so i'd like to run ubuntu but

-Ali- · Trackday Trickster Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Karma :

have no knowledge of how computer software works at all. All the guides i've read imply a certain amount of base knowledge which i don't have, so i thought i'd come here for some help.

The computer is 4/5 years old and i lost my xp reinstallation disc ages ago so now it's pretty choked up. It's solely used for browsing the internet and some word documents.

What i'd like to run and would like simplified instructions on how to install.

All the usual internet applications like flash etc to watch movies online

Spotify

and i really like the safari browser, but firefox is acceptable if i can't install safari.

thanks
alistair

el_oso · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 May 2008 Karma :

the ubuntu setup is really really easy. All you need is a CD or USB stick. go to the ubuntu website. download ubuntu. burn to a disk. restart pc with ubuntu disk in drive and press f12 (or whatever you bios says for boot options)
follow the steps on the screen.
should be able click next, next, next and there you are done.
quite impressed at how quick the new beta version loads up. only take 15seconds. i have had a few problems with bugs though so i would stick with 9.10 for now.

when you have it running. go system > admin > synaptic package manager. the search the box for ubuntu restricted extras. this will install things like flash, java, mp3 support and various other useful tools
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-Ali- · Trackday Trickster Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Do you know someone with ubuntu?

If you do, they can make you a bootable flash stick using an admin tool that comes for that exact purpose.

Failing that you need to download the appropriate image file from Ubuntu. It will end in .iso.

To make an install disc, you need to be able to burn a bootable disc. You may need third party software to do this in windows (like nero). You have to burn the CD as an image, not a data file.

You should really check the MD5 Checksum to make sure the file is "good" but again, you'd need additional software to do it in windows. It's not strictly necessary if you trust where you downloaded it from.

Once it's burned, put it in and switch it on. It'll come up with a menu. I'd do a disc integrity check first off. Then I'd suggest trying it running as a live CD. The Ubuntu operating system will load up from the CD and you can have a play with it without changing anything permanant on your computer.

Once you're happy, there is an option to install Ubuntu. Click, follow instructions. If in doubt when it asks a question, go with what it suggests or what seems a sensible answer.

Once it's up and running, as said, install the restricted extras. You may need to go System > Administration > Software sources and under the "Ubuntu Software" tab, check the main, universe, restricted and multiverse boxes before you can do this. (Don't panic. It's all about American copyright laws and that Ubuntu only ships with open source software.. which adobe flash player isn't).

I don't think you can (easily) run safari but there is a selection of other browsers to choose from if you want. Ubuntu has firefox as an integrated part of the system though and it works well.
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neil. · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Feb 2008 Karma :

What you want to do is certainly possible. The only bit that will take some work to get going will be Spotify which does not have a native Linux version, so it needs to run under a Windows compatibility layer, called Wine, which you must also install.

As for Safari, the closest you'd get would be Epiphany, which is based on the same rendering engine (under the bonnet software that does all the work with loading and displaying webpages), Webkit, and would render pages in a very similar fashion with excellent performance, way above Firefox's.

If you can, hold off until the 29th of April as a new Ubuntu release is scheduled and it will be a Long Term Support version with 3 years of updates (usual releases have 18 months of support). At this point in time, there's little point to setting up a system with the current version, unless you're just messing about with it. Thumbs Up

If you do plan to play with it now, which is a good thing, check out https://help.ubuntu.com/9.10/index.html Thumbs Up

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-Ali- · Trackday Trickster Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Karma :

Pernig · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Karma :

Once you're up and running, here's how I got on installing Spotify on Wine. I find Spotify runs very well on Wine.

You may find, depending on your hardware, that it works better with OSS or ALSA, or only works with one (you will understand what I'm on about once you've read through the link).
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