Ubuntu: Speaks no evil, sees no evil, hears no evil (evil = thing)

[online14230]

Hi there!!
Ive installed Ubuntu 5.04 on an Acer Travelmate 723TX. I used a "self Devised" method
I copied "grldr" from grub to the root folder. I created a file called "menu.lst" and edited it to point to the Ubuntu kernel and initrd.gz which I had copied to the Winxp HDD. I placed the install cd in my DVD-R/CD-RW drive, which resides in a Cronos External USB enclosure. I booted and at the prompt, chose grub and booted ubuntu, which immediately began the install process. As soon as the kernel finished loading, I REMOVED the WinXP HDD and inserted another blank HDD whereon I wanted Ubuntu installed. All went well and the installation completed quite fast. I have now decided to run Ubuntu exclusively, provided I can get solutions to the ffg problems.
1. Sound. I tried the solutions as provided on the Ubuntu forums and wiki, to no avail. The laptop employs a Neomagic MagicGraph 265AV video/soundcard. Video doesnt work either (Totem exits/crashes with unknown errors as soon as I try to play ANY video) I know that Ubuntu doesnt come with the codecs, but I cant download any as I dont have a network connection on the laptop. Theyve capped me here at work. SOUND DOES NOT WORK.

2. I tried a few methods to get the Addon CD. I cannot. Anyone know where I can find it such that I can get it in small parts? (>30MB, so I can d-load it)

to be continued...

[chopin1810]

I have a rule I follow when trying out distributions: If two or more problems arise, it's time to look for another distro.

[bidi]

Personally, I don't like Ubuntu all that much. There are many other distros out there that can do what it does way better (be an introductory distro). I'd say trash Ubuntu for now! Want something that will work? Try SimplyMEPIS. It was a bit slow on my computer as a live CD since it used up all of the 256MB of RAM then 50MB of swap space. I didn't get a chance to install it, but it had most of the codecs and looked a lot nicer.

To answer your questions. I don't know what going on with the sound since I don't even have speakers on my computer. And, as far as I know, there is no way to download small pieces of a file at a time unless you use something like bit torrent, and even then, you need to wait for the whole thing to be downloaded.

[drakebasher]

Anyone know where I can find it such that I can get it in small parts? (>30MB, so I can d-load it)

I think that if wget is interupted, it can be made to resume where it left off with the --continue switch.

[techieMoe]

I have a rule I follow when trying out distributions: If two or more problems arise, it's time to look for another distro.

I agree there. With the incredibly wide variety of available Linux distributions today, there's no reason to stick with one if it just doesn't behave the way you want it. There's always another distro out there that might do things the way you like.

[ticklu2deth]

Personally, I don't like Ubuntu all that much. There are many other distros out there that can do what it does way better (be an introductory distro). I'd say trash Ubuntu for now! Want something that will work? Try SimplyMEPIS. It was a bit slow on my computer as a live CD since it used up all of the 256MB of RAM then 50MB of swap space. I didn't get a chance to install it, but it had most of the codecs and looked a lot nicer.

To answer your questions. I don't know what going on with the sound since I don't even have speakers on my computer. And, as far as I know, there is no way to download small pieces of a file at a time unless you use something like bit torrent, and even then, you need to wait for the whole thing to be downloaded.

Agreed Mepis is a great OS I also like Xandros.

[psic]

I have a rule I follow when trying out distributions: If two or more problems arise, it's time to look for another distro.

That's a great rule I've always stuck to, even though I've never really thought about it. Try out various live distros (SimplyMepis has been mentioned, also Knoppix (a bit lighter) and DSL (damn small linux, very light)) and test the sound.

I'd suggest things to try in Ubuntu, but you've probably already tried them (alsaconfig, reinstall alsa etc.).

[online14230]

Lemme just explain a few things before you guys start suggesting I try this or that distro. Unlike you, I cant d-load a distro. 400MB takes a LOOOOONNNNGG time here, since I use a 56k line at home (my desktop, running '9 Problem is, here at work theyve capped us to 5MB per day.. not worth trying...
Also, here in South Africa, its SO damn hard to get ANY linux distro. I ordered the Ubuntu CD's from the site and they came. I managed to get Impi as a cover CD. I have Fedora Core 4, also from a cover CD but I havent tried to install it yet. It just seems too cumbersome, burning 4 cds for a distro, and then finding that you cant install it cos you have to boot of the cd, which I cant. T cut a long story short, I have been finding it simply impossible to get linux working, and am now forced to stick with ol bill. See the dilemma? I think placing my laptop and PC on the scrapheap of life would be a better solution right now!!!

[techieMoe]

Lemme just explain a few things before you guys start suggesting I try this or that distro. Unlike you, I cant d-load a distro.

I can sympathize with that plight. Have you considered somewhere like LinuxCD.org, who will burn and ship to you just about any of the major distributions for very cheap?

T cut a long story short, I have been finding it simply impossible to get linux working, and am now forced to stick with ol bill.

In all fairness, trying one or two distributions out of the hundreds that are available and declaring the whole of Linux unfit for you is a bit premature in my opinion. Though I can understand your limited bandwidth, if you're really interested in Linux there are other ways to get the distributions.

[drakebasher]

here at work theyve capped us to 5MB per day..

No internet cafes? How about one of the 5 Linux Users' Groups that may be in South Africa? LinuxCD.Org claims to ship their big selection of low cost CDs worldwide. And as for your 56k dial-up, I recently did a stage 1 Gentoo install, dowloading everything from source using a 56k modem on my home telephone line. I expected some problems, but didn't have any. The few times the downloads were interupted, when I restarted, Gentoo picked up right where it left off.