~ Installing Source Files in Ubuntu

Most of the source files are in tar.gz or .gz format. To install from these source files, first u need to compile them. So u need to install build-essentials frm Synaptic package manager. Or else, type in terminal:

sudo aptitude install build-essentials

Suppose you have a source file abc.tar.gz

1) Extract the source file.
2) Navigate to the folder to which the source file was extracted.
3) Type the following:

./configure
make
sudo make install
clean install

4) Done

Explanation

./configure checks whether required dependencies are available.
make compiles source code.
make install installs the compiled source code.
clean install removes temporary files created during installation process.


* If it asks for an installation location it is recommended to install all the source to /usr/src

~ Installing files in Ubuntu thru Command Line

~ Installing via Terminal

To install anything which is available in the Ubuntu Repositories, first make sure all repositories are enabled in Synaptic package manager settings or by manually editing /etc/apt/sources.list

To search from the command line (like in Synaptic package manager)
sudo apt-cache search abc

To install a software abc (say).
sudo apt-get install abc

To remove abc
sudo apt-get remove abc

Complete removal (including configuration files)
sudo apt-get remove --purge abc

~ Installing a package manually

Suppose u have a debian package (abc.deb) and u want to install it. To do that, type in:

dpkg -i abc.deb

Suppose the package is in rpm format (abc.rpm)

For installing RPM packages, u need to have alien installed. Alien is available from the Ubuntu repositories.

sudo apt-get install alien (this is a one time procedure, do it only before ur first .rpm installation)

After u have successfully installed alien, install abc.rpm by typing in:

alien -i abc.rpm

~ Spicing up ur Ubuntu

This post tells u how to install Multimedia codecs, Video players, Audio players, Flash plugin, Java runtime etc..

IMPORTANT: Any step in dis post requires u to add the appropriate Medibuntu repository depending on ur distro.


~ Installing Multimedia Codecs

To Install the package type the following command in the terminal window(assuming repositories are in order and they are set up correctly as described above )

sudo aptitude install w32codecs

and to install addition more plugins type the following command in the terminal window .

sudo aptitude install libxine-extracodecs gstreamer0.10-plugins-base gstreamer0.10-plugins-good gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad gstreamer0.10-pitfdll

~ Installing Video Players

Popular media players like Xine,Mplayer and VLC can b installed using the following command

sudo aptitude install libxine-extracodecs xine-ui mplayer mplayer-skins vlc vlc-plugin-* mozilla-plugin-vlc

~ Installing Audio players

Type the following command in the terminal windows (Application -> Accesories -> Terminal)

sudo aptitude install xmms xmms-mad xmms-skins xmms-wma mpg123 banshee amarok

sudo apt-get install beep-media-player
sudo apt-get install beep-extra-plugins
sudo apt-get install beep-media-player-dev
sudo apt-get install nasm
sudo apt-get install libgtk+2.0
sudo apt-get install libglib2.0-dev



~ Installing Macromedia Flash-Plugin

sudo aptitude install flashplugin-nonfree

After completing above step restart Firefox to make changes take place permanently and type about:plugins in the address bar to see if plug is installed correctly.

~ Installing Java Runtime environment v6.0 With Mozilla Firefox plugin

sudo aptitude install sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin sun-java6-fonts

After downloading is over you will get a screen like this just accept this license by pressing ¨Yes¨ button to complete installation, after this restart Firefox and type about:plugins to check whether sun java plugin is correctly installed.

~ Installing Real Player and Adobe Reader

Download the .rpm setup file from here.

~ Installing Adobe Reader

The following command would only work if Medibuntu repositories are configured properly.

sudo aptitude install acroread

~ Installing Microsoft True Type Fonts

sudo aptitude install msttcorefonts

~ Adding Medibuntu Repository in Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon)

• sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

or

Go to system > administration > synaptic package manager > settings > repositories.

• Add the Medibuntu repoitory (Third party software tab)

deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ gutsy free non-free

• Close synaptic package manager.

• Open Terminal, type in the following:

wget -q http://packages.medibuntu.org/medibuntu-key.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add - && sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install non-free-codecs

• Done !




~ Get Counted

If u r a Linux user, register at http://counter.li.org/ and get urself a Linux register number. Mine is 449948.

If u r an Ubuntu user, register at http://ubuntucounter.geekosophical.net/.

~ Adding Medibuntu Repository in Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn)

~ Adding Medibuntu Repository

Launch Synaptic Package Manager (System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager ) , then in Synaptic package manager go to (Settings -> Repositories ). Ensure that all the check boxes are marked leaving source code.

Now you have to add additional repositories , close synaptic package manager and type the following command in the terminal window (Application -> Accessories -> Terminal )

wget -q http://packages.medibuntu.org/medibuntu-key.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add -

and

sudo wget http://medibuntu.sos-sts.com/sources.list.d/feisty.list -O /etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list

after completing above steps type

sudo apt-get update

~ Un-Installing Ubuntu

Before going forward, pls let me knw why do u want to un-install Ubuntu. Pls give me a comment. Coz i dont find any single reason to un-install Ubuntu... :s

Ohkay if u want to un-install, do the following ::
** (u need a windows bootable cd with u to proceed)

• backup files frm /var/cache/apt/archives if u plan to come back to Ubuntu again.
• boot ur system frm windows.
• rite click My computer > manage > disk management > delete the Linux partitions.
• restart computer.
• enter bios (F2) and make CD rom as ur primary boot device.
• insert Windows bootable cd into cdrom and restart.
• select repair an existing windows installation.

type in the following >
fixmbr
fixboot

• restart.

Done.

~ 10 advantages of Ubuntu over Windows Vista

1) Eye Candy

The biggest reason y I converted was the eye candy. Sure Windows Vista comes wit lots of it, but it just isn’t as good. Ubuntu 7.04 comes with just a few of the effects seen a lot nowadyz, these effects include the rotating cube desktop and wobbly windows, it just makes it much nicer to use. I'v installed Beryl on my computer to give much more eye candy. I base a lot of my judgments on looks first, features later.

2) Easy to Install Applications

Installing new programs in Ubuntu is a breeze, far easier than in Windows, bcz der is one program that basically gives you access to most applications available to Ubuntu, simply click the program you want and it will install, you don’t need to accept agreements because its all open source so there is no need to click Next 20 times before the program is installed :D Simply select the program and click OK.. DONE !!

3) Secure

In Windows Vista, to change a setting requires a ridiculous amount of dialog boxes and passwords, in Ubuntu, you are never logged in as an administrator (root), you are logged in as a simple user, you can change options that are only applicable to your user area but for changing options that affect the system you are required to input the administrator password, one dialog and you’re in, simple and secure. There is also the added bonus that there are very few viruses for Linux, I haven’t ever come across one yet so you can feel safe, imagine not having any virus protection software installed in Windows, there is no need for it in Linux, freedom from the threat of losing all your data.

4) Easy to change options

Ubuntu comes with a control panel but also comes with a menu next to the Applications menu where you simply select the thing you want to change, be it the Desktop background or the network settings. Everything on the windows that appear is simple and there are just the options you need so it is easy to change the options.

5) Community **

The community behind Linux, especially Ubuntu is what attracts many people to the operating system. People in the Linux community are mainly ex-Windows users so they know what it feels like to be new to an operating system, so they are happy to help. Whenever I had and have a problem with Ubuntu I simply post on the Ubuntu forum and within minutes there are answers to the problems. I never got put on hold for help :)

6) Free

Everything about Ubuntu is free, the operating system, the software installed is free (including all the software you can download) any help and support is free. The whole experience is 100% free, because it is open source. Open source means that you can distribute and even edit the code behind the program.

7) Simple Networking

Networking easier than before ! no need for tuff configs.

8) Mozilla Firefox

OK, I know that you can use Firefox on Vista as well, but on Ubuntu, there is no Internet Explorer that keeps popping up and cant get rid of. Mozilla Firefox is the number one web browser

9) Fast

Windows Vista is slow and takes up a lot of resources which means you need a pretty decent computer to run it. Ubuntu is just fast, it doesn’t slow down in performance when it has been on for a couple of hours, it just keeps on going and everything opens literally a second after you click the icon, and closes when you click the X, with Windows Vista you have to wait for like 30 seconds before a program starts and try shutting down a program like Word 2007 or MATLAB after using it for a couple of hours, it takes forever.

10) Updates

Ubuntu gets updated every 6 months, well as close as it can do, and whenever I turn my computer on there are updates for the programs installed. Compare that to Windows, how often does that get updated, well the 5 years between Windows XP and Vista sort of answers that question.

Finally, Windows Vista is for some people and good luck to them (or you, if that is you), but Ubuntu offers a worthy alternative for all.

[ courtesy : some Ubuntu site :) ]

~ Recovering Ubuntu after Windows

This guide tells u how to recover ur Ubuntu OS if ur GRUB is lost by installing Windows aftr u install Ubuntu.

To be more explanative, this guide helps to solve u the following scenario.

• you hav windows, u installed Ubuntu aftr tht, then u faced some problems with windows, so u re-installed windows. hmm in such a case, ur GRUB will be overwritten by the new windows boot-loader and u can only boot to windows.
  

OR ....

• you have ubuntu alredy installed, now u installed windows on ur system. in such a case also, u can only boot to windows, aftr completing the windows installation.

now u want to restore ur Ubuntu, so tht u can bring back ur dual-boot setup again.

Do dis,....

Boot frm ur Ubuntu CD. You will reach the Ubuntu desktop. Open terminal. Typ in the commands following the ">"

> sudo -i
> grub
> find /boot/grub/stage1

now NOTE wats coming as output. THIS IS IMPORTANT.

for me, it came as (hd0,3). so i am continuing with tht output. replace (hd0,3) with the output u got in ur system.

> root (hd0,3)
> setup (hd0) <------- HERE GIVE (hd0) no matter wat u got as output.
> quit

Restart... DONE !

~ Installing Ubuntu

This guide is for installing Ubuntu (general method for all versions). If u r trying Ubuntu for the first time, i wud recommend u a dual-boot setup with Windows. If u install Ubuntu in a Windows system, nothing will happen to ur existing Windows, the GRUB bootloader of Ubuntu will detect ur Windows and setup a Dual boot setup. and finally, Dis guide assumes u have priliminary knwledge on how to install any one OS.

First of all, get a copy of Ubuntu Setup. U can dload it frm http://www.ubuntu.com/ and burn it into a CD or order for CDs by giving a request in https://shipit.ubuntu.com/

U shud have atleast 5-6 gb of free space in ur hardisk to install Ubuntu.

Now we assume its in ur D drive u need 2 install Ubuntu. So u need to backup all ur files from D drive. If u forget to do this, all your D drive contents will be lost. When u have done, follow the steps :::

1. select CD rom as ur primary boot device
2. put Ubuntu CD in ur CD Rom drive
3. Boot frm Ubuntu CD
4. select Start/Install Ubuntu
5. u will be directed to Ubuntu desktop

It is a fully functional desktop out der, u can check out most of the Ubuntu features frm der, without affecting ur present system configuration. U can even connect to the net. If u like Ubuntu, u can proceed, els u can quit the installation by shutting down the PC. Remember, none of the Windows versions give u such a useful facility.

if u decide to install, double click the INSTALL button in the desktop.

Select language, keybod layout and all dose things for which u need no help..

Now in the PARTITION step, click Manual Partition.
Delete drive D which results in un-allocated free space.

Before gng to next step, u need 2 have some concepts.

Ubuntu needs 2 partitions , to work on. One is Root and other is Swap area. Root is analogus to C drive in windows, whr v install it. Swap area is a part of hardisk which Ubuntu uses as if it is RAM. A swap area must b equal to 2 times ur RAM, or atleast equal to it. (512mb ram = 512mb ~ 1024mb swap area)

So now i assume ur D drive is 10gb and ur Ram is 1gb and we are givin swap = ram.

Now create a new partition (9gb) frm the un-allocated free space, select format type (use as) 'ext3' and give '/' as the mountpoint. ('/' indicates root)

Now create anoder partition (1gb), which is to be given as swap. partition type (use as) is to be given as swap.

Do not make changes to any oder partitions.

Proceed formatting.

Rest of the steps u know to manage :)

Welcome 2 Ubuntu :)

~ Ubuntu visuals

earlier i had sed the welcome screen of Ubuntu was not so pleasin to me , cz i was migratin to it frm Vista.

complained abt it to my fellow Ubuntu fnds, and they introduced me to Beryl.

beryl is simply a window manager for Ubuntu (ofcourse its FREE !). it gives a 3d accelerated desktop to Ubuntu.

Aero is wat vista has, but for having Aero working, one atleast needs 1gb RAM and a costly graphics card and lotssss of hardisk space.

but Aero has nothing to offer, when compared to Beryl. the only feature of Aero is the FLIP 3d.. yea, its nice anywz...


comin to Beryl... i am serious ppl, i cant really explain wat Beryl can do !! IT CAN DO ANYHTING.. i simply plays with ur desktop.. the real candy for eyes..

to see it yourselves , just search for Aero vs Beryl in youtube and see it yourselves.

these are my desktop screenshots :)

:) there are many many effects more...

and as u can see it, the Vista desktop is 'Nothing' when compared to Ubuntu Beryl :)

AM Loving it :)

~ My Ubuntu :)

a selection frm the available distros of Linux was not so easy, cz i was totally a LINUx noob. but i had a frnd Rajiv, studying in MBT, who introduced me to Ubuntu, a very popular linux distro.

so i decided to install it. getting it is easy, either we can dload it frm its site in the .iso format and burn it, or we can order CDs which are absolutely free. but shipping takes 3-4 weeks. i am not a patient guy, so i resorted to the former method :)

installing it just went like a breeze. so easy, so cool. all u need to knw is whr to install it, in your hardrive.

i installed it first in my D drive, cz i was afraid to lose windows in my C, cz in case i do smthing wrong in Ubuntu, windows remained my only choice to escape ! remember, i am a total linux nub..

the installation went smooth, an the welcome screen made me desp cz it was less pleasing n polished than the windows interface.

but the joy started when i started realising tht i dint need any of the drivers (audio, lan, graphics) etc to be instaled.. everything came inbuilt.. wow..

when it was xp, i wasted a large amt of tym installing the drivers, my gfx, lan, audio, bah bah bah.. now its time to forget all dese :) .. the 1st point i liked in Ubuntu :))

next i explored into the Menus.. i was suprised again.. cz my Ubuntu was loaded to the max. all kinda software which v need for the day 2 day use.

it had OpenOffice, which is the MS Office equivalent, even better when compared in some features. the image editor was GIMP, which is the ADobe photoshop equivalent, but its less user fndly than adobe, but had a lot of features..

next comes GAIM (yahoo messenger + google talk + all kinda IM handlers bundled together :) ), Bittorrent (an efficient torrent application), Firefox (my fav browser, it dosnt need any intro), and some movie players..

for having all dis in Windows, we need 2 install them one by one, search for the cracks, apply them, and do al kinda boring things :s baaaaah :(

remember, all the softs which i mentioned are comin with Ubuntu package, absolutely free..

and if u r not comfortable with any of this software, u can install other equivalents, which we get absolutely free, frm the Ubuntu repositories, where we can find "ANYTHING" we need, absolutely free.

now u may b thinking, free soft has less quality ... U R ABSOLUTELY WRONG !!!

man, believe me, i find all dese software more dependable than the windows equivalents. they have more features embedded in dem, and are less prone to gettin stuck...

yea, coming to dat point. u knw windows xp was a huge success frm microsoft, aftr the windows 98 cz it dosnt get stuck, usually, and the incidents of gettin stuck r very rare, when compared to the older windows versions.

but in Ubuntu, i havent got stuck yet :) believe me, its very very rare, the phenomenon of gettin stuck.. frnds pls invite me to a windows desktop, where i can c a stuck desktop, cz i totally forgot wat a hung computer is... :D

basically the reason is, in windows, the desktop is merged the Os completely, so an error in desktop affects the entire OS, so the entire system gets stuck.

but its not in the case of Ubuntu, whr the desktop n OS are completely different, (independent).

in case ur desktop gets stuck (rare) , just press 'ctrl alt bkspc' and u get a new fresh desktop :)

browsing is anoder area whr Ubuntu has a lot of advantage over windows. its totally free frm Viruses, trojans and all kinda itches whr windows is totally prone to it :D, which results in faster (fastest) browsing..

~ Milestone :)

yea... the GEEK has now turned his attention towards Open source :)

fed up of the stupid pirated softwares and cracks, now i have turned my attention to LINUX, the upcoming Emperor in the world of OS....

XP started bugging me frm the time i started using a ADSL2 broadband connection. XP has a lots of bugs in dealing with PPPOE connections. (now no need to wonder wat a PPPOE is, it is Point to Point protocol over ethernet, which we use in Bsnl broadband and all). First problem i faced was that, i get disconnected every 5min or so, after i am connected to the internet. it was realy buggy. feels irritated a lot. i started searchin for remedies, all over the internet and found out tht it was a common prob with the XP package, and MS has released a HOT fix for tht too, which we can get only if have original windows in our computer :(

sad man, i fixed dat with the help of Autopatcher, which gives me all sortsa pirated Hotfixes frm the Microsoft.. atlast the problem got fixed..

the next BUG was yet to come.. the name seems funny :: "Net send packet Error : No error"
The problem is not as funny as the name seems 2 b.. the Net gets disconneted as soon as we start dloading smthing, or we start playing a game, or somthin lik tht..

really really annoying.. cz being a DATAONE user, the night 2am-8am happy hours is very mch important for me, cz most of the nyt i steal upto 4gb frm the net :D

these days, when dis prob was irritating me, whenever i schedule the dloads and sleep, the next morning wat i c is tht the net had disconnected by 2.10am, aftd dloading just some countable MBs... bul*^** .. all my valuable bandwidth wasted ...

dats the time i started thinkin of changing the Os... it was the time Vista got released.. so i decided to install Vista..

dloaded it :) yea, kinda stealing, i knoe.. but dats wat the Microsoft suckers deserve for der stupid costly software..

installed, the visuals were so super.. the Flip 3d was a reall eye candy...

but soon i realised Vista was the 'buggiest'.. never go for tht, cz it not at all worth installing...

And the most funniest thing which i liked.. MS had gr8 expectations tht ppl wud migrate to Vista frm Xp as soon as DX10 games gets released.. but LOL LOL LOL, dese games now work in XP with the help of some patches.. AM LOVING IT.... :)

so there is absolutly no reason for u to migrate to Windows Vista...

so i finally decided to ditch the Microsoft products and go for Open source software.. :)