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Mar
22
Instead of writing a long boring article, I thought why not list the solutions in a simple Q&A format? The following is a list of random but basic solutions for Ubuntu beginners.
Q) Should I install Ubuntu or Redhat or Suse or something else, please advise?!
A) Ubuntu is probably best if you’re an absolute newbie. It almost comes with all the drivers and has no problems detecting your wireless card or anything else attached to your laptop/PC. For me it worked like a charm, all devices detected. Another reason I like it is because it is lightweight. It is free and entire OS for desktop is in one CD as oppose to 5 CDs for SuSE and 4-5 for Fedora! They even mail you a CD for free. There are 3 types of Ubuntu: Kubuntu (KDE Version), Xubuntu and Edubuntu. Their website is http://www.ubuntu.com. Also, a good source for different flavors of *NIX is http://www.linuxiso.org/
Q) Installing Ubuntu Linux 6.1.0 freezes half way. What’s going on??
A) This maybe because of compatability issue with your hardware. However, try doing the basic first.
Redownload the ISO and burn a new CD, sometimes the contents somehow get corrupt. Last thing you can do is try installing it on another PC and see if it has same problem.
Q) How can I turn my Ubuntu Desktop into a server??
A) The beauty of Linux is that it can be whatever you want it to be. Only difference is server edition comes preconfigured with some servera pps. There is nothing to stop you from installing whatever server application though. Good luck.
Q) How do I tell which package a file belongs to?? Like a library file for example?
A) First make sure you have apt-file installed. If you don’t do ‘apt-get install apt-file‘. To discover to which package a file belongs type: apt-file search filename. If you want to install a package but don’t know exact name, you can use ‘apt-file‘ to find the package name, just type: apt-file list packagename.
apt-file keeps a database of which files all packages contain and it needs to be up-to-date. Type: apt-file-update
Q) How do I tell my version and kernel of Linux??
A) Several ways to do this:
uname -a
cat /etc/issue
cat /proc/version
Q) How can I install the GUi on Ubuntu Server?
A) Simply type the following command: sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop to install Gnome
‘apt-get install kubuntu-desktop‘ adds KDE to Ubuntu
Q) Is there an AntiVirus software for Ubuntu or Linux in general?
A) Sure. Everyone recommends ClamAV. Visit http://www.clamav.net and fetch the download.
Q) My X windows crap out with some errors. How can i get more info??
A) Check /var/log/Xorg.0.log for any hints on why X failed to start.
Q) I lost my root password for Ubuntu? How do I get it back in?
A) Do the following:
1) Reboot
2) In GRUB, press ‘a’ to add parameters to the kernel. Add a space and 1
3) Now you’re logged in single-user mode with root logged in. Simply reset root password.
Or you can also:
1) Boot with Life CD
2) Mount / partition to /tmp
3) edit /etc/shadow and clear password field so root looks something like this: root:0:0:99399:1::::
4) You can reboot normally and just type ‘root’. You’ll be in the system with using a password.
Q) How do I get my XP to see my Linux partition?
A) Windows XP lacks support for reading/writing to Linux file system. You can get Ext2 file system for Windows from http://www.fs-driver.org/download.htm/
Q) How do I install FireFox?
A) Great article that’ll guide you: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=330386
Q) How do I install Anything in Ubuntu like FireFox, Flash, Adobe Reader and etc.??
A) 1)Another great article that’ll guide you: http://cutlersoftware.com/ubuntuinstall/
2) Get Automatix from http://getautomatix.com/ This is the best newbie tool you out there that’ll do everything for you.
I can go on compiling Q&As. But the list would be so long. I’ve put together some links to get you started with Linux.
Linux is probably the best operating system out there. You’ll start loving it and wonder what you were doing using Windows all these years!
Helpful links:
http://www.sirdaz.com/lin/ - Large list of free Linux books you can read
http://freebooks.homelinux.org/index.php - Mirror.
Comments
10 Comments so far
I seriously doubt ubuntu will detect every single piece of hardware that anyone hooks up to their computer, including wireless card. It may have worked for you, but I know for a fact it doesn’t work for everyone. Think before you post next time fanboy.
Add: Why doesn’t my password show up when I type it in the terminal?
Why is everyone so crazy about Ubuntu?
I think it sucks. I think Linux sucks.
Unix sucks.
Microsoft is the best. Everyone knows that.
Why else would it have 95% of the world market share?
Apple sucks too.
I can’t believe ANYBODY would say linux sucks and Windows is best, unless they virtually never use any *IX OS.
They are different, and serve different purposes, mostly (so far - but not for long!).
For example, there are many software development jobs that would take 100 times longer to develop/debug using Windows as a platform compared to using linux/Solaris/etc as a platform.
Personally, I like to keep the 2 side by side, and use each where it is better suited.
In the “beginning”, I used Windows more, but it was because it was what I was more familiar with. Over the past couple years I use Windows less and less, and linux and Solaris more and more, because they are better at lots of things, especially in the software development world.
You should be a little more open minded about things, and give a fair examination to various players. Linux is not becoming so popular only because of the price tag.
Im determined to learn Linux & ive installed ubuntu on my old laptop. Ive never been a fan of typing in commands & this seems to standard with Linux. It does’nt seem as easy to use as people say. Several questions
1. After booting up i dont know where to start. I can use basic applications but how do install other software?
2.I run ubuntu alongside WinXP on the otherside of the partition. Can i import my windows files?
3. I use GPRS on a motorola phone for my internet. How can i install the phone modem on ubuntu. When i plug in the phone there is no sign that the OS recognises that anything has been plugged!
@Dr. Davd..
I can’t answer your questions of the top of my head but you can probably find the answers here: http://ubuntuforums.org/
I do agree that Linux is a bit harder to work with..it’s a completely different OS. I suppose if you’re comfortable on Windows and see no need to get on Linux other than just trying it out, you should stick to what you feel comfortable with.
The learning curve for Linux is lengthy and time consuming but it will payoff at the end because you’ll eventually realize how much powerful Unix/Linux OS is than Windows.
Good luck!
[…] Ubuntu Q&A for Absolute Beginners […]
k im an absolute noob with ubuntu linux and i want the beryl upgrade i know nothing about terminal or anything else can u help me?
i am a newbie to ubuntu 7.10,only had it 4 days but guess what i like it better than vista, and it makes you look for solutions to problems keeps the old brain ticking over.thanks to everyone that contributes. mick
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