Linux help

[Krillious]

last June I downloaded ubuntu and installed it, anyways it was good and stuff and I used to play that penguin game where he slides on the ice and stuff
anyways what caused me to reinstall windows was the fact that installing stuff was friggin hard, like for example I couldn't even download wine from the repisotory place thing
now i was wondering if anyone has guides like for example installing something from binary file things and maybe how to get the codecs to watch dvds and watch mpg and wmv files and maybe another linux distro thing apart from ubuntu
if I get all the stuff i will switch back to linux because that's the only thing holding me back 

[FliesLikeABrick]

you shouldn't ask such specific questions, you should just learn how to use apt/synaptic and then learn how to install those things on your own using it


When you first have it installed open synaptic and use it to enable all of the additional repositories you can.  Then just tell it to update and you'll see programs you need.  Install the following:
-wine
-xmms
-vlc


If you're feeling especially adventurous, then do:
1) tell synaptic to add this repository: deb http://packages.freecontrib.org/ubuntu/plf/ breezy free non-free

2) update the cache again
3) install w32codecs and libdvdcss2 (this will enable you to view some wmv and listen to some wma files and watch DVDs in VLC)

VLC is a program for watching just about every kind of video that exists.  XMMS is a winamp-like program for linux.


Google.  go on IRC at #ubuntu on irc.freenode.net for help as well.

google
google
google

[Krillious]

well, whenever I installed something from the repository it didn't show up in the 'add applications' place (you know, the place where you add programs to your applications button)
and when I installed those codecs I still couldn't watch wmvs because I remember you had told me to do that on irc and it didn't work

[FliesLikeABrick]

not all wmvs will work because out best friends (blatant sarcasm) at microsoft change the format of WMV files every time that linux people figure it out.


everyone needs to STOP USING WMV FORMAT.


There's a reason that MS gives out Windows Movie Maker but only allows you to make WMV files with it.

[Frenchie]

If you ever need help or a guide to installing proprietary codecs check out the ubuntu doc https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats
-

If you're feeling especially adventurous, then do:
1) tell synaptic to add this repository: deb http://packages.freecontrib.org/ubuntu/plf/ breezy free non-free

Looks like your using breezy, if you could try to update to edgy by downloading the iso. If you can't just get dapper shipped to you.

not all wmvs will work because out best friends at microsoft

The only wmvs that don't work are the ones which have the drm license on em. - I think
-
If your looking for a real good music player in Linux, I really recommend amaroK or xmms, they both run off the xine engine which in my opinion rocks  as it basically only needs one package to run most formats (libxine-extracodecs)

[Krillious]

what format are dvds anyway?
and what distro should I use? preferably one with a faster startup time than ubuntu
ubuntu is ok but it used to take longer than windows to startup

[Frenchie]

Dvds are encoded in mpeg2 - I think
But most of them have an encryption which has been reverse-engineered and so you need the package libdvdcss2 to play them.

There are a few guides to make Ubuntu boot faster, just search google & the ubuntuforums.org,
But as I remember from the top of my head, you can do

Code: [Select]

sudo apt-get install bumThen just run BUM (Boot-Up Manager) and get rid of the start-up process' you dont need.
Should help a littleĀ 

Edit:
Heres a guide http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=89491

[Dascoo]

This is why I'm afraid to install Linux.

[Sethamundo]

It might sound a bit overwhelming at first Dascoo, but when you understand it and get things going I'm sure it's a lot better than the Windows way of doing things.  I'm fully prepared to try Linux and Linux applications permanently when I can (with the exception of a few games run through Wine).

[mar77a]

It might sound a bit overwhelming at first Dascoo, but when you understand it and get things going I'm sure it's a lot better than the Windows way of doing things.  I'm fully prepared to try Linux and Linux applications permanently when I can (with the exception of a few games run through Wine).

I agree, even if you have used Microsoft products for ages you get used quickly to Linux.

[Chakra]

Give me DOS 6.11 anyday.

Maybe you could find some basic video tutorials on getting started with the basics of ubuntu Krillious. Worth a google.

[FliesLikeABrick]

It might sound a bit overwhelming at first Dascoo, but when you understand it and get things going I'm sure it's a lot better than the Windows way of doing things.  I'm fully prepared to try Linux and Linux applications permanently when I can (with the exception of a few games run through Wine).

I agree, even if you have used Microsoft products for ages you get used quickly to Linux.

I agree too, this is an accurate summary.

what format are dvds anyway?
and what distro should I use? preferably one with a faster startup time than ubuntu
ubuntu is ok but it used to take longer than windows to startup

Ubuntu is one of the fastest booting fully-functional linux distros.  If you're trying to use dapper, I suggest you try edgy (these are ubuntu versions).  They made some huge changes to how edgy starts up and it now boots in about half the time of dapper.

[Krillious]

ok one last question, how do i install software to print stuff, because last time the printing thing didn't support my printer
and I have a cd but obviously it's the windows installer

[The Bone Collector]

ok one last question, how do i install software to print stuff, because last time the printing thing didn't support my printer
and I have a cd but obviously it's the windows installer

Well, its all in your google skills. Try going Here (I've never used it, but this was the first result in the google list )

EDIT: also try http://www.linux-drivers.org/

[FliesLikeABrick]

ok one last question, how do i install software to print stuff, because last time the printing thing didn't support my printer
and I have a cd but obviously it's the windows installer

Well, its all in your google skills. Try going Here (I've never used it, but this was the first result in the google list )

EDIT: also try http://www.linux-drivers.org/

that isn't necessary.  ubuntu should have everything you need.


what model printer is it?

[Krillious]

and HP PSC 1410
I remember when I tried to print it brought up a long list of printers but mine wasn't there :/

[Frenchie]

Should work.
According to this guy's post http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=286640

[Krillious]

ok thanks all I installed linux and i can print and I can finally watch dvds woot ( i had student version of windows)

Date Posted: November 20, 2006, 06:58:11 PMok problem
I downloaded wine from the repository that the wine site tells you to, then I checked it on the applications > add/remove place and when I click on applications>office it's not there
I tried right clicking on applications then selecting Edit Menus but when I click on office it's not there so I can't start the program
is there any other way to add it to the office menu? or a way to start it?

[Frenchie]

I'm guessing you followed this page... http://www.winehq.org/site/download-deb

Ummm... I don't think wine has a gui (except for winecfg)

If your wondering how to get stuff running in wine, there are a few guides around. But heres a basic run through.
Open up a terminal and type wine to see if it's recognised.
If it is place the exe file (eg. soldat131.exe) on the Desktop and run in the terminal

Code: [Select]

wine $HOME/Desktop/soldat131.exeThis will run you through the install of Soldat

Then

Code: [Select]

wine "C:/Soldat/soldat.exe"to run it.

-- Hope that answered your question

[FliesLikeABrick]

For your information, the default place for things to install would be in $HOME/.wine/drive_c/Soldat or whatever other folder like they were installed on your C drive on windows.  Take a look at the Soldat on Linux Systems thread in GD for helpful information about wine and Soldat