New to Ubuntu, help!

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

Well, I'm not desperate or anything, but I downloaded some software from the 'net and can't install them. Firefox, for example, comes in .tar.bz2 compressed format and there's nothing to run inside. Only way that I can install anything is through the Ubuntu Software Center, which doesn't have the latest version of anything. I searched the net for a solution and just got more confused.

Anyways, If Ubuntu serves me well, then I'll be happy to have ditched XP.

[junkeR]

Extract that archive and place it in your home folder (easiest to do).
Go into the extract firefox folder and double-click the file called "firefox". Run the file when prompted with the new window.

I believe all the distros from 8.04 and up can run the Mozilla.org build without issue. I am on Hardy running 3.6.3.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

I put the extracted folder in home\[myfolder] and ran a file called "firefox" which had a extension of shell script. It just ran my current version of firefox 3.5.8.

[Mikey]

Is the stuff in your package manager really that old? Can you not update it for repositories with newer versions? You really don't want to be downloading binaries and unzipping them and all that. That's what those unfortunate people have to do when using Windows.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

There's other stuff like Open Office, GNS3 (router simulator,) and some emus that I'd like the latest versions of. My firefox is rather new, but I like upgrading my browser in case of any exploits.

Edit: also need to know how to work Ibus to type properly in Japanese. I have Anthy selected for Japanese input and I can't convert from Kana to Kanji.

[Domino]

I don't even think Linux supports bit perfect audio (like ASIO and kerrel streaming).

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

I was loving Ubuntu so far, but I'm running into a bunch of problems. Like I can't play half the videos I have because they're in WMV. I've been looking around for more than an hour now and starting to wonder whether this is worth the trouble.

[core]

Go to the Software Center and install "GStreamer ffmpeg video plugin" for wmv and ''Ubuntu restriced extras'' for a bunch of other stuff.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

Go to the Software Center and install "GStreamer ffmpeg video plugin" for wmv and ''Ubuntu restriced extras'' for a bunch of other stuff.

I installed those and some WMV videos play but most won't. Totem Media Player gives me this error for videos that don't play, "No packages with the requested codec found. The requested plugins are video/x-asf-unknown"

[core]

Download the video player 'kaffeine' in the software center or use the command "sudo apt-get install kaffeine" in the terminal. Sometimes the default video player doesn't work for funky wmv encoded videos.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

I've installed/uninstalled everything I could get my hands on and still can't play a bunch of WMV. Right now, I have Kplayer, Mplayer, Kaffeine, VLC, Gnome, and Media Player. I really need to be able to play all WMVs since I've to watch a bunch of training videos in that format.

[captpain]

INSTALL LINUX, PROBLEM SOLVED

[junkeR]

Go to the command line and type this in (as root)
aptitude update
aptitude install ubuntu-restricted-extras

That package will install everything you'd need to run those video files.

[Jockel]

if that still doesn't work, install VLC Media player through the application center...
that beast plays everything.

[junkeR]

Switching to a different operating system can be difficult, but stick with it. You'll learn some more as time goes on. It is definitely worth it. I've been Windows/MacOS free for a few years.

Look through the official documentation:
https://help.ubuntu.com/

In addition, the community documentation has TONS of guides:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community

[t0yrobo]

Go to the command line and type this in (as root)
aptitude update
aptitude install ubuntu-restricted-extras

That package will install everything you'd need to run those video files.

Also i wouldn't recommend installing stuff outside of the package manager unless it's really necessary. i found that it only causes problems down the road, especially when you're new to linux. I did that same thing and it was a pain.

[cools]

I'm wondering if those WMVs are encrypted (DRM) somehow... If neither mplayer or VLC won't play them that'd be one reason for it!

[gabe]

Switching to a different operating system can be difficult, but stick with it. You'll learn some more as time goes on. It is definitely worth it. I've been Windows/MacOS free for a few years.

Look through the official documentation:
https://help.ubuntu.com/

In addition, the community documentation has TONS of guides:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community

Yes. This.

You will have much better luck asking these questions using the forums specific to your distribution.

Also i wouldn't recommend installing stuff outside of the package manager unless it's really necessary. i found that it only causes problems down the road, especially when you're new to linux. I did that same thing and it was a pain.

Also this.

[KBZ]

I don't even think Linux supports bit perfect audio (like ASIO and kerrel streaming).

I've been using linux as my DAW and multitrack recorder for years now.

Jack with Ardour, or WineASIO with Reaper ftw.

[Domino]

I don't even think Linux supports bit perfect audio (like ASIO and kerrel streaming).

I've been using linux as my DAW and multitrack recorder for years now.

Jack with Ardour, or WineASIO with Reaper ftw.

Oh really?

My external DAC uses special drivers which will only work on Windows. I don't think Wine will be useful for that.

This is the only thing stopping me from going on Ubuntu.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

I'm wondering if those WMVs are encrypted (DRM) somehow... If neither mplayer or VLC won't play them that'd be one reason for it!

I could play them perfectly in Windows, tho. It didn't matter which player I used either.

Go to the command line and type this in (as root)
aptitude update
aptitude install ubuntu-restricted-extras

That package will install everything you'd need to run those video files.

Done this and it doesn't seem to work. As much as I hate going back to Windows, I'll have to do it.

[KBZ]

Oh really?

My external DAC uses special drivers which will only work on Windows. I don't think Wine will be useful for that.

This is the only thing stopping me from going on Ubuntu.

Companies don't provide the drivers for linux, they are written into the kernel by community members.

My M-Audio Delta 44 works just dandy for my DAW out of the box. Before that I used an M-audio Transit that required a community driver.

Just because a company doesn't mention support for linux doesn't mean linux wont support their product.

Wine is only used if you want to run a program relying on ASIO like Reaper. I prefer to use Jack and Ardour since it works great and is totally free.

[e_tank]

you can get the codecs you need using the medibuntu repository. here is a link to instructions on how to do this.

to add the medibuntu repository:

Code: Select all

sudo wget --output-document=/etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/$(lsb_release -cs).list && sudo apt-get --quiet update && sudo apt-get --yes --quiet --allow-unauthenticated install medibuntu-keyring && sudo apt-get --quiet update

codecs for playing encrypted dvds:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2

codecs for non-native media formats (wmv included):
(if on 32bit linux):

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get install w32codecs

(if on 64bit linux):

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sudo apt-get install w64codecs

now there are some other packages you may need if you want to use these codecs with totem (a gstreamer based player) instead of vlc or mplayer, i'll edit this post a little later with a list of these once i've checked out my machine that i have ubuntu setup on.

edit: here are the additional packages you'll want to install

Code: Select all

gstreamer0.10-pitfdll (this should get wmvs working in totem)
gstreamer0.10-plugins-good (you should already have this)
gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad (you probably already have this)
gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly
ffmpeg
gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg

[Domino]

Oh really?

My external DAC uses special drivers which will only work on Windows. I don't think Wine will be useful for that.

This is the only thing stopping me from going on Ubuntu.

Companies don't provide the drivers for linux, they are written into the kernel by community members.

My M-Audio Delta 44 works just dandy for my DAW out of the box. Before that I used an M-audio Transit that required a community driver.

Just because a company doesn't mention support for linux doesn't mean linux wont support their product.

Wine is only used if you want to run a program relying on ASIO like Reaper. I prefer to use Jack and Ardour since it works great and is totally free.

I see, let me see if I can borrow my friend's linux computer. Can I use a boot CD or that won't work?

[null1024]

About those WMVs, if they really won't open, you could try using Wine and Winetricks to install Windows Media Player itself.
You'll need the latest version of Wine though, not the "stable" one IIRC [stable means they're just not changing anything in that release here].

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

Tried Wine and everything in this thread so far but no luck. Though, I found my own solution and that is running Windows XP on a virtual machine and running my vids there. Runs like a charm.

I'll keep using Ubuntu for now. At least, until I run into some software I can't run or something I can't do that warrants me to go back to XP or make my machine dual boot.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

YES! Finally figured out how to configure Ubuntu to type in Japanese, and It's starting to feel like a working system. I got my Japanese typing, my training videos, and my GNS3 router emulator running.

[core]

Now all you have to do is install tuxracer.

[KBZ]

Oh really?

My external DAC uses special drivers which will only work on Windows. I don't think Wine will be useful for that.

This is the only thing stopping me from going on Ubuntu.

Companies don't provide the drivers for linux, they are written into the kernel by community members.

My M-Audio Delta 44 works just dandy for my DAW out of the box. Before that I used an M-audio Transit that required a community driver.

Just because a company doesn't mention support for linux doesn't mean linux wont support their product.

Wine is only used if you want to run a program relying on ASIO like Reaper. I prefer to use Jack and Ardour since it works great and is totally free.

I see, let me see if I can borrow my friend's linux computer. Can I use a boot CD or that won't work?

Nah, you're better off with a full install on metal (no VM). Try ubuntu-studio, or 64studio. Best of luck!

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

Just a heads-up to anyone switching to ubuntu. There's this ubuntu distro that has a bunch of necessary stuff like codecs prepackaged to save you the headache of hunting stuff down. It's called Super OS, but is just basically Ubuntu 9.10.