Linux

Sorry, still no edit button. That should read...

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

Cheers, dears. As of this morning Flash was working like a charm, I just have to get back all the programmes I was using beforehand. The screen resolution problem is not uncommon according to the Ubuntu forum, and I'm going to try a few of the suggested fixes when I get time. It's not as simple as just changing the setting as suggested above - I only get one option and that makes the screen look like it's for special children, as it's rather large.

Thanks for the advice all.

according to the Ubuntu forum
Glad to see you're in good hands!

I have done a fair bit of playing with resolutions and the Xorg.conf as I run an external monitor off my laptop, have ended up running separate X servers so that they don't have any conflicts. Between Google and the Ubuntu forum there's not much that can't be solved in my experience!

Fuck it, I really can't be arsed with this - I've just downloaded 8.04, which should have less of a struggle detecting what is probably not a cutting edge monitor/graphics chip. I can't even see the 'ok' button at the bottom of the screen when trying to change the resolution settings! Rass claat!

So, I seem to have different flavours depending on machine:

Gaming - Vista (it was free!)
Laptop - Ubuntu EEE (based on Hardy)
Servers - Gentoo
Work Desktop - Ubuntu Intrepid

I do second/third/whatever the suggestion of installing something like OpenBSD/Gentoo which will force you to read about how to install and why things work like they do. Yes, Ubuntu gets everything working and installed (generally), but you don't really learn anything beyond point-n-click (which I assume you already know).

Reverting to the older version has made no difference at all - the graphics still suck. I've asked the person I bought the computer from to explain how they set it up initially, and I'll just have to be more careful when messing around in future.

I really don't want to have to spent hours pissing about just to get the screen to work properly - it shouldn't have to involve spending that much time to do something so simple!

You're right! I plan to give my old computer to my sis, but I really can't imagine her attempting half the daft crap that I've dragged myself through for the past 5 years! I would seriously just tell her to format the drive and get busy with Windows, although I wouldn't do that myself.

I'm using an Nvidia GeForce 7150, a model which is at least a year old according to a review I've just found.

I do second/third/whatever the suggestion of installing something like OpenBSD/Gentoo which will force you to read about how to install and why things work like they do. Yes, Ubuntu gets everything working and installed (generally), but you don't really learn anything beyond point-n-click (which I assume you already know).

I run gentoo on my laptop and installed it on a few other machines which does teach you alot. However you can largely follow the manual to install it so it's not that difficult just long winded.

Have a look on the ubuntu forum for the nvidia settings manager - it beats having to fuck about with xorg.conf
Very true. First make sure you've got the correct driver...

System > Administration > Hardware Drivers

That will let you choose a proprietary driver from Nvidia themselves. If it has problems installing the new driver try updating synaptics.

sudo apt-get update

Then to install the manager that "really" knows how to edit the Xorg.conf...
sudo apt-get install nvidia-settings

To run...
sudo nvidia-settings

A few days ago I managed to get 8.04 working exactly right. The hardware drivers were there, they loaded up, and now I can choose any damn screen size I want! I can't remeber how I did it, and THAT'S the beauty of Linux.

No - The real beauty is that when you next update (sudo apt-get upgrade), it will all break again.

Sweeeeet.

I updated the server yesterday... the first reboot it's had since March. We're now on Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex. Server load has reduced, Apache performance increased.

What broke? Well, nothing. You're still on this site aren't you? Is it not still zippy?

And I'm only running Ubuntu, MySql, Bind, Postfix, Memcached, Apache, Subversion, Ruby on Rails, etc... only a few things. With the exception of X Windows I'm running way more than an average desktop, and this is 24 x 7 x 365. And it all just works.

I hate the update argument, it's such nonsense. The amount of times Windows Updates have broken my drivers. Or that Mac updates have knobbled functionality. No-one is perfect, but the Linux crowd have the widest testing base and actually fare better than others at it.

IF it an't broke don't update!;)

^^ Well I'll add that I've only being running Ubuntu a short time so have not done any updating, on gentoo though I have always had problems with update, then again you don't run gentoo for an easy life!:)

I update for increased performance... better throughput, better regexp handling in python... little things.

If we did what you said Tommy, I'd still be running Windows 3.1 for Workgroups.

Guy -

There was a known bug with the nVidia GeForce 7150 driver that Ubunutu shipped with. This may have caused your resolution issues. The bug was fixed (in the package xorg-server - 2:1.5.2-2ubuntu2) on/around 23 October.

So... if you downloaded & burnt the install CD prior to 23/10 this bug may have been the cause of your woes.

If the fix you used was to download the driver from nvidia and install it then you will likely have a problem every time your kernel gets upgraded - and you'll need to reinstall the nvidia driver to fix it.

Given the bug's been fixed you're better off going with the driver Ubuntu ships with as it won't be impacted by kernel upgrades.

Thanks man! So should I stick with the download of 8.04 that I did the other day? Or download another copy of 8.10 and reinstall? Or steadfastly refuse to update my computer until either one of us dies an obsolete death?

If we did what you said Tommy, I'd still be running Windows 3.1 for Workgroups.

Well I do have freedos on a computer at home.:)

The problem is people who think they are experienced with computers enough to make the jump to Linux are only experienced with Windows. Sure, if you're expecting Linux to be Windows without viruses then you'll be disappointed. You need to accept that it's a completely different operating system and that you need to learn how to use it.

As an example, look at how easy it is to install programs, you simply check the box in your synaptic manager. But if you're anything like me, you'll be frustrated that you can't find a linux .exe for your favourite program the first time you try to install a program.

I boot up into Windows for gaming, everything else is handled flawlessly by Ubuntu. When I install XP on my Dell Vostro I have a nightmare finding drivers for XP, a lot of hardware now only supports Vista.

Sometimes I tweak a little, sometimes I tweak a lot, but in the end it runs how I want it to run, not how MS or Apple think it should run.

Guy - when's "the other day"? Pre or post 23 October?

If there's nothing really on the computer yet (ie your own stuff) then if I were you I'd go for a fresh download & install.

Intrepid's here - http://releases.ubuntu.com/intrepid/ubuntu-8.10-desktop-i386.iso

Kernel patches are like nicotine patches, the more you have the more of a man you are.

That and quiche.

Post 23 October! Whatever, I'm going for the new Ostrich Linux approach - pretend nothing's wrong until it bites me on the arse!

Open SUse for me.

And Sabayon is quite wild.