Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: Linux.. LOADS of problems :(

  1. #1
    Banned
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Carlisle
    Posts
    4,121
    Thanks
    504
    Thanked
    368 times in 278 posts
    • matty-hodgson's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Abit IP35 Dark Raider
      • CPU:
      • Q6600 @ 4GHz (59'C Under a TRUE Black)
      • Memory:
      • 4GB OCZ DDR2 890MHz (5-4-4-15)
      • Storage:
      • Intel 80GB - Games. Intel 80GB - OS. 1TB Samsung - Storage.
      • Graphics card(s):
      • NVIDIA Zotac GTX 275: 728 Core, 1614 Shader, 1340 Memory
      • PSU:
      • Enermax MODU82+ 625w
      • Case:
      • Antec 300
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Samsung SM2343BW (2048x1152)
      • Internet:
      • Smallworld 4Mbps

    Linux.. LOADS of problems :(

    just installed Linux 8.04.1 onto my PC.. along with Vista, but i'm having a few problems.. firstly,
    how d'ya get Ubuntu to recognise your wireless PCI card?
    i have a Belkin Wireless G+ Desktop Card, if that helps..?
    and also the problem of somehow installing the nVidia drivers?
    i have an 8800GT, which drivers do i want?

    there's also the other problems of playing MP3 files, but i reckon all of those ones will be sorted once i get the internet working on it..

    cheers for any help

  2. #2
    Hello jackvdbuk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Stratford
    Posts
    2,513
    Thanks
    468
    Thanked
    112 times in 95 posts
    • jackvdbuk's system
      • Motherboard:
      • AbiT IP35-PRO
      • CPU:
      • Intel C2Q Q9550
      • Memory:
      • OCZ Nvidia SLi Edition 4GB (2x2gb) pc2-6400 DDR2
      • Storage:
      • lots of TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • BFG 8800GTS 512MB
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX620W
      • Case:
      • Corsair 800D
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Premium x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2407WFP
      • Internet:
      • Orange (about 6Mb)

    Re: Linux.. LOADS of problems :(

    id suggest googling answers before everyone starts winging about you not googling!

    mp3 is not a free format and thats why linux cant play them, you need a codec (cant remember which one)

    wireless help:http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/deb...ng-ubuntu.html

    looks like you need ndiswrapper whatever that is

    mp3 help:http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/mp3

  3. #3
    SiM
    SiM is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    London
    Posts
    7,787
    Thanks
    300
    Thanked
    633 times in 422 posts
    • SiM's system
      • Motherboard:
      • P5K Premium
      • CPU:
      • Q6600
      • Memory:
      • 8GB PC2-6400 OCZ ReaperX + Platinum
      • Storage:
      • 3 x 320gb HD322HJ single platter in Raid 0
      • Graphics card(s):
      • PNY GTX285
      • PSU:
      • Corsair TX650W
      • Case:
      • Antec 1200
      • Monitor(s):
      • 2407-HC

    Re: Linux.. LOADS of problems :(

    there are plenty of free mp3 decoders e.g linux version of vlc

  4. #4
    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    /dev/urandom
    Posts
    17,074
    Thanks
    228
    Thanked
    1,027 times in 678 posts
    • directhex's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus ROG Strix B550-I Gaming
      • CPU:
      • Ryzen 5900x
      • Memory:
      • 64GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB
      • Storage:
      • 2TB Seagate Firecuda 520
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 XC3 Ultra
      • PSU:
      • EVGA SuperNOVA 850W G3
      • Case:
      • NZXT H210i
      • Operating System:
      • Ubuntu 20.04, Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 34GN850
      • Internet:
      • FIOS

    Re: Linux.. LOADS of problems :(

    wireless

    some wireless chip manufacturers are shamelessly unhelpful in getting their kit supported in multiple OSes, and broadcom (the usual choice for ultrabudget brands like belkin) is particularly odious. this generally forces you to use the windows driver, using something called "ndiswrapper".

    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wi...er/Ndiswrapper are the official docs on the process

    nvidia

    click System, Administration, Hardware Drivers. tick the box, and reboot when prompted.

    may require internet access.

    mp3

    should be working out of the box - which player app isn't working? are you sure your files are valid?

  5. #5
    Environ'mentalist Zadock's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Pembroke
    Posts
    1,386
    Thanks
    104
    Thanked
    101 times in 83 posts
    • Zadock's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Z77
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i5 3570K
      • Memory:
      • Corsair Corsair Vengeance 8Gb (1600Mhz)
      • Storage:
      • Samsung 500GB HD501LJ Spinpoint T, SATA300, 7200 rpm
      • Graphics card(s):
      • XFX HD6950 2GB
      • PSU:
      • Corsair 520W HX Series Modular Powersupply
      • Case:
      • Antec Nine Hundred
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 64 HP
      • Monitor(s):
      • Samsung 27" LED
      • Internet:
      • BT

    Re: Linux.. LOADS of problems :(

    MP3 doesn't work out of the box i don't think, just ogg and flac. Just go to the software repository and type in MP3 and you'll see a codec package you can download.

    to get your nvidia card and potentially your wifi (depends on maufacturer) working go to restricted drivers, which I think its under system? depends what desktop you've gone for. Note that you may need to wire your pc up to the network instead to get the drivers
    ___________________________________________________________

    System 1: Case: Antec 900 Motherboard: Asus Z77 CPU: Core i5 3570K @3.4GHz RAM:8Gb DDR3 1600Mhz GFX: XFX AMD Radeon 6950 2Gb (Cayman) HDD: Samsung Spinpoint 500GB O/S: Windows 7 64bit Home Premium

    System 2: Lenovo Ideapad S205: AMD E350 APU (1.6Ghz), 2Gb 1066Mhz DDR3, Radeon HD6310 (integrated), 250Gb HDD, Windows 7 64Bit Home Premium

    System 3:Asus Eee 901: 12Gb Ubuntu 10.10 Gnome Desktop edition


  6. #6
    A shadowy flight. MSIC's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    London/Herts
    Posts
    3,413
    Thanks
    394
    Thanked
    229 times in 168 posts
    • MSIC's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASRock H170M-ITX
      • CPU:
      • Core i5 6500
      • Memory:
      • 2 x 4GB Corsair Veng DDR4 2666
      • Storage:
      • 240GB SSD (boot) +1TB Samsung F3
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ASUS GeForce 750Ti
      • PSU:
      • Silverstone 450W ST455F
      • Case:
      • Silverstone SG06-450
      • Operating System:
      • Win10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2309W
      • Internet:
      • PlusNet FiberTTC

    Re: Linux.. LOADS of problems :(

    Directhex is on the ball as always. The nvidia drivers are fairly easy, as described, but getting wi-fi working does indeed take a little more effort.
    The best bet is to start with wired ethernet, and go from there.

    Once you're plugged in to the internet, you need to search for ndiswrapper to be installed. One of the big changes that i've had to make, in terms of a leap of psychology, is that i no longer download and install a program from a website. You search through the repositories for what you want, and simply add it in from there. (I'm sure Directhex can explain how you can install something directly, but it seems alot of hassle). So search for Ndiswrapper, and install it into Ubuntu.
    It should then appear in the drop down menu (top left) under...something..i can't remember because i'm on a work PC
    Ndiswrapper allows you to the then use the windows files to get wireless working. When i added my Netgear wireless N card that's what i had to do. Netgear was a bugger too, because they dont even give you the .sys files or anything, so i just had to hunt around in C:\WINDOWS\system32.
    Copy these onto a mem stick, or alternatively make sure that your Ubuntu install can read NTFS drives (i think that it should be easy these days) and hunt around for it.
    Running Ndiswrapper, it'll ask you for the files to install into Ubuntu and it will do the rest itself.

    Sorry i'm being a bit vague, i'm still a bit of a Linux novice myself and i don't have it in front of me!

    Once you have a working internet connection (wired or wireless) when you try to play an mp3 (or an xvid, or whatever) Ubuntu should automatically recognise that it needs the codec and will download it for itself, with perhaps one click for you to authorise the procedure. Ubuntu then has a really nice feature (or perhaps it's any Gnome Linux) where you can hover your mouse pointer over an mp3, and it'll start playing it. In the OS, not even using a seperate media player. nice!

    Edit: PS It is worth persisting with, and you'll get the hang of it. But i think that Ubuntu still has quite a way to go if it wants to capture a larger market share, and that means ease of use, pure & simple. I mean, you are a relative IT geek (sorry - i've no idea if you really are, but you post on Hexus!). Imagine if one of your parents tried to do the same - they'd be lost.
    Last edited by MSIC; 21-10-2008 at 04:22 PM.
    I'm commenting on an internet forum. Your facts hold no sway over me.
    - Another poster, from another forum.

    System as shown, plus: Microsoft Wireless mobile 4000 mouse and Logitech Illuminated keyboard.
    Sennheiser RS160 wireless headphones. Creative Gigaworks T40 SII. My wife.
    My Hexus Trust

  7. #7
    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    /dev/urandom
    Posts
    17,074
    Thanks
    228
    Thanked
    1,027 times in 678 posts
    • directhex's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus ROG Strix B550-I Gaming
      • CPU:
      • Ryzen 5900x
      • Memory:
      • 64GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB
      • Storage:
      • 2TB Seagate Firecuda 520
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 XC3 Ultra
      • PSU:
      • EVGA SuperNOVA 850W G3
      • Case:
      • NZXT H210i
      • Operating System:
      • Ubuntu 20.04, Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 34GN850
      • Internet:
      • FIOS

    Re: Linux.. LOADS of problems :(

    Quote Originally Posted by Zadock View Post
    MP3 doesn't work out of the box i don't think, just ogg and flac. Just go to the software repository and type in MP3 and you'll see a codec package you can download.
    you're right, it seems it's not in by default. the package is gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly

    though the system should offer to install it for you if you attempt to play an mp3 file with the default players

  8. #8
    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    /dev/urandom
    Posts
    17,074
    Thanks
    228
    Thanked
    1,027 times in 678 posts
    • directhex's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus ROG Strix B550-I Gaming
      • CPU:
      • Ryzen 5900x
      • Memory:
      • 64GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB
      • Storage:
      • 2TB Seagate Firecuda 520
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 XC3 Ultra
      • PSU:
      • EVGA SuperNOVA 850W G3
      • Case:
      • NZXT H210i
      • Operating System:
      • Ubuntu 20.04, Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 34GN850
      • Internet:
      • FIOS

    Re: Linux.. LOADS of problems :(

    Quote Originally Posted by MSIC View Post
    Directhex is on the ball as always. The nvidia drivers are fairly easy, as described, but getting wi-fi working does indeed take a little more effort.
    The best bet is to start with wired ethernet, and go from there.
    good advice.

    Once you're plugged in to the internet, you need to search for ndiswrapper to be installed. One of the big changes that i've had to make, in terms of a leap of psychology, is that i no longer download and install a program from a website. You search through the repositories for what you want, and simply add it in from there. (I'm sure Directhex can explain how you can install something directly, but it seems alot of hassle). So search for Ndiswrapper, and install it into Ubuntu.
    It should then appear in the drop down menu (top left) under...something..i can't remember because i'm on a work PC
    Ndiswrapper allows you to the then use the windows files to get wireless working. When i added my Netgear wireless N card that's what i had to do. Netgear was a bugger too, because they dont even give you the .sys files or anything, so i just had to hunt around in C:\WINDOWS\system32.
    Copy these onto a mem stick, or alternatively make sure that your Ubuntu install can read NTFS drives (i think that it should be easy these days) and hunt around for it.
    Running Ndiswrapper, it'll ask you for the files to install into Ubuntu and it will do the rest itself.
    also good advice. the link i gave was for the official ubuntu ndiswapper instructions.

    Once you have a working internet connection (wired or wireless) when you try to play an mp3 (or an xvid, or whatever) Ubuntu should automatically recognise that it needs the codec and will download it for itself, with perhaps one click for you to authorise the procedure. Ubuntu then has a really nice feature (or perhaps it's any Gnome Linux) where you can hover your mouse pointer over an mp3, and it'll start playing it. In the OS, not even using a seperate media player. nice!
    it's a nautilus feature (gnome file manager)

    Edit: PS It is worth persisting with, and you'll get the hang of it. But i think that Ubuntu still has quite a way to go if it wants to capture a larger market share, and that means ease of use, pure & simple. I mean, you are a relative IT geek (sorry - i've no idea if you really are, but you post on Hexus!). Imagine if one of your parents tried to do the same - they'd be lost.
    how about pre-installed though, where drivers etc stop being a problem (because the hardware justworks)? imagine asking a parent to install XP on a SATA disk, using pre-SP2 XP (or even WITH SP2, on non-SP2-supported kit)

  9. #9
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Posts
    30
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: Linux.. LOADS of problems :(

    some wireless chip manufacturers are shamelessly unhelpful in getting their kit supported in multiple OSes, and broadcom (the usual choice for ultrabudget brands like belkin) is particularly odious. this generally forces you to use the windows driver, using something called "ndiswrapper".
    Using ndiswrapper is not desirable - it is much better to use the b43 or b43legacy driver that should be part of ubuntu already - these drivers should already be installed but they will not work straight out of the box!

    This is because as well as the driver, the broadcom chipset also needs firware to run on the card - which cannot be distributed with ubuntu as it is not open source.
    To get this firmware you would normally need to download a utility called fwcutter and also download the windows driver from broadcom's site (you must match the version of fwcutter to the version of the firmware) and use fwcutter to extract the firmware from it (bit of a pain ).

    However seing as you are using ubuntu this site should be extremely useful for you:
    http://ubuntu.cafuego.net/dists/hardy-cafuego/broadcom/
    I just downloaded "b43-firmware_1.0-0cafuego0_all.deb" to my flash drive, plugged that into my old ubuntu laptop and double clicked the file to install it. Hey presto it worked!
    You may need the "bcm43xx-firmware_1.4-0cafuego1_all.deb" package instead depending on how old the chipset on your wireless card is - the bcm43xx is the "legacy" version

    Type:
    sudo lspi -v
    in a terminal and you should see either b43 or bcm43xx listed as one of the devices, so you can just select the appropriate firmware to download.

    Hope this works for you

    PS its possible the driver might not actually be installed already seeing as this isn't the latest version of ubuntu, i was using 8.10

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    375
    Thanks
    11
    Thanked
    19 times in 15 posts
    • Maccer101's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Foxconn G33
      • CPU:
      • Q6600 + Scythe Infinity
      • Memory:
      • 2gb Samsung PC-5300
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung F1 + 250gb WD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • MSI 8800gt OC 512mb
      • PSU:
      • Corsair VX450
      • Case:
      • Antec Mini P180
      • Operating System:
      • Ubuntu 8.04
      • Monitor(s):
      • Samsung SW223BW + Dell 19"
      • Internet:
      • 10mb Virgin Broadband

    Re: Linux.. LOADS of problems :(

    Can't help with the wireless card sorry, mine worked out of the box.

    MP3, just try to open a song in RythumnBox and it'll tell you you don't have the Codec and it asks if you want it to find them, then just follow the prompts.

    8800gt, best to just install the restricted drivers from the Hardware Drivers section. However if you want to run Dual screen you'll need to install propietary ones to do that, look up EnvyG (I think thats the name) this app installs proprietary drivers for you as they are not .Deb files. I would use the resticted ones if you don't dual monitor as these let you use Compiz fusion (advanced destop effects) without any hassle.

    My 8800gt works well with both restricted drivers and propriety. The Restricted Drivers do I feel give much better video playback though.


    BTW Ubuntu reads/writes NTFS no problem

    You will also need to install DVD playback codecs and all the ones for AVI files, DVD you have to do yourself Ubuntu won't help with that one, as said before a Google will remedy that.

    My current issue is that I can't get Ubuntu to recognise my DV Camcorder plugged in through firewire despite me having the raw1384-8 app installed, so if anyone knows that...
    Last edited by Maccer101; 21-11-2008 at 02:59 PM.
    HTPC1 - Coolermaster CM330, E2180 + Zalman 9500AT, GA-P31-DS3L, 2x1Gb PC6400 , Antec Earthwatts 430w , Fujitsu 2.5" 40gb HDD, 8600gt, Hannspree 32" LCD TV - Kubuntu 8.04

    HTPC2 - Silverstone TJ-08, Asus 690g, Athlon LE1300 + OCZ Vanquisher, 2x512mb PC5300, Dell 350w PSU, Fujisu 2.5" 40gb HDD, 8600gt, Toshiba 33" CRT TV - Ubuntu 8.04

    Laptop- Lenovo T41, Pentium M 1.6ghz, 768mb PC2700 RAM, 40gb HDD - Ubuntu 8.10

    NAS - Dell Case, Jetway J7F5 Mini-ITX, 1gb PC5300, Enermax Pro 82+ 425w, 1TB Hitachi - FreeNAS 0.69 on 256mb CF

  11. #11
    Administrator Moby-Dick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    There's no place like ::1 (IPv6 version)
    Posts
    10,665
    Thanks
    53
    Thanked
    385 times in 314 posts

    Re: Linux.. LOADS of problems :(

    isn't wifi support better in the 8.10 version of ubuntu ?
    my Virtualisation Blog http://jfvi.co.uk Virtualisation Podcast http://vsoup.net

  12. #12
    Gentoo Ricer
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Galway
    Posts
    11,048
    Thanks
    1,016
    Thanked
    944 times in 704 posts
    • aidanjt's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Strix Z370-G
      • CPU:
      • Intel i7-8700K
      • Memory:
      • 2x8GB Corsiar LPX 3000C15
      • Storage:
      • 500GB Samsung 960 EVO
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX 970 SC ACX 2.0
      • PSU:
      • EVGA G3 750W
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Define C Mini
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus MG279Q
      • Internet:
      • 240mbps Virgin Cable

    Re: Linux.. LOADS of problems :(

    Quote Originally Posted by Moby-Dick View Post
    isn't wifi support better in the 8.10 version of ubuntu ?
    Yes, quite a bit so. But some chip manufacturers still wont play ball, often they have super-anal firmware redistribution licensing.

    As for codec issues. You need to install ubuntu-restricted-extras. That'll install a bunch of protected codecs (mp3 included) as well as flash and java support and other generally useful but no open things. For DVD playback support you need to add the medibuntu repository and install libdvdcss, or run the libdvdcss build script, but the former is useful anyway since you can install the w32codecs/w64codecs package which contains support for windows media files. All the restricted packages stuff is already documented on the Ubuntu community help wiki.
    Quote Originally Posted by Agent View Post
    ...every time Creative bring out a new card range their advertising makes it sound like they have discovered a way to insert a thousand Chuck Norris super dwarfs in your ears...

  13. #13
    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    /dev/urandom
    Posts
    17,074
    Thanks
    228
    Thanked
    1,027 times in 678 posts
    • directhex's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus ROG Strix B550-I Gaming
      • CPU:
      • Ryzen 5900x
      • Memory:
      • 64GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB
      • Storage:
      • 2TB Seagate Firecuda 520
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 XC3 Ultra
      • PSU:
      • EVGA SuperNOVA 850W G3
      • Case:
      • NZXT H210i
      • Operating System:
      • Ubuntu 20.04, Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 34GN850
      • Internet:
      • FIOS

    Re: Linux.. LOADS of problems :(

    Quote Originally Posted by Moby-Dick View Post
    isn't wifi support better in the 8.10 version of ubuntu ?
    Oh yes. Everything works on my new Dell, including the new Intel WiFi Link chip

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. ps3 linux? is their an official / whats best??
    By keef247 in forum Software
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 10-04-2008, 09:03 AM
  2. Linux - Anyone educated in it?
    By gamezfreak in forum Software
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 12-12-2007, 10:42 AM
  3. Linux: 8800GT or HD3870?
    By Dihi Doctor in forum Graphics Cards
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 20-11-2007, 04:47 PM
  4. My experience with Windows XP Pro x64 Edition
    By Paul Adams in forum Software
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 20-04-2007, 11:59 PM
  5. Replies: 13
    Last Post: 28-05-2004, 08:41 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •