Linux n00b here, just installed the latest Unbuntu, got a few Q's

MikeHunt79

MikeHunt79

MikeHunt79

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I'm dual booting it with XP, so I can boot to XP if I need to do anything I can't do in Linux.

Anyway, I've just done an install, and I'm a bit stuck with a few things.

1) Does Unbuntu support dual monitors? I couldn't find any way of making the second screen work. :(

2) How do you connect to a wifi network? Unbuntu sees my wifi card, but it doesn't pick up my wireless network despite it working fine in XP.

3) Is there anyway of forcing refesh rates? I'd like 1280 x 960 @ 100Hz if I could. :)

4) I couldn't find my windows shared folders... So I need to play with samba or anything like that?

That's all I can think of right now, apart from these issues it seems good. :)

EDIT: Is there a way to make it so XP comes at the top of the list when choosing OS's at boot?
 
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I don't know squat about multiple monitors and such but I can help with the last question. The config file that determines what is displayed in the boot menu is located, by default, at /boot/grub/menu.lst. To edit it open up a terminal window and type
Code: 
sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
A little way down you'll see
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not change this entry to 'saved' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0
Click to expand...
To change the default option enter a different number here. A little way lower in the file you'll see the available boot images. I currently have 2 Linux kernels, 2 failsafe Linux kernels, memtest, and Windows XP. Since the count starts at 0 I'd enter 5 in place of the 0 to have that be the default selection. Tailor yours to match your situation. Save the file and see if it works the next time you reboot.

I hope this helps. :)

EDIT: I do know that in order for multiple monitors to work properly in most cases you'll need to install the proprietary driver for your graphics card. Have you done this? It will be the first step in any guide. If not, what card do you have in the machine?
 
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MikeHunt79 said:
I'm dual booting it with XP, so I can boot to XP if I need to do anything I can't do in Linux.
/SNIP
Click to expand...
1) yes - good place to start

2) try this

3) Editing /etc/X11/xorg.conf with a text editor - be warned though... if you're monitor cannot support the sync rates, you could damage it..

4) yes - you will need to install samba (plus any extra bits that go with it)

(links added as they will explain it better than I ;))
 
sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst <- worked a treat

I'm not a fan of vi or vim I'm afraid, all those keyboard shortcuts do my head in... ;) Gedit worked a treat, and not it boots XP by default. :)

Thanks for the links... I'm gonna have a stab at dual screens first, then tinker with refresh rates and wifi.
 
If you have an nVidia card (and the proprietry drivers installed), then there's a gui tool you can use to help you out... something along the lines of
Code: 
# nvidia-config
as root, type nvidia and then tab twice... that will show you a list of possible commands - pick the one that looks closest to the above ;)
 
I'll give it a go. My card is a ATI radeon 9200se, so I guess the nvidia thing won't work.

I'm having a few issues with my rig right now, I'm swapping out the motherboard, but once I've done that, I'll have a play. :)

Also, unbuntu finds my wifi card ok, I just can't get it to search for wireless networks. :confused:
 
http://ubuntuforums.org/

That should help a bit. Can't help on the ATI prob, grub prob is solved.

In stall and configure samba. for windows share browsing, or install SFU (services for Unix on the windows machine and use NFS)
vim /etc/samba/smb.conf
man smb.conf

check the samba howto

Setting you screen for 100Hz, should be covered in your quest to get dual screenies working.

For Nvida card users, the magic command is nvidia-settings but only if you are using the nvidia proprietry binary driver.

Use another tool to search for wireless networks.
 
Xinerama lets you go dual-screen, thing is though you won't get OpenGL on both monitors so things like Beryl or Compiz won't play nicely. Another alternative would be to set each monitor up as a seperate screen in the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file. This gives the advantage of OpenGL on both screens and you can run two window managers at once. You can't, however, move windows between screens then. If you are serious about running linux on a dual-monitor setup look at upgrading to a cheap GeForce card though, it makes life easier.

With the wireless network question, what card have you got in and what does lspci give? (Ubuntu may well detect the card but need firmware files to operate it correctly.)
 
refresh said:
Xinerama lets you go dual-screen, thing is though you won't get OpenGL on both monitors so things like Beryl or Compiz won't play nicely.
Click to expand...

I get dual screen OpenGL :)
 
I found that it's quite easy to get dual screen opengl - only problem is, though... If you're playing games (as I do, through cedega), the display will be centred between the two monitors (which is not ideal!!). So you have to play with metamodes - which will shut down one monitor whilst playing...

The only way (currently) to have a screen with a browser, etc open whilst playing is to have nested x servers - although this also has its drawbacks...
 
I'm impressed about the OpenGL on Xinerama. Anyway, I shan't take this thread more off-topic.

In answer to the problem with the wireless card for the original poster could you please post exactly what steps you take to try and get the wireless adapter to work as well as the information I requested previously then we have more chance of working out what you need to do?
 
Helpful thread. I'm also a Linux virgin. Tried installing Ubuntu but I cannot see the bottom parts of each install screen (screen set to 800*600) as Ubuntu doesnt recognise my GF6150 graphics. If I use the Admin thing then it asks for a reboot and of course then it has lost the settings so WTF do I need to do to be able to install it!

I'm happy enough to lose my XP install on this machine but ideally would want XP as well.

TBH I dont even need Ubuntu in the end because I need grub installed and then to do some re-partitioning to install a Linux based prog called Amithlon.

God its all like hard work.. WinUAE might be easier!
 
refresh said:
In answer to the problem with the wireless card for the original poster could you please post exactly what steps you take to try and get the wireless adapter to work as well as the information I requested previously then we have more chance of working out what you need to do?
Click to expand...
I still haven't got round to swapping motherboards I'm afraid (the BIOS died on my old one) :(, I should be able to do it tomorrow with any luck. Once I've done that, I'll give it another go, and post some more info. :)
refresh said:
With the wireless network question, what card have you got in and what does lspci give? (Ubuntu may well detect the card but need firmware files to operate it correctly.)
Click to expand...
I haven't tried lspci, I'm guessing it's a shell command like ifconfig? I should be able to post the results once I resurrect the rig.

My card is a Belkin F5D7000v1, and ubuntu does seem to detect it ok, but I haven't figured out how to get it to connect to a wireless network (yet).
 
yeah lspci lists the pci peripherals that are installed and have been detected. On its own the ls command lists files and directories (think of it like the dir command in DOS only it offers much much more). Similarly lsusb does the same but for connected USB peripherals.

There are man pages for all 3 commands if you're interested in knowing the various options you can use with these commands.
 
I installed ubuntu on a friends laptop after his xp installation got corrupted and he couldn't find the recovery cd.
He had an Asus wi-fi card that could be seen but not used, I had to compile a driver for his kernel myself, there wasn't any pre packaged or rpm files on the Asus site.
This was 6.04lts I don't know if they have improved driver suppoet in the latest build.
 
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