Topic: Eee PC not so eeesy?

[sam]

Right, I'm Ubuntued up and running, and online with my WPA key!    Now all I've got to do is find my way round this weird OS!  First off, I want to switch off the password requests each time I want to do something.  It's worse than bloody Vista!

WOOH!

Si, its not weird just different. I guess its halfway between a mac and windows. To change your password settings you need to do it in the account settings though to be honest I don't bother as its rather insecure (and I'm not actually sure how to turn it off). Mine doesn't ask me too often - only when I'm installing new software - or updates.

[sam]

oh and just remember security is number 1 with linux

[sam]

oh and a good site for all things ubuntu.. http://ubuntuforums.org/

[Rik]

It's worse than bloody Vista!

Is that possible?? 

[Simon]

OK, some questions, probably for Sam:

1. How can I stop it asking for a password each time it tries to make a wireless connection? (Edit: sorry, didn't see above post).

2. How do I actually install programs?  I've downloaded the Linux version of Sea Monkey, but clicking on the install.exe does nothing.  If I install it from Synopsis Package Manager, it installs an older version, and there's no way to update it within the program interface.

3. A curious issue: when I shut it down, the green light stays lit on the front of the unit, and the only way to get rid of it seems to be to remove the battery.  Any ideas?

4. I tried to overwrite some of the files in my Firefox profile with updated ones, for saved cookies, passwords, bookmarks, etc, but it won't let me write to the profile, saying I don't 'own' the directory, or something.  I'm the only user, so assume I am the administrator, but is there something I need to do to assert administrator rights?

That's it for now, but don't go on any long holidays! 

[sam]

1. How can I stop it asking for a password each time it tries to make a wireless connection? (Edit: sorry, didn't see above post).

You should be able to save it... there might be an option in the network config, I'm running a slightly (home modified) version and it might not be the same. I'll have a think.

2. How do I actually install programs?  I've downloaded the Linux version of Sea Monkey, but clicking on the install.exe does nothing.  If I install it from Synopsis Package Manager, it installs an older version, and there's no way to update it within the program interface.

You sure an .exe for a linux package? Just that's not normal! :-D Using the package manager is by far the best, I'd suggest having a look at the ubuntu guide. Sometime, you need to change the location of the repository where it gets the software from - by default it will probably only get it from ubuntu verified packages, which as you can guess is never quite the latest version for software that updates often.

3. A curious issue: when I shut it down, the green light stays lit on the front of the unit, and the only way to get rid of it seems to be to remove the battery.  Any ideas?

Hmm, no idea - I've not had that problem. I'm assume it seems to fully shut down properly..?

4. I tried to overwrite some of the files in my Firefox profile with updated ones, for saved cookies, passwords, bookmarks, etc, but it won't let me write to the profile, saying I don't 'own' the directory, or something.  I'm the only user, so assume I am the administrator, but is there something I need to do to assert administrator rights?

Ah... but you aren't admin by default - you will probably find this annoying but this is a key issue about security. So todo this you need need to be logged in as root. So if you copy the files at the commandline (in the terminal windows)

sudo cp -r THEFILES /the/directory/of/firefox/profiles

If you need to find out the actual location of the firefox profile at the commandline type:

pwd

i.e. print working directory

That's it for now, but don't go on any long holidays! 

Well I'm France Tuesday till Sat... :-D

[sam]

oh and seamonkey...

take a look at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SeaMonkey

[sam]

Is that possible?? 

he exaggerates. Either that or something is wrong!

[Simon]

You should be able to save it... there might be an option in the network config, I'm running a slightly (home modified) version and it might not be the same. I'll have a think.

I've been doing some digging myself, and I think I've solved that by telling it to use cached 'keyrings' automatically.  Not sure if it's worked yet though.

You sure an .exe for a linux package? Just that's not normal! :-D Using the package manager is by far the best, I'd suggest having a look at the ubuntu guide. Sometime, you need to change the location of the repository where it gets the software from - by default it will probably only get it from ubuntu verified packages, which as you can guess is never quite the latest version for software that updates often.

Oh, well, you know what I mean, an install file anyway.  It turns out there is a way to install the latest version, but it's way over my head, so I'll stick to Firefox for now.

Hmm, no idea - I've not had that problem. I'm assume it seems to fully shut down properly..?

That's fixed!  I found out it's a bug in the sound module, which was shutting down the OS but not allowing the machine to power off.  Did the following:

Open a Console window using Ctrl-Alt-T
edit the file /etc/default/halt:
sudo nano /etc/default/halt
Add the following line at the end of the file:
rmmod snd-hda-intel
save the file and reboot.

Ah... but you aren't admin by default - you will probably find this annoying but this is a key issue about security. So todo this you need need to be logged in as root. So if you copy the files at the commandline (in the terminal windows)

sudo cp -r THEFILES /the/directory/of/firefox/profiles

If you need to find out the actual location of the firefox profile at the commandline type:

pwd

i.e. print working directory

Now you see why I think Windows is easier?   

Well I'm France Tuesday till Sat... :-D

Not to worry, it will probably have been crushed to a pulp by then.  I really don't think I have the patience for it, but thanks for all your help. 

[sam]

easier != secure. 

[sam]

but in all seriousness I understand that Linux isn't for everyone and if people are generally careful and aware of security issues then Windows is fine. To me copying files via the commandline comes much more naturally than having all this dragging and dropping bull. I know it works but doing things at the commandline is so, so much faster. Its just not as natural to the end user... but I feel that's where the GUI removes the user from the fact that they are using a computer. Anyway, Ubuntu can do both - apart from in a few cases, where like here, you can probably get around - but I'm not sure how to never having seen going "sudo cp -r " as an issue ... Linux will get even easier as time passes but you just managed to install it and mess around with the config files!!!!

[Simon]

It's having trouble with Pals at the moment - I don't think it likes the flash sigs.    However, I am typing on it as you ncsan probably tekllk, snd hsvuing trouible getting used to the small jeys.

[Simon]

Oh, by the way, there's no anti-virus or anything on it at the moment.  Do I need something?  The old software had anti-viris.

[sam]

Hmm, that must be firefox I guess... do you have ephinay installed - you can always try that.

Yes, the small keys are fun, lol. You get used to them after a while though, I wrote a whole observing proposal on mine on the train... so its feasible!

[sam]

antivirus - no need really but there are a few tools out there... I've gone blank on their names now. The antivirus is more useful if you intend to use files on a windows machine...