Need help! Newb with ubuntu 9!

[StarBound]

Ok I managed to install linux so I am proud of myself in that respect

But I would like to change a few things and get a few things working. Will be making a list and posting here. Hopefull as the list grows the questions will be answered.

1 - Changing boot screen
2 - Installing nvidia drivers
3 - internet over pppoe

1 - Changing boot screen
Ubuntu is set as the default boot option. I want to change this back to windows xp. How do I do this?

2 - Install nvidia driver
I've downloaded the driver. I tried running it in the terminal and "run in terminal" command. It keeps giving me an error telling me to "install in /root". How do I do this?

3 - Internet over pppoe
...we'll leave this one for now. I broke my working ethernet setting so will have to restore that first somehow

[rustypup]

1) editing grub...

2) This depends on what format package you've downloaded, (archive, install package,?).... i'm assuming:

• i) you had no joy installing the restricted driver through System->Administration->Hardware Drivers
  ii) that the generic drivers in synaptic aren't working and
  iii) envy hasn't found a suitable driver for you

3) What is the error being reported on your connection?

[StarBound]

The driver is a .run file. The instructions say I should use the terminal and type "sh <filename>" after unpacking it says I need to run it as /root and only gives me the option to exit the installer.

The system > admin > hardware drivers doesnt give any hardware propriotary drivers or something in that line.

I dont know how synaptic drivers work or how it functions. These are the latest beta drivers from the nvidia site for 64bit linux. They have 295gtx full drivers but for 275gtx its beta drivers. I assume that linux is more dedicated a single device instead of unified drivers.

Trying newer drivers because screen is locked at 0hz 1024x768. I want the full 1680x1050 with full effects turned on. Atm I cant run the enhanced mode or w/e its called.

- Connections -

I managed to setup a wired connection that allowed me access to my hub. After running sudo pppoeconf in the terminal and setting up everything I lost my wired connection aswell. Will try to figure that out later. For now getting the graphics to work is step 1.

[rustypup]

it says I need to run it as /root

and it would be correct:

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sudo sh <path>\installer.run

this should challenge you for your SU password... remember, pre-pending any valid command with the sudo keyword sees the file run with root/elevated privilege...

The system > admin > hardware drivers doesnt give any hardware propriotary drivers

concerning... what do you see when you enter:

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lspci | grep VGA

in a console?

let's see if the driver install goes through ok and take it from there...

[StarBound]

Will try the code you gave me and look at the results.

For running a file that would be placed on my desktop in a folder would the command be sudo sh \desktop\<folder>\installer.run ?

[rustypup]

For running a file that would be placed on my desktop in a folder would the command be sudo sh \desktop\<folder>\installer.run ?

don't omit the home mask... (~/)

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~/desktop\<folder>\installer.run

please keep in mind that *nix file systems are context sensitive.. your desktop folder is actually Desktop... omit the caps at your own peril

it is often the best approach to run from within the execution folder as you're not having to worry about whether the programmer has assumed the necessary resources will be present in the execution directory, or if s/he will parse the execution line for the resource path..

[edit]tilde is rendering funny...[/edit]

Ubuntu: Using the Terminal

[SBSP]

You cant install the Nvidia.run file whilst X is running, you will need to drop down to lower run level and stop X.

you do this by issuing this command sudo init 2 (Ubuntu is not good with this it sometimes give a blank screen and you cant get back into X and have to restart.

The system > admin > hardware drivers doesnt give any hardware propriotary drivers or something in that line.

Because your system is not updated, People used to tell me its simple just go there and install, But i have the same problem.

Update your system with the Update manager under system >>> Admin >>> Update manager.

Once your system has been updated try again.
I have a Del D820 with a nvidia quatro GPU and after a fresh ubuntu install the propriotary dont show.

[StarBound]

My lspci | grep VGA gave the following info: 01:00.0 VGA comp controller Nvidia blah blah device 05e6 (rev al)

I ran the command in the folder the file is. It gave me an error that I should be running Xserver before installing. How do I fix this error?

Myabe if I cant fix this one I will look at getting internet and network working. Swapping between the 2 OS is very time consuming.

[StarBound]

Gonna try

system >>> Admin >>> Update manager.

and see what it does.

If it shows my hardware can I update the drivers through the hardware manager?

If I run sudo init 2 will I still be in the terminal window?

-----

I think I completely screwedup my networking. I went to the connect icon at the top right > edit and under wired I added my connection as 192.168.0.1 masknet 255.255.255.0 gateway 192.168.0.1 and it worked. Then I tried activation dsl with no success and tried sudo pppoeconf. After that my connections stopped and I cant get them working.

How do I reset them and get my LAN back and my dsl/wimax to work.

Wimax setup is like this:

PC -> hub/switch -> wimax device. Wimax is basicly dial up dsl. Under windows I set up my username and password as I would with normal dial up. I have no info on this device beyond that. Anyone know how to maybe get a ip or something to get this to work?

[rustypup]

It gave me an error that I should be running Xserver before installing.

hold on... what happens when you run the following:

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xrandr --output VGA-0 --mode 1440x900 --rate 75

is there a specific reason you are manually entering an IP under the nm-applet, (network manager)? (never worked with wimax before, so terror incognita for me )

[StarBound]

before I do

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[color=#00BF00]xrandr --output VGA-0 --mode 1440x900 --rate 75[/color]

my monitor is 1680x1050 and 60hz. Shouldnt it be

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[color=#00BF00]xrandr --output VGA-0 --mode 1680x1050 --rate 60[/color]

?

Reason I am entering a manual IP is because I prefer control over my own IPs. Also if I dont enter one it doesnt connect to my hub

I think many people are in for a nightmare when they try wimax. A few ISPs I tried flat out doesnt support wimax at all. But Axxess and telkom does as its just a wireless dsl untill it hits the exchange.

[StarBound]

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[color=#00BF00]sudo init 2[/color]

It didnt do anything for me. I ran the install line for the nvidia drivers after it and it said "You are running an X server. Exit it and try again". Also the xrandr didnt do anything for me. Not sure if it should have opened more options.

Update manager didnt work as I cant connect to the internet from linux. I cant even get onto my network.

[rustypup]

Also the xrandr didnt do anything for me.

we'll need to fix that...

for now, clear any changes you made in the nm-applet, ensure that DHCP is enabled and let me know if connectivity recovers...

also,

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sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

will take x down... replace stop with start to get x going again...

[StarBound]

Finally got around to the linux side tonight. Ok status report!

Drivers for my nvidia card is now up and running.
- Installing drivers used sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop
- had to alt f4 to get to my command bar
- installed it running sudo sh Nvidia-blahblah.run
- After installation re-entered gui with sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start
Desktop is now running at 1680x1050 24bit 59.88hz with high quality effects.

Internet and networking time.
I deleted my connections and created a new wired one. DHCP is on auto but still no connection found.

[rustypup]

what's the output to:

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ifconfig

[StarBound]

IFconfig and not ipconfig. Will get back on that. Btw I have no connections atm. I removed everything as it doesnt connect. I would like a static ip as it is easier for me to keep track of our homes ip's that way.

[StarBound]

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Link encap:Local Loopback  
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:16436  Metric:1
          RX packets:8 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:8 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0 
          RX bytes:592 (592.0 B)  TX bytes:592 (592.0 B)

Thats what I am getting

[SBSP]

doesnt look like you have an IP set, cus that just shows the loopback device's address '127.0.0.1'

How do you connect to the Internet via a normal network card , 3G, Modem ?

to set your IP manually this is what you do.
But you first need to find out what device you use.

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ifconfig eth0 down

--- eth0 is a device name for your network card.
by default ubuntu uses eth0, eth1 ect ect naming convention for network cards.
But sometimes network cards can be refered to as br0 br1 ect ect.
The command will stop the network.

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ifconfig eth0 10.0.0.10 netmask 255.255.255.0

- will set the IP address.
and

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ifconfig eth0 up

--- will start it again.

And if you need to set the default gateway.

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route add default gw (adsl-router IP) eth0

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ifconfig eth0 down

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ifconfig eth0 up

Edit.
And if i may ask why are you setting the IP using commands ? you dont have to as Ubuntu has an IP config GUI.
Unless you want to learn ?

[rustypup]

<note to self - browsing off your phone marks these things as read...>
try turning DHCP off and allocating a free IP - if you're back on the LAN, then we can continue... (make sure the IP is available...)

[StarBound]

Somehow I managed to loose my networking completely. So I am back to command to force it to get back online. I will try the commands and then I will try to set up the device again. Will get back once my networking is back.

I connect to the internet via wimax. I am linked to a network hub that links the device. In windows I have to set it up as broadband that dials. Pppoe.

[SBSP]

I am linked to a network hub that links the device. In windows I have to set it up as broadband that dials. Pppoe.

Usb or Network cable ?

[StarBound]

All through LAN cable. PC -(cable)> network hub -(cable)> Wimax device -(wireless)> DSL Exchange

[StarBound]

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ifconfig
eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:1a:4d:4b:f0:b1  
          inet addr:192.168.0.1  Bcast:192.168.0.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
          inet6 addr: fe80::21a:4dff:fe4b:f0b1/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:25 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:0 (0.0 B)  TX bytes:3890 (3.8 KB)
          Interrupt:250 Base address:0xe000 

lo        Link encap:Local Loopback  
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:16436  Metric:1
          RX packets:8 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:8 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0 
          RX bytes:592 (592.0 B)  TX bytes:592 (592.0 B)

Just typing ifconfig with the command gives me a permission error. I assume I should have used sudo ifconfig right?

[rustypup]

and are you back on the LAN at this point?

[SBSP]

I still dont know why you have to setup Pppoe. via a network cable, normally you do that with USB connections.

The wimax device should connect to the DSL exchange that you are talking about, automatically, once you switch it on and it has signal.

The network hub should just give you a DHCP IP handed out by the wimax device and automatically route you out to the internet via the DSL service provider.

Or am i wrong ?