New Ubuntu install but a few questions (problems)

Diss · 17 Aug 2009 at 13:46

Hi

I have just installed the 64bit version of Ubuntu 9.04 - nothing else added yet other than updates.

Any suggestions please for the following:

MAKING CHANGES TO THE MAIN MENU (GNOME)
When i go into the GUI for this and tick to add something to the menu the ticks appear but then after about a second the un-tick themselves. Any idea whats going on here?

WIRELESS CONNECTION FOR INTERNET
My USB wireless card was plugged in at the time of install (Netgear WN121T) and i went into network to set up the network details and encryption etc. BUT nothing happens, it doesn't seem to know anything is attached.

TV CARD
Whats the quickest/easyist way to get TV working on my PC. Not looking for anything fancy like MythTV just something basic and easy to set up. The card is a Happauge WinTV Nova TD500 which i gather is supposed to work well in linux.

Thanks

Diss

SoC · 17 Aug 2009 at 14:13

You may get better help with your first request by naming your window manager? KDE, Gnome, etc?

Thanks.

Diss · 17 Aug 2009 at 14:29

thanks for that - its Gnome, have edited first post

cheers

Diss

Diss · 17 Aug 2009 at 14:35

Diss said:
Hi

MAKING CHANGES TO THE MAIN MENU (GNOME)
When i go into the GUI for this and tick to add something to the menu the ticks appear but then after about a second the un-tick themselves. Any idea whats going on here?

hmm - sorted this, well i noticed what i was doing wrong i.e.
it would et me tick "system tools" but would let me tick their sub menu items which then worked and the "system tools" menu also appeared.

Minto · 20 Aug 2009 at 11:17

for tv, mythtv really is the easiest way. Just install the myth backend and frontends through synaptic, the config is pretty self explanatory and it's easier than trying to do it though a media player.

gbradders123 · 20 Aug 2009 at 22:20

Minto said:
for tv, mythtv really is the easiest way. Just install the myth backend and frontends through synaptic, the config is pretty self explanatory and it's easier than trying to do it though a media player.

you found mythvt easy to setup?

BigglesPiP · 21 Aug 2009 at 01:09

SoC said:
You may get better help with your first request by naming your window manager? KDE, Gnome, etc?

Thanks.

Ubuntu uses gnome.

KDE would be kubuntu and XFCE (my favourite) would be Xubuntu.

@OP:
The WiFi problem is that Ubuntu doesn't yet have modules for your wireless driver, which means there are in all probability, no stable open source linux drivers for your adapter. Try this:

1. Do this command:

Code:

lsusb

If you can see the adapter listed, then you can continue to step 2, if not, there is probably a problem with USB or the device itself.

2. Look for restricted drivers.
Normally Ubuntu will show you if restricted drivers are available for the device, but you can go into Settings >> Administration >> Hardware Drivers to scan manually. If a proprietary driver is not found for the device, continue to step 3.

3. Look for source to compile a driver yourself.
It is unlikely that this will help, as ubuntu people would have done it. Google for the device name and Linux, and details form the lsusb output and linux. If you find a driver, follow the instructions to compile it and install on your system.

4. Use the windows driver.
Your last chance would be to install the windows driver under a system called 'ndiswrapper'. It's like wine for drivers.