Helen's Ubuntu Experiences

Helen Frame, a member of our PC Club, has taken on a special assignment to try to help members learn the Ubuntu operating system. To this end, Helen is writing articles from her personal experiences in learning Ubuntu, which will be posted as they become available on the club site for all to read. As Ubuntu is new to all of us at the present and many of us are new to installing and using an operating system other than Windows, it is hoped that these articles will give a first hand report of the experience of one person that can serve to help others who wish to try out this new and exciting operating system.

Below is her first article.

UBUNTU EXPERIENCE

By Helen Dunn Frame

September 14, 2006

Background: The first time I put the Ubuntu CD in my CD – Rom/DVD drive was before Chuck asked me to take on this Special Project so that all of you in the group that expressed interest in using Ubuntu could learn from my experiences. Briefly the following is how I did it initially, by the seat of my pants, and a second time after reading more. Future articles will explain more about how this CD works in either "live" or "install modes" ;.

At the time I first tried using the CD, I didn’t take copious notes because I was just beginning to investigate the operating system on my own. Over the years I have learned several operating systems and programs by the hands-on method, with some backup from manuals when available. In a few instances, I took some classes.

During the first time I had put the CD into the CD drive and booted the computer, it booted from the CD-ROM to the Ubuntu desktop like the one we saw on Chuck’s computer at the PC Club meeting except it contained an icon for my external drive. I had hoped to see an icon for "my documents" from the Windows’ XP operating system similar to the one on Chuck’s desktop but no icon was on it and I couldn’t print. As a result of not having either of those capabilities, I exited the live CD and went back to XP to handle business.

Since we first talked about Ubuntu in the group, I started printing and reading various articles about this operating system. When I bought the book called “Ubuntu for Non-Geeks” it came with the free Desktop Guide, which is now available on the PC Club website. That I have read; I will start reading the book as time permits between bouts with learning the Ubuntu CD. I will continue to take extensive notes to also help you learn from what I do.

It is possible that some of the experiences I have had so far will happen to you. Just like I don’t feel lost when I take a long way around from one place to another, I feel these trials are all part of the learning process. However, by reading about my adventure into the land of Ubuntu, you will know where you are, may be able to avoid detours, and will learn how to go about approaching the situation safely.

Report One: Using the Ubuntu CD live for the second time, (when I didn't boot from the disk, but simply read from it while in Windows XP.)

Firstly, I checked FYI the Information about my laptop computer so you could compare it to your computer. (I did this by clicking on Start, Programs, Accessories, System, System Information and then added information for you about its model and that it is a laptop.)

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600

OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation

System Name TOSHIBA-USER

System Manufacturer TOSHIBA

System Model Satellite A75-S229 Laptop

System Type X86-based PC

Processor x86 Family 15 Model 3 Stepping 4 GenuineIntel ~3200 Mhz

BIOS Version/Date TOSHIBA V1.10, 5/28/2004

SMBIOS Version 2.31

Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS

System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32

Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1

Locale United States

Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)"

User Name TOSHIBA-USER\Helen Frame

Time Zone Central America Standard Time

Total Physical Memory 512.00 MB

Available Physical Memory 109.18 MB

Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB

Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB

Page File Space 1.03 GB

After getting this information, this time I established the Bios is set correctly so it will boot from the CD-ROM first before booting from the hard drive.

In order to do this, I went to Start, Turn off Computer, Restart and rebooted the computer. When it came to a screen which on the bottom left gave me an opportunity to look “behind the scenes,” I clicked F2. It brought me to the Phoenix Bios Setup Utility.

Using the arrow keys, because the mouse doesn’t work here, I moved over to the Boot Tab. Listed on it were 4 options:

CD-Rom/DVD Drive

Hard Drive

Removal Devices

Network

As the CD-Rom was already the first on the list, I left it as it was and exited. The computer finished loading.

Working with Ubuntu Disk live without installing

This time I disconnected the external drive hooked up for backup only without any operating system on it because I didn’t want icon to show up on the Ubuntu desktop.

I put the Ubuntu disk in the drive. It came up with a page that said “Boot from this CD to try Ubuntu without affecting you system.

At this point it should have just booted up the CD as it did the first time. However, what could have happened was Windows automatically opened the disk as it is wont to do. However, I decided to explore this page. (See the page I printed out so you will know what it looks like.) Until I rebooted later, which will be explained, I was accessing the CD through Windows.

The window listed several programs:

Moxilla Firefox (web browser)

Mozilla Thunderbird (email)

Abiword (word processor)

Gaim (multi protocol instant messaging)

Gimp (advance image editing appl)

Collection (with open CD project)

I clicked on Install Mozilla Firefox. The setup page warned to close windows programs, which I didn’t think was unusual. It probably indicated that I was accessing the disk unknowingly from Windows.

I clicked on Next. A license came up and I accepted it. Next. It selected Standard Installation. Next. The window announced it would install. In the Browser address, it said it would install it to c:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox. Next. Install complete. Launch MF was checked. I clicked on “ Finish.” I was asked if I wanted MF to be my default browser. I clicked on No, even though I probably would eventually want it to be, because I wanted to test it first.

It opened Firefox Mozilla. Next I produced a window that said Firefox had been updated. Clicked, “go to my home page” and it took me to the sign-in. I clicked on View, Text Size and increased it 2 times so I could read the entire page better.

A Pop-up screen came on showing my desktop in XP. It said to slide my finger over the mouse pad, which I did and I somehow got into Photoplus. The screen said to increase the bit size, which I did by going to control panel, display, set @32 bit, apply, okay.

As I wanted to test all my e-mails, I signed into Hotmail. A window came up about certification; didn’t know this one. I clicked “accept the certificate permanently.” I had to do it twice. I put in my password, got into Hotmail and read new mail.

Next I went to gmail. Once again, no cookies so I input all info. It asked if I wanted this to be the default e-mail; I clicked no and found no new mail.

Next I went to Yahoo.com and decreased the text size that I had increased so the page fit the screen. It remembered the address this time but I had to put in the password. Returned text to normal.

Went back to Ubuntu Home page with choices of items to install. This time I clicked on the brown screen at the top, the default desktop, and got the page I used print screen to capture. It told me to reboot leaving the CD in the computer.

This would be a good place to put a heading that this is where one would start if they knew what you know now.

After I did this, the Ubuntu CD booted properly. As I was now working live from the CD, the page where it starts the automatic loading of all the necessary items appeared. It takes a while to load everything as it boots; patience. Then the OS runs from the CD.

CUIDADO: On the desk top were two icons; one sample, the other install. DO NOT INSTALL. You do not click on it until you are ready to install it after learning the system by using the CD in the live mode.

At the top of the screen was a toolbar with Applications, Places, System, a Firefox blue icon and Evolution Mail. I right clicked on each one to determine its contents. Lots of games are automatically loaded. As things are accessed, a round icon which has movement lets you know something is happening.

At the bottom of the screen on another task bar are 4 work spaces which one can switch between. Learned that Ubuntu has four virtual desktops to help one keep things uncluttered while you are working.

Decided to exit Ubuntu by clicking on Exit and the DVD drive clicked open.

The next report will deal with Operating Ubuntu Live from the CD. I now know that I should put the CD into the drive and then boot my computer to get to the Ubuntu desktop from the disk. Hopefully, I can tell you how to access your documents from your other operating system and how to install your printers. What I would emphasis is, “When in doubt, right click and check out properties.” If you are unsure about something, don’t do it. Get Help!