what and when to install

[thacket]

Greetings to All,

I am taking the plunge and am going to install 7.10 on my computer in the next couple of weeks (my first entry into Linux !). I am an old Win XP hand and am technically saavy and comfortable with installations, formats, etc. (I grew up with DOS, monochrome screens and learned basic, C and a little assembler on way also). In that vein, I am wondering what video drivers to install and in what order. I have an nVidia 8600 GT video card. If I understand correctly, the first install from the CD can install VESA or NV drivers (Kubuntu used the VESA driver and ran fine when in LiveCD mode). I then plan on installing the nVidia 100.xx.xx.xx Linux drivers using ENVY. Does it matter what driver is installed when ENVY initiates the upgrade? Thanks.

All the Best,
John

P.S. -- I am very much looking forward to learning Linux, KDE, etc. Are there fairly in depth tutorials accessible from the web so I can learn?

[integr8e]

Re: what and when to install

First of all, welcome I made the switch from XP fairly recently myself.

It doesn't matter what driver you're running when you use Envy; it will uninstall any Nvidia drivers you have before it installs the new one anyway.

Below are some sources I've found very helpful, I hope you do too:

- The Official Ubuntu Book
- LinuxCommand.org - Learning the shell
- KubuntuGuide.org
- Kudos - Unofficial Kubuntu FAQ
- LinuxTopia.org
- FreeTechBooks.com

Edit: If you need more, let me know

[marshallbanana]

Re: what and when to install

Also unless you plan to run compiz (3d desktop effects) or you do some other stuff that requires 3d you don't actually need those video card drivers anyway.

Personally I'd recommend just cruising this forum and trying to help out as another good way to learn your way around kubuntu and how to solve any common issues. Thats pretty much the way I've learnt all I know (which is not much, but enough for most common issues).

[Qqmike]

Re: what and when to install

Tuxfiles: http://www.tuxfiles.org/
Bigpond, home: http://users.bigpond.net.au/hermanzone/
Psychocats: http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/index.php

[MepisReign]

Re: what and when to install

Welcome!!, yes definitely will find Kubuntu an interesting way to start, it is most probably that you will find and experience some issues (hopefully not) as a Linux first timer, but, hey life is all about challenge!!! :P
Kubuntu is one of the most easy to use/maintain flavour of Linux and you will get so used to customize and play with it that every time you see a system with Window$ running it will look and feel lame and boring.
On the Nvidia drivers side, envy (a great script by the way) will be no longer necessary since one of the latest drivers is on the repositories ready to install.

Once again, Welcome and enjoy real Freedom and Peace of Mind

Regards,

MepisReign

[dibl]

Re: what and when to install

Welcome thacket -- you are going to have some real fun with Kubuntu!

We tend to think of the "challenge" of adopting Linux as primarily a list of technical issues, such as the one you have correctly anticipated with your nice Nvidia card. However, let me suggest that perhaps the very largest problem of all is that of overly optimistic expectations. Like you, I was pretty experienced with computers -- even spent some time with SCO Unix back in the Dark Ages. Here's the thing -- everything you "know" about computers running Windows is useless, and some if it is actually counterproductive to using Linux. Put on your "student" hat, open your mind, and plan on installing Kubuntu about 5 times to get it right. There's a lot to learn (and a lot to un-learn), and patience will be your most valuable asset.

In addition to the excellent resources that Integr8e has listed, the "How To's" on this forum and at Ubuntu Forum address a lot of the technical issues that folks run into.

Good luck, search before you post a problem, and we'll be here to help. 8)

[integr8e]

Re: what and when to install

Put on your "student" hat, open your mind, and plan on installing Kubuntu about 5 times to get it right.

Or 10, or 15, or . . .

[marshallbanana]

Re: what and when to install

Put on your "student" hat, open your mind, and plan on installing Kubuntu about 5 times to get it right.

Or 10, or 15, or . . .

You obviously like to mess around with your install. I haven't even done 10 installs in the year and a half I've used kubuntu.

[dibl]

Re: what and when to install

Or 10, or 15, or . . .

@Integr8e, I like your style!

[HousieMousie2]

Re: what and when to install

Or 10, or 15, or . . .

10?... 15?...?

Good grief, please tell me it is possible to get it right the first time? lol

Seriously, what is the usual cause of the extra installs?

[Snowhog]

Re: what and when to install

It is. I did.

These guys (you got'a love'm) like pushing their systems to the extreme! They actually try to break them.

You may run into technical 'challenages' as dibl stated. Most, if not all - if encountered - can be overcome. Once you have your system "the way you like it" then it can remain quite stable.

[HousieMousie2]

Re: what and when to install

These guys (you got'a love'm) like pushing their systems to the extreme! They actually try to break them.

lol I will not be one of those people. lol But I agree, gotta love'm, I imagine they discover a lot of issues and answers along the way.

You may run into technical 'challenages' as dibl stated. Most, if not all - if encountered - can be overcome. Once you have your system "the way you like it" then it can remain quite stable.

**Crosses fingers** I am crawling the forums in the hopes that you are quite right.

Thanks for the insight and info!

[Fintan]

Re: what and when to install

Welcome to the club

If you remember a few basics you should be okay.
1) This is not windows
2)This definitely not windows There are no .exe's etc.

Well we got that strait

The most common "problems" are with video and wifi cards. Since you are reading up a lot and know your dos (so you are not afraid of the power of the command line) you will probably find a lot of info here or on the ubuntu forums on your specific cards.

Out of my trials and a few tribunlations I have learned to do three things:
1) Set up my partitions like this:
- Set up a / partition about 10-15 gig
- Set up a separate /home partition of about 5-10 gig
- Set up a separate /data partition as large as you wish or can for your data (music, videos, personal files, documents etc). If you are "sharing" your data with a windows invironemet format this partition as ntfs (read up on accessing that under Linux) or Fat32. You can use ext3 partitions under windows but I have never done that so I wouldn't know. Maybe more reading

2) If you are planning on dual booting read up on grub. Qmike wrote a great how to here:
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3081671.0

3) Don't hesitate to ask pointed questions here or on any other forum that comes to mind.

Well so much for my 2.5 cents worth

Enjoy

[HousieMousie2]

Re: what and when to install

Welcome to the club

If you remember a few basics you should be okay.
1) This is not windows
2)This definitely not windows There are no .exe's etc.

Well we got that strait

lol Wouldn't dream of confusing the two. lol And thank you for the welcome!

The most common "problems" are with video and wifi cards. Since you are reading up a lot and know your dos (so you are not afraid of the power of the command line) you will probably find a lot of info here or on the ubuntu forums on your specific cards.

I know my dos? lol Really? Honey, I am so clueless about command line stuff that Konsole should be afraid of me!

I need to do more reading... so I will know what I am supposed to input where when someone offers sage advice on some issue of import. Because thus far I have just plugged in copied/pasted lines where ever I saw an opening and hoped one of those places liked it. lol I mean, somehow unbeknownst to me, Amarok gained the ability to play wma's and I wasn't even working on it. lol

I don't have a wifi and dealing with my nVidia card was the first thing I did. Wasn't a problem at all... of course, I was made aware of potential issues and how to solve them prior to starting the install.

Out of my trials and a few tribunlations I have learned to do three things:
1) Set up my partitions like this:
- Set up a / partition about 10-15 gig
- Set up a separate /home partition of about 5-10 gig
- Set up a separate /data partition as large as you wish or can for your data (music, videos, personal files, documents etc). If you are "sharing" your data with a windows invironemet format this partition as ntfs (read up on accessing that under Linux) or Fat32. You can use ext3 partitions under windows but I have never done that so I wouldn't know. Maybe more reading

2) If you are planning on dual booting read up on grub. Qmike wrote a great how to here:
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3081671.0

I am using a fairly small hard disk for the time being. My hope is to buy a replacement HD so as to give Kunbuntu more room to spread out and get comfy. Basically all I did was to set aside 1GB for swap and gave the rest to Gutsy.
As far as getting things from XP, (which is on it's own HD) I have just been navigating to the various locations, works fine thus far.

Also, I have booted back and forth between OS's many times, no problems... again, thus far.

But I will most certainly follow your advice with the next HD, thank you! And I have bookmarked the Grub How-To for future reading.

3) Don't hesitate to ask pointed questions here or on any other forum that comes to mind.

I try not to be too frivolous with my questions, but I am certainly not afraid of forums. lol The MajorGeeks forum broke me in long ago.

Well so much for my 2.5 cents worth

Enjoy

Thank you kindly! I will do my best to do just that! Um, has this been a thread hijacking?

[marshallbanana]

Re: what and when to install

I mean, somehow unbeknownst to me, Amarok gained the ability to play wma's and I wasn't even working on it.

I imagine at some stage you tried playing an mp3 in amarok and it prompted you to click a button to download a package to allow it to do so. Well that same package covers wma's as well.