Linux here I come!!!

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#109556 9-Feb-2008 22:27

The 20Gb on d: is more than enough for my files. Given that I don't *need* more space from the c:, should I just let Edubuntu have the whole 10Gb as a single ext3? I'm not sure what real advantages I'd get from partitioning c:. If I keep all my files on d: (I can reassign Linux to save all documents to d: right?) then in case I wanted to install an OS from scratch then I don't need to worry about backing up files on c: - correct?

Do I need to worry about AV/Firewall/Defrag as a Linux user? :D

manhinli

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#109557 9-Feb-2008 22:37

I don't really get what you're saying...

So you want:

"C:" (your First HDD: 10GB) to be completely wiped and will contain Edubuntu, and
"D:" (your Second HDD: 20GB) to stay intact?

Is that correct?

"C:" contains your Windows system files. So I would recommend:

You split/partition "D:" off so you can install Edubuntu into that space, OR
You completely backup your documents, wipe "C:" and "D:" and:
- install Edubuntu completely on "C:", and
- install Windows again, on "D:" and replace your documents.

If you want a tidier system I would choose the second, but for sheer convenience, you can partition your 20GB hard drive to accommodate Edubuntu. I wouldn't recommend partitioning "C:" as I would recommend to have at least 5GB for "/" and 1GB for "Swap". That would be very restrictive on space on "C:" with Windows and the program files there.

AV/Firewall/all that... I didn't care on my system, unless you're running some important service or just care about your safety.
Defrag is not even necessary on ext3 and ReiserFS systems.

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#109560 9-Feb-2008 22:52

Also, most of a user's files are stored under the famous "/home" directory.

You can say, install Edubuntu on "C:" and create a partition (at least 5GB in size) on "D:" and 'mount' it as "/home"

Easy.

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ahmad

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#109561 9-Feb-2008 23:11

Hi and thanks. I think the confusion is because you assume I still want Windows - I don't ;)

I JUST WANT Edubuntu.

So is it reasonable to:

Install Edubuntu to c:

Leave all my files on d:

Assign d: as the /home folder?

ahmad

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#109582 10-Feb-2008 03:17

Ok installed. I made 1 error in OP - I actually had 512Mb RAM, not 384Mb.

I'll have to admit that it's not running as fast as I had imagined it might (not sure why I had such high hopes), but in all honesty it runs about the same speed as under Windows 2000 (which means I gain a more modern and "better" OS without sacrificing speed).

So all in all very satisfied, although the installed driver for my Philips 107s monitor doesn't seem to know the correct highest refresh rates for the monitor (sets them too low). Also I can't activate any "eye candy" with my AGP 32Mb video card - not surprising but still disappointed :)

Anyway this is the setup:

10Gb ext3 with OS and home directory there

20Gb NTFS untouched, all my files still safe

Question 1: How do I go about changing the home directory location so that all my files are on the 20Gb HDD (thereby making it easier to make changes on the OS partition without affecting my files/documents? Also, how do I create a restricted user that can't change control panel settings? The only restriction options I saw were to do with things like accessing printers, CD ROMs, and the internet.

2. And while I'm at it - my first problem in Linux. I can't "sleep" the computer. It just hangs and I have to reboot. Any suggestions? I was always able to sleep the computer with Windows 2000, and it would do that automatically after a period of inactivity.

Hibernate doesn't work either (spits out errors - something to do with USB), and then it would output "Power Down" and turn off the machine. But turning it back on restarts the PC and the computer hangs (although hibernation is not what I would want anyway for a desktop machine).

Why use sleep? I like to think it saves some power if I'm not using the computer but it's quicker to resume. If I'm only kidding myself about the power savings do please let me know.

3. Thought I might as well add to this while awaiting replies: I've had some system crashes so have had to turn off the computer without properly shutting down (as unable to). Windows doesn't like that and leaves a lot of temp rubbish that I usually like to clear. Any such thing in Linux?

4. Add/Remove programs - Even uninstalling a program in Windows leaves behind a lot of crap (is that always the case?). What about Linux - are programs always cleanly removed in entirety?

manhinli

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#109613 10-Feb-2008 10:18

Shouldn't have installed without me telling you other stuff you should have done during Setup, but as you're already here...

You will need a ext3 "/home" directory. Using an NTFS file system for the "/home" directory can cause problems.

So... either:

Backup and Wipe "D:", create a ext3 filesystem on it, replace your files, and finally set some settings to make it mount as "/home", OR
Partition the space you've got on "D:" for "/home" and follow this: http://ubuntu.wordpress.com/2006/01/29/move-home-to-its-own-partition/

Don't worry about restrictions. Every user (including you) are usually named as a standard user. To be able to change important system settings, Ubuntu will ask for the "administrator's" password (the 'root' password). The user 'root' can do anything, so be careful if you're in the Terminal using 'sudo'. During Setup, it should have asked you for that 'administrator' password - so don't forget it.

Failing Sleep and Hibernation can be linked to the motherboard, so look up your chipset (if you can find it).

Crashes leaving trash does occur in Linux - but it's not in huge proportions (unless it's like temp files from OpenOffice and stuff - that should be easy to track down) and it usually should clean up by itself. Also, as most Linux systems use ext3 - it has journalling and so don't worry about corruption (it's very minor).

To remove packages completely - go into Synaptic, find your package, right-click, and select "Mark for Complete Removal". You can also run:
sudo apt-get --purge remove [package]

The difference between a normal remove and this one is that all package 'setup' files are purged. You can save quite a lot of space (especially with all the updates). So you might want to run:
sudo apt-get clean
once in a while to remove all the downloaded 'setup' files, as updates are essentially just a new download of the whole package again.

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ahmad

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#109625 10-Feb-2008 12:10

manhinli: Shouldn't have installed without me telling you other stuff you should have done during Setup, but as you're already here...

manhinli, it took me about 10 days to install Windows Vista so to have to reinstall Ubuntu over 30 minutes isn't going to be a problem for me

Because I have OCD tendencies, I was unlikely to "like" my first install anyway and was always going to learn a bit about Linux before going back and clean reinstalling everything - the way I like it.

However having read your post, perhaps I haven't wasted my time anyway. From what I understand, my best solution is now to shift my files from NTFS d: to ext3 c:, then reformat d: as ext3, then shift my files back to ext3 d:, and THEN reinstall Edubuntu - right?

1. Please reassure me that a person of my ability will be able to setup file sharing for Windows to read ext3 partitions easily.

2. During setup I was NOT given the option to setup an administrator password. This doesn't affect me as by all accounts it would be stupid for me to log in as root, but I thought I'd let you know that - I think Ubuntu "locks" the root account by default so that you can't log in to it unless you manually set a password, thereby unlocking access to that account.

3. During setup I was not given the option of what to install - is there an advanced installation option somewhere or do all Ubuntu isos by default install every single thing? Given that I don't need half of the Open Office Suite, is there any way to clean remove this (and other) programs that I have no use for? From your post, I am assuming that removing them in "add/remove" will not completely remove their traces.

4. When I do come to reinstall the OS again, is there any other thing you want me to do so that I don't upset you again?

manhinli

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#109643 10-Feb-2008 13:44

I can't answer all your questions to depth - I'm typing this on an iPod.

About the wipe, exactly what you said is fine.

I just remembered Ubuntu asks for the users password when configuring - through sudo.

Currently, there is only read support from third party apps for Windows for access to ext3 systems.

Most Linux distris don't ask for what to install, but they usually come with helpful software (unlike some other OSes). You will need to remove packages via Synaptic or apt-get post install.

Other stuff to remind you during setup is to use the advanced partitioning method. That way you can mount "/home" there. Cant give you links as I can't cut and paste here.

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chakkaradeep

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#109662 10-Feb-2008 15:30

ahmad:
manhinli, it took me about 10 days to install Windows Vista so to have to reinstall Ubuntu over 30 minutes isn't going to be a problem for me

As far as I know, you were doing many other things along with installation (several reinstallations too) which were the reasons for you which took 10 days and not that Vista installation is hard

and in my laptop I dont see much difference between installation of Vista and Ubuntu

Regards,
Chaks

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chakkaradeep

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#109663 10-Feb-2008 15:34

ahmad:
3. During setup I was not given the option of what to install - is there an advanced installation option somewhere or do all Ubuntu isos by default install every single thing? Given that I don't need half of the Open Office Suite, is there any way to clean remove this (and other) programs that I have no use for? From your post, I am assuming that removing them in "add/remove" will not completely remove their traces.

There is an excellent distro for these reasons and its PCLinuxOS MiniMe which installs only the basic things and then you can install what you want on top of that. I dont know how complicated or hard or easy will that be for you, but you asked for it and here I give

ahmad

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#109665 10-Feb-2008 15:48

chakkaradeep:
ahmad:
manhinli, it took me about 10 days to install Windows Vista so to have to reinstall Ubuntu over 30 minutes isn't going to be a problem for me

As far as I know, you were doing many other things along with installation (several reinstallations too) which were the reasons for you which took 10 days and not that Vista installation is hard and in my laptop I dont see much difference between installation of Vista and Ubuntu

Yeah I know there is more to it that I explained, but I was most impressed with the unattended nature of the install and the fact it installed in less than 30 minutes.

I know Vista is fancy but I'm talking about two *current* OS's on the market running on computers with completely outmatched specifications, and Ubuntu/Edubuntu installed faster on a PII-400 compared to a Core Duo 2.0Ghz.

Having said that my linux runs about the same speed as it ran Windows 2000, but that's an EOL product.

Grrrrr. 250Mb worth of updates?? Going to take *forever* on 256kbps...

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chakkaradeep

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#109666 10-Feb-2008 15:50

ahmad:
I know Vista is fancy but I'm talking about two *current* OS's on the market running on computers with completely outmatched specifications, and Ubuntu/Edubuntu installed faster on a PII-400 compared to a Core Duo 2.0Ghz.

And not to mention that each OS in the market have their set ot Hardware Requirements

manhinli

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#109671 10-Feb-2008 16:23

Updates come by the truck load. I say its a good sign of how fast the community progresses, some say not.

You might also want to look into the next release (should be coming June)

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manhinli

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#109678 10-Feb-2008 16:51

Whoops... should come out by April not June

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weblordpepe

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#109707 10-Feb-2008 18:17

My 2 cents: Avoid FAT32.

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