Where do I go from here?

G

garzank

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I just built a new computer from the ground up and installed Ubuntu 12 as the OS from a flash drive connected to the mother board. It boots up and run fine and I can get around the internet but nothing else works. I can't boot anything from the cd/dvd drive, any sort of download doesn't execute and I can't install any sort of drivers I find on the internet. Also, where is the command line (windows jargon I know). I'm not even sure my chipset/bios/network drivers have been updated. How, where, what, when...etc etc. Where do I go from here? Not the way I imagined my linux experience to start out...oy!
 


update...here is a copy of the error message I get when I (try) run an executable file from a cd. this is also the same sort of error I get trying to install/download everything:

Archive: /media/GIGABYTE/run.exe
[/media/GIGABYTE/run.exe]
End-of-central-directory signature not found. Either this file is not
a zipfile, or it constitutes one disk of a multi-part archive. In the
latter case the central directory and zipfile comment will be found on
the last disk(s) of this archive.
zipinfo: cannot find zipfile directory in one of /media/GIGABYTE/run.exe or
/media/GIGABYTE/run.exe.zip, and cannot find /media/GIGABYTE/run.exe.ZIP, period.
 
Your using ubuntu? Well if your trying to run .exe windows files in linux no wonder it's not working because you can't without wine.


The terminal is the command line. In ubuntu ctrl+alt t brings it up. Try running sudo apt-get update.

What are you trying to download anyhow?
 
I suggest you buy a Ubuntu tech book from Amazon. There's a wealth of info in a good Linux OS tech book. I bought the LPIC-1 / CompTIA Linux+ Certification book by Robb Tracy. I also used openSUSE Linux on a Windows PC with just a new 500 GB hard drive that I laoded openSUSE on. Downloaded OS from openSUSE website and wrote to DVD. All my peripheral's (DVD, audio, internet, etc) are working ok. All the device drivers for your peripheral's must be written for Ubuntu / Linux (but I'm sure you know that.)
 
Linux is fundamentally different from windows. I can see how you might assume that you need to install drivers for your chipset etc after a fresh install, but that is just not the case with Linux. All the drivers for you motherboard, network, sound etc. are all contained in the kernel and are automatically loaded for you when you boot. All motherboard hardware is well supported and in most cases the kernel is updated so regularly that it usually contains more up to date drivers than the OEMs release for their own boards.

.exe files will not run. They are windows specific. Some windows applications will run under Linux with the help of wine, but definitely not low level windows drivers. If you want to play with this install wine read up on how it works and try a few windows desktop applications like spotify (I think there's a Linux version now anyway) or iTunes. Generally speaking Linux has native software that parallels anything you used to use on windows or has direct counterparts. For example, VLC media play is available on both platforms, if you want it you install it, do so either from the command line or from your distributions 'install software' option in the menus. It you want to know what's out there just google around, try googling 'best Linux media players' or 'Linux web browser roundup' or 'Linux office software reviews' you will find new and interesting software quickly, and most times it will available to install from your distros software repositories with just a click or a simple command.

Keeping you system up to date is simple, there is an update software option in the menu, or you can type;

sudo apt-get update

This tells your system to check what updates are available, then;

sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

This will systematically update every piece of software installed to its latest version. Learn about apt-get it will be your best friend.

Not sure what you mean by CDs not booting. If you put a cd in and reboot your machine and it doesn't recognize it as a bootable disc, then you need to go into the computers BIOS and enable booting from cd. Google how to do this its pretty straight forward.

Hope this all helps. Good luck.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I've used windows for so long I wasn't aware exe fils are windows specific.
The motherboard I bought came wih a cd with driver and chipset updates and anti virus and it was supposed to automatically run and install; but alas that is only on windows. Ill check out wine. Truth be told I did not do much homework on Linux outside of which OS to use for beginners. Amazon here I come. Thanks again everyone.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I've used windows for so long I wasn't aware exe fils are windows specific.
The motherboard I bought came wih a cd with driver and chipset updates and anti virus and it was supposed to automatically run and install; but alas that is only on windows. Ill check out wine. Truth be told I did not do much homework on Linux outside of which OS to use for beginners. Amazon here I come. Thanks again everyone.

You should run the linux distros from your flash drive.
This will allow you to see which one works on your computer.
Linux will run and load everything it might need - some hardware may need additional drivers which you may need to add.
Have a look in the forums for the distro you are using - best place to look for help:D

Re Anti virus
Google linux anti virus - you will learn that linux works differently from windows:cool:
 

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