My Ubuntu Linux Project, Installation

After a slight problem, I have finally installed Ubuntu 6.10 on my Windows XP computer. For some reason the computer froze during installation leaving Windows in one partition on one half of the hard drive. I found help on the Ubuntu Forum (more about this below in The Install). Here's the process that I went through to install Ubuntu:

The System

Very briefly:

• eMachines model T2742
• Intel Celeron 2.7 GHz processor
• 768 MB DDR RAM PC2700
• 40 GB hard drive
• Audio (mini jacks for headphones and microphone) & SVGA on motherboard
• Windows XP Home Edition v 2002 SP2
• D-Link DWL-G520 wifi card

For a more complete hardware list and my Evaluation Phase, check out My Ubuntu Linux Project.

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Downloading & Burning the Ubuntu Install Disk

In brief: from the Ubuntu web site I downloaded and burned onto a CD the installer for Ubuntu 6.10, it took about 60 minutes .

In more detail: While I waited for the memory and wifi card that I ordered to arrive, I thought that I would try downloading Ubuntu for Windows on my MacBook. Don't waste your time, it didn't work. It downloaded OK but when I went to burn it on to a CD I got an error message, 'unable to verify file'. I looked at the disk in the Finder and it looked like it had files and folders on it, so I tried using it to install Ubuntu anyway. It briefly flashed a graphic, 'Launching Ubuntu Installer' (or something like that), and then just didn't do anything.

So now I had to download and burn the Ubuntu installer once again but this time on the Windows machine itself. This also involved downloading two other applications. One to verify that the Ubuntu download was correct and the other to burn it as an ISO CD. This was straight forward and took about an hour to do. The info pages at Ubuntu.com were easy to follow: HowToMD5SUM (to verify the download) and BurningIsoHowto.

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The Install

In brief: my initial attempt to install Ubuntu froze up for some reason. I got help at UbuntuForums.org and then the install proceeded without error and took about 75 minutes (roughly 30 minutes to install and then another 30 minutes or so to update the OS with 139 packages). Here's the thread at the forum where I got help: Installation Froze? .

In more depth: When I booted from the Ubuntu CD (put it in the CD drive and then re-started Windows) I was able to try out Ubuntu without actually installing it. This is nice, I was able to check that everything worked before going through with the install. I spent a few hours doing this before going on with the install. The wifi card worked without a problem (thanks for the recommendation monkeywork).

When you decide to install Ubuntu there is an icon on the desktop to start the process. At this point you have to decide how you want to install Ubuntu:

1. Partition the hard drive and dual boot^* with Windows. (This is what I initially chose. You can select the size of the partitions.)
2. Install Ubuntu on the largest empty space on the hard drive. (This choice will install Ubuntu onto an empty partition - if you have one, be sure Windows is the primary partition - and set up a dual boot system with Windows.)
3. Wipe out Windows entirely and install Ubuntu. (Careful! This removes Windows from your system and installs Ubuntu.)

^* Dual boot means when you power-on the computer (without a disk in the CD drive) you will be given the choice of running Windows or Ubuntu. Use the Up and Down arrows to select and then press Enter. Ubuntu is the default boot OS.

Like I said earlier, my first attempt to install froze up for some reason. Briefly it created the new partition for Ubuntu before freezing so I just had to start the process over again but choose option 2 this time - Install Ubuntu on the largest empty space on the hard drive. You can read all about the details here: Installation Froze?. From then on there were no problems, I just followed the friendly instructions on the screen.

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First Impressions

Ubuntu is nice, very good indeed.

Ubuntu is very useful right away. The install includes a lot of useful applications such as OpenOffice and the Firefox web browser. There's even a dozen or so casual games (yes, there's FreeCell).

Ubuntu is very user friendly. Mouse-overs reveal brief descriptions, menu items provide keyboard short-cuts and right-clicking provides options. This should be easy to grok.

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What's Next

Over the next several weeks I will use Ubuntu as my primary computer and then write up an article about the experience.

Here are a few things I will try with Ubuntu: rip and burn CDs, my digital camera (Nikon CoolPix 2500), my scanner (Canon LIDE 20), and my printer (Samsung ML1210).

It took me a little longer than I thought it would to install and get up and running, but I'm happy I did it. Now I look forward to exploring Ubuntu.

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Just One More Thing . . .

I have a few questions for those who have experience with Ubuntu.

1. Automatix versus Synaptic. For packages, what advantage is there in using Automatix instead of Synaptic? If I install Automatix can I freely switch between the two?
2. Is there an app like MacJournal available for Ubuntu? MacJournal is essentially a blogging app that can publish entries directly to a number of blog web sites (I'm most interested in Blogger and Wordpress.com).
3. MP3s and multimedia files, what's best? I was thinking VLC with the Firefox plug-in.

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