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The Dallemagnes → Computers
So I have a pretty nice Computer I love it, it’s a Gateway GM5478, the one problem I have had with this powerful system is apparently something a lot of people have had. A while after purchase the system will randomly kick the fan on really loud then reboot. At first it only did it once or twice, then yesterday it begun to do it like clockwork, every hour on the hour.
After much frustration and reading I discovered that the only way to fix this issue was to flash my BIOS. Ok fine no problem I can do that, but I have a problem. The program to flash the BIOS is a windows program and I have linux installed. Well I could have went the round about way of trying to dualboot windows after I already had Ubuntu installed, but that seems more of pain then just reinstalling windows.
I keep backups of all my goodies, so backing up the changed files wasn’t a problem. I spent two hours re-installing windows just so I could update the BIOS and then wipe it out and re-install Ubuntu. What I pain in the ass! But on the bright side, my system no longer reboots.
Damn Windows, bit me again!!!
Have you ever had one of those? Where just wanna smack yourself upside the head? Well tonight was mine. I went to bed, then I woke up because my foot & back were hurting me and then I couldn’t get back to sleep. So I decided to get up and mess around the computer for a bit. I get in here and  I have no sound?!?!?!? So I turned to google, and tried a few different fixes I found, but nothing seemed to work. I still had no sound. Finally after about a few hours I decided to just download a copy of 9.04 and try a fresh install, I already had everything backed up from the upgrade. So I slip the disc in and go through the normal routine. But when the computer starts I still have no sound! At this point I’m completely stumped. So then I finally decide to re-install 8.10 I get the disc out, drop it in the computer and go through the whole routine once again. The computer reboots, and now I have no sound on Intrepid either?!?!?! I sat here for a few moments, completely stumped not sure what to do. Well at this point I dropped a pen on the floor and as I bend over to pick it up I notice (drumroll please) that the headphones are plugged into the headphone jack  roflmao…. seems my son had borrowed them and when he brought them back to my computer instead of pluggin the microphone into the microphone jack he plugged the head phones in to the head phone jack  . I didn’t know whether to strangle him, or smack myself in the head. So at this point with a vanilla 8.10 on the computer I said what the hell and just decided to install 9.04 nothing to lose at this point.
So that’s my Falce Palm Moment of the Day…..lol.
Well The upgrade seems to have went fine, I’m really digging the new notifications, they are so much nicer looking than the old ones…I guess I tell the hubby to back up his stuff and try to upgrade his system as well. Response times are nice.
I did have to upgrade my xfire plugin for pidgin it was causing pidgin to crash, as well as re-installing banshee which the upgrade saw fit to remove. Everything else seems peachy 
Guess this means I’ll have to re-gimp my forum signature…
Can’t wait for the disc any longer (I know I’m so impatient) so I’m attempting an upgrade, files are downloading as I type. I already did my backups, and I have a separate /home so I figure if any goes sour I can always re-install 8.10.
Wish me luck! I’ll let you know how it goes….
It has recently come to my attention that Linux operating systems are being completely ignored by the major T.V. networks of ABC, NBC, and FOX. They are using a player for their online shows called Move Media Player. This player does not work on Linux, therefore completely alienating us as a user base.
This could be bad news for any new linux user, and add to the number preinstalled systems being returned, Lot’s of new users may not have the patience to try and install say firefox in wine, or look up other ways to get their programs, which seem to have played fine on their old windows system. If Linux is to grow it’s presence in the market this behaviour needs to be addressed.
There is currently a petition to ask them to use another player as well all Linux users should write The Networks asking them to choose another player. Here are the links below.
I spent years and I mean years using only Paint shop pro On windows, I had tried photoshop but never really got the hang of it or liked it. Also I think by the time I used it it was CS2 or CS3 and a major memory hog. Just painfully slow to load and run. So when I was switching to Ubuntu I was disappointed to find I couldn’t get PSP to run in wine, and so began my journey of Learning Gimp. Now I’m glad I learned to use it It’s a much more powerful editor in my opinion, and the more I use it the more I realize in some ways easier than psp.
I’ve also been using dreamweaver for years, but now I’m starting to experiment with Quanta Plus It just makes more sense to me to use native linux apps. Though I think the dreamweaver to Quanta transition is going to be a much tougher one than the PSP to Gimp one. One thing I really miss in Quanta is the wysiwyg ability. It really helps me being able to see the outcome as I go. So for now I’m still switching back and forth between Quanta Plus and Dreamweaver 8 in wine.
Other than that the transition to Ubuntu from windows has been quite painless for me. I’m generally a quick learner so switching to something new is normally not a problem for me. Though I can see where for others it might be difficult, as not everyone adopts quickly
Well a few weeks ago I was messing around on the web and discovered ning . Having seen soo many threads shut down or closed in the ubuntu forums cafe because they strayed to far from the forums main agenda, I decided to give a try at creating a social networking site for Ubuntu Users. The first day a few members signed up. One person named Gary and I began chit chatting, and we really hit it off about where our interests lie in ubuntu. So together we decided we would undertake this project. That was the beginning of the Ubuntu Network . Now a few weeks later we have grown to 30 members and are still growing. It’s quite amazing the feeling the whole community has. Just a bunch of people who share a common interest who want to hang out. The website allows us to blog, discuss topics of interest in the forum, share videos, photo’s and create even smaller groups who want to discuss particular items. If anyone out there is intersted in being social with some fellow Ubuntu users feel free to come on over and join us!
I’ve been looking into Linux Games lately I did demo Knights and Merchants from http://www.linuxgamepublishing.com But it just didn’t have zing you hope to see in a video game. The graphics weren’t that great and the game seemed a bit difficult to learn. It would be great to find some good Linux games, but as of yet I’m at a loss. Though I’m still enjoying my Guild Wars
I am so sick of reading Windows
I spent the whole of tonight setting up my husbands computer for him, and no it wasn’t a windows install.
He surprised me yesterday by asking me to get rid of his windows partition, and when I asked why (mostly I was just curious)He said, well I don’t ever use it and I would like the space. Fair enough, so I told him to back up his stuff to the external then I would get it done for him.
First Some stats:
- Gateway GT5238E
- Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 1.86Ghz
- 4 GB DDR2 Memory
- Nvidia GeForce 9400 GT 1GB DDR2
- 250 Gb SATA II HD
- Intel Integrated High Definition (HD) Audio
So I Slipped in the Ubuntu 8.10 Disk, and rebooted the computer, I proceeded to install Ubuntu by wiping the entire drive, a process of which tool all of about 15 minutes from start to finsh. So there I was Facing a fresh install of Intrepid Ibex. The First thing I did was run the updates all 263(I think) of them. Once this was complete I rebooted. Facing a fresh install and with nothing to lose I decided to try downloading the newest Nvidia drivers directly from their website, instead of using the ones the system recommended or using EnvyNg. this process was quite smooth to be honest with you I simply followed the instructions found HERE and it all went off without a hitch. I reboot and the computer was running at the proper resolution. After that I proceeded with my normal checklist of Must installs
- Setting up permanent Network Mounts
- configuring the networked printer
- Installing restricted extras and Medibuntu goodies
- configuring timidity
All easy as pie to setup
Next on my agenda was to copy all of his files back off the external and onto his computer, then it was on to restoring firefox settings. This process is made soooo easy by using 3 MUST HAVE extensions for firefox. FEBE, Foxmarks, and Sxipper. Within less then 10 minutes I had his firefox back to exactly the way he liked it, bookmarks, passwords, toolbars, and all.
For my next task I took to installing Guild Wars, (The Hubby and I love Guild Wars..lol) Now on my own system PlayOnlinux works great for Guild wars, but for some reason I tend to get lag on his computer with it. So I opted for using Crossover games on his system(I already had a licensed copy), and it works beautifully. He can easily switch between full screen and windowed mode using the ALT Shortcut on the keyboard. The Version of crossover games I’m using for his install is 7.2.0 and it works quite well. (At this point I’m having a blast I just love this stuff, yes I know I’m such a nerd….lol)
After that I proceeded to install all the odds in end software:
After that I installed and configured Ubuntu-system-panel we have both fallen in love with the menu applet it’s just wonderful.
I finished up by making sure to reinstall all the backed up themes, icons, and cursors then setting up a theme and look I’m sure he’ll be pleased with. His computer is running amazingly well, and looks beautiful with the latest Nvidia drivers. All in all it’s been a pretty fun and productive night for me and I’ve really enjoyed the undertaking, Now when is the last time you heard anyone say that after installing windows….lol.
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