Getting frustrated with Ubuntu....
ulrich steffens
ulrich at barfuss-jerusalem.org
Mon Nov 28 19:22:11 UTC 2005
Am Montag, den 28.11.2005, 08:45 -0800 schrieb Lee H.:
> Although I have been a Windows user since I bought my first computer in
> 1999, I have made several attempts to work with various distros of Linux
> over the years, all ending in complete frustration. This summer I
> discovered Ubuntu 5.04 and got further than I had ever before but, once
> again, ran into problems with hardware as well as with multi-booting
> different versions of Windows with Ubuntu and had to give up. I have
> now assembled (sort of!) a bunch of leftovers into a computer I can
> dedicate to Ubuntu.
>
> Wanting a fairly light, uncluttered system and wanting to learn as I go,
> I installed 5.10 as a server. I wanted a relatively simple GUI so I
> randomly picked Iceworm and installed it. Pleased with the results, I
> tried to install Opera (my browser of choice!). I used Lynx to try to
> download Opera but I never got the option to save it--all I got was a
> screen full of gibberish. I downloaded it with my Windows box, burned
> it to a CD and installed it from the CD using the instructions found on
> the Ubuntu Wiki and I was ecstatic when everything worked as it should.
> Thank you!
>
> I then, just for comparison purposes, installed Afterstep and Fluxbox.
> Fluxbox takes much, much longer to load but is the only one that picked
> up on the fact that Opera was installed.
>
> At this point I felt I was stalling out--I was happy with what I had
> done so far but I was still a little lost about installing other
> software and, as yet, I had no sound, which didn't really bother me at
> that point.
>
> So, wanting something I was more familiar with, I installed Gnome. Big
> mistake! I didn't notice that installing Gnome would automatically
> install Firefox, Games, Gimp, Abiword and piles of other stuff I either
> didn't want at all or wanted to install manually, one at a time, as a
> learning experience. I can only start Opera from a terminal. Not only
> that, but now I've lost the ability to just boot to the command line.
> I've tried changing the runlevel in /etc/initab but I can only get to
> the command line as root. Whatever else it's set at, X starts.
> Ctrl-Alt-Backspace shuts down X for a second but it immediately starts
> up again. If I try to remove Firefox, etc. using Synaptic, it wants to
> remove Gnome and everything else at the same time. The only refresh
> rate available to me with Gnome is 61, which makes it very hard on the
> eyes compared to Afterstep and the other GUIs.
>
> On the plus side, I now have sound! :)
>
> Now, having proven that I know just enough about Linux to be dangerous
> to myself, I have a few questions. Apologies in advance if I'm missing
> something obvious or using the wrong terminology. Please keep it
> simple! I'm still a Newbie with years of Windows-centric thinking to
> overcome. I've read many instructions on the Web, but after a couple of
> minutes of reading my eyes tend to glaze over and my brain stops. I
> learn by doing, and it's only after I've done something once or twice
> that I begin to understand what the instructions are telling me.
>
> 1. When downloading software from various sources, where is the default
> place I'm supposed to download it to?
>
> 2. Is it possible to install just the GUI part of Gnome without all the
> excess baggage it brings with it?
>
> 3a. How do I change the refresh rate so I can use Gnome? The other
> GUIs I've tried are watchable with no flickering. Why is Gnome
> different? 3b. What part of the Gnome installation made my soundcard
> work?
>
> 4. At some time, I do want to attempt to compile a Kernel suited to my
> machine. I've found the instructions on the Wiki and they look good.
> Are there any "Gotchas" or things I should look out for?
>
> 5. I have, for years, used Forté Agent as my Mail/News program, running
> it through Hamster Classic for its multi-server capability. What Linux
> program most closely resembles Agent in usage? I would prefer the
> simplicity of having one program for email and newsgroups (with
> multi-server capability) but I could adapt to something else if I had
> to. :)
>
> 6. Under Windows, you have to install chipset drivers from VIA. Is
> there something similiar under Linux or is this not necessary?
>
>
>
> I think that'll do for now! Thanks for your patience!
>
> Relevant hardware:
>
> Gigabyte 7ZM motherboard with an Athlon 1.2 (200 FSB) which the board is
> "supposed" to recognize but doesn't--I can only get about 950 wherever I
> set the dip switches.
>
> On-board sound -- AC97
>
> ATI 7200 video card with Viewsonic Q71 monitor
>
>
>
>
>
> Lee H. in beautiful Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada!
>
> --
>
lee,
where is the point in choosing ubuntu as a distribution and then *not*
taking advantage of *any* of its features?
--
ulrich steffens
ulrich at barfuss-jerusalem.org
http://www.barfuss-jerusalem.org
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