Linux Problems Fixed

[nemorathwald]

The computer on which I run Linux had a hardware problem and wouldn't boot up; overthesun took it and fixed it in half an hour by resetting the BIOS chip. Thanks, overthesun!

I've also had a software problem for months: the Firefox web browser wouldn't start. Even uninstalling and reinstalling it didn't fix this. I logged on to the chat channel of Ubuntu Linux, and within half an hour the friendly folks there had identified the problem and took me step-by-step through setting things right. Somehow Firefox was living in a directory called "firefox" when it was expected to be living in a directory called "mozilla-firefox". All my buttons and menu items that were supposed to open this application were looking for it in the wrong place. The Ubuntu free tech support volunteers helped me create a symbolic link, so that when the buttons looked in the wrong place they'd be directed to the right place; since then all has been well. Thanks, Ubuntu volunteer folks! The good reputation of this "Linux for Human Beings" distribution is well-deserved!

Comments

[drkelso.livejournal.com]

I just installed Ubuntu Desktop on a Microsoft Virtual PC virtual hard drive on my work laptop about a week ago. Amazingly, it just works. I don't use it a lot except to fool around with it but it works very well. I'm rather impressed by it so far. Next step is to scrounge up a cheap PC to install it straight out. Maybe two PC's to add as a server.

[matt-arnold.livejournal.com]

Web browsing, instant messaging, listening to music, watching movies, word processing, spreadsheets, recording and sound-engineering my podcast-- I do pretty much everything with the point-and-click desktop under Ubuntu Linux, except for desktop publishing and games. (I'm highly invested in Adobe software, although I also use their equivalents on Linux.)