MSN for ubuntu

You can either use the pre installed pidgin messenger or use something like meebo.  If you really missed the interface of MSN live for windows. You can install the AMSN.  It looks and functions like windows msn with little differences.

Install it by keying this in the terminal 

sudo apt-get install amsn

or 

search for AMSN in the package manager

Browser add ons

1) Installing flash player so that you can view youtube content and other flash sites.

Macromedia has already made it very simple for linux users to install flash plugin now, compared to previously where you will need to extract the file and manually put them into the usr\lib\firefox, folder. You just need to do as what you do in windows, and choose the Deb package and the flash player will be installed. Just remember to close your browsers before installing.

However, if using that method don't work for some reason or another you can always key in this command in the terminal

sudo apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree flashplayer-nonfree

2) Installing Java runtime

You can either, go to a java based website and click on the get plugin icon. And allow the browser to search for required plug-ins or simply click on tools, add ons and search for java. Click on apply plugin to install that.

Simple enough. Similar to windows.

Writing chinese

You can write Chinese in ubuntu, however you need to start a notepad and write in the notepad. Copy and paste into the program you want the chinese characters.

1) Go to Applications > Add/Remove... In the left panel choose System Tools, in the show option, make sure you choose all available application, and try to search for Language Support.


2) Now you can go to System > Administration > Language Support, In the Language selection panel, tick the Chinese language.

3) Start a notepad and right click anywhere on the notepad. Choose SCIM input.
Notice that a keyboard icon has appeared beside the updates icon or network icon at the top right hand corner. Click on it and choose simplified or traditional. Choose entry mode, example 智能拼音.

Opening RAR archives

The archive manager does not support winrar files by default. Installing 7zip or winrar via wine is an option. You can also get ubuntu to extract rar files by running this in terminal

sudo apt-get install unrar-free

or

sudo apt-get install unrar



Playing DVDs in totem movie player

By default, the plugin is not installed. You can easily download codecs of mp3 or other file types when the player is unable to play. But for a DVD video disc, you will need to do some special terminal commands .

Start the terminal

sudo apt-get install totem-xine libxine1-ffmpeg libdvdread3

Wait for it to download...

Then the second command

sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/install-css.sh

Restart and you can load the DVD disc off the movie player now.

Installing windows programs in linux

If you really have to use a windows application in linux, you will need to make use of this program called " wine ". You can install it using the add/remove programs menu.A restart is required after installing.


Before you can execute or install any windows programs, You will need to put an entry in the wine config page.
Click on add application.
Once done, you will be able to right click on the file and run with wine program loader

Useful information when using ubuntu

1) export HISTSIZE=0

Everything you typed in the terminal is recorded. You can press the up arrow key to repeat the commands. This command clears all the past history. The capital letters are required

2) CD [ followed by pathname]

It is quite different from dos commands when you try to navigate from point to point. One easy way to copy the address that is displayed on the places address bar. Type a CD in terminal and followed by a space. Right click and paste the destination in like this, And you will jump direct to the folder

3) If you put your mouse over a music file, hold it there, ubuntu will play the song, a direct instant preview

4) If a particular software or program fails to run as it should after installing, Do a restart and try again. One thing about ubuntu is that it does not prompt for a restart.

5) When prompted for password in terminal. Just key in your password. The cursor will not move. It is still registering your entry.

6) Whenever you are installing something that requires a CD, you cannot eject the Disc and switch like windows.  You will need to unmount the device,  and mount it again.

sudo mount /media/cdrom0/ -o unhide

sudo umount /media/cdrom0/

Firewall and IP blockers

1) Installing firewall

By default, there is no firewall running in ubuntu. As it is relatively safe with no worries about any hacking that may occur in linux. So firewall is not a necessary. You can install a firewall program called " fire starter "

Once again, use the synaptic package manager to search for firestarter. Installing it is easy as pie.


Now to learn how to allow ports and programs. There are 2 sections of the firewall settings. Click on the policy tab. The config screen is split into the upper and lower part. The lower part of the section is more user friendly. You can right click and add. There will be ready custom prepared entries for common ports like Http, MSN, etc. If you don't allow that, the browser will be blocked. But if you don't intend to use firewall. There is nothing to worry.

2) Installing IPlist

This is a peer guardian equalvilant for users who are familiar with windows's ip blocker.

You can download the deb package. For standard PCs, choose the 

iplist_0.24-0hardy1_i386.deb. After installing you can find it under the internet category of the programs menu. For some reason you do not see it blocking, you may need to use the terminal to start the program. Type

sudo ipblock -s [ Start the blocker program ]

Usage: ipblock [options]

Options:
-s start blocking
-d stop blocking
-r restart IPblock
-u update lists
-c convert lists to ipl format
-g start IPblock GUI
-l show status
-v show version and exit
-h show this help

Compiz desktop. Adding the special effects

1) Installing compiz advance desktop effects

This is a real cool thing that attracted me to learn ubuntu. A 3D rotating desktop. You may watch the video in my blog at the side bar.
Before installing the compiz itself you need to have a decent 3D card. No need for a high end top grade one. Any card that is AGP should suffice.
Let's start by activating your drivers. This must be activated. Or else you won't be able to run the compiz.
Go to system => administration=> hardware drivers


Activate your drivers by ticking the box. Let it download and install the native drivers. A restart would be nice. So that the settings will take effect. Now check that it is activated. You may notice that your system is slightly faster now. To install the compiz effects, use the add/remove manager. Remember to change the options beside the search bar to show all applications or else you may not see the compiz application. Do a search for advance desktop.


Simply tick the check box and it will download all the require software to make your ubuntu real nice. After all the installation is done, you simply need to configure the compiz by going to system => preferences => advance desktop effects settings. It is the 2nd one in the menu.
There are a lot of settings here for you to play around with, so I will just cover the few basic ones,
1) click on the desktop menu at the left side, tick the boxes, desktop cube and rotate cube. It will prompt you if you want to disable wall, just say yes.
2) click on the general menu at the left side. Click the only one setting general setting on the right. Click on desktop size, tab. change it to 4 for example.

Close the settings page, and now you can press and hold "CTRL + ALT". Click on your desktop and mouse your mouse.

Press and hold "CTRL+ALT" + the keyboard arrow keys can also rotate the desktop.
This will behave exactly as you would if you click on the desktop spaces on the lower right hand corner.

You can also aim any where on the desktop and scroll your mouse scroll.

The "windows Key" + E will show a zoom out view of all your desktops.


2) Enabling visual effects.

This effect allows the individual windows to shake like jelly when being dragged around the desktop.

Simply go to system => preferences => appearance =>visual effects

Click on extras.


3) Installing AWN - Avant Windows Navigator


This is something really nice and looks great in replacement of task bar

* Important Note * If your Compiz is not up and running, you cannot install AWN.

3.1) [ Install in Ubuntu 8.04 ]

Install using terminal

First : To add repository, both are to be executed in terminal

echo "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/awn-testing/ubuntu hardy main" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list


echo "deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/awn-testing/ubuntu hardy main" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list

Second : update your repository

sudo apt-get update


Third : install AWN

sudo apt-get install awn-manager-trunk awn-extras-applets-trunk

Once done you can activate it by going to the applications=> accessories=>Avant Window Navigator


3.2) Install AWN in 8.10

Goto the synaptic package manager
System->Administration->Synaptic Package Manager.

Look for avant-window-navigator

Check that and also
awn-applets-python-extras
awn-applets-c-extras

Once done. You can launch it in applications => accessories

Setting up internet connection

Setting up internet connection in ubuntu is quite straight forward.
Click on system => administration => network to access the settings to configure your network.

If you are using wired cable connection, it will auto detect and absolutely no settings like in windows.

As for ADSL connections, you will need to google search on how to configure the settings to connect to the broadband.

I will list out some of the different ways to connect using ubuntu.

1) Connect using wvdial.conf

In ubuntu, there is a text command that will create a internet connection. This is mainly used in PPPoe devices, In layman's terms, broadband in a sim card using a usb dongle.

Here's how to bring out the config.
open up the terminal
Navigate to the
etc folder.
type cd .. [ do it twice ]
type cd etc
type sudo gedit wvdial.conf
Key in your password [ nothing will be displayed as you key in the password, hit enter when you are done]

A notepad will show up with these

[Dialer Defaults]
Phone =
Username =
Password =
New PPPD = yes


Simply insert this entire chunk below

[Dialer yourispname]
Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
Stupid Mode = 1
Modem Type = Analog Modem
Phone = *99***16#
ISDN = 0
Username = vodafone
Dial Command = ATDT
Init1 = ATZ
Password = password
Modem = /dev/ttyUSB0
Baud = 460800
Init4 = AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","sunsurf"

Those in bold means that you need to replace with your own settings. As for the phone number, you can check the number by entering windows to look at it. It is in the "connect to" settings.

The user name and password don't really matter, but you have to write something. it can also be seen via windows, as for password, it can be anything.
As the the last init4 string, You can opt to omit that string, but it would be better to check out your ISP APN. It would make the connection connect faster if you are able to specfiy the APN. This APN can usually be googled online with regards to your ISP.
Also, the last entry has to be keyed in manually, If you copy it off my blog and paste it to the wvdial.conf. Surprisingly, it will fail to send command. Strange bug.

Once you are done, save notepad and run the command off the terminal
wvdial yourispname

You will see as the screen shot and you will be able to surf by starting the firefox. Remember to uncheck the "work online" in the file menu.

2) Connect using Wifi wireless network

If you have a wireless device connected, the network manager on the top right hand corner will show wireless signals around the area. Just Key in the WEP Key or passphrase as you would in windows and it will connect.

If the wireless device driver is missing, you can make use of the windows drivers to start up the device, there is a program called ndiswrapper that you can install from the add/remove menu. Simply copy the entire driver CD that contains the drivers to an empty folder, Use the terminal and type sudo ndisgtk. This will bring up a graphical user interface of the ndiswrapper program. Navigate to the folder that contains the drivers. Choose the driver file which is usually an inf file and you should see that the device is working properly.

2.1) Download the ndiswrapper first



2.2) Type sudo ndisgtk

You will have to wait for the program to load. Click on install new driver. Select file, click on browse. As you can see, I am using linksys as an example.
This is actually the windows driver file. Just navigate as you would in windows to pick out the driver file.

2.3) Check if hardware is present.



2.4) Connect using the network manager at the top right hand corner

3) Connect using Wicd, This program is another alternative to the default connecting program - network manager. You may wish to try this if using the network manager fail to connect for you. First, you have to download the deb package off the wicd site.




Next you will need to remove the network manager totally. Remove it by starting the add/remove manager. Uncheck it and apply.
Also paste this command in the terminal to finish off the removal

sudo apt-get purge network-manager-gnome

Do a restart and you can double click on the wicd deb file to install wicd.

Different ways to install programs

It is slightly different when installing software in ubuntu, but things are getting easier for windows users to adopt to.  Especially if you are used to double clicking to do everything.  There are a few more simple ways to install new software into ubuntu.

1) Using synaptic package manager

Use the built in synaptic package manager to add and remove programs that you want to install.  This is the apt-get command in linux in graphical user interface. Just click on system > administration > synaptic package manager

Search for the program that you want, check the box and click on apply to install it.  It will check the additional packages that are needed for you to make the program work.  Just untick the box to uninstall.  It's that simple.

2) Download the Deb packages

This Deb package sounds very foreign to windows users, but it works in the similar manner like a setup.exe which you just double click and it will install by itself.  This is one of the easiest method to get a program installed apart from using the synaptic package manager.  The synaptic package manager only lists the programs that are acknowledged by the developers themselves.

3) Using the add/remove programs menu 

The name tells it all.  You can access this feature from the Applications menu.  This is a easier interface instead of synaptic package manager.  You are able to read what the program is all about in the descriptions, but synaptic package manager will only write technical details, which is difficult for a new user to understand. 

4) Get tar.gz packages 

This is another thing that is strange to a windows user.  It is just the zip file equivalent in linux that contains all the necessary files in a archive.  You just need to extract the stuff to a folder and look for a readme file to see what are the instructions to get the program installed.  Some programs are as simple as extracting it to a folder and double clicking on the program's "exe" equivalent in windows and the program will run.  Example flock browser.

5) Get a .run file 

This is a self extractor equivalent in linux.  It will extract the files to its pre-programmed folder and create shortcuts.  .Run packages do not create any entry in the system and has to be removed manually.  Which is more tedious when it comes to getting the program uninstalled.  

A run file has to be executed using the terminal.  Put the file to a directory of your choice, navigate to the directory then you can run the .run file as follows.

1)  sudo chmod +x file.run 

2) sudo ./ file.run

6) Making use of apt-get or wget install command.

This is one of the best ways to install programs in ubuntu.  In some web sites, a long string of command or even several strings of long commands. Simply copy and paste it into the terminal and the program will be installed automatically.  You don't even have to understand what the long script is all about.

Have I left out any?  I will add more if i come along.  Oh yes, there is the rpm package, but that is more commonly used on a red hat linux distro package.  There is usually no need to specifically download a rpm, as there will usually be the tar.gz or deb packages available for download.

How to install Ubuntu 8.04

UBUNTU

There are many versions of ubuntu out there and the current latest version is 8.10. However, I suggest getting 8.04 as it is a LTS version, which means "Long Term Support" untill 2011.

You can download it through its website. Or if your internet connection disconnects all the time, you can choose to get it via bittorrent p2p programs.

Burn the downloaded file into a blank CD and there's 2 ways to install it.

1) You can double click on the wubi.exe in the ubuntu 8.04 CD to allow windows to install it like another program so that it can be easily removed if you don't like it.

2) You can boot it up using boot from CD drive just like any windows XP. There will be a menu to install it or to try it. But if you intend to install it in a separate drive, always backup all your precious data before proceeding. Most windows users don't have a decent partitioning software to get the drive in linux ext format, and don't expect winXP to do that for you in compmgmt.msc. Good news is, there's a free partitioning software call Gparted live CD which is fantastic at formatting, or resizing your drive. Good for windows too.

If you have only one hard drive, you can partition your drive before installing ubuntu. Load up Gparted and click on resize. Drag the slider to make your C: smaller. Then you can see a grey portion for a new drive.

Now you can click on the grey part and create new partition. Choose a format like fat32 for example. A new drive will appear in windows. When you decide to install ubuntu, you can use the newly created drive for it instead of using your whole windows drive.



Here's a step by step guide on how to install in the graphical interface

When you are done partitioning, You will realize that
when Ubuntu ask you to specify the space to install, You
can drag the slider to the left or the right. The trick is to
allocate the ubuntu at the right end of the drive, because
an additional drive will be created, which is the one in the
middle. This is because, this extra space is initially
intended to be shown in windows. If you don't want the
extra drive, run Gparted again to delete and drag the
windows partition all the way to use the full drive.

Note: Windows users, are not used to the fact that
linux requires you to key in auser name and
password. Do not leave it empty like we love to do
in windows and hope that it would load into the desktop

by itself because this is something very different in linux.

Unless you install it on it's own and not through wubi,
there's an option to click to auto login on startup.