Ubuntu 8.04 assistance required

[Famine]

I have recently built myself a new PC. Its purpose in life is to sit in a room with every video clip, music track and photograph that I own sitting on it, occasionally to relinquish one should a laptop or PS3 briefly require it. It's a hard life.


Being that I'm lazy, cheap and open to new experiences, "A-ha! Linux!" thought I.

Apparently this was a bad move for the first part of my trio of personal qualities. I certainly see the attraction of a malware-laden, bloaty, expensive OS that just works when you turn it on now...

Currently my problems can be listed thusly:
1. My Microsoft Wireless Desktop refuses to work. The keyboard works if the base station keyboard jack is plugged into the keyboard port, but the mouse will not work no matter what. A separate, old mouse I plugged in works, but only in 10s stints - where it will then take a few seconds break. Unless Firefox is open. Then it refuses to work at all. (Microsoft Wireless Desktop 2.0A; Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 1.0A)
2. My display - capable of ninety billion x eleventy zillion - is currently sitting at 800x600. I have the option of changing this to 640x480, but nothing else. (LG "Premium Artistic Series" LX40 Flatron 1940B; ATi Sapphire HD3650)

Solutions for either of these things would be gratefully received. If they could be presented in English - preferably the "idiot" version of it - it would be even better. Anything involving the word "kernel" will result in being hunted down and flayed to death with an angry kitten.


Also, if anyone else has an Heron issue, feel free to use this thread for your own woes.

 

[TB]

I can't help you with your issues (computer related or personal ) but maybe you could point me in the direction of that ninety billion x eleventy zillion display. Might look good in my basement when I get it finished up.

 

[daan]

My Microsoft wireless mouse and keyboard worked fine straight away. (Wireless mouse 6000 and comfort keyboard 1.0A)

ATI Linux drivers. I got my screen to my monitor's native 1440x900 using them.

Anything involving the word "kernel" will result in being hunted down and flayed to death with an angry kitten.

(EDIT: I also don't have Heron. I've got Gullible Giraffe or somesuch)

 

[Famine]

I'm currently having issues trying to install the damn drivers.

After finding out I can't just double-click them and run - I have to "open a terminal", browse to the folder in question, log in as a superuser even though I'm already logged in and then type some bizarre crap which might as well be in cyrillic for all I care, I'm told my command isn't found, even though it was found when it told me I didn't have permission to do it.


Where's my chisel?

 

[daan]

Welcome to Linux.

I managed to install my video drivers, then had a fun time trying to install flash so I could visit youtube, (which I managed ventually) then I haven't used it for months.

 

[Flerbizky]

Why not just rebuild the kernel with the open source drivers ?...

 

[TB]

Is that the "k" word I spy? Here come the kittens!

 

[Famine]

Why not just rebuild the kernel with the open source drivers ?...

Here's what I read when I see posts like this:

Why not just episodic munchkin the bowel flange gargle with the tiny Eppendorf feetle snowstorm hurdler?...

Also, I'm going to hunt you down and flay you to death with an angry kitten. Then burn your corpse.


Edit: What the hell? No, really.

I got bored of this and noticed a big red arrow. Big red arrow said "157 updates!", so I clicked on it and went to install them. Sometime between that and when I cared to return it locked up... Restart and the monitor is working to full resolution. The... huh?

 

[daan]

I seem to have got away with posting some popcorn kernels....

 

[Flerbizky]

I got bored of this and noticed a big red arrow. Big red arrow said "157 updates!", so I clicked on it and went to install them. Sometime between that and when I cared to return it locked up... Restart and the monitor is working to full resolution. The... huh?

Fully automated kernel update right there :-D

 

[Famine]

Mouse is still borked though.

 

[TB]

Mouse is still borked though.

That's because it's scared to death of those kittens.

 

[Robin]

Windows for all its faults (and there are plenty) at least works with 99% of stuff. I would never really go Linux unless it was to OSX.

 

[nick09]

Mouse is still borked though.

I have 8.04 installed on my parents 3-yr old computer and everything works like it should.

BTW, google ubuntu launchpad and report your problem there about the mouse.

 

[Eric.]

I have no idea about your mouse issue. Apart from checking out launchpad, try www.ubuntuforums.org .



Edit: A quick search on Ubuntu Forums got me this. Worth a shot. You shouldn't have any problems with the instructions.



<hijack>

Has anyone had issues in 8.04 64-bit with sound in Firefox (maybe just flash)? I haven't found a fix yet.

 

[kjb]

Windows for all its faults (and there are plenty) at least works with 99% of stuff. I would never really go Linux unless it was to OSX.

That's because 99% of stuff is designed to work with windows. if Heron is giving you problems try Linux Mint 5 or OpenSUSe 11. Or you get get the alt install disc and do fresh install.

 

[nick09]

I have no idea about your mouse issue. Apart from checking out launchpad, try www.ubuntuforums.org .



Edit: A quick search on Ubuntu Forums got me this. Worth a shot. You shouldn't have any problems with the instructions.



<hijack>

Has anyone had issues in 8.04 64-bit with sound in Firefox (maybe just flash)? I haven't found a fix yet.

I do not have any problems and I have the 64-bit install.