Forgoing The Commonplace, Hello Ubuntu!

Thanks for Ubuntu Forums for coming through with another problem solver.  At first I tried the standard practive of trying to update with reinstallation of the nswrapper to no avail.  Then I tried the obvious clicking on the ‘Install Plugin’ route on flash portions of webpages, to no avail.

Finally I used Synaptic and installed “swfdec” via the GUI.  Don’t forget to install the GNOME and Mozilla components. Voila, Flash now works.

The only outstanding issue is that wherever I encounter Flash on a webpage, I have to click it to enable it to play.  I will research further and get to the bottom of enabling Flash to play by default.  The hard part is done, finally I can make the move from Windows Vista to Ubuntu.  Goodbye Windows, Hello Linux!

Amazing.  The new Hardy 7.04 LTS actually doesn’t lock up when I leave my computer running overnight!  Before it used to lock up, HDD would go nuts and I’d have to cold restart it.  It could have been because of the screensaver lock I had it set to in cohesion with the graphics intensive liquid bubble 3D screensaver I was using, but regardless it works now.  The big test tonight will be to try it in hibernate mode.  In previous versions of Ubuntu it never worked, my fingers are crossed.

In Applications >> Accessories >> Terminal

aka, the command prompt (shell), type:

lsb_release -a

Voila!  The output will look something like:

No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID:    Ubuntu
Description:    Ubuntu 8.04
Release:    8.04
Codename:    hardy

There you have it, my first meaningful Ubuntu tip/information tidbit.  -Pats self on back.

It simply ain’t going to happen, at least not at this time and not at my skill leve (or most other’s it seems).  I’ve been trying for a week to install Flash on my Ubuntu OS to no avail.  Even the Ubuntu forums have not been much of a help for Hardy Heron x64 flash installation.  Someone there mentioned to rollback to the x86 libs, but wasn’t very clear on how to do that, or the repercussions on other software if this was done.

I Googled my problem and see I’m not the only blogger with these issues;

Flash is a disaster. It’s not really great on x86, either, since there’s no hash check before the package is installed and the file downloaded from Adobe doesn’t match the hash, leaving the package half installed and broken, requiring manual intervention. On AMD64, however, you’ve got the added issue of nspluginwrapper (via nsviewer.bin) crashing about once an hour, meaning that the user has to close and reopen Firefox. I feel like I’m back on WindowsME and the Active Desktop.  See his full post on IBeenToUbuntu.

I’ll admit I haven’t done much collateral research on how/when this will get fixed, but I’m hoping tomorrow’s full release (Hardy Heron is coming out of Beta!! Yay!) will address this.  It’s been added to the Ubuntu Trac from what I recall, but we’ll see when it gets solved.  From some of the related Tracs/bug reports I saw, it doesn’t look to be solved quite yet.  I’ll keep you posted, you do the same, will ya?

**UPDATE**  I’ve solved this problem, see here.

A few days ago there were some pretty big updates to the important parts of this Ubuntu system from what I can tell.  Prior to these updates that required me to restart, FireFox normal release as well as the FF Beta releases were all crashing on my suddenly, seemingly for a multitude of reasons.  It was frustrating.  But, knock on wood, my lovely Hardy Heron has not allowed FF to crash since this updated.

Note to self, when trying a new OS for the first time, don’t try to get all cutting edge and download the newest beta, go for the STABLE VERSION.  Especially if you’re like me, a total newbie to using Linux as an operating system, hello!

Now if I could only figure out how to install Flash for my x64 operating system….   I found some links with really intricate command line things to do, but they just looked so damn confusing and I simply don’t have the time to ‘play’ around with them right now.  I’m so busy with business right now it’s crazy.

Yes, I´m one of ¨them¨.  The UPDATE SPAZ.  With Windows I was always checking for new updates, going to betanews.com and like sites to make sure I had the most current beta, alpha, RC whatever software on my machine.  I guess I was bored, maybe it´s even a slight case of OCD.  I´m just stating the facts.

In step Ubuntu…  I check every few hours for new updates ( System > Administration > Update Manager ) and I´d say maybe 65% of the time there´s new updates for me.  I have no clue what they´re doing, but I rest assured they´re fixing bugs, making my Ubunto operating system experience more enjoyable.

The Ubuntu wheels are a churnin´.  I love this OS!  We´ll see what else transpires….

Here´s my deal, I´m internet savvy, not computer savvy and definitely not Ubuntu savvy.  I have a little experience with Linux via text based shell prompts over the 13 years I´ve had web servers to deal with.  Only basic things like navigating in Linux, changing directories, removing, editing, changing ownership and permissions of files.  That´s it.  In fact, I don´t even really understand how any OS really works.  I just use them and hope for the best.

So, don´t expect this to be a life changing blog that will teach you how to use Ubuntu and Linux.  I simply wanted an outlet where I could write about all the little problems I´m faced with using this new Ubuntu OS I just recently installed.

I treat it like Windows, but it has quirks that monkey wrench me and then again it doest things that amaze me that I simply can´t wait to tell everyone how thrilled I am about it.  (ie. how fast it boots, regardless how many programs (processes) I have installed!  Amazing!)

I´ve already written a few subjects and kept them as drafts in the blog admin, and will expand upon them and post them as soon as I can.  Mainly I will be posting my findings and experiences as a 3 day old Ubuntu beginner converting from Windows for the first time.

Walk with me, laugh with me, throw monitor´s off the balcony with me.   It should be interesting to say the least.