Fucking Ubuntu 8 now refuses to recognise my fucking monitor or fucking graphics card

[jæd]

6 months ago, I had loads of driver problems and the partitioning utility destroyed all my existing partitions despite telling me that everything was ok.

There's a new release ever six months. The last being (as the version numbers suggest) in April. THe most current is Hardy 8.04.

I'm sure the memory will fade and I plan to install Ubuntu after the next release. I was somewhat disappointed with what the "user-friendly" version of Linux did to me though ...

Then give the current version a go, and if it doesn't work then post your problem on forums, generate bug reports, etc. If you don;t give feedback then people won't know there's something that needs to fixed. Ubuntu (and other distros) aren't faceless corps like Apple or Microsofts. They are staffed by people who thrive on user experiences and genuinely care about how easy it is to use...

 

[magneze]

I shall.

 

[bmd]

As with Fridgemagnet, its handy if you post up precise details on your problem, what you've tried. Also, people in the ubuntuforums will have more collective knowledge in this as well...

Thanks.

I don't really know why it won't let me use my wireless network. I've changed routers since I last used Ubuntu. Everything else has found the new router and connected to it no problem, but Ubuntu won't, it keeps asking for the network key which I input and then it asks for it again. It also asks for the key for a network which has no SSID, I'm presuming this is because it's not being broadcast by the router but it's making it harder to tell if it's doing what it's supposed to. I've stopped hiding the SSID so the next time I can be arsed to faff about with Ubuntu I'll see if that has helped. I've also tried setting it up manually, inputting the SSID and network key etc but that was no good.

The graphics card I have no idea about as it was working the last time I used it. And the Xfi thing is baffling but it's working, which is nice but I wonder when it will stop working, like the graphics and network card.

 

[jæd]

I don't really know why it won't let me use my wireless network. I've changed routers since I last used Ubuntu. Everything else has found the new router and connected to it no problem, but Ubuntu won't, it keeps asking for the network key which I input and then it asks for it again. It also asks for the key for a network which has no SSID, I'm presuming this is because it's not being broadcast by the router but it's making it harder to tell if it's doing what it's supposed to. I've stopped hiding the SSID so the next time I can be arsed to faff about with Ubuntu I'll see if that has helped. I've also tried setting it up manually, inputting the SSID and network key etc but that was no good.

Well, you would start with the most basic connection (Unsecured/public SSD) and then move to the more advanced. TBH, hiding your SSID will do little to anyone who know's what they are doing, and makes your network a more interesting target...

Oh, and you still need to include more details, are you using WPA, are you using WEP, etc...?

The graphics card I have no idea about as it was working the last time I used it. And the Xfi thing is baffling but it's working, which is nice but I wonder when it will stop working, like the graphics and network card.

You still need to post up precise details of what your network card / graphic card are...

 

[stowpirate]

A completely fresh install seems to have fixed it btw, appears to be toddling along quite happily now, which means that somewhere in the "upgrade" it all went horribly wrong. Now, if only I'd followed my first instincts not to trust upgraders. It's a good thing I don't really keep any data on this machine.

If you remember to backup your data a fresh install is always the best option

I found it was painfull reinstalling GoogleEarth, Picasa and Realplayer

 

[jæd]

If you remember to backup your data a fresh install is always the best option

Or just keep your home directory on a seperate partition, and any settings in /etc backed up.

I found it was painfull reinstalling GoogleEarth, Picasa and Realplayer

With the correct (Google repositories set up)

Google Earth runs from a web-browser now : http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,2310300,00.asp

Helix Player is an open source version of real-player...

apt-get install helix-player
apt-get install realplay
apt-get install picasa
apt-get install googleearth

To set up the correct repos see : http://www.google.com/linuxrepositories/

And yes, you could use the GUI instead... These commands are just a quicker way of doing it...

 

[bmd]

Well, you would start with the most basic connection (Unsecured/public SSD) and then move to the more advanced. TBH, hiding your SSID will do little to anyone who know's what they are doing, and makes your network a more interesting target...

Oh, and you still need to include more details, are you using WPA, are you using WEP, etc...?



You still need to post up precise details of what your network card / graphic card are...

Yeah, you're right of course, I need to start from scratch with no security and work up to it. I'm just annoyed because it worked without having to do any of this before I changed the router and it's the only thing that won't work now that I have.

I think that it's something to do with the new router, I had problems with streaming stuff to my PS3 with the last one but that works with this one with no problems whatsoever.

I just don't really understand why some stuff works with one router but not another. I suppose it's the settings in the router but both of the routers were brand new so how one can let the PS3 through and another not is rather baffling. And how one can work with Ubuntu and another not is just as baffling. The new router is a BT Business hub running on Singtel firmware, which I got for free from work and updated with the firmware. The old one was a Linksys WAG354G.

The graphics card is an Nvidia 7900GTX. Last time I used Ubuntu I set it to download and install all updates which I'm guessing meant that it installed some new card drivers and when I turned it back on they didn't work, which is why I'm having the problems now. So I need to roll those back, do I?

I don't want to reinstall the version of Ubuntu I'm using (7.04) as the Xfi card is working and it took forever to get working. I don't even understand why it's working tbh, I rebooted after installing everything and it wasn't having any of it and now it works. I'm loathe to call it some kind of voodoo but I may.

Posting all this and having to think about it rationally has meant that I can see where I've gone wrong and some of what I need to do to sort it. So my first post was a blatant lie really, I have done things to it and stuff has changed. Thanks jaed!

 

[Skorch]

So you have three methods of doing the same thing, depending on your knowledge. How is that bad...? How is choice bad...?

Choice sucks when it makes things inconsistent and confusing.

 

[jæd]

Choice sucks when it makes things inconsistent and confusing.

The three methods outlined are there for differing situations and different competencies. I'd be interested in how you'd make them consistent...? They may be confusing but there are help forums and www.google.com...

 

[jæd]

I just don't really understand why some stuff works with one router but not another. I suppose it's the settings in the router but both of the routers were brand new so how one can let the PS3 through and another not is rather baffling. And how one can work with Ubuntu and another not is just as baffling. The new router is a BT Business hub running on Singtel firmware, which I got for free from work and updated with the firmware. The old one was a Linksys WAG354G.

Perhaps it was just a duff router...?

The graphics card is an Nvidia 7900GTX. Last time I used Ubuntu I set it to download and install all updates which I'm guessing meant that it installed some new card drivers and when I turned it back on they didn't work, which is why I'm having the problems now. So I need to roll those back, do I?

What, specifically, is the problem with the graphics card...? Nvidia drivers can be installed quite easily with "Install Restricted Drivers" option. Though I'm not 100% sure this is in 07.04.

I don't want to reinstall the version of Ubuntu I'm using (7.04) as the Xfi card is working and it took forever to get working. I don't even understand why it's working tbh, I rebooted after installing everything and it wasn't having any of it and now it works. I'm loathe to call it some kind of voodoo but I may.

It looks like its not 100% working in Hardy. Perhaps try a Live CD first...?

Posting all this and having to think about it rationally has meant that I can see where I've gone wrong and some of what I need to do to sort it. So my first post was a blatant lie really, I have done things to it and stuff has changed. Thanks jaed!

 

[bmd]

Perhaps it was just a duff router...?

I don't think so, it was working with everything else. Plus when I've looked at this kind of problem (streaming to PS3) there were a few people who'd solved it by changing their router. But then their's could have been duff I suppose.

What, specifically, is the problem with the graphics card...? Nvidia drivers can be installed quite easily with "Install Restricted Drivers" option. Though I'm not 100% sure this is in 07.04.

The problem is that when I install the restricted drivers and reboot, it then says I've got to work in 800x600 low res mode as the drivers aren't compatible. I know they were compatible because when I first installed 7.04 I did the restricted drivers install, rebooted and they worked.

It looks like its not 100% working in Hardy. Perhaps try a Live CD first...?

Yeah, the thread about Xfi on the Ubuntu forums specifies that it definitely isn't working in Hardy, or it wasn't a couple of weeks ago.

I'm gonna roll back the Nvidia drivers (if that's what's wrong), install wicd for the wireless problem (thanks boskysquelch) and take another look at the Xfi card, just to see if I can understand how it's working. No doubt more hair will be torn out but somehow this is what I do for fun. Cheers jaed.

 

[GarfieldLeChat]

do you want ubuntu to wipe your arse for you?


Why isn't there a button to do it? Erm because if you are restarting and reconfiguring the x server where would you put the button?

it's called functionable usablity and it's something that once linux get's it's head round will make it the os of choice for most people.

 

[magneze]

it's called functionable usablity and it's something that once linux get's it's head round will make it the os of choice for most people.

 

[stat]

Have you tried this on Hardy 8.04...? Your problem seems to be relatedto the fact you can't find the first package. A quick check shows it exists on 8.04 :

apt-cache search bcm43xx-fwcutter
bcm43xx-fwcutter - Utility for extracting Broadcom 43xx firmware

Also, using the Live CD isn't a good way to install drivers. All your changes will be wiped at next boot. Also replied on ubuntuforums...

Sod it. 8.04 is a 700MB download which will take ages on my connection; requesting a Live CD will take 6-10 weeks. If this - frankly, quite basic - problem cannot be easily resolved in 7.10 then fuck it. Windows is a pain in the arse but at least I can solve any problems I have with a few google searches and a bit of application.

 

[jæd]

Sod it. 8.04 is a 700MB download which will take ages on my connection; requesting a Live CD will take 6-10 weeks. If this - frankly, quite basic - problem cannot be easily resolved in 7.10 then fuck it.

7.10 was released last year, and is no-longer actively maintained. Additionally, people in the forums, and elsewhere online will have moved to to 08.04, so it will be harder to get up for 07.10. Additionally, this problem may be fixed in 08.04 and work out of the box. But until you try, you will never know.

Are you on dial-up...? With slow broadband 700Mb will take only a few hours. And you do you know you can upgrade directly from 07.10 -> 08.04...?

 

[bmd]

Sorted.

Wireless is working after turning the SSID back on. I"m not 100% sure it was that as I also took the card out, blew the dust off it and plugged it back in. I also took the Xfi card out and relegated it to a cardboard box in the spare room, where it seems to be working very well indeed and now I have sound from the onboard chip.

The graphics card is working now too but I'm putting that down to it being a new moon last week.

Cheers!