My Little Ubuntu Guide

After some complaints about the md5 files not matching up, I’ve created new ones. Also please note that the DVD and CD ISO’s are moved to a new location:

Dell 6400 Ubuntu Live CD Image: http://www.mylittleubuntuguide.com/iso/livecd.iso
Matching MD5 File: http://www.mylittleubuntuguide.com/iso/livecd.iso.md5

Dell 6400 Ubuntu Live DVD Image: http://www.mylittleubuntuguide.com/iso/livedvd.iso
Matching MD5 File: http://www.mylittleubuntuguide.com/iso/livedvd.iso.md5

Cheers!

John

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Ok, I finally got a Live CD image working. You can download it from the link above.

What it does is everything a normal Ubuntu Live CD does except mine comes with ATI working, Broadcom 43xx wifi working (dell 1390), and Beryl installed … and it preinstalls beryl when you install from it. Then it places a “FinishUp” icon on the Desktop so when you log into your new system you can first run that and it does all the updates, upgrades, and installs Automatix2 so you can enjoy any of the software available to you!

It’s sweet!

Check it out!

John

Comments(7)

I just created and tested the new DVD iso.

Now I wanted it to have the system updates already applied, but alas, I have not successfully been able to get that working. It breaks Beryl for some reason.

BUT, I’ve updated the DVD iso with fixes to the current bugs and other issues, tested it on my system and it works like a freakin charm.

Once you install it you should first boot into a normal Gnome session, run the FinishUp script, then reboot. THEN you can change your session to Gnome-xgl and boot into the glory of Beryl! The first time I booted into my Gnome-xgl session after the FinishUp and reboot, my Beryl was loaded but I didn’t have any effects. I simply right clicked the Emerald icon, clicked “Reload Window Manager” and Wholla, it worked. I’m not sure why that happened, but on every reboot since it’s fine.

Also, the modem driver only works AFTER you apply the FinishUp script. This is a crucial step, so don’t forget it.

I’m off to upload the new iso. It won’t be at the same download location and I’ll release the name of the file once it’s up.

Cheers all!

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Ok, so those of you who subscribe were aware of the glitches. I’m repairing, HOPEFULLY, all of them now. I’ll do some extensive tests on my laptop before uploading the new iso.

But, bottom line is, I’m uploading the newest iso tomorrow.

The current one doesn’t show Beryl correctly on everyone’s system and has some applications missing, such as Cinelerra. The beryl problem was really weird, some had no borders and others had no buttons, but borders. Still others had no problems! So I’ll do my best to get to the bottom of this!

This is all very Beta right now, so hang tight with me and we’ll make this work.

Once all the bugs are worked out, we should be able to have a nice DVD to install from!

Later everyone!

John

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UPDATE: The Checksum can be matched with the md5 file, you can download it at http://www.mylittleubuntuguide.com/files/livecd.iso.md5
Let me know if something on the DVD doesn’t work people! Cheers!
END OF UPDATE….

The “Dell 6400 Ubuntu Live DVD” works! I’m so happy! The Beyl problem before was due to a repository not responding, probably being updated, but it’s all working now and I’ve created the ISO. I’ll be uploading it today, so this may take a while. I’ll post the link when it’s up.

If you have suggestions for applications you’d like pre-installed, just shoot me an email and I’ll consider putting them on there. To see a list of what’s on it now, see below:

What Is Installed:
1. System/Kernel Update with Reboot
2. Build/Compilation Tools
3. FGLRX Driver for ATI
4. XGL for Use With Beryl
5. Beryl by Trevino (0.3) w/ Unsupported Plugins, Video Capture Plugin, Seom, and Avant Window Manager
6. i8k Utils, GKRellm, and Sensors Applet for Hardware Monitoring (gkrellm is optional…for controlling the temp thresholds and fans yourself)
7. Automatix2 (A Super App By www.GetAutomatix.com That Allows You To Easily Install and Remove Cool Applications and Drivers)
8. Kompozer Web Editing Software, formerly NVu
9. DeVeDe DVD Authoring Software
10. gSTM Proxy Tunneling Software
11. Scanbutton Deamon (for use with Canon scanners)
12. Wireless Driver Using ndiswrapper for Dell 1390 and/or Broadcom 43xx (Any Broadcom Wireless Driver Which Uses the bcmwl5.sys / bcmwl5.inf Driver File)
13. JAVA Plugins and Software
14. Skype Chat Software
15. VMWare Server (You’ll Need a Serial, Get One for Free at www.vmware.com)
16. Multimedia Codecs
17. Kino Video Editing Software
18. F-Spot Photo Organization Software (Similar to Picasa)
19. Extra Fonts
20. Compression Tools (For Creating Tarballs and Zip files)
21. Adobe Acrobat Reader + Firefox Plugin
22. Gnome Baker CD/DVD Burning Software
23. gFTP FTP Client Software
24. GNU Cash Money Management Software
25. Liferea RSS Reader
26. Firestarter Firewall
27. ClamAV Antivirus Software
28. Audacity Audio Editing Software
29. DVD Ripping Software
30. Mplayer + Firefox Plugin
31. Totem Xine Video Player
32. VLC Media Player
33. Beep Media Player
34. Realmedia Player
35. Opera Web Browser
36. Avidemux Video Editing Software
37. Bittornado Bittorent Software
38. Bluefish Web Editing Software
39. Scribus Graphics/Publication Software
40. Picasa by Google
41. Wine (For Running Windows Apps)
42. Nautilus Scripts (For Opening Nautilus as Root, etc.)
43. Openoffice.org Clipart
44. Backup & Restore
45. GAIM Chat
46. Flash Plugin for Firefox
47. Gmail Checker
48. GIMP Image Editing
49. Thunderbird 2.0
50. RecordmyDesktop (Record Video From Desktop)
51. Google Desktop (Indexing of All Your Files for Fast Searching)

Comments(4)

UPDATE: AAAARRRGGGHH! Not working fully yet. Beryl doesn’t seem to be installing correctly. I’ll get this fixed by Tuesday, no later. Sorry for the delay!

Ok, I FINALLY got the live DVD working! Hurray! I’ll upload the ISO I created tonight. It’s about 1.3 Gigs, so prepare for an extra long download. But let me tell you, this is so easy now. No more booting into a broken X, no more booting without wifi. The live DVD has graphics, WiFi, all the apps you’ll want on your new system, and more! Only downside is VMWare Server doesn’t work until you run the “FinishUp” script on the Desktop. But that’s the first thing you should do once you’ve installed a new system anyway!

What is the “FinishUp” script you ask?

It’s a little script I created that has an icon on your Desktop after you install from the Live DVD. You run it and it does the kernel upgrade and all other updates to the system after a fresh install. When it’s done, it just “disappears” from your desktop and you can reboot to make the changes take effect.

Although I’m proud of myself for committing to getting this DVD done and ready for download or shipping to anyone who wants it, I’m not ready to call it a finished product.

Why?

Because, it’s only really useful for users with ATI graphics on their laptops. I want to make it autodetect the graphics card and enable the appropriate driver as a result. I’m pretty close to getting that function working, so hang tight. Once that works, this will be one rocking live ubuntu cd (DVD)!

And, I’ve tested putting it on a USB stick and it works like a charm.

Anywho….I’ll email you who have subscribed when the ISO is online and ready for download.

Cheers!

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UPDATE Jul. 20, 07 at 9:50 AM EST
OK, I’ve updated and cleaned up all the scripts to use ndiswrapper for wifi until the bcm issue is fixed. Everything will work perfectly (crosses fingers) and I have tested this on a fresh install. I have not tested creating a DVD with the new installstuff script yet, but the “dellinstall” script works.

And after the reboot during the dellinstall script, for the 2nd script you run “dellinstall2″. Both dellinstall and dellinstall2 MUST be run as sudo.

I’m running into a sudden snag. Really weird actually. The wifi driver won’t install correctly all of a sudden. Also, VMWare is giving me issues. I’ll get these fixed soon and the DVD ISO will be finished. I’ll email you all when it’s ready.

UPDATE:
Ok, for some reason I’m running into an issue with installing and configuring bcm43xx-fwcutter. It appears it won’t extract the correct Firmware, or something. Anyway, sometimes it works and other times it doesn’t. I’ll keep you posted.

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Ok everyone, I’ve noticed that many of you are coming here in search for very specific “How To’s” on Linux and Ubuntu in relation to Dell primarily. So I’ve decided to get detailed in the “How To” department and start spelling out each scripted action in a related How To. That way you can pick apart the code a lot easier and do custom stuff for your self.

I’ll try to explain each step in each how to as much as possible so you can learn as you do. That way you too can start experiencing Ubuntu, and Linux for that matter, in a way that will make you more independent! For starters, I’m going to spell out the Custom Live CD how to as this is a crucial one since the scripts don’t work that well!

Cheers!

John Westbrook

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UPDATE: The custom live dvd how to is updated. Check it out!

Ok all, I’ve successfully created a custom CD, well DVD, the image was over 1 Gig, so it will work great on a USB key as well. The steps are quite complex for the newbie, so I created some scripts that simplify the process. You can get my How-To and scripts from the link above that says “CUSTOM LIVE CD”.

I’ll post a full how to in a few days. For now, you are welcome to look at the scripts. DON’T SKIP A SINGLE STEP! Otherwise it won’t work properly.

Also, as stated on the page, this process was designed to work with an ATI card or Generic. If you have Nvidia you’ll have to look elsewhere for how to do it.

Cheers!

John

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Just did a fix on the main dellinstall script. I had to move some lines of code for the Automatix to install correctly, but after several tests it’s working perfect.

As for the Dell Install CD not going into GUI, I’ve received a tip from a friend who says the 64 bit CD should work. I’m downloading it now and will attempt to get it working.

Later!

John

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Ok, I’ve updated the Feisty How To as well as the Ubuntuforums.org version. I’m trying to make them more clear and understandable, even for a newbie. Please let me know if I’m succeeding at that. If you have suggestions and updates of your own they are more than welcome!

Oh, by the way, I should state the obvious. I’ve done a clean install using the Official Alternate CD Release and everything is perfect! This time I can even read SD cards from my Card Reader! Yeah! But I’m still listing it as not working since Sony cards still won’t read.

And if any of you are savvy enough, I’d like to create some scripts from this guide to automate the install process. Let me know!

Later!

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Ok, the kernel thing was a really dumb idea! It hosed my system. So now I reinstalled, only this time did a Feisty Fawn Beta install and am determined to get Beryl working! Will report back…

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Ok, so I ran into a problem with the latest Edgy kernel (2.6.17xxx) and VMWare. The problem is any network activity in the VMware guest OS causes the VM to lock up and if my host is fully engaged in the VM the host is locked also, for a period of exactly 5 minutes.

The problem is very mysterious and no one has really found a solid “fix”, even in the VMware forums. However, after I upgraded to the newest kernel via Feisty Beta the problem disappeared. This led me to beleive that the problem is the kernel. So, because I don’t want to run a beta right now on my system, since I cannot get Beryl working, and other reasons, I’m going to attempt to update just my kernel to 2.6.20xx.

After a post on www.UbuntuForums.org, I was directed to a thread here (thanks to NeoLithium): http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=311158

So I’m following this guide and will post back my progress and success/challenges.

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