Tech/Computer advice from me

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I'm taking another step closer to installing Ubuntu.
Went into BIOS to change Boot Device Priority, so I can boot up from USB, since the file will be on flash drive.
When I go to change the boot device, it gives me 4 options to boot from, and none of them say USB.
It's currently defaulted to boot up from the 3rd option down on the list.
What should I do, regarding these 4 options they give me, if I want to boot from USB ?

1st Floppy Drive
PS-ST340014A
PM-HL-DT-ST RW/DVD GCC-4480B
Disabled
 
might need to update your bios. if it's really that old of a computer it may have no been able to boot to usb when you bought it.

you'd have to get the update from dell/hp whoever makes the computer.
 
Fear The Spear said:
What programs did you use for the registry key problem, and for the viruses ?
Click to expand...

Anyone who has the 'task' of trying to fix a pc from afar, give TeamViewer a go.

I am regularly called upon to 'have a look' at my mother's laptop, and as she is some 2500km's away, TeamViewer is how we connect.

The downside is that it must be installed n both pc's, but the upside is that you can set it up so all the other party has to do is have TeamViewer running n the background.
 
SkinnedAussie said:
If you are intending to use 12.04, you might be able to install with WUBI (google it). Just download it and it will install Ubuntu for you, but expect it to take quite some time, and give you monthly download limit a huge hit.
Click to expand...

I didn't see anything on the Ubuntu site about a monthly limit on downloads, for version 12.04. I only see a limit for length of support. So there's a monthly limit on how much data I can download from the web, while using Ubuntu OS ?
And if so, how does using WUBI affect that ? And does it only affect the first month, or every month ? Sorry, I don't understand the correlation between using WUBI, for a one-time installation of Ubuntu, and the monthly limitations of service/downloads on 12.04....especially considering that I downloaded WUBI while still using Windows. Maybe I'm not hearing you correctly
 
What I meant is that if your internet service allows you a certain amount of downloads per month with your plan, this download allowance will take a hit as a WUBI install will download the whole 12.04 operating system.

Here in Austrailia, we pay about $100 per month for our internet connection, and with that we are allowed to download 500GB of data per month. Once we reach that, our download speed is throttled back to near dial-up proportions. If you are on an unlimited download plan, then you have no problems with what you download or how much.
 
Well the good news is I got Ubuntu installed, and the installation itself, was smooth, easy, and no problems at all, using WUBI.
On the other hand, what on earth is up with the speed of this thing ? It's slower than molasses. I mean agonizingly slow. Insanely slow. Every single command, whether it's internet-related or not, takes literally up to 10 minutes to respond. Much of the time it's practically unresponsive, when I click on things. I know it's not my PC, and I know it's not the fact that it's holding 2 OS's, because, when I flip back over to Windows, it runs fine. What's goin on with the program ?
 
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Fear The Spear said:
I'm taking another step closer to installing Ubuntu.
Went into BIOS to change Boot Device Priority, so I can boot up from USB, since the file will be on flash drive.
When I go to change the boot device, it gives me 4 options to boot from, and none of them say USB.
It's currently defaulted to boot up from the 3rd option down on the list.
What should I do, regarding these 4 options they give me, if I want to boot from USB ?

1st Floppy Drive
PS-ST340014A
PM-HL-DT-ST RW/DVD GCC-4480B
Disabled
Click to expand...

does the machine have any USB ports?
 
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Fear The Spear said:
Well the good news is I got Ubuntu installed, and the installation itself, was smooth, easy, and no problems at all, using WUBI.
On the other hand, what on earth is up with the speed of this thing ? It's slower than molasses. I mean agonizingly slow. Insanely slow. Every single command, whether it's internet-related or not, takes literally up to 10 minutes to respond. Much of the time it's practically unresponsive, when I click on things. I know it's not my PC, and I know it's not the fact that it's holding 2 OS's, because, when I flip back over to Windows, it runs fine. What's goin on with the program ?
Click to expand...

what kind of install? disk image or separate partition?
 
FTS, you are the first person I know of that is complaining about how slow it is. Everyone else is amazed at how much faster it is.

Check in at the Ubuntu Forum and see if anyone else has the same problem, or if anyone has posted a fix.

What 'flavour' did you end up with (12.04?), what size did you give Ubuntu (30GB max as WUBI install) and how much RAM do you have?
 
SkinnedAussie said:
Check in at the Ubuntu Forum and see if anyone else has the same problem, or if anyone has posted a fix.

What 'flavour' did you end up with (12.04?), what size did you give Ubuntu (30GB max as WUBI install) and how much RAM do you have?
Click to expand...

I got the 12.04, and I didn't see any indication of the GB size on it.
My RAM is 496. I know that's not much memory, but it didn't hinder me much on Windows, hardly, in comparison.
I'm about to register with the Ubuntu forum, too
 
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Fear The Spear said:
I got the 12.04, and I didn't see any indication of the GB size on it.
My RAM is 496.
I'm about to register with the Ubuntu forum, too
Click to expand...

If RAM is showing as 496, you really have 512.
If you weren't asked how much dis space you want to use for Ubuntu during the installation process, it must have detected that you have less than 30GB overall, and as it needs space to create a swap file, that could explain why it is running slow. Just like any program, it needs room to move.

I can only suggest the following:
Disc cleanup (Start > Accessories > System Tools > Disc cleanup)
Defrag (as above)
Ubuntu update (use the update manager).
Using CLI [Command Line Interface], type in 'sudo aptitude auto remove', then run it. Follow that with 'sudo aptitude auto clean'.

In you are ever in doubt, try this: Ubuntu Precise -

You can remove unwanted programs by using the Ubuntu Store.
 
SkinnedAussie said:
If you can remember, how much did you give it? 6GB is the minimum, whereas 30GB is the maximum. 12-15 should be enough for smooth running, but I gave myself the max on every occasion.
Click to expand...

I don't recall any option during the process to choose that.
The only option I remember, was after the final reboot, it asked me if I wanted to go to Windows or Ubuntu OS. After choosing UB, I walked away, then from across the room, I saw an option on the screen to choose Generic UB, or a couple other options, but before I could walk over to pick one of those options, it defaulted to a certain option within seconds, and started in that mode. I know that's not directly related, but I mentioned it, because I stepped away from the PC for periods during the install, so perhaps it gave the option to choose the GB during that time I was away, and when I didn't respond, it chose one for me....that's the only thing I can think of.

If that's the culprit, I guess I'd have to reinstall with 12-15 GB's, and that may fix it ? (after I try your other suggestions above that, above, of course)
 
Generic ub? Did you actually install it or did you've only boot to the preview version? Not sure if that exists for them inside windows version but if so that calls explain speed issues

Unfortunately I'm out of my element. I haven't done the inside windows install in a long time.
 
When in doubt check the hardware requirements ;)

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/SystemRequirements

Ubuntu Desktop Edition

700 MHz processor (about Intel Celeron or better)
512 MiB RAM (system memory)
5 GB of hard-drive space (or USB stick, memory card or external drive but see LiveCD for an alternative approach)
VGA capable of 1024x768 screen resolution
Either a CD/DVD drive or a USB port for the installer media

Internet access is helpful

...

Ubuntu Desktop 11.04 and up uses Unity as the default GUI while the previous releases used GNOME Panel by default. In order to run Unity the system needs a more capable graphics adapter – see more here or below:

* 1000 ΜHz processor (about Intel Celeron or better)

* 1024 MiB RAM (system memory)

* 3D Acceleration Capable Videocard with at least 256 MB

From experience, we all know that it is recommended to have 2048 MiB RAM to properly run a day to day Ubuntu.
Click to expand...

Turn off unity
uninstall - How can you remove Unity? - Ask Ubuntu

Looks like little old Ubuntu has beefed itself up a bit...

Looks like you go to GNOME or KDE or some other linux desktop environment. Which one to pick, how to install it, and whether you'll like it... not stuff I can answer. When I run Linux I'm in terminal/command prompts the whole time, not doing desktop/GUI stuff...

Sorry. I thought Ubuntu was still super light weight :\
 
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