a Dell Inspiron 1100 resurrected with Ubuntu

This link was a key to the success so far.

Ubuntu, a Dell Inspiron 1100 and a blank screen after install | rikertothebridge

The laptop had problems with a flaky CD ROM, a failing hard drive warning, an old BIOS (A06 instead of current A32).

More to follow on some of the issues faced and solved so far...

BIOS update for A32 needed a windows disk, which I had already started to wipe with an Ubuntu install. I tried a bunch of CD bootable techniques, but with the flaky CDROM, I couldn't decide if it was bad burned disks, or laptop not able to read fully. I found a way to make a bootable USB, which is way nicer since the USB can be rewritten.

http://www.bay-wolf.com/usbmemstick.htm

I got to reuse an old 16MB flash card and a usb card reader, way cool that that worked.

Ubuntu 7.10: How to Uninstall KDE | Linux | Tech-Recipes

Ubuntu 7.10: How to Uninstall KDE | Linux | Tech-Recipes

From the above post...

Execute the following command in a terminal window:sudo aptitude remove kubuntu-desktop

But if you installed KDE by using apt-get or Synaptic, there will be a little more to copy to the terminal window:

Execute the following command in a terminal window:sudo apt-get remove adept adept-batch adept-common adept-installer adept-manager adept-notifier adept-updater akregator amarok amarok-xine apport-qt ark arts debtags digikam dolphin enscript fftw3 foomatic-db-gutenprint gdebi-kde gnupg-agent gpgsm gtk-qt-engine gwenview hplip-gui hwdb-client-kde ijsgutenprint k3b kaddressbook kaffeine kaffeine-xine kamera karm katapult kate kbstate kcontrol kcron kde-guidance kde-guidance-powermanager kde-icons-mono kde-style-polyester kde-systemsettings kdeadmin-kfile-plugins kdebase-bin kdebase-data kdebase-kio-plugins kdebluetooth kdegraphics-kfile-plugins kdelibs-data kdelibs4c2a kdemultimedia-kfile-plugins kdemultimedia-kio-plugins kdenetwork-filesharing kdenetwork-kfile-plugins kdepasswd kdepim-kio-plugins kdepim-kresources kdepim-wizards kdeprint kdesktop kdesudo kdm kdnssd keep kfind kghostview khelpcenter kicker kio-apt kio-locate kio-umountwrapper kipi-plugins klipper kmag kmail kmailcvt kmenuedit kmilo kmix kmousetool kmplayer-base kmplayer-konq-plugins knetworkconf knotes konq-plugins konqueror konqueror-nsplugins konsole kontact konversation kooka kopete korganizer kpdf kpf kppp krdc krfb kscreensaver ksmserver ksnapshot ksplash ksplash-engine-moodin ksvg ksysguard ksysguardd ksystemlog ktorrent kubuntu-artwork-usplash kubuntu-default-settings kubuntu-desktop kubuntu-docs kubuntu-konqueror-shortcuts kvkbd kwalletmanager kwin kwin-style-crystal language-selector-qt libakode2 libarts1-akode libarts1c2a libartsc0 libaudio2 libavahi-qt3-1 libclucene0 libcluceneindex0 libdbus-qt-1-1c2 libept0 libexiv2-0 libflac++6 libgmp3c2 libgpgme11 libid3tag0 libifp4 libijs-0.35 libimlib2 libjpeg-progs libk3b2 libkbluetooth0 libkcal2b libkcddb1 libkdcraw1 libkdepim1a libkexiv2-1 libkipi0 libkleopatra1 libkmime2 libkonq4 libkpimexchange1 libkpimidentities1 libksba8 libkscan1 libksieve0 libktnef1 liblua50 liblualib50 libmimelib1c2a libmodplug0c2 libmpcdec3 libmysqlclient15off libnjb5 libofa0 libopenexr2c2a libopenobex1 libpoppler-qt2 libpq5 libpth20 libpulse0 libpythonize0 libqt-perl libqt3-mt libqt4-core libqt4-gui librsync1 libruby1.8 libsamplerate0 libsearchclient0 libskim0 libsmokeqt1 libstreamanalyzer0 libstreams0 libstrigihtmlgui0 libtunepimp5 libungif4g libxapian15 libxcb-shape0 libxcb-shm0 libxcb-xv0 libxcb1 libxine1 libxvmc1 mysql-common network-manager-kde networkstatus openoffice.org-kde openoffice.org-style-crystal perl-suid pinentry-qt poster psutils pykdeextensions python-kde3 python-qt3 python-qt4 python-qt4-dbus python-sip4 python2.5-dev qca-tls rdiff-backup restricted-manager-kde ruby ruby1.8 scim-qtimm skim software-properties-kde speedcrunch strigi-applet strigi-daemon && sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop

I'm having problems downloading mail in Notes 8.5 - Gmail Help

To get IMAP for gmail working Notes I needed to run a telnet check. Not sure if this will be needed everytime or not.

I'm having problems downloading mail - Gmail Help: "To run the telnet test on a Windows computer:

1. Open the Start menu, and select Run.
2. Enter command in the Open: field, and click OK.
3. Enter 'telnet imap.gmail.com 993,' and hit Enter. (Does the information in the prompt window clear? If not, please note the message that appears.)
4. Close the prompt window."

Google Unit converter

I just found this out...so cool!!!

You can use Google to convert between many different units of measurement of height, weight, and volume among many others. Just enter your desired conversion into the search box and we’ll do the rest.

I tried 1528 ft in miles....got it!!!

Ubuntu issue unable to show contents of the folder - Ubuntu Forums

Had a strange issue that just started with my Archos.
When attaching the USB connection to update my podcast subscriptions, it would give an error "Failed to get file list: -8: Fixed limit exceeded". A few searches on the Ubunutu forums I found the below thread which found a workaround to start Rhtymbox before connecting the media player. Hope this bug gets fixed soon, but need a note here to check back if I get this issue again.

[all variants] unable to show contents of the folder - Ubuntu Forums: "I am able to open it in Rhythmbox now. It only works if I open Rhythmbox first, and then attach the mp3 player. Between the gphoto thing and Rhythmbox all folders are usable now."

How to end an unresponsive app in Ubuntu

Here's a link to the different ways on how to kill an unresponsive program UBUNTU.

1. GUI way: Right-click on an open portion of either panel and click on "add to panel", double click on the "Force quit" app.

2. System--->Administration--->System Monitor

3. Full screen lock out ctrl + alt + f2
ps -e

then find the process' ID I needed to kill, then type in

kill [pid]


Origianally from here:
http://tinyurl.com/lxbbw3

Bug #153322 in compiz (Ubuntu): “Confusion between virtual desktops and viewports”

I've been struggling with this bug the last few days.... Need to read the results, workarounds, but this intro explains exactly what I found...

Bug #153322 in compiz (Ubuntu): “Confusion between virtual desktops and viewports”: "There is confusion between 'Virtual desktops' and 'Viewports' in Compiz. Both use the workspace switcher applet, which behaves differently depending on the settings."

continuing the bug report states:


Binary package hint: compiz

There is confusion between "Virtual desktops" and "Viewports" in Compiz. Both use the workspace switcher applet, which behaves differently depending on the settings.

Virtual desktop and viewports can be set in the Compiz settings menu under General options, Desktop size. When "Number of desktops" is set to 1, the workspace switcher applet shows the number of viewports. Using the keys crtl+alt+[left|right] I can switch between workspaces, and the applet show that.
If I set the number of desktop to any number higher than 1, the applet suddenly shows desktops, and no longer viewports, without any indication of that change. Using the hotkeys I can still switch between viewports, however, the applet does not change because it shows desktops. Clicking on the applet to switch to another desktop is possible, and there I have a whole new set of viewports. There are no hotkeys to switch to a new desktop.
From this new desktop, I can only see the application on the viewports associated with this desktop. E.g. the window selector applet only shows windows from the new desktop, and not windows from the first desktop. These windows are 'somehow lost'.

The unclear distinction between desktops and viewports leads also to other bugs, such as #145704. It is also not possible to drag windows between viewports, but it is possible to drag them between desktops.

Solution for Ubuntu 8.10 and RTL8187B WiFi problem (Short Range WiFi) | Linux4All.Net

I am not sure if this is the exact issue that I am looking for a solution to, but wanted to post a quick link here to check back later.Solution for Ubuntu 8.10 and RTL8187B WiFi problem (Short Range WiFi) | Linux4All.Net

IBM - For Notes 8.5, which clients are available in each install package?

IBM - For Notes 8.5, which clients are available in each install package?: "**If you want to launch Notes 8.5 in the Basic Configuration rather than Standard Configuration, create a shortcut on your desktop to point to nlnotes.exe in the Notes program directory. Or, simply launch nlnotes.exe . In addition, you can create a shortcut which executes notes.exe within the Notes program directory and add one of two command line switches, -sa or -basic. For example: C:\Program Files\Lotus\Notes\notes.exe -sa"

SKipping SOund in Linux my attempts to correct.

Linux Online - What Else?

This is the key stuff that I am trying.... Just want to make note in case I forget what I changed...

3.3. Fix for sound skips and other problems

Thank you to Michael Hamilton for submitting me the idea how it works.

The working of this Fix was confirmed by two People, so it looks like it works, but it may not work for everyone. Please feel free to submit further experiences!

Lets go: It looks like at least the sound skips are curable by maximizing the pci latency timer of the device.

First you have to find the "pci-address" of your Soundcard. This could be done with lspci. You have to look for something like "Multimedia audio controller" or "AudioPCI". Take the "pci-address" of the device (looks like something like that: 01:06.0 -> it stands for: bus:slot.function) and maximize the latency timer for it. This is done by setpci:

setpci -v -s "pci-address" latency_timer=ff

For additional Information on the Latency Timer you could look here.

Maybe this works also for other problems like USB-Problems and Harddisk-Transfer-Slowdowns, but this hasn't been tested for now. Feel free to test it (but don't blame me, if it doesn't work or makes everything worse) and report whether it works. The problem is, that i have none of this problems and so can't test this by myself.

If it works, you have to perform this setpci command at every startup/reboot of the Computer. So it would be wise to put it in one of the init-scripts (after the driver module is loaded!).

gOS Help & Support • View topic - Missing Wbar

So I ran into a problem with WBar and found this posting that solved it immediately. It really helped to explain what had happened.

gOS Help & Support • View topic - Missing Wbar: "Re: Missing Wbar

Postby trdofMSoft on Sat Feb 14, 2009 12:48 am
You should have two .wbar files (not folders). The first should be in your home folder. the second will be found in /etc/skel.
(In order to see these files you will have to select [view hidden files] in both folders)

The one in /etc/skel is a copy of the original configuration. . You can copy and paste from /etc/skel to your home folder, which will restore all the original icons

Here are some common reasons why wbar disappears:

1. It is not enabled as a startup option in system preferences -> sessions
(If you need to build a launcher, the command is wbar_delay.sh)

2. The link to the background is broken, try picking another background in WbarConf
(look in /usr/share/wbarconf/wbarbacks)

3. I can't explain this one, but it happened to me....One of the links to an icon pointed nowhere. for some reason this one broken link to the icon caused the whole bar to vanish! When I picked a new icon for the application in WbarConf and hit [save] and [refresh] it all came back again....odd

4. I have a 'friend' who did this: :oops: tried to be clever and decided to delete the background so that the icons just floated on the desktop...What I, er I mean he, got was a perfectly unhindered view of the desktop!"

Missing Bookmark toolbar in Firefox 3

I encountered the issue described below recently and found that the instructions there immediately helped.

original post here:
http://www.ghacks.net/2007/08/30/firefox-bookmarks-toolbar-is-not-showing-bookmarks/

Firefox Bookmarks Toolbar is not showing bookmarks

I encountered a problem in Firefox after installing the Piclens extension. My Bookmarks toolbar was not showing my bookmarks anymore, just a blank toolbar. It was also not possible to add new bookmarks to it. A quick check of my bookmarks revealed that the Bookmarks Toolbar Folder was still there so it had to be a different problem.

I tried disabling and enabling the toolbar again which did not have a effect either. I knew that it was important that the so called Bookmark Toolbars icon was added to that toolbar. To check this you have to right-click the top toolbar and select customize from the list.

If there is no icon visible in the Bookmarks Toolbar you have to move it back in. The icon is called Bookmarks in the icons list there. Just drag and drop it into the Bookmarks Toolbar and the bookmarks should be visible again after finishing the customization. My bookmarks were there again which was exactly what I wanted to happen.

You should also make sure that the Bookmarks Toolbar is enabled in Firefox. You can check it by clicking on View > Toolbars > Bookmarks Toolbar.

Vista no longer recognizing my "Card" reader after using Safely Remove Harware

So tonight I ran into a problem I had a few months back and I could not recall immediately what the solution was, so in the middle of 2 hours of searching various microsoft and HP forums for support, I thought that I definitely need to post the answer here once I find it....

The problem: inserting my memory card into the card readers on the front of my HP Pavilion did not bring up the Auto-Play option. Furthermore, after opening Windows Explorer the drives were no longer listed. Several of the posts I had found mentioned restarting the machine, some mentioned "uninstalling" all the USB devices in the Device Manager, but the one key item that I still could not find the original source was the "hold down the power switch for 4 seconds after shutdown". I have no idea what that does, but it seems to me to act like "cache" flush and Presto!! My drives magically appeared again.

Well, if when I get this again I should be able to remember to check here.

HP forum note that I thought I had found the answer earlier on.