[HLUG] Linux Ubuntu help ?

Sat May 21 09:16:49 UTC 2016

I found when I first used Linux Mint and kept xp that if the sound was 
muted in xp of course it would not work in Mint. There is an odd thing 
in Manjaro which I now use is that if you use the keyboard sound buttons 
it really messes up the sound, and if you press the mute button you 
cannot get the sound back and have to use the terminal to reinstall. I 
agree with George that you would be better off install a more up-to-date 
distro. To be safe I suggest you back up your important files 
externally, maybe use dropbox for example. You may also find that Linux 
Mint is more friendly than Ubuntu, or even try Manjaro which is Arch 
based but not difficult to learn, there are lots of tutorials on 
youtube, especially if you watch the ones by Spatry. I say this as 
Manjaro is a rolling distro so you never have to re-install it as it 
will always keep you up-to-date.

Good luck but your problems can be solved.

Ann

On 21/05/16 00:23, david winterton via Herefordshire wrote:
> Depending on the state of backups, can we not save the home partition and
> install a new distro ?
> On 20 May 2016 18:33, "George DiceGeorge via Herefordshire" <
> herefordshire at mailman.lug.org.uk> wrote:
>
>> Yes come to the meeting with laptop fully charged.
>>
>> Yes its good to dual boot with windows and ubuntu
>> (when something fails to work
>> (like eg sound or wifi)
>> i boot in the other
>> and if that doesnt work too then its a hardware problem
>> but if it does then its a software problem)
>>
>> I think you'll want to delete the ubuntu/linux partitions
>> and install a new ubuntu 16.04 or xubuntu
>> (which come with browsers)
>>
>> [george]
>>
>> -----Original Message----- From: Alex at Conceits via Herefordshire Sent:
>> Thursday, May 19, 2016 5:15 PM To: herefordshire at mailman.lug.org.uk
>> Subject: [HLUG] Linux Ubuntu help ?
>> Hello all,
>>
>> I have been asked to send a message to everybody regarding my Linux
>> problem, so will forward it on here. I hope it doesn't bother you all.
>>
>> Before we start, I must admit I am not properly a Linux user:
>> unfortunately, I don't understand much of it, and even though Ubuntu /Linux
>> is on my laptop thanks to someone who installed it for me years ago, I
>> could really do with getting more familiar with it. I don't know about the
>> different versions of Linux either.
>> My knowledge of computers is a little bit better with the older Microsoft
>> Windows and I also have a very old desktop with Windows XP on it as well as
>> this more modern laptop with a problem - (I don't use the old desktop for
>> the internet as there is no virus guard on it any more)
>>
>> So, this is why I am here: I love the concept of Linux even if I don't
>> understand it, and  I am hoping to sort out the laptop out, slowly.
>>
>>   It has Ubuntu with Linux, 3.2.0.40 Generic on it, and has developed
>> problems after about 5 months of it being installed. It started not being
>> able to access certain folders, the window would try and load and then go
>> blank and would have to be closed again, sometimes I would have to rashly
>> press the on and off  switch of the laptop, to defrost it.
>> Then, the laptop started making a lot of fan noise, as if it was taking a
>> lot of effort processing something. As I am typing now, there is no fan
>> noise,which is very odd - perhaps it is healing itself with the fear of
>> being sorted out!! (just like going to the doctor is sometimes enough for
>> the symptoms to suddenly disappear!!)
>> Now, this laptop has also Windows 7 on it - and I would quite like to keep
>> that for emergency (I never use it but once when Ubuntu couldn't work out
>> where the WIfi was, I switched the laptop to the other side and that found
>> the Wifi, and when I went back to Ubuntu (because I really don't like using
>> Windows 7) to use the internet, it had found the Wifi again.
>>
>> i have lived with this laptop problem for the last 3 years  (and the
>> browsers being out of date not allowing me to watch videos, Ebay windows
>> crashing, and the bank page complaining my browsers were too old and
>> sometimes not letting me logging in)  so I decided to take the courage to
>> look into it (and it takes courage!!); a few months ago, bought a version
>> of Ubuntu on Ebay, and when I asked for some advice on how to install it,
>> they just pointed me to some web page I didn't understand, so  as I was too
>> scared, I left it as it was. A slow working computer is better than no
>> computer at all.
>>
>> A few days ago, I looked into it again - and got some advice from the
>> online Ubuntu forum which is where someone suggested I got in touch with
>> you, as being local.  They were helpful but I really didn't understand much
>> of the words/jargon they were using. I tried typing in magic formulas in
>> the "terminal" (whatever that is, I found where it was but I have forgotten
>> already) and nothing happened. I also don't have the password nor username
>> for the computer so couldn't find out what is wrong with it.
>>
>> As I contacted the Hereford group, Kevin then Julian replied and Kevin has
>> also given me some advice. I have done it my first job of attempting to
>> back up the files that it wouldn't let me open, in the past; oddly, it has
>> worked, even though extremely slowly; the documents and photos I need on
>> this laptop are now all saved.
>> Now,  I can either go and do an install etc, though before doing so, I
>> would rather like to understand what do I do regarding the web browsers, as
>> when my computer is all set up again, if there are no browsers on it, how
>> will i get online to download some browsers...  ? And how do I do an
>> install whilst keeping that Window 7 software? And how do I set up the
>> Adobe reader thing? And the Libre Office writer?
>>
>> And which version to download of Linux? What is an LTS version? Is it
>> Ubuntu or Linux and is it recommendable? Should I need Xubuntu for extra
>> speed?(can my computer handle something like that?)  Or an Ubuntu 14.04 or
>> 16.04?
>> The specifications for my computer are
>> https://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/content/cnt-specs/VPCYB3V1E/list
>>
>>
>> I would be very grateful for some help, to understand Linux a bit better
>> too.  Just to become knowledgeable enough so to be able to solve small
>> problems. Now the question is, could I come to the meeting (I understand it
>> is next week) and bring my laptop, or are your meetings only for a drink
>> and a chat about general things as you might not want to nor be able to
>> look at computers there for help?
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>>
>> Alexandra
>>
>> PS: I will do things slowly, as I don't want to be overwhelmed with it all
>> and make mistakes. I might not reply for a day or so due to working, but
>> will think about it and then attempt one thing at the time so thank you too
>> for your patience!
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