The "Linux questions (and other stuff)" thread

[zuben el genub]

Companies "improve" the software to make customers drool and want it, so I don't see how not getting out a patch or an upgrade would be good salesmanship. XP to Vista was a fiasco. 8 is causing problems, too.

Windows is going to have to do something about backwards capability for businesses.
Some have saved information going back to Windows 3.1. XP could read these, but from what I understand the new Office doesn't. I've seen complaints that it won't handle Office 97 documents. Besides the hassle of getting a new OS meshed into office usage, the old data would need to be redone. That's more expense than necessary. Libre Office reads it - everyone could switch to Open source and that wouldn't help MS.

The Vulcan uses Office 97 - which is one reason he doesn't want to upgrade. He is playing around with Libre now. I don't mind 2 steps. It thwarts the desire for new.
I have WP9 on virtual XP, open that doc format in Libre, and resave, basically using it as a file converter. I don't happen to like Libre's GUI. WP let you change all the toolbars to suit yourself.

 

[argedion]

Ok so it seems were jumping out of topic a little bit. No biggie just keep in mind that this is the Linux thread.

Ok PSA over with.

Where do you see your favorite distro heading and what do you like or dislike about it?

OpenSuse seems to be going in a decent direction so I'm sticking to my guns with this one. The thing I didn't like about it at first (OpenSuse 6)was the KDE integration I was strictly a gnome person. But now I am using KDE and liking it more and more. I miss some of the old g-apps but still kept gparted.

Also OpenSuse seems to be making it easier and easier to set up and get it going the way you want. I have none of the stuff I don't want and all the stuff I do. Its also very customizable. Sometimes I think a little to much lol.

I like yast and how it does things, simple to use and love that its just an acronym for "Yet Another System Tool"

They also seem to be on top of things and have a decent forum for support. I've been a member there for a while but am hardly ever there. I hang out at this other forum way to much

So wheres your distro headed?

 

[MoodyBlues]

BTW whatever happened to Singer?

My grandmother had one of those. I think my [evil] sister has it, but I'm not sure.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Where do you see your favorite distro heading and what do you like or dislike about it?

As everyone here knows, I'm in love with Kubuntu. I expect that it will continue to evolve and improve, and I'll stick with it.

OpenSuse seems to be going in a decent direction so I'm sticking to my guns with this one. The thing I didn't like about it at first (OpenSuse 6)was the KDE integration I was strictly a gnome person. But now I am using KDE and liking it more and more. I miss some of the old g-apps but still kept gparted.

There's no reason you can't install and use any GNOME apps you prefer. They'll run fine on KDE, and vice versa. After a fresh install of Kubuntu, my immediate next steps include installing gParted and several other GNOME apps, plus Synaptic.

 

[argedion]

As everyone here knows, I'm in love with Kubuntu. I expect that it will continue to evolve and improve, and I'll stick with it.


There's no reason you can't install and use any GNOME apps you prefer. They'll run fine on KDE, and vice versa. After a fresh install of Kubuntu, my immediate next steps include installing gParted and several other GNOME apps, plus Synaptic.

yeah I know but I figured I would get used to the alternative apps for the few that I use mostly stuff like using Kwrite instead of gedit things like that. I traded evolution for Kontact. I figured out how to install my google calendar to it, its been great.

 

[MoodyBlues]

yeah I know but I figured I would get used to the alternative apps for the few that I use mostly stuff like using Kwrite instead of gedit things like that.

Okay, good. I just wanted to be sure you're aware that they're interchangeable. (My memory's not good enough to recall prior discussions about it in this thread, only that I know I've said it before. But who was involved...beats me! ) I prefer most KDE apps over their GNOME counterparts, but I like having the freedom to use whichever I like better. I use KWrite, too, by the way. When I'm not using vi, that is.

I traded evolution for Kontact. I figured out how to install my google calendar to it, its been great.

Wonderful. Did you have any issues doing that? Either way, if you want to post about how you did it, that could be helpful for others. I've never tried, so I have no idea what's involved.

 

[zuben el genub]

I've finally figured out where some of the errors were, Ubuntu has decided that since Thunderbird and FX ESR only get updated once a year - no go. That is exactly why I liked them. Most of the updates are for social sites and ease of use for lazy people. ESR got security updates. Means every time the stupid thing updates, I have to get rid of the awful bar and social everything in about:config.

Went back to Opera, and did get SWiron installed. Got Kubuntu updated. It says I didn't, but the dialog box and downloads says so.

I still can't get to my XP hard drive. I think it might be a syntax error - what is a partition?
To me, that is a section of one hard drive ONLY. I tried through the BIOS and settings and it won't open, I can't even see what's on there.

Will have to use Tbird for mail as it seems to be the only one that will deal with a screwy address that ends in.us Opera has mail, maybe I'll try that if I need to. They bought a mail service that was around for years.

Managed to get Startpage and Duck as the main browsers. Bing, Yahoo, and Google can get lost.

I'd PAY someone to help me out with this but no repair place bothers with Linux and the rest are sheep. Most do just what Windows tells them to. Iphone users are nowhere near the sheep this town is. I need my pictures!

I did find a site that did have all the instructions to get apps into Kubuntu - what happens is the usual nonsense of something that I thing should be included in download of OS isn't there. This time it was Gedit, usually it's Gdeb installer.

 

[mikedt]

My grandmother had one of those. I think my [evil] sister has it, but I'm not sure.

OT I know.

My mum had one, a Jones rather than a Singer. but don't know what happened to it though.

I'm sure a lot of those old treadle machines got converted into tables, because of the fancy looking Victorian cast iron base(very Steampunk). I've seen them in a couple of pubs in the UK done like that.

 

[MoodyBlues]

I've finally figured out where some of the errors were, Ubuntu has decided that since Thunderbird and FX ESR only get updated once a year - no go.

Again, I'm lost. You can install ANYTHING you want to on Ubuntu or any other Linux [as long as it's a compatible program, obviously]. How did you attempt to install those programs? From downloaded files? within Synaptic? with another package manager? at a command line with apt-get, what?

I still can't get to my XP hard drive. I think it might be a syntax error - what is a partition?
To me, that is a section of one hard drive ONLY. I tried through the BIOS and settings and it won't open, I can't even see what's on there.

From within gParted [or whatever KDE's partition manager is called...oh, I know! KDE Partition Manager :laugh: (I don't use it)], can you post a screenshot? Make sure that any/all devices are expanded so we can see all their entries:

Will have to use Tbird for mail as it seems to be the only one that will deal with a screwy address that ends in.us

In almost 30 years, I've never seen a *nix e-mail client that couldn't handle any type of e-mail address. It shouldn't matter what the address ends in, it's its settings that matter. Are you sure you entered the correct settings? Is it POP, IMAP, or what?

I'd PAY someone to help me out with this but no repair place bothers with Linux and the rest are sheep. Most do just what Windows tells them to. Iphone users are nowhere near the sheep this town is. I need my pictures!

Don't worry--unless you formatted the drive [or partition] they're on, they're still there. It's just a matter of mounting the drive.

I did find a site that did have all the instructions to get apps into Kubuntu - what happens is the usual nonsense of something that I thing should be included in download of OS isn't there. This time it was Gedit, usually it's Gdeb installer.

zuben, I'm sorry, but you're confusing an installation process that required editing a file [and, in this case, told you to use gEdit to do that, while ANY text editor would suffice] with installing things in Kubuntu in general. "Getting apps into Kubuntu" is usually very straightforward--just open Synaptic [or your preferred package manager, such as gDebi or KPackageKit], find the item, and click to install it. If you're downloading something from somewhere else, HOW it's installed will vary. In your example, you had to edit something. In many other cases, you simply extract an archive file into the correct location and that's that. For others, you run an installation file, such as install.sh or RunMe or ThisFileContainsGoodStuff.

 

[mikedt]

Will have to use Tbird for mail as it seems to be the only one that will deal with a screwy address that ends in.us

Spam filter? Although I've got the idea that screwy addresses often end in .cn ...but YMMV.

 

[saptech]

Okay, good. I just wanted to be sure you're aware that they're interchangeable. (My memory's not good enough to recall prior discussions about it in this thread, only that I know I've said it before. But who was involved...beats me! ) I prefer most KDE apps over their GNOME counterparts, but I like having the freedom to use whichever I like better. I use KWrite, too, by the way. When I'm not using vi, that is.


Wonderful. Did you have any issues doing that? Either way, if you want to post about how you did it, that could be helpful for others. I've never tried, so I have no idea what's involved.

It probably was me. I was a big Gnome2 user and do use Gnome 3, but since G3 came out, I've tried KDE and been liking it alot. I also been using Gnome apps with KDE. For me, some Gnome apps work better then KDE

I also wanted to include Google Calendar to Korganizer, which I got working by adding Kwallet.

 

[argedion]

Wonderful. Did you have any issues doing that? Either way, if you want to post about how you did it, that could be helpful for others. I've never tried, so I have no idea what's involved.

Yeah great Idea mess with the frogs memory *LOL*

Get in calendar mode and got to settings/configure calendar and click on that.
In the dialog box click on Calendars (Last tab on mine) click add then choose
akonadi_google calendar resource. Enter creditials and choose which calendars you want to view click ok and bam your in business

If I forgot a step or two blame old age

 

[Dngrsone]

It probably was me. I was a big Gnome2 user and do use Gnome 3, but since G3 came out, I've tried KDE and been liking it alot. I also been using Gnome apps with KDE. For me, some Gnome apps work better then KDE

I also wanted to include Google Calendar to Korganizer, which I got working by adding Kwallet.

I too prefer many (if not most) of the Gnome apps over their KDE counterparts, though I am thoroughly enjoying the Plasma desktop.

 

[zuben el genub]

Spam filter? Although I've got the idea that screwy addresses often end in .cn ...but YMMV.

I use gmx.us. GMX is usually the problem. One addy is in that HA leet, and the computer's name is Shithead. I have about 6 or 7 addies from all over, most are spam collectors. Gmail and Yahoo are for spam.

Those ESR Files are blocked. I can unzip. They won't install.
There's a bug:
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=723487
Another post mentioned the fact that ESR is not updated every 2 weeks so some organization didn't approve.

Some printers/scanners cannot be used if the maker does not make the driver available. That applies to some of Canon Lidoscan. They are rather cheap USB scanners, and it might not have been worth Canon's time. There must have been 20 posts from various times about installing these, and the post were neither answered or the postee was told Canon chose not to support the scanner. For the Epson - some are available from the get-go, the 300 is not. The files are still there and available, but from Seiko and not Epson. I now have them stashed offline. What's available are usually the newer all in ones which I don't like. I have my monitor and printer calibrated.

I don't like all in one apps. At least nothing complains if I don't update Tbird. I have Opera and Iron running. Chrome and FX have been deleted.
There used to be some nice alternative browsers in Ubuntu, Iceweasel and Icecat for 2. Either gone or died of no updates. Pale Moon does not have an app for Linux. I don't happen to like the GUI of Chrome. I want all the things like File, Edit, Tools, where I can see the headings, not hidden in another button.

That partition app did show the drive, but nothing else. Have someone coming over to see if he can fix it.

I am not a fan of any OS. I simply use whatever suits my purposes best.
The OS is supposed to run my chosen software and shut up about not being the main object on the computer.

Otherwise, I have it pretty much to my taste, scanner working.

Besides security, XP is offline since MS only rents it. If they can't find it, they can't muck with it.

Disney just pulled a lot of Christmas Videos from Amazon. Disney wants people to subcribe to their channel. Those that bought these videos are upset.

 

[palmtree5]

I use gmx.us. GMX is usually the problem. One addy is in that HA leet, and the computer's name is Shithead. I have about 6 or 7 addies from all over, most are spam collectors. Gmail and Yahoo are for spam.

Those ESR Files are blocked. I can unzip. They won't install.
There's a bug:
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=723487
Another post mentioned the fact that ESR is not updated every 2 weeks so some organization didn't approve.

Some printers/scanners cannot be used if the maker does not make the driver available. That applies to some of Canon Lidoscan. They are rather cheap USB scanners, and it might not have been worth Canon's time. There must have been 20 posts from various times about installing these, and the post were neither answered or the postee was told Canon chose not to support the scanner. For the Epson - some are available from the get-go, the 300 is not. The files are still there and available, but from Seiko and not Epson. I now have them stashed offline. What's available are usually the newer all in ones which I don't like. I have my monitor and printer calibrated.

I don't like all in one apps. At least nothing complains if I don't update Tbird. I have Opera and Iron running. Chrome and FX have been deleted.
There used to be some nice alternative browsers in Ubuntu, Iceweasel and Icecat for 2. Either gone or died of no updates. Pale Moon does not have an app for Linux. I don't happen to like the GUI of Chrome. I want all the things like File, Edit, Tools, where I can see the headings, not hidden in another button.

That partition app did show the drive, but nothing else. Have someone coming over to see if he can fix it.

I am not a fan of any OS. I simply use whatever suits my purposes best.
The OS is supposed to run my chosen software and shut up about not being the main object on the computer.

Otherwise, I have it pretty much to my taste, scanner working.

Besides security, XP is offline since MS only rents it. If they can't find it, they can't muck with it.

Disney just pulled a lot of Christmas Videos from Amazon. Disney wants people to subcribe to their channel. Those that bought these videos are upset.

FYI, Iceweasel and IceCat are just rebranded versions of Firefox...

 

[MoodyBlues]

Those ESR Files are blocked. I can unzip. They won't install.

I downloaded the English Linux file from the Firefox ESR page:

I extracted the archive in my downloads directory:

I ran ./firefox in the newly created subdirectory:

There's a bug:
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=723487

Bug 723487 - libxul.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory is marked as Status: RESOLVED FIXED.

Another post mentioned the fact that ESR is not updated every 2 weeks so some organization didn't approve.

See my screenshot above. :hmmmm2:

 

[Dngrsone]

Meh.

I get to play around in Win 8 for a while-- trying to talk my boss into upgrading our tracking databases (our version is like 15 years old); and since it is likely to be an Access-based DB, I have to build an example database and forms in MS Access...

 

[mikedt]

I downloaded the English Linux file from the Firefox ESR page:

I extracted the archive in my downloads directory:

I ran ./firefox in the newly created subdirectory:

Bug 723487 - libxul.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory is marked as Status: RESOLVED FIXED.


See my screenshot above. :hmmmm2:

I done exactly the same as Moody no problems at all, nothing blocked(even in China) or unrecognised, Linux Mint KDE.


Firefox ESR running on my laptop.

 

[argedion]

How does one make Kontact use chrome as the browser instead of firefox?

 

[mikedt]

Disney just pulled a lot of Christmas Videos from Amazon. Disney wants people to subcribe to their channel. Those that bought these videos are upset.

That's DRM(Digital Restrictions Management), that Disney, the MPAA, etc. insists upon. IMO anything with DRM like that, you're not actually buying it, you're only leasing it, and they end and revoke that lease any time they like. Yeh I'm sure it makes people upset and just encourages piracy as well.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Meh.

I get to play around in Win 8 for a while

Aw...I'm sorry.

How does one make Kontact use chrome as the browser instead of firefox?

I don't actually know, but I'm guessing that it's reading its default apps info from the system, so if your system settings point to Chrome as the default browser, Kontact should see that. If that's NOT the case, then there must be a setting somewhere inside Kontact to specify which browser to use by default.

 

[zuben el genub]

ESR ran in Mint 14. It ran in Ubuntu 11.10 It won't run on any Ubuntu I have. I get as far as the extraction - then an error. I might have to see if I can find the version before 17,0. whatever.
Which English version? US? Sometimes that and area make a difference.

I put Opera in. At least you can keep the menu bars. I know that those 2 are rebranded FX but I'll have to hunt for them. Opera will let me turn off images on the fly. I don't see anything with the <img> tag, so it clears up half of Yahoo's BS. I don't see it. I'll let Iron update and use it for banking.

The XP drive got corrupted somehow and Kubuntu is using part of it. The tech was going to take the XP drive to see if anything could be recovered, but the damn computer wouldn't boot without that drive. Kubuntu was told to install on the Maxtor and leave the WD alone. It was ok on the trial of Kubuntu so the glitch just happened. He will repair it to my taste. I heard no flak about my opinion of Windows. Both HD were 80G. I rarely stash anything on the computer. The computer has been in that configuration since XP started gaining momentum. I've rarely had it crash or misbehave. It was 98SE/2K, went to 2K/XP and the upgrade to the graphics card finished 2K. That's when Ubuntu got installed. Since MS in its wisdom decided you only "rented" XP. I took it off line and it's stayed offline. The laptops have restore points.

 

[zuben el genub]

That's DRM(Digital Restrictions Management), that Disney, the MPAA, etc. insists upon.
IMO anything with DRM like that, you're not actually buying it, you're only leasing it, and they end and revoke
that lease any time they like. Yeh I'm sure it makes people upset and just encourages piracy as well.

I've run into Disney's DRM with embroidery machines. Brother machines included Disney designs
and the caveats on those were awful. Disney didn't want you selling the clothes you made for
your own kids in a yard sale after your kids outgrew them.

 

[wyndslash]

That's DRM(Digital Restrictions Management), that Disney, the MPAA, etc. insists upon. IMO anything with DRM like that, you're not actually buying it, you're only leasing it, and they end and revoke that lease any time they like. Yeh I'm sure it makes people upset and just encourages piracy as well.

Yeah. It encourages piracy just so we can kick them where it hurts :/

 

[MoodyBlues]

Which English version? US?

The one I linked to.