Noob in need

[Guest]

Hello all, having got sick of the plethora of viruses that Windows has, I have decided to migrate over to Linux.

I've used live Cd's before (Puppy Linux, DSL, Gentoo Linux) and also used Mandriva 10 before, but that's about the limit of my experience. I'm trying to install Kubuntu 9.10 on my Dell Inspiron 1501 but have heard a number of problems regarding the sound and wifi drivers. Are there any simple work arounds for Kubuntu, if not what would be the next best to use, preferably using KDE 4 or higher.

If all goes according to plan, I should be Windows free within the month.

Thankyou for all your help.

[Snowhog]

Re: Noob in need

Welcome.

Well, I would first run from the LiveCD and test everything. See what works and what doesn't 'out-of-the-box' before installing. If you are able to boot to the desktop, you have working sound, and you can connect to the Internet (wired initially), then you can have a reasonable expectation that an actual installation will work.

[Untitled]

Re: Noob in need

On my boyfriend's Dell Inspiron 1501 the wifi drivers are indeed missing after installation. What I've done was to connect the laptop to the router using a cable, then in Konsole run

sudo aptitude update
sudo aptitude full-upgrade

and finally K-menu -> System -> Hardware Drivers and install the two drivers you are offered. You will then have wifi enabled without any issue.

Sound worked out of the box on this laptop, but there is a small issue with Kubuntu and pulse audio when that makes it impossible at times to play audio from local programmes after using Flash. The solution

sudo aptitude install pulseaudio paprefs pavucontrol pavumeter

Then run paprefs, go to the Simultaneous Output and check the only option you have there.

The sound issue is not related to Dell specifically, but as they say "If it's broken, why not fix it?".