Kubuntu Live CD/Installation Questions

[o_swas]

Hello!

I'm a first-time Kubuntu user but an experienced computer user (I'm a software developer by day) and I'd like to start using Kubuntu "Feisty Fawn" on my MSI-1029 notebook. I created the Live CD and booted from it into Kubuntu a few times, but before I go ahead with the full installation I have a few questions that I'm hoping somebody can help me with.

I apologize for the long post, but I want to be as complete as possible.

1. I can boot off the DVD, but to do so I have to use the "start in safe graphics mode." If I use the first "start" option it never seems to come up.... or maybe I'm not waiting long enough. Is this expected? My notebook was new in December 2006 so it's pretty new and has the ATI Mobility Radeon X700 graphics card. Does this mean that Kubuntu doesn't support this graphics card? If not, is it even worth installing Kubuntu? I'd like it to be able to use the graphic card's full potential for maximum performance (I use the notebook for software development).

2. Once booted from the DVD, I tried to connect to my wireless network. Kubuntu appeared to detect the network (it showed up in a popup from the lower-right part of the desktop) but the window that opened for it didn't include WPA as a connection type -- only WEP.

3. Related to #2, I figured out how to open the KNetworkManager to try to manually establish the wireless connection. This seemed to work better, as I was able to specify WPA, TKIP as the WPA algorithm, and enter the security credentials. However, when it tried to connect, the little popup status window always got stuck at 28%, hung around for a while, and eventually just disappeared. No error message or feedback, but the connection was clearly not established (couldn't browse the web). So, is WiFi support expected to work from the Live DVD?

4. To sum up #2 and #3, I'd really like to try Kubuntu on my notebook, but if I can't get the wireless working it's basically useless to me. Any thoughts or experiences?

5. My notebook currently has an 80 GB, 7000 RPM drive with about 20 GB used so far on the lone partition, which has WinXP Pro installed. If I install Kubuntu from the Live DVD, will it automatically create a second partition for Kubuntu and leave the WinXP partition intact? Also, will it automatically install a bootloader so that at boot time, I can choose the OS I wish to use?

6. Should I install Kubuntu and for whatever reason decide I can't use it, is there an easy way to uninstall it to reclaim the HD space, and get rid of the bootloader and everything?

Thank you very much for your help!! I'd very much like try Kubuntu but I need to feel a little more comfortable about it first.

Thanks again!!

-Ryan

[o_swas]

Re: Kubuntu Live CD/Installation Questions


OK, this question sorta kinda answered my questions about the wireless:

http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3083168.0

So, it sounds like I have some options (since I think mine said ra01 like the first post in that forum, so I'm guessing I'm having the same problem). But it sounds like I can try the fix without first installing Kubuntu.

[dmanxiii]

Re: Kubuntu Live CD/Installation Questions

This may help with issue number issue 1.

Follow these steps to install the official ATI drivers. Keep in mind you will need a wired internet connection:

1. Boot the CD as normal. Wait until it freezes at the "Kubuntu" screen
2. Press CTRL+ALT+F1. It may take a moment to switch. Hit "ENTER" to get to a bash prompt.
3. Enter the following:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install xorg-driver-fglrx
sudo aticonfig --initial
sudo aticonfig --overlay-type=Xv
4. Start KDE by typing "startx" and hitting "ENTER."

Once you install it and reboot, you'll need to go through these steps again. Keep in mind, instead of hitting ENTER to get to a bash prompt, you'll need to log in with your account. Next, to make your life easier, follow these steps to make 3D acceleration usable and fonts readable:

Open your X config file with "sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf" and add the following to the end
Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "Disable"
EndSection


Issue 3. That sometimes happens to me, however I am working with ndiswrapper on my laptop. Usually powering off the wireless card and then powering it on again (my laptop has a little power button/led for the wireless card) and then manually reconnecting with KNetworkManager clears the issue up.

Issue 5 & 6: During install Kubuntu allows you to configure partitions, pretty much however you like and you choose which partitions to install on. It also installs the grub bootloader automatically..

[Fintan]

Re: Kubuntu Live CD/Installation Questions

5. My notebook currently has an 80 GB, 7000 RPM drive with about 20 GB used so far on the lone partition, which has WinXP Pro installed. If I install Kubuntu from the Live DVD, will it automatically create a second partition for Kubuntu and leave the WinXP partition intact? Also, will it automatically install a bootloader so that at boot time, I can choose the OS I wish to use?

You can either have the installer resize and partition your HD or do it manually (my prefered option). You might want to read this if you are uncertain:
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/index.php?topic=12475.0

It will automaticly load the grub bootloader and "see" your winxp.

6. Should I install Kubuntu and for whatever reason decide I can't use it, is there an easy way to uninstall it to reclaim the HD space, and get rid of the bootloader and everything?

To the first pat of your question: Sure just delete the linux partitions and resize your xp partition to your needs. The best tool for this is gparted live:
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/download.php

The second part of your question is a bit more tricky. I hope it doesn't come to that but heh...
If you know how to reinstall your win bootloader in mbr from your win CD or boot floppy good, because that is what you have to do. I use the Super Grub CD for that:
http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/super-...inux-boot.html

I hope that helps you decide and enjoy

Cheers
F

[PDR60]

Re: Kubuntu Live CD/Installation Questions

This may help.

http://www.linuxloader.com/modules.p...howpage&pid=32

PDR60

[o_swas]

Re: Kubuntu Live CD/Installation Questions


OK, here's another question related to the video card: Since I have to boot off the Live DVD using "safe graphics" mode, does this mean that my video card is totally incompatible and the GUI won't even start after I install Kubuntu until I install those drivers? Or will the GUI start but graphics will be crummy?

[Fintan]

Re: Kubuntu Live CD/Installation Questions

Unfortunately that depends on your grafic card. Can you post the cards specs? Then search this forum for info on expierience with that card. There is plenty of information on varous card types.
Conversely you can install using the alternative cd (my prefered method) and then you will have more control over your installation and , if I am correct the grafic card configuration.

[o_swas]

Re: Kubuntu Live CD/Installation Questions


Hi Fintan,

I have an ATI Mobility Radeon X700 card in my notebook. Basically what I want to know is if I'll be able to install Kubuntu and that have a GUI available right away (even if it's not fully using the graphics card) or if I'll have to do some other installs to even get the GUI working.

Also, can you describe what you mean by "alternative CD?" Is this different from the Live DVD I've been booting off of?

Thank you!!!

[PDR60]

Re: Kubuntu Live CD/Installation Questions

Hi Fintan,

I have an ATI Mobility Radeon X700 card in my notebook. Basically what I want to know is if I'll be able to install Kubuntu and that have a GUI available right away (even if it's not fully using the graphics card) or if I'll have to do some other installs to even get the GUI working.

Also, can you describe what you mean by "alternative CD?" Is this different from the Live DVD I've been booting off of?
Thank you!!!

Your card will be fine. The alternative cd uses the Debian installer instead of the one on the desktop cd. If you follow the how-to listed below you shouldn't have any problems. Its made for new users and covers things in pretty good detail.

http://www.linuxloader.com/modules.p...howpage&pid=32

[o_swas]

Re: Kubuntu Live CD/Installation Questions


PDR60, that tutorial looks great, thanks!

Can somebody point me to where I can download the alternate DVD? I thought I remembered seeing it somewhere on kubuntu.org but I can't find it now.

Thank you!

[o_swas]

Re: Kubuntu Live CD/Installation Questions


OK, I did find and download the alternate CD.

But I have another question: How exactly do I install with the alternate CD? And why is the alternate CD only 694 MB when the Live DVD is 4.3 GB?

I'm just not totally sure how all of these fit together. Just a general question too, how would somebody know to use the alternate CD instead of the Live DVD?

Thank you!!!

[Fintan]

Re: Kubuntu Live CD/Installation Questions

Have a look here:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/I386

It is a CD not a DVD iso file which means nothing more than that not all the packages are on it, only the nescesairy ones. Thes rest is downloaded from the net during install.

[PDR60]

Re: Kubuntu Live CD/Installation Questions

OK, I did find and download the alternate CD.

But I have another question: How exactly do I install with the alternate CD? And why is the alternate CD only 694 MB when the Live DVD is 4.3 GB?

I'm just not totally sure how all of these fit together. Just a general question too, how would somebody know to use the alternate CD instead of the Live DVD?

Thank you!!!

All good questions. Most of the time the Alternate CD is used for one of two reasons. The first is for when a desktop cd fails to install correctly. The Alternate cd will most of the time overcome problems encountered during the nice graphical install used during the Desktop Cd install. The Alternate uses the Debian installer and is text driven. This is also the second reason. It will give you total control over the install. You will have to decide each step. Its not any harder but some folks are intimidated. The Alternate Cd will also let you install the OS without a Desktop manager if you choose, like for a server install.

I'm just curious as to whay you want to use the Alternate CD. If you look at my Debian install How-to on my site, it will give a general feel for the alternate Cd install. Its the same installer.

PDR60

[dibl]

Re: Kubuntu Live CD/Installation Questions

Also, can you describe what you mean by "alternative CD?" Is this different from the Live DVD I've been booting off of?

how would somebody know to use the alternate CD instead of the Live DVD?

From Kubuntu's web site (via the download mirrors):

http://ftp.wayne.edu/linux_distribut...ubuntu/feisty/

Alternate install CD

The alternate install CD allows you to perform certain specialist installations of Kubuntu. It provides for the following situations:

* creating pre-configured OEM systems;
* setting up automated deployments;
* upgrading from older installations without network access;
* LVM and/or RAID partitioning;
* installs on systems with less than about 256MB of RAM (although note that low-memory systems may not be able to run a full desktop environment reasonably).

[o_swas]

Re: Kubuntu Live CD/Installation Questions

I'm just curious as to whay you want to use the Alternate CD. If you look at my Debian install How-to on my site, it will give a general feel for the alternate Cd install. Its the same installer.

PDR60

Uh oh, now I'm a little confused. PDR60, from your message here:

Your card will be fine. The alternative cd uses the Debian installer instead of the one on the desktop cd. If you follow the how-to listed below you shouldn't have any problems. Its made for new users and covers things in pretty good detail.

http://www.linuxloader.com/modules.p...howpage&pid=32

The reference to alternative CD made me think that I need to use the alternate CD, which is why I was asking about it.

PDR60, I've looked at your tutorial (not closely, I admit) but I don't remember seeing anything about the Debian installer in there. What page is it on? I don't seem to be able to find it.

So, for clarification, are you saying that if I do the installation the way it is in your tutorial I won't have any problems with my graphics card?

My apologies for all the questions. I really do appreciate the help.