Installing Ununtu

[uk_falang]

I downloaded the i386 version, as I dont know if my machine is X64

How do i know if it is X64? vI bought PC last week, 2.53 Celeron - Mobo is MSI PM8M3V i did ask the guy in the PC shop but he didnt know if it was X64

Now i try and install this and I get the install screen when i boot from the CD.

I select the option to check the disk and i get a Kernal Scanning Error - it appears as something like a dos screen with command prompt.

I get similar error if i try and install too.

I have tried both the text and OEM install (what is the difference?)

I have WINMD5Sum program to check the iso file and have compared it to the hex code given on the ubuntu site. They match.

I downloaded this by bittorrent.

Also i have another question. I have hard drive with 2 partions, one NTFS for Windows and I used partition magic to make a second partition in FAT32 as I understand this is what i need for linux.

My question is - I am concerned when I try to install Ubuntu it will go on the wrong partition and overwrite windows.

How do i make a dual boot and install linux n the FAT32 (blank) partition.

Thank you

[silvero]

I can answer some of your questions:

Re X64: You can look up the specifications of your processor, or you can run Securable (in Windows) from grc.com which is an easy way to find out:

http://www.grc.com/securable.htm

I don't know specifically about the Kernel Scanning error (is that precisely how it is worded?), but if the CD fails the CD check I'd re-burn the CD. If you have a CD-R/W try using that. If the iso has a matching MD5 then no need to download again.

An OEM install method is for pre-installing Ubuntu on a new PC, so probably isn't the best way for you to install. There are two iso's which you can use:

PC (Intel x86) desktop CD - ubuntu-6.10-desktop-i386.iso

PC (Intel x86) alternate install CD - ubuntu-6.10-alternate-i386.iso

The first one boots as a live CD with graphical interface and allows you to install from this environment, the second uses a text installer and has no live CD capability. You can use either one, but if you want further help, let us know which one you are using.

You can check which one by the filename, and the MD5 sum. If for any reason you need to download, there is a Thai mirror for very fast download - www.mirror.in.th

Re partitions: You will need two partitions for Ubuntu, the system partition will be formatted as ext3 and the other as linux-swap - FAT32 isn't involved in the system install but it's handy to have a FAT32 partition for data storage which can be accessed by both Windows and Ubuntu. So I'd recommend you plan 4 partitions - Windows (NTFS probably), Ubuntu system (ext3), Swap (swap size should be 2xRAM), shared data (FAT32).

Here's some more information on planning partitions:

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/partitioning

Once you know how you want your drive to look, you can modify/create the partitions you need during the install procedure by selecting 'manually edit partition table'. You don't need to use Partition Magic or anything else before the install - the installer allows you to create, delete, move and even resize all your partitions.

After you have finished setting up the partitions you need to set 'mount points' - this tells Ubuntu which partitions are used for what:

The Ubuntu system drive should be mount point "/" and reformat should be checked

The swap partition should be mount point "swap" and reformat should be checked

The WIndows partition will probably be mounted as "/media/hda1" or similar - just make sure that reformat is unchecked and it won't be overwritten

If you have a shared partiton then it may be mounted as "/media/hda4" or similar - reformat if you wish.

If you are unsure about any of this, plan your partitions first, then post how your drive looks now and what you want it to look like and me or someone else here can give you detailed instructions.

As for dual-boot, Ubuntu automatically recognizes Windows installations and installs GRUB which gives you a text menu on boot up and allows you to choose which OS you wish to boot. If you want to change the default OS or even go back to Windows it's very easy to do.

[Richard-BKK]

The Intel Celeron 2.53Ghz on socket 478 and/or socket 775 is not able to run any X64 code.

[uk_falang]

Thank you

The errors i get when i try to check thee disk or install ubuntu...

install:

[29.776024] Kernel Panic - not syncing. Attempted to kill init!

and

[38.295281] Kernel Panic - not syncing. Attempted to kill init!

I have tried burning the iso with both Infra Recorder (recommended by ubuntu site)

and using Nero - using all the default iso burning settings.

I am still not having any luck! I downloaded again the torrent ubuntu-6.10-alternate-i386.iso from mirror.in.th site and have done the checksum test again.

I have tried using two different cd burners.

I can answer some of your questions:

Re X64: You can look up the specifications of your processor, or you can run Securable (in Windows) from grc.com which is an easy way to find out:

http://www.grc.com/securable.htm

I don't know specifically about the Kernel Scanning error (is that precisely how it is worded?), but if the CD fails the CD check I'd re-burn the CD. If you have a CD-R/W try using that. If the iso has a matching MD5 then no need to download again.

An OEM install method is for pre-installing Ubuntu on a new PC, so probably isn't the best way for you to install. There are two iso's which you can use:

PC (Intel x86) desktop CD - ubuntu-6.10-desktop-i386.iso

PC (Intel x86) alternate install CD - ubuntu-6.10-alternate-i386.iso

The first one boots as a live CD with graphical interface and allows you to install from this environment, the second uses a text installer and has no live CD capability. You can use either one, but if you want further help, let us know which one you are using.

You can check which one by the filename, and the MD5 sum. If for any reason you need to download, there is a Thai mirror for very fast download - www.mirror.in.th

Re partitions: You will need two partitions for Ubuntu, the system partition will be formatted as ext3 and the other as linux-swap - FAT32 isn't involved in the system install but it's handy to have a FAT32 partition for data storage which can be accessed by both Windows and Ubuntu. So I'd recommend you plan 4 partitions - Windows (NTFS probably), Ubuntu system (ext3), Swap (swap size should be 2xRAM), shared data (FAT32).

Here's some more information on planning partitions:

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/partitioning

Once you know how you want your drive to look, you can modify/create the partitions you need during the install procedure by selecting 'manually edit partition table'. You don't need to use Partition Magic or anything else before the install - the installer allows you to create, delete, move and even resize all your partitions.

After you have finished setting up the partitions you need to set 'mount points' - this tells Ubuntu which partitions are used for what:

The Ubuntu system drive should be mount point "/" and reformat should be checked

The swap partition should be mount point "swap" and reformat should be checked

The WIndows partition will probably be mounted as "/media/hda1" or similar - just make sure that reformat is unchecked and it won't be overwritten

If you have a shared partiton then it may be mounted as "/media/hda4" or similar - reformat if you wish.

If you are unsure about any of this, plan your partitions first, then post how your drive looks now and what you want it to look like and me or someone else here can give you detailed instructions.

As for dual-boot, Ubuntu automatically recognizes Windows installations and installs GRUB which gives you a text menu on boot up and allows you to choose which OS you wish to boot. If you want to change the default OS or even go back to Windows it's very easy to do.

[silvero]

If it can't pass the CD-check then the most likely cause of the error is the CD - if the iso passes the md5 check then you have downloaded it successfully but it still needs to be readable from the burnt CD.

Recently I had to actually use a pressed Ubuntu 6.06 disk on a friend's machine because I couldn't get my CD-R to work, even though the same CD-R worked on my own machine. I hope you aren't having the same problem. Do you have any way to try the cd-check on another computer? If it passes the CD check on another computer then you will have isolated the problem.

If it is in fact caused by a hardware problem, the messages immediately preceding the Kernel Panic message it may tell us what the cause of the problem is, post them if you can.

[uk_falang]

Its strange because when i run the winmd5sum program on the iso image the hex number comes up almost immediatley, but the instructions say that this could take a considerable amount of time.

Anyway the iso hex code matches that on the site - so it appears to be OK.

There are many options for burning an iso in Nero - which ones are best? - filename length, etc

Thanks

[silvero]

An md5 check on the Ubuntu ISO takes more than 15 seconds of disk thrashing on my fairly new-ish machine, is your computer special?

If the md5sum really does check OK, I'd try burning it at 4x, and try a different brand of CD-R if you have it. I think most of the burning options won't apply to burning an iso as they were set when the image was mastered. I don't really have any other suggestions regarding burning, other than that the CD-R/W's I've used have been a bit better than the CD-R's.

[jackk]

I downloaded the i386 version, as I dont know if my machine is X64

Don't worry about that, Ubuntu 6.10 kernel is a generic one. It will work anyway.

[uk_falang]

OK Great

I installed. However it only seems to have 5gb space - i think i did something wrong as i have 30 gb hd on my laptop and i tried to allocate 15g to linux and 15g to windows. Maybe I should go back into windows and use partition magic to make a fat 32 partiton for 5 gb or so to save files so i can work on them in windows and in linux

There is a prgram already installed called Gimp - which seems similar to photoshop. I need to use this to build web sites. I also need a program similar to dreamweaver for web pages and a program similar to Smart FTP for uploading files. I will need a word processor and a spread sheet - someone suggested open office. I use a GPRS modem, which isnt a good connection so I need to use smart FTP or an FTP program where i can queue up files and let them upload overnight.

Where is the best place to get applications for ubuntu

Thanks for you help people

[uk_falang]

i am downloading java for linux

do i need the RPM or the standard linux. What is RPM?

[jackk]

I will need a word processor and a spread sheet - someone suggested open office

It's quite overbloated (that's what happens when someone wants to port to linux all these useless suites windows users have)

You can use (or at least give them a try) 'abiword' for word processor and 'gnumeric' for the spread sheets. They are great, compact, fast, reliable and fully compatible with all your windows documents.

For FTP, 'gftp' is OK, few bugs but OK and for your partitions you can play with 'gparted'.

Just type "apt-get install" + the name of the above apps.

I forgot your most important question:

Where is the best place to get applications for ubuntu

Click System/Administration/Synaptic Package Manager, or Applications/Add-Remove. But you can do it all from terminal or there 'http://packages.ubuntu.com'

Edited January 26, 2007 by jackk

[uk_falang]

Thanks

I am trying to install GPRS aircard.

http://www.sierrawireless.com/faq/ShowFAQ.aspx?ID=523

I need to log in as ROOT

How can i do this? I dont recall setting a root password

[Tywais]

I need to log in as ROOT

How can i do this? I dont recall setting a root password

Ubuntu is one of the few Linux distributions out there that will not enable the root account.If you want to do something with root permission on the console you have to type sudo before the command.

sudo” means superuser do. “sudo” will prompt for “Password:”. Please specify user password

As you have noticed during the Ubuntu installation there was no question about the root password, as you might have been used to see during other Linux distribution installation process.Because of this your root accout is inactive.

If you want to enable root account (which is not recommended) enter the following command.

$sudo passwd root

This will prompt for a new root password and once you confirm it, you can start using the root account to login.

If you want to disable root account in ubuntu you need to lock the root account by using the following command

$sudo passwd -l root

If you want to work on a root console you’d better use the following command

$sudo -i

[uk_falang]

Thank you

So if i install programs i should always use sudo? Because if i dont, and make another user account, the other users will not be able to use the programs?

Can you suggest a document to help people like myself who are used to Windows to use Linux. There is a lot of terminology such as cd, bash, bin and a file structure that i dont understand. I dont want to keep bothering you with questions.

Thank you for you help.

I need to log in as ROOT

How can i do this? I dont recall setting a root password

Ubuntu is one of the few Linux distributions out there that will not enable the root account.If you want to do something with root permission on the console you have to type sudo before the command.

sudo” means superuser do. “sudo” will prompt for “Password:”. Please specify user password

As you have noticed during the Ubuntu installation there was no question about the root password, as you might have been used to see during other Linux distribution installation process.Because of this your root accout is inactive.

If you want to enable root account (which is not recommended) enter the following command.

$sudo passwd root

This will prompt for a new root password and once you confirm it, you can start using the root account to login.

If you want to disable root account in ubuntu you need to lock the root account by using the following command

$sudo passwd -l root

If you want to work on a root console you’d better use the following command

$sudo -i

[Tywais]

The unix/linux command set is quite large. However, even myself having worked in unix enviornments for more then 25 years have not used all of them. There are a small subset that will be of importance and used regularly. You can try this site for tutorial.

http://www.linuxcommand.org/

http://www.techtutorials.info/lcommands.html

a list of most unix commands > http://www.perpetualpc.net/srtd_commands_rev.html (Can use this for reference to a new command line term you may come across).

//edit - also the majority of commands you come across you can just type 'man' and the command to get help on it. Eg. 'man ls' (without the quote marks) will give you an explanation of the ls command.

Edited January 26, 2007 by tywais
Additional info

[silvero]

First, I strongly recommend you read through the Desktop Guide, it's really well written and will probably answer most of your questions:

https://help.ubuntu.com/6.10/ubuntu/desktop...de/C/index.html

Re applications - Openoffice is already installed and I think you will find it familiar and easy to use. There are several ftp programs, I use gftp. Someone else maybe can recommend a substitute for Dreamweaver.

The best place to get programs for Ubuntu is from the Ubuntu repositories. Click System->Administration->Software Sources and on the first tab check all the boxes and press close. This enables a wider range of software to be available.

Now click System->Administration->Synaptic Package Manager, use the Sections list on the left to browse, or press the search button and look for the name or purpose of a program. More info here:

https://help.ubuntu.com/6.10/ubuntu/desktop...C/synaptic.html

RPM is a package format designed for Red Hat based distributions. Ubuntu is Debian based. It is possible to install an RPM package, but the DEB package is easier. Java is in the repositories, so an even easier method is to use the Synaptic Package Manager to install it, just search for Java and a list will appear, if you just want the Firefox Java plugin, it's called j2re1.4-mozilla-plugin

If you need further info on root permissions and sudo have a look here:

https://help.ubuntu.com/6.10/ubuntu/desktop...t-and-sudo.html

tywais' links are excellent sites, and here is a site which has good how-to's for common tasks in Ubuntu:

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/

[cat1981]

when i install it on on my laptop i got a dos like err after install make everex va401m if this help it run i get the doss err but no os truble

[cdnvic]

Someone else maybe can recommend a substitute for Dreamweaver.

Kompozer is a powerful WYSIWYG editor that is actually NVU without all the bugs.

http://kompozer.sourceforge.net/