Ubuntu Linux help in >> this thread <<

[Richard M]

Hey all,

I help the Ubuntu community, beginner and manual projects in my spare time by assisting newbies with common problems.

If you have any issues with running Ubuntu Linux, please post here and I'll do my best to help you out.

[Hiroki]

You know I have been playing around with Ubuntu for a while and I still don't know how to update simple things like Transmission or Firefox.....is there a special way to do it?

Also how do you go about getting codec packs?

[Lord Nikon]

Originally Posted by Hiroki

You know I have been playing around with Ubuntu for a while and I still don't know how to update simple things like Transmission or Firefox.....is there a special way to do it?

Generally in ubuntu the main system updater tends to handle updates to all software.
Click on System, Administration, Update manager
When it launches it will tell you what updates are available. Click on Install updates then enter your password when asked.
It's as simple as that. Think of it as windows update on steroids.

Also how do you go about getting codec packs?

Ok, this one is a little harder, there is a nice howto on it Here and the most you will be doing really to install them is copy and paste into a terminal.

While you are at it, if you wish to be able to edit video then type in the following into a terminal window.

sudo apt-get install kdenlive

follow the instructions on screen and you will have a video editing package the equal of Sony Vegas.

Hope this helps.

[admars]

Also how do you go about getting codec packs?

You can can skirt round the issue by using VLC.

http://www.howtoforge.com/howtos/linux/ubuntu

has good guides, the perfect desktop guides especially to get a quick guide to something useful.

Originally Posted by Richard M

Hey all,

I help the Ubuntu community, beginner and manual projects in my spare time by assisting newbies with common problems.

If you have any issues with running Ubuntu Linux, please post here and I'll do my best to help you out.

come on Richard you know full well trying to tie a whole subject with multiple problems to one thread is not going to work. Its gonna get messy. Also there are loads of people on here know their way around nix of various flavours( I am not one of them)

The existing forum method where a problem is posted in relevent section then answered by whoever seems to work fine.

Its like me starting a thread saying I work in computers any problems just ask me ....

Its good to know you are here and can offer proffessional support on the matter though

[brundles]

Originally Posted by Lord Nikon

Generally in ubuntu the main system updater tends to handle updates to all software.
Click on System, Administration, Update manager
When it launches it will tell you what updates are available. Click on Install updates then enter your password when asked.
It's as simple as that. Think of it as windows update on steroids.



Ok, this one is a little harder, there is a nice howto on it Here and the most you will be doing really to install them is copy and paste into a terminal.

While you are at it, if you wish to be able to edit video then type in the following into a terminal window.

sudo apt-get install kdenlive

follow the instructions on screen and you will have a video editing package the equal of Sony Vegas.

Hope this helps.

I'm not sure from the OPs post, but one thing to remember is that the version of the software in the Ubuntu repositores will typically be older (more tested with Ubuntu) than the latest and greatest out there.

If you want/need new versions of the software though, most popular software sites will run their own PPAs with newer versions you can add as a software source and manage the same way through Synaptic and the update manager.

[Kymmy]

Originally Posted by zing

Its like me starting a thread saying I work in computers any problems just ask me .... or Kymmy

You missed a bit Zing

[Matty_]

Originally Posted by zing

Its like me starting a thread saying I work in computers any problems just ask me ....

Jeepers creepers they must be either enormous computers or your very very tiny and you can slip in through the vents

Or you have a magical super power whereby you can shrink down to any size.

I`m just going to take a walk around you motherboard mate, back in a bit

[Richard M]

Originally Posted by Hiroki

You know I have been playing around with Ubuntu for a while and I still don't know how to update simple things like Transmission or Firefox.....is there a special way to do it?

Also how do you go about getting codec packs?

As an example for Flash:
Go to System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager
Search for "flashplugin", it should ask you if you want to enable non-open source packages. Click yes.

If you can't click videos in Youtube etc after installing Flash, read this:
http://heratech.net/blog/sham/cant-c...ube-etc-ubuntu

If you want a plugin for mp3s and so on, you can simply try playing the file in Videolan or you can look for the "plugins-nonfree" package in Synaptic.

For Firefox and other software, Ubuntu should provide security updates for your version but if you want Firefox directly from Mozilla (3.6), then look at this:
http://www.ubuntugeek.com/how-to-ins...buntu-ppa.html

---------- Post added at 12:36 ---------- Previous post was at 12:24 ----------

Originally Posted by zing

come on Richard you know full well trying to tie a whole subject with multiple problems to one thread is not going to work. Its gonna get messy.

Aye, maybe.
Guess we'll see.

[ronald146m]

Originally Posted by Hiroki

...and I still don't know how to update simple things like Transmission .....is there a special way to do it?

Transmission gets updated very frequently. The current version is 1.92.
The Ubuntu repositories are sometimes slow to get the updates.
The way to overcome this is to add the Transmission PPA.
If you do this the Ubuntu updater looks in Transmission's repo for the latest version. There's quite a few other packages allow you to do this too.
This is information about the Transmission PPA here:-https://launchpad.net/~transmissionbt/+archive/ppa

Edit. This is pretty much what brundles said in post #6

[Hiroki]

This topic is great thanks to everyone for the advice Had fun googling all your tips

I ran the command "sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras" and that seemed to get the codecs I was missing.....is that the right thing to do?

What are ppa's and which ones should be on my system?

I managed to update firefox to the daily updates so it seems to be better for me

Now all I need is a good cd-ripper, version alternative to winrar and a decent iTunes alternative (just for my iPod) and I will be happy to swicth

[Richard M]

Originally Posted by Hiroki

This topic is great thanks to everyone for the advice Had fun googling all your tips

I ran the command "sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras" and that seemed to get the codecs I was missing.....is that the right thing to do?

Correct.

Originally Posted by Hiroki

What are ppa's and which ones should be on my system?

Personal Package Archive.
Look here for more info: https://help.launchpad.net/Packaging/PPA

Originally Posted by Hiroki

I managed to update firefox to the daily updates so it seems to be better for me

Now all I need is a good cd-ripper, version alternative to winrar and a decent iTunes alternative (just for my iPod) and I will be happy to swicth

Try Ripper-X for CDs, it's excellent.

[CHiLL]

I have just installed Linux Mint 8, which I believe is a variation of Ubuntu...however my Creative X-Fi Xtreme Audio wont output sound. The drivers are wrong. Is there any way to fix this? (I'm a complete novice)

[grandmaster]

Since a few weeks ago ,I have struggled with wireless on my Acer Aspire one A0A150.
I now cannot connect to my WPA encrypted linksys.
I know its not the linksys as my iphone and windows machine connect.
(and my wifes Dell ubuntu netbook)
I have installed a clean ubuntu 9.10 (and 10.04 beta) and can only connect when encryption is switched off.
I have tried mad wifi drivers but im still struggling, I have asked on the ubuntu forums but so far not had a response..

I think it must be one of the kernel updates but im not sure how to go back and find older kernels..

Im back to using windows now (which I dont mind) but i like ubuntu and was happy with it...

If anyone can help I would appreciate it....

[Hiroki]

My ubuntu dual boot crashed earlier when I connected a external drive and now it's stuck at the black grub screen....any ideas anyone?