Ubuntu install and the disappearing Windows partition?

[jæd]

Can you disable the modem in the computers bios screen...? I'm guessing that its something build into the motherboard...? If its on a PCI card then just take that card out.

Soft-modems aren't worth the money you pay for them --only work on Windows... You could probably get it working under Linux but it'd be a struggle.

So, disable the soft-modem (if you can't take it out) and use the real one.

 

[stdPikachu]

Gah sorry it took so long for me to get here, been busy...!

I've never tried installing Ubuntu, but assumed it'd have some sorta partition resizing thing a la qtparted, since resizing partitions is quite easy to do in *nix. Somehow it looks like either you or the installer got the wrong end of the stick and nuked all existing partitions; as pointed out, fdisk shows that you have only one active partition.

BTW, if you're looknig to chop up your drives and have issues with fdisk's usability (I know I do), cfdisk is a nice easy to use ncurses (ncurses can be approximated to a basic text GUI) version of fdisk whcih fits the bill nicely.

You're right about the softmodem thing - not ony do very few of them work in Linux, but I usually find them to be pretty unreliable in windows as well. As you have already sussed, you're much better off with an old all-hardware modem or an external one. Thankfully with the proliferation of broadband and multiple PC's, connecting to the internet via a LAN is a much more common option these days, and is of course Linux's home turf, but I assume this isn't an option for you.

 

[Throbbing Angel]

Can you disable the modem in the computers bios screen...? I'm guessing that its something build into the motherboard...? If its on a PCI card then just take that card out.

Soft-modems aren't worth the money you pay for them --only work on Windows... You could probably get it working under Linux but it'd be a struggle.

So, disable the soft-modem (if you can't take it out) and use the real one.

yeah it's on the mobo jaed, hence the woes previously described

this I will look into disabling it and trying the card based modem

 

[Throbbing Angel]

Gah sorry it took so long for me to get here, been busy...!

I've never tried installing Ubuntu, but assumed it'd have some sorta partition resizing thing a la qtparted, since resizing partitions is quite easy to do in *nix. Somehow it looks like either you or the installer got the wrong end of the stick and nuked all existing partitions; as pointed out, fdisk shows that you have only one active partition.

BTW, if you're looknig to chop up your drives and have issues with fdisk's usability (I know I do), cfdisk is a nice easy to use ncurses (ncurses can be approximated to a basic text GUI) version of fdisk whcih fits the bill nicely.

You're right about the softmodem thing - not ony do very few of them work in Linux, but I usually find them to be pretty unreliable in windows as well. As you have already sussed, you're much better off with an old all-hardware modem or an external one. Thankfully with the proliferation of broadband and multiple PC's, connecting to the internet via a LAN is a much more common option these days, and is of course Linux's home turf, but I assume this isn't an option for you.

cheers stdPikachu

yeah, the on board modem is a real fucker, and has been under windoze too to be honest, it is never identified by M$ Os's [98se, win2k pro and XP Pro have all failed to 'see' it] and the driver diskCD that came with the PC is fucking useless as it seems to be a very weak disk or summat and numerous CD drives see it sometimes, not on others, it's just weird [on different PCs this is, not just mine] Ubuntu and Knoppix also both failed to 'see' the modem by the way [didnae like knoppix btw]

SO, I now have XP Pro on the PC using ALL 40gb, I have had a flirt with Ubuntu, which I liked the feel & look of, so I am gonna go with the instructions at http://www3.telus.net/linux4u/ubuntu.html to dual boot it with Ubuntu. I will also soon be in a position to have a look at BLAG Linux too: how do I go about triple booting???

So, as NONE of these feckin' OS's have managed to identify this soft-modem, I think I will just shove in the hard-modem under XP-pro and see where we get - if that recognises it, which I think it will, I'll go at an Ubuntu, Blag, XP thingy over the weekend


thanks for the time and answers people, very good of you all to contribute

 

[soulman]

If you are having problems connecting to the internet with linux always check with your internet provider that the package you have supports linux. Some do and some don't. If you're thinking of moving over wholesale to linux always check first, it only takes an email or post on their tech forums.

 

[jæd]

If you are having problems connecting to the internet with linux always check with your internet provider that the package you have supports linux. Some do and some don't. If you're thinking of moving over wholesale to linux always check first, it only takes an email or post on their tech forums.

Every ISP will support a Linux connection as long as they support standard dialup or adsl protocols. So you really don't have to worry about this. Just make sure you have all the phone-numbers, uernames/passwords and server-names handy. I've always found dialling up with linux or os x easy than with Windows. IThe connection is usually more reliable due to the lack of malware trying to phone home to the Bahamas...

Oh, and remmber that in 99% cases the ISPs servers will be linux (or some kind of unix)...

(Of course AOL is a special case but if you are still using AOL for internet access you really shouldn't be using linux)

 

[soulman]

Every ISP will support a Linux connection as long as they support standard dialup or adsl protocols. So you really don't have to worry about this. Just make sure you have all the phone-numbers, uernames/passwords and server-names handy. I've always found dialling up with linux or os x easy than with Windows. IThe connection is usually more reliable due to the lack of malware trying to phone home to the Bahamas...

Oh, and remmber that in 99% cases the ISPs servers will be linux (or some kind of unix)...

(Of course AOL is a special case but if you are still using AOL for internet access you really shouldn't be using linux)

It's not the servers it's the modem you're supplied with for certain ADSL packages, in my experience.

 

[jæd]

It's not the servers it's the modem you're supplied with for certain ADSL packages, in my experience.

Replace it with a router. More flexible (lets add wireless, another computer, a hardware firewall, a game console, etc, etc..) and much easier to set up.

 

[Throbbing Angel]

Replace it with a router. More flexible (lets add wireless, another computer, a hardware firewall, a game console, etc, etc..) and much easier to set up.

d'ya mean firk off th'modems and use an external h/ware router instead?

 

[jæd]

d'ya mean firk off th'modems and use an external h/ware router instead?

Yes, if you've got an adsl modem it can replaced by a hardware adsl-router.

 

[stdPikachu]

It's not the servers it's the modem you're supplied with for certain ADSL packages, in my experience.

The ADSL package stuff is a bit of nonsense really; all those so-called packages do is a) configure the right settings for you and b) usually install a load of useless baldercrap along with it. The only ISP I'm aware of that requires special software is an AOL dialup connection, as jaed pointed out.

There are linux drivers available for most dialup and ADSL modems, but use a router and you only need drivers for a network card - and Linux supports pretty much every netowkr card in existence - I've even seen it detect an age-old IBM TOkenRing card out-of-the-box. Wireless network cards require a bit more confugling (same situation as winmodems essentially - alot of the hardware has been replaced with software instead) but, again, will still work via either native drivers (like Intel "Centrino" chipsets) or through emulation like ndiswrapper.

 

[Throbbing Angel]

oi oi,

I have managed[ somehow] to get the dual boot sorted eventually, Ubuntu and XP pro

XP is using successfully the on-board modem

Questions are:
1- if I install the card modem from my old PC and boot to Ubuntu - will that work? Then next time I boot XP I just say 'ignore that modem you just found'? whaddya think?

2- I wiped my PC by re-installing Win2k pro as the XP disk wouldn't boot, then inserted the XP disk without configuring W2K assuming that this process would overwrite W2k with XP - I have the option of booting Ubuntu, XP or Win 2k pro - how can I get rid of WIN 2k, when I was installing Ubuntu - I could only see the partition XP is on - whassatallabaht???

 

[newharper]

Hi,
I got my disks a couple of weeks ago, and a few days ago loaded the os. Thanks to the idiots guide above I managed to partition the disk and load ubuntu-ish. In my exitement and confusion, because the instructions came in a different order, I may have skipped a stage.

when I boot up I get the starting ubuntu and then a list of commands, all ok bar
stop postfix mail system fail
So I can't get internet access or the gnome desk top working.
The problem may be to do with me not setting up the user accounts badly?

Anyway can you help, can I fix it without reinstalling, and if i need to reinstall, do I need to repartition seeiong as on that computer my priority has to be with keeping the Windows partition.

Not sure if this is understandable, but ta in advance. I knew this couldn't be idiot proof.

 

[jæd]

Hi,
stop postfix mail system fail
So I can't get internet access or the gnome desk top working.

...

Anyway can you help, can I fix it without reinstalling, and if i need to reinstall, do I need to repartition seeiong as on that computer my priority has to be with keeping the Windows partition.

Try reinstalling.. SHouldn't need to repartition. BUT, the easiest way to try linux out is with either a Live CD or a computer that has nothing else on it. Installing linux and trying to keep a Windows installtion ok at the same time usually ends in tears. So avoid if possible...!

 

[newharper]

Try reinstalling.. SHouldn't need to repartition. BUT, the easiest way to try linux out is with either a Live CD or a computer that has nothing else on it. Installing linux and trying to keep a Windows installtion ok at the same time usually ends in tears. So avoid if possible...!

well the windows partition is stable and been used for 2 days with no problems, so I hope that that would stay the case?

 

[Iam]

Don't know Ubuntu, but I'd suggest you try disabling postfix on start up.

Reinstalling should be the LAST option, regardless of which OS you use.

Edit: Soz, jaed - just read the post properly and if you've messed up the install, he's quite correct. Start again.

 

[jæd]

well the windows partition is stable and been used for 2 days with no problems, so I hope that that would stay the case?

Yes, but its all too easy to press the wrong option (espcially when starting out) and lose everything.