kubuntu just does not like me

[negotiaetor]

I really want to switch to kubuntu... but lucky me cannot install it on either my laptop or my desktop.

I cannot get my laptop to even boot the install CD kubuntu some kind of incompatibility with my video card(i got it working once then a friend of mine who is kubuntu savvy changed something and i lost it), i have looked for ways to fix this, my laptop is a Compaq presario f572us. Any help would be great.

Now for my desktop. I try to install it on my raid array, but for some reason it does not recognize the array... and whats worse is that when i boot from the CD.. my raid array is taken apart, and up until recently when i had a raid 5, i could deal with this, just rebuild. The raid is a motherboard raid on an asus m2n32-sli deluxe motherboard. i recently switched to raid 0, and am happy i did(i have all the files that i want backed up.. its merely a pain in the ass to get windows back in the(have to reinstall) working order that it was in. For this i ask two things.. before i reformat my raid array with a new install, is there any way to get information off of a broken raid 0(i know thats a stupid question, but anyone with a solution would really just save me a few hours) and two.. how do i get kubuntu to work on a raid 0.. or any raid, with this motherboard?

Thank you!

p.s. please no replies asking me why i tried to install kubuntu on a raid 0 after i knew that it messed up my raid 5 on the same motherboard.. i feel stupid enough for not having completely copied the whole partition with ghost or something before trying.

[dibl]

Re: kubuntu just does not like me

Installation of Linux on a RAID array is not for the novice -- it does not support most motherboard RAID chips which only come with a Windows driver. Study up on "dmraid" and "mdadmin" and you might have a chance, but you really need to figure out how to install it on a vanilla hard drive before you strap on the fancy stuff.

You might want to try the "Alternate Install" version of the CD -- it is character mode rather than GUI, but it is not difficult to use, IMO, and the boot options may let you get past the issues with your video display. Usually "safe graphics" or "vesa" will work with most any video display, to get started. Once installed, you can configure a driver for your specific hardware.

I think the only hope for your broken RAID and its data would be via the Windows RAID driver for your RAID chip, and Windows, unless you want to get one of the data recovery CDs and try it that way.

[Craigels39]

Re: kubuntu just does not like me

I'm not sure about your specific motherboard, however, every time I have run Linux from a RAID0 drive configuration, I had to have my /boot partition on a non-RAID0 partition. This has been the case for me whether I'm using hardware or software (mdadm) RAID configurations.

Using the alternate CD instead of the desktop CD is probably a good idea too.

[negotiaetor]

Re: kubuntu just does not like me

Ok, sounds good so far. I am a novice, but have had some experience with install.. as thats as far as i ever seem to get, rofl. What do you mean by vanilla hard drive, is that something special, or is it just a plain hard drive, i know for a fact that i could easily install kubuntu on a non-raid configuration on my desktop. course id have to go through all the driver troubles first, but once its all installed it should get easier. I thoroughly enjoy a raid 0 and would like to utilize it in kubuntu, so i will study up on dmraid and mdadmin(though i will try the alt install cd first), then take a try. For now, ill just hold off on reinstalling windows on my desktop until i can get kubuntu to work (as i do not wish to waste hours an hours to just lose everything again).
As for my laptop, i have tried the safe graphics mode as well as other modes, but they do not work. I do recall entering the command prompt and going into a video card setup thing that didnt work until i got mad at it and forced a reinstall which by some miraculous happening, it worked. I think i could recreate this "bug" and then get the proper drivers for the graphics card like i did last time. what is the command to enter such a configuration.. i have searched but cannot find it again.

[dibl]

Re: kubuntu just does not like me

What do you mean by vanilla hard drive, is that something special, or is it just a plain hard drive

I meant a single IDE or SATA hard drive, with no RAID involved.

I've been tempted to do a RAID 0 since I have 3 fast WD Raptor drives, but it's kind of "gilding the lily" in my case -- it's just a personal workstation and rarely gets pushed hard enough to make a difference. However, with KDE 4 broken and sundry other issues, I guess I can postpone the adventure with RAID!

If you can get to a command line prompt on the laptop, then I can pretty much guarantee that the "dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg" script can set up a VESA display at a resolution of your choosing, within the limits of the LCD, so maybe that's an approach to get it going.

[negotiaetor]

Re: kubuntu just does not like me

WOOO omg, yea thats the command i was looking for, i recognize it "dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg". I cant wait to get that working.. especially for school.. they just instated a new "network access manager", and i really do not like the absolute control that it gives to the admins, including access to your computer. Now i will be able to have my friend set up a "virtual machine"like he did to keep everything independent. course, thats gonna require me to get ndiswrapper working.. i have time this weekend to mess around with stuff.

dibl, i greatly appreciate your help in this matter, once i can get kubuntu installed with wireless working i will have absolutely no excuse to learn all about kubuntu. also, i need/want to get into coding, stuff like C++, html, and my friend has suggested python. do you or anyone else have any suggestions on what to learn and where to learn it?\

Thanks!

[negotiaetor]

Re: kubuntu just does not like me

Hey, I have one more question. I am pretty sure that i can get my laptop to boot linux properly now, but before i go through the painstaking process that only lets it boot correctly for one boot... where can I find a good GO 6100 driver? once i get that installed all else should go well.
Thanks again

[nilsA]

Re: kubuntu just does not like me

Hey, I have one more question. I am pretty sure that i can get my laptop to boot linux properly now, but before i go through the painstaking process that only lets it boot correctly for one boot... where can I find a good GO 6100 driver? once i get that installed all else should go well.
Thanks again

You are talking about (re)configuring X now?

The way that seems simplest to me, is choosing VGA and the LCD/generic monitor proper to your PC. That should make you boot into the graphical interface.

Then you may be given the choice to install a proprietary restricted driver.

If not, try the nv driver - it might work. Then, there is also the Envy option - download from here:

http://albertomilone.com/nvidia_scripts1.html

[dibl]

Re: kubuntu just does not like me

i will have absolutely no excuse to learn all about kubuntu. also, i need/want to get into coding, stuff like C++, html, and my friend has suggested python. do you or anyone else have any suggestions on what to learn and where to learn it?\

NilsA's advice is good on the video stuff -- I personally rely on Envy to install the driver, except when I occasionally get antsy to try a new one before it is incorporated in Envy.

To learn *buntu, I recommend the book "Beginning Ubuntu Linux" by Keir Thomas.

Programming -- I dunno. I once managed a little bit of BASIC on a Commodore 64, but that's all it took to convince me to let those with an aptitude for it take care of that stuff for me.