Ubuntu Installation

Installation of Ubuntu on a new hard disk was easier than anticipated. It took less than half an hour for the 9.10 version, and the end result is a clean, functioning system with lots of bells and whistles. Then I realised there were a lot of other apps needed to be installed before I could really use it. Here is some of the apps I installed on my laptop (Sony Vaio VGN-FW351J). Amazingly, all the Sony functionality worked right off the bat including the web cam, plug and play USB devices. I only had one problem with a non-functioning microphone (fixed, more on that later), and still have to work out how to support my two Apple iTouch devices). No more CPU issues now though, nor having to deal with Window updates, virus signature files and redundant registry entries, as well as mysterious Window services.

(From the terminal:)

Install any necessary updates:
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sudo apt-get update

Install eclipse
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sudo apt-get eclipse

Install flash plugin
====================

sudo apt-get install alien
sudo alien -i --scripts ./flash-plugin-10.0.45.2-release.i386.rpm

Install Skype:
==============
Missing libqt files, so
sudo apt-get -f install (installs these missing packages)

My microphone wasn't working properly, so I had to play around with the alsamixer config settings, fooling it into thinking I had a different type of microphone and then tweaking those settings;
'alsamixer'

(At some point during this, the Ubuntu update manager will run and download about 2ooMB worth of files and install them)

Installing JDK:
First install gcc
sudo apt-get install gcc
sudo apt-get install build-essential
sudo apt-get install g++
(Download and install libstdc++5 for 386 architecture)
chmod +x java_ee_sdk....bin
sudo ./java_ee_sdk...bin
(if screen is blank when installing, disable System, Preference, Appearances, Nice console - compiz feature).
sudo apt-get install sun-java6-jdk

Install java src
(download the src and point eclipse to it)

What version of Linux running?
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uname -a
cat /etc/issue

Problem: RPM not found
Answer: RPM is red-hat. Ubuntu uses deb, use "alien"

Install VLC:
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sudo apt-get install vlc

Best way to install. Type 'synaptic', a front end manager for apt-get.

Update the "locate DB command" (for search, locate command):
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sudo updatedb

Install NetBeans
Install MonoDev (for C# development)
Install AdobeAIR
Install NY Times
Install Handbrake
Install screenlets - small apps that sit on desktop, showing time, date, cpu usage etc.
Install Picasa