal like thingy & the system just hung there. Don't exactly remember the error msg. Anyway I'll check it after I install ubuntu. I am desperate to install it but I dont know when I'll get my HDD back from Seagate. It's already 7 days

[narangz]

Guys I have installed ubuntu 64bit on my AMD 64 X2 based system. Motherboard is ASUS M2NPV-MX. The mobo has NVIDIA 6150 Graphics. I am having problem with graphics. The screen is not centered even after I have set same resolution & refresh rate as Vista. When I go to:
System->Preferences->Appearance->Visual Effects
Now when I click Normal or extra it asks me to enable NVIDIA graphics. After I click Enable it displays an error message:
"The software source for the package nvidia-glx-new is not enabled."

In System->Administration->Screen & Graphics
The monitor is Generic 1400* 1050(Its LG 17" CRT) Resolution I have selected is 1024*768 at 85Hz
Under Graphics Card its NVIDIA Geforce 6 Series(It was selected by default)

Now please help!

[praka123]

^whats ur monitor model?get its horizontal and vertical freq .

also,ur /etc/apt/sources.list is not enabled.
press alt+f2 to get run dialog:
run:

gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

now make sure ur sources.list is the same with "#" removed from repositories.

# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.
#Repository List based on standard gutsy with many extra packages
# If you get errors about missing keys, lookup the key in this file
# and run these commands (replace KEY with the key number):
#  gpg --keyserver subkeys.pgp.net --recv KEY
#  gpg --export --armor KEY | sudo apt-key add -
#
# If you have a gpg key URL use (replace URL with the key address):
#
#  wget -q URL -O- | sudo apt-key add -
#
# If you have a gpg key file use (replace FILE with the key file):
#
#  sudo apt-key add FILE

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

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy-updates main restricted
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy-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://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy universe
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy universe
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy-updates universe
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy-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://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy-updates multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy-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://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy-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 gutsy partner
deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu gutsy partner

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security main restricted
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security main restricted
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security universe
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security universe
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security multiverse
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security multiverse

# Seveas’ packages (GPG key: 1135D466)
# GPG key-file: http://mirror.ubuntulinux.nl/1135D466.gpg
deb http://mirror.ubuntulinux.nl gutsy-seveas all
deb-src http://mirror.ubuntulinux.nl gutsy-seveas all

# Medibuntu - Ubuntu 7.10 "gutsy gibbon"
# GPG key-file: http://packages.medibuntu.org/medibuntu-key.gpg
deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ gutsy free non-free
#deb-src http://packages.medibuntu.org/ gutsy free non-free

# Debuntu Ubuntu gutsy packages
# GPG Key: http://repository.debuntu.org/GPG-Key-chantra.txt
deb  http://repository.debuntu.org/ gutsy multiverse
#deb-src http://repository.debuntu.org/ gutsy multiverse

after editing,save,exit.
now make sure ur connected to internet in Ubuntu
open a terminal(in menu Applications>Accsrs>terminal)
and run:

sudo apt-get update

now,open the synaptic manager(system>admin menu).
and u can upgrade ur packages if u have lot of bw left.

go to system>preferences>restricted driver..
and enable "nvidia" when internet is connected.

after finishing.u need to edit ur /etc/X11/xorg.conf file to use "nvidia" driver.
u can do it by running in a terminal "sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg" and select "nvidia" as driver.give ur monitors Hor and vert freq if display is not detected.
post ur /etc/X11/xorg.conf here.I can edit to work it with nvidia cards.

[narangz]

Whoa! So much to do. I'll try it & tell ya. My monitor is LG StudioWorks 700S. From where can I get horizontal & vertical frequency?

Thanks for your help!

[ray|raven]

@Prakash
Dude,the guy's a newbie.
How abt givin him easier instructions?

@Narangz,
Dude,do this instead.
Open up Synaptic and enable the universe,multiverse and restricted repositories.
Then use the reload button in synaptic.
That done, Open up restricted drivers from System>Administration.
There tick the driver to install i.e Nvidia.
Here's a detailed post on how to install drivers, with screenshots.
http://www.michaellarabel.com/index.php?k=blog&i=114
And as for the frequencies,you should find them with the manual that came with the monitor.

Regards,
ray

[ajayritik]

I have virus on my PC which I presume has been removed but I want to double check. Some people here suggested that I run a Linux CD like Knoppix but since I dont have it can I use Kubuntu. The main purpose is to locate some files and delete them from my HDD. Can I use the Kubuntu Cd that I have for this purpose? I ran the kubuntu CD but I'm not able to make out which application I need to access my folders/directories on HDD. I have used some application called Dolphin which looks like Windows Explorer but the directories are different like /etc /bin etc. There was also one application called Terminal which resembled commmand prompt but instead of C: I have something like /etc ..

Friends I really don't know about Linux so please dont make fun of my queries which maybe stupid. Please help me!

[ray|raven]

Ok, to help you , I need to know a few things.

1.What's your windows partition type i.e ntfs or fat32?
2.Which version of Kubuntu are you using?

Regards,
ray

[narangz]

Well I tried rayraven's method first as its easier & it worked. The Nvidia restricted driver is now installed & enabled. Now when I enable normal or extra Visual Effects from here
System->Preferences->Appearance->Visual Effects
It asks me to login again. After I login & check the Visual Effects its showing None as selected. Tried many times but 'None' is selected.

[ajayritik]

Windows Partition is NTFS. I don't remember the version of Kubuntu.

[ray|raven]

@narangz.
Type this in the terminal and post the output.

glxinfo | grep direct

@ayajritik
Since you have an ntfs partition, you need to have latest kubuntu.
As older versions cant write to ntfs partitions.

And someone please confirm if kubuntu 7.10 has ntfs-3g.

Regards,
ray

[narangz]

^^It says direct rendering:yes

Also in kbunutu i could not get ntfs partitions working but it worked in ubuntu 7.

[Rahim]

Originally Posted by rayraven

@narangz.
And someone please confirm if kubuntu 7.10 has ntfs-3g.

Yes Gutsy has native support for ntfs read/write.

[ajayritik]

I have Kubuntu 7.10 for PC. Do you think it will work? Should I search for Ubuntu now? I hope Kubuntu 7.10 should work!

[ray|raven]

AFAIK 7.10 should support ntfs read/write.
Try it urself,
boot from kubuntu , open the file-manager(should be called konqeror).
The drives would be mounted under /mnt or /media.
(Dont exactly know which, havent used kubuntu)
They would be named as hda1/sda1 etc.
If you installed windows in C, hda1/sda1 it is,
And so on.
Try deleting some useless files,If it works, you can delete the virus files.

Regards,
ray

[narangz]

Originally Posted by narangz

^^It says direct rendering:yes

Anyone? Where are all the linux geeks?

[ray|raven]

Oops.Sorry dude.Forgot to answer you.
Hmm,Looks like the driver's installed and working fine.
Post the contents of ur .xsessionerrors after u tried to enable visual effects.
P.S: The file is hidden,press ctrl+h to show hidden files.

Regards,
ray

[ajayritik]

Thanks for the info raven! I will try it out! I think if at all it doesnt work I will check if I can get Knoppix CD.

[SunnyChahal]

Can i ask here too?
if yes then ,i hav got many questions to shoot!!
1.I heard that ubutnu 64 bit doest have proper drivers for 64 bit ubuntu.Shud i try 32 bit one coz the 64 bit ubuntu alternate dvd i installed doesnt support my gpu
2.Or shud i settle with fedora warewolf.

[narangz]

Originally Posted by rayraven

Oops.Sorry dude.Forgot to answer you.
Hmm,Looks like the driver's installed and working fine.
Post the contents of ur .xsessionerrors after u tried to enable visual effects.
P.S: The file is hidden,press ctrl+h to show hidden files.

Regards,
ray

Errr... Where can I find that file?

Originally Posted by Sunny1211993

Can i ask here too?
if yes then ,i hav got many questions to shoot!!
1.I heard that ubutnu 64 bit doest have proper drivers for 64 bit ubuntu.Shud i try 32 bit one coz the 64 bit ubuntu alternate dvd i installed doesnt support my gpu
2.Or shud i settle with fedora warewolf.

Yes, You can shoot your questions here!

@Praka123- I am missing you here, mate!

[Rahim]

^ In your /home folder. Press CTRL+H to unhide the hidden files and look for .xsession-error file. Remember the dot. It denoted hidden files and folders.
Dont worry Prakash Bhai will soon find this thread.

@sunny123:
My suggestion would be Gutsy 32 Bits as it is easy and help is widely available.

@ajay:
Boot with Kubuntu and open konqueror. It will show removable media, click on it and it will show various partitions but will name it as sda or hda. Your c: drive will be named sda1/hda1. Double click on the partitions and it will mount in /media folder. Then you can delete the virus and other files if you want.