Random Linux babbling thread

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I installed Knoppix 5 DVD over the weekend. I'm impressed with the number of improvements since 4. Knoppix 5 is also the first OS I've tried on this system that recognises the graphic card properly without needing any additional drivers. I'm quite happy with it, and recommend it to anyone who wants to give Linux a shot. It took me 2 minutes to configure the installer, and afterwards everything works like a charm.

 

I installex Kubuntu a couple of days ago, and I'm pleased with it. Just like your Knoppix, it detected my video card and didn't needed an additional video driver (which is good since there were no Linux drivers for my card either way).

Fedora overwelcomed it's stay, and was a nightmare to swipe out, however...

 

That might seem like a dumb question, but oh well, I'm a cellphone specialist, not a computer specialist.

Anyhoo, I'm running Kubuntu, and while my flash drive works great... I can only access the files as read-only. I tried modifying the permissions, but I get the omnious error message that the permissions cannot be modified. It looks like this is something that can be done only when logged in as root, which is the root (no bad pun intended) of the problem - what in the nine hells is the damn password for root?

 

See, that's the reason I don't like the Ubuntu derivatives: there is no root
You can perform SOME administrative commands from the terminal by preceding them with "sudo" (without quotes), after which you'll be prompted for a superuser password. If you installed the OS with this one user, it will by default be on the sudoer list.

However sudo doesn't work very well (read: at all) with the GUI. I've heard that there's a way to activate root login in Ubuntu, but I've never managed to do it.

BUT... your problem is probably NOT related to admin privileges. Try right-clicking on the icon of the mounted drive (which should be on your desktop, if I remember how Kubuntu works), and one of the options should be "activate read/write mode". Clicking this should allow you to write to the drive. I hope this solves the problem, I can't remember whether read/write mode needs activation in Kubuntu.

 

"sudo su root"

Just type that in any terminal as the user created first.

And yes, it's likely related to root privileges - most likely fstab. Or possibly you have to give the necessary switches to the mount command.

Anyway, Ubuntu doesn't write to NTFS too reliably.

 

What does this do? Does it create a root account?

 

No.

It's a handy trick for using the root account in Ubuntu without setting a password for it.

The root account has been left disabled in Ubuntu for a very good reason (which is right in their docs for anyone interested). Of course, if you absolutely must have root account (never seen such a situation in Ubuntu myself), just a passwd after that should do the trick.

 

Taza, you were right, it was indeed root privileges. I used root, then modified permissions to read & write, and bam, all is working fine. Also, I formatte dmy flash drive in FAT32 instead of NTFS, and it works smoother.

Now, to get the damn PPPoE connection running...

 

Alright, here are some more problems.

I'm trying to install Xubuntu on my friend's computer which is basically a P3 667 MHz with 128 RAM. I have to run it via the Live CD... and since she barely meets the RAM requirements, you can imagine it's AWFULLY slow. For some obscure reason, sometimes the thing just freezes - last time I tried to install it, it got stuck at the partitioning screen, and the CD kept spinning like crazy. After 25 minutes, I decided to kill the install. Is there an alternate way to install (X)ubuntu? I definitively dig Xubuntu, but I oh so HATE the way it installs.

Also... Xfmedia and amaroK seem to have a bone to pick with my collection of music. Let me explain. I'm running a Win2k/Xubuntu dual-boot, and when I try to play some songs while I'm browsing the web, neither Xfmedia or amaroK plays the damn files (they've been encoded in MP3 format using LAME). The playlist goes down like I specified files that doesen't exist, and this is ****ing annoying.

 

You can install Xubuntu by installing Ubuntu-server and then xubuntu-desktop on that.

 

Well, she's given up on (X)ubuntu and turned her attention to Fedora Core 6. It looks good and seems to be working great so far. I still prefer Xubuntu, though, but it's a matter of taste.

Also, a rant: Since my old P3 laptop is slowly dying, I've been looking to replace it. I've been in a few stores... but everytime I stumble on a good deal, they tell me I cannot buy the damn thing without Winblows. They then proceed to ask me why I don't want Winblows, and when I tell them I'm a Linux user, I get looked at like an alien and you can almost see the salesperson calling the security. Yeah, I don't use Winblows, sue me.

 

Oh that's old stuff. M$ has an agreement with major retailers to the effect that if you buy a PC without an OS (ie without Windoze) the retailer has to contact M$ about it, and they will then proceed to investigate whether you're using a pirated OS. Bill Gates had a speech a few years ago about the evils of no-OS computers, claiming they "encourage piracy". As if Windoze was the only OS that has ever existed on PCs. Oh yeah, and don't ask them to sue you - they just might

 

Well, I learned my lesson and I bring my Kubuntu CD with me so when they ask why I don't want Winblows, I just dish out that nice, shiny, original Linux CD (thanks to ShipIt). I can't wait to see the bunch of clowns investigate if my Linux is pirated. Morons.

Yup. M$ ain't the only game in town, fortunatly. I prefer to encourage the efforts of the open source society rather than encouraging the Nazis of the computer world.

 

Well, for those who give a damn, I bought a "new" (read: used) laptop, the very same day my P3 died out.

It's an Athlon 64 3200+ @ 2.0 GHz (with Xubuntu 64-bit edition), 512MB DDR400 memory, Western Digital Scorpio SATA 1.5 GB 80 GB, 8x DVD+-RW, integrated sound, graphics (ATI on-board card, not sure about the model), LAN and wireless LAN. I get roughly three hours and a half of battery life. A decent rig, sufficent for my needs.

One more rant: F*** you, Microsoft. Thanks to your stupid agreements I'm stuck with a used laptop. I could have gotten a MUCH better rig brand new, with a *Turion 64 X2* designed expecially for mobility, but no, it's illegal to sell a rig without Winblows.