ChrisM

Just to update to let you guys know I haven't given up on the advise - seems there is a problem with the phone exchange - gonna be at least another couple of days b4 its fixed so no internet, other than for a few brief seconds I'm using a winblows box at the uni library at the mo, so nothing I can do at all for now . Cheers.

Yes, if you visit the ubuntu web site, they'll even ship you out (at no cost!!) - a package containing the distro on a live cd AND an install cd. I presume you can also download. I ordered a few and have given them out to work colleagues for Christmas. One XP stalwart friend of mine likes the live cd and is gonna dual boot :D

Most excellent

Thanks adamw I tried to run updates again today, but am faced with continuous up/downtime with my connection (and phone line) - must be cos of the bad weather at the moment. I'm making the most of this window and will feedback later. Thanks also Lakota, again this is something I obviously need to look into. But both your replies confirmed my initial concerns about installing packages with bad sigs from MCC/urpmi. I'll post back if I have any issues. Cheers.

Welcome aboard the board... If you have a speedtouch 330 check out this thread here at MUB If you have one of the speedtouch modems with an ethernet connection - use that instread of usb, so much less hassle, and no drivers required. Have a look at this thread on MUB to install tar.gz's Also, you'll definately want to have a look here at MUB to learn about urpmi ... note, the Easy Urpmi site can be found here also And an overall excellent web site check this site out from aRTee Good luck, post back with any problems.

I'd not run any of the scans for months now (since I first got the router/firewall) so did not realise/forgotton at time of this posting this was a winblows only scan - doh! :P Seems though that scans provide a false sense of security.

I have a Netgear router/firewall - the following should prove useful if you want an idea of how secure you are. This is taken from one of the support pages. Here are three programs to test if your router or computer's ports are secure. The first gives the simplest "good / bad" results. Symantec Security Check (Once on the page, click Start under "Security Scan".) Gibson Research Corporation (On the page, scroll down, and click ShieldsUP!) Sygate Online Services (On the page, click Scan Now.) Since these programs are concerned with any possible threat, they may report things that are in practice usually safe. For example, although the Sygate and Gibson sites note ports that are not "stealthy", in practice ports that are "just" closed are usually quite secure.

Using the MCC in 10.1 to get security updates etc - I did it today and I got a warning that three updates had 'bad signatures'. I have the option to carry on with the install. If I say no, then nothing at all (I believe) will get installed. So, I select 'yes', (and on this occasion it turns out that there were also problems related to mirror sites, not being able to open the packages). So, all the list, bar the 3 updates with bad sigs are installed. This whole thing about bad signatures still somewhat worries me. Am I being dumb - I've come across this a couple of times - unless you carry on with an install with bad signatures then you just can't install a multi dependency download. Question. Using URPMI/MCC>Updates - is it ALWAYS safe to say 'yes' carry on with a download, even if there are bad signatures etc? My understanding is that as URPMI is a trusted source so its always safe to do so. I'm reluctant to use Mandrake online - but if it guarantees security updates, I may consider it - though I'd prefer to use MCC if I new it was safe (but then this wouldn't overcome other installation issues).

Looks like its all up and running once again... easyurpmi rules OK! B)

At the office, I have a WinXP dual booted with MDK10 - I've had this set up for months now. The only real reason I ever need to use M$ is because the all in one printer I have does not work with the 'drake - that is so annoying. Anyway, I was using XP and MS Office 2000 pro - and for no reason whatsover, the 2 weeks or so before Christmas, I lose functionality to open Word from the programmes menu and/or shortcuts. None of the other components were affected - i.e. I could open up excel/powerpoint etc etc. Even after uninstalling and reinstalling M$ Office twice, the problem persisits. Arrrgh - I detect that only a full OS reinstall may be the only solution here. Also, It feels as if I'm constantly 'on guard' everytime I log into winblows - who knows what virus or security feature will compromise the system today then I used to run Win 98/ME at home - now I run MDK10.1, 9.2 and 10.0 running across the home network - my girlfriend uses MDK10.0 and uses it easily as if it were winblows - variety of office apps/email/internet/music without the constant hassle of worrying about a virus wrecking our systems every other week. So, instead of XP > why not consider trying out 10.1?

:D IMHO as a user to linux for about 8 months now, I'm not that certain that as a noob, my investment to a mag' subscription has been really all that worthwhile. I get far more info from this BB and the web in general. However, to a more experienced linux user such as yourself, it may/may not be worthwhile. Maybe TUX magazine will be the ansa for noobs tho.

Noooooo - I live in the UK. I got my first 3 issues for just £1.00 :D Unfortunately this offer ended in September last I then pay something like £14.98 every 3 months - which is still chaper than buying it in the shops. I just looked at the Linux Format web site Here and European subscribers can get it for 80Euros which is equivalent to approx £56.00 and still cheaper than buying it from a shop.

I've tried Linux Magazine (OK - has had some good articles/reviews/software, but can be a bit heavy) and Linux User and Developer (not my cup of tea - mega-heavy/dull-dry for a noob). I subscribed to Linux Format using the discount offer - offers a food selection of reviews, loads of software especially if you get the DVD, and the Answers pages are generally pretty helpful. Much in the way of techy stuff. I agree with Kmack, there is a void for material aimed soley at the linux newbie. The web site isbn't that great though. Personal Computer World is an interesting mag - offering a mix of Winblows/Linux features. Regularly provides a Linux distros on the DVD version (but other than that, the software tends to be predominately M$ orientated) however, it also provides a number of linux based workshops

Yup seems ubunbtu will run as a bare bones on 32MB RAM ubuntu page here But, as iphitus says, for Gnome/ubuntu desktop, you can get away with 64MB RAM ubuntu web page here

I got hold of one of the free ubuntu CD packs which comes both with a live cd and an install CD. On the pack it says (Intel x86 Edition): ubuntu live cd: You should have at least 128MB of RAM ubuntu install cd: You should have at least 32MB of RAM.

Samsung ML-1755 laser - linux supported (driver is on CD - but not really needed as it can be installed/configured through MCC). Though I have problems printing .pdf documents.

an advertisement link from Mandrake linux home page - complete a survey and get Mandrake 10 Powerpack free here [moved from Talk-Talk by spinynorman]

I had 10.1CE and was not able what-so-ever to get any updates. Check out my summary here to upgrade 10.1CE to 10.1 OE - I've done it a couple of times without any known hitches, though it has been mentioned that it can screw up your system, if so be prepared to re install. Though I'd read through the entire thread, its very useful. Be aware of the urpmi change of location is now here. Otherwise, you can always download 10.1 OE .

only quickly skimmed the thread - does the modem work directly with your mdk box - i.e without using the router. Maybe the modem needs to be configured - a wildcard, but if ts not been tried, maybe worth having a check.

Without easy urpmi -

If you already have the 10.1 CDs, install disk 1, boot up and either choose upgrade/ full install (doing full install will format your hard drive, so make sure back any data up to a CD/floppy etc) - follow the easy to read on screen instructions. aRTee's site here will explain everything you need to know, step by step, with lots of screenshots, advice etc. If you have 10.1CE and want to update to 10.1OE you can do this through urpmi, but I'd install first and then look through this BB here

could you not remove OO.o using MCC and then, reinstall through urpmi/MCC - if you've deleted something critical, then a reinstall will/should just put everything back in place?

I've been able to uprgade via urpmi twice without any hiccups at all. I've a couple more boxes to upgrade to 10.1 - so I'm planning on downloading the iso's - be interesting to compare - though I imagine/expect that there will be little/no difference. I don't agree with Aussiejohn's advise not to try an upgrade by urpmi - it's not super tecchy and you don't need to know lots of command line stuff and is actually 'quite' straightforward if you follow the steps. IMO if you have the CE disks, and back important data up - then at worst the install will screw up - so reinstall your CE disks, it might take a little while longer than imagined - otherwise, as a newbie, I'll get an upgrade and be learning something new. Anyone reading the threads elswhere will see that there are warnings that doing an urpmi upgrade has the potential to screw up. Ands surely it's the same elsewhere - some people will have straightforward installs, others will have a nightmare - you only have to look round this BB to see some of the problems that people have installing for example Firefox. You'll not know till you try. As long as you prepare for the 'possibilty' of problems and if you can, have a contingency. And while I could have waited a few weeks for the iso release (and the hours for a download are inevitable even with broadband), it took just a little while on an evening for me to urpmi an upgrade.

mobo battery?

In Konsole, type: net_applet this will bring back your system try icon Once you close konsole, it will disappear - so before you do so, right click onm the icon and set it to start on boot up. That is, I'm presuming you are running 10.1? Are your cables made up properly - I spent an age and wasted so many RJ45 jacks, but if they are not perfect, they will not work at all. Is your box talking to the router/hub at all (green lights on the card/router) Are you following the steps as advised in manufacturers handbook? List in sequence the steps you are making and any errors thast are being reported.