I’ve a PC that I recently switched from Windows XP to Ubuntu Linux as a learning tool.
Last Friday while trying to install an application something happened that screwed up the graphics driver so that Ubuntu would not boot. I’m not sure what caused it but I’m sure it was my fault. I was “under-the-hood” so to speak without a clue of what I was doing. and I got caught!
Since the whole objective of this personal project was to learn more about Linux, I decided to look on this as an opportunity to try some new version of Linux.With mixed levels of success, I tried the latest versions of openSUSE, simplyMEPIS, and Kubuntu. I went through different install processes many times due to various problems I experienced.
I may not know much about Linux, but I’m now an expert at installing it!
Here’s some of the “truths” I discovered:
- if you want a completely trouble free install it is better to have an ATI Graphics card instead of a Nvidia Graphics card;
- if you have a motherboard that has a Promise Raid Controller some version of Linux will see it and some will not, and it can screw you up in either case;
- if you use a KVM switch then not all Linux GUI desktops are created equal; and
- dual-booting is 80% science and 20% magic.
OpenSUSE can see the Promise Controller, even when you have it disabled in BIOS. Therefore when you try to partition the drives and later install the GRUB boot-loader it tries to use phantom drives that are not there.
I have several computers of different ages and configurations but only one master keyboard, mouse, and high-res display. To make this work I use a KVM switch to move between machines. SimpleMEPIS and Kubuntu both use the KDE desktop. During the many installs I discovered that when switching the KDE desktop would lose focus on the mouse and you would have to reboot to get the mouse pointer to move again. The Gnome desktop doesn’t seem to have this problem. Strange?
To shorten a long story, I reinstalled Ubuntu 6.10 to the primary drive and installed openSUSE on the secondary drive without a boot-loader. Then with much trial and error I manually modified the Ubuntu GRUB boot-loader menu list to also boot openSUSE on the seconday drive.
So the end result is that now this trial PC is a dual booting Ubuntu and openSUSE machine. I’m not going to get too brave again for a while. I’ve had my fill of installations for the time being. I think the problems with the installs can be contributed to the hardware of this particular PC. I don’t count this as a terrible failing of Linux.
From all of this, my first impression is that Ubuntu distribution is the most user friendly while the openSUSE distribution is more feature rich and technical. MEPIS falls somewhere in between, and Kubuntu is simply Ubuntu with the KDE desktop.
Technorati Tags: linux, mepis, opensuse, kbuntu, Ubuntu
Hey Earl,
Your comment about getting caught ‘under the hood’ and over your head got me chuckling. I’ve been there many many times ;). And your breakdown of dual-booting into science and magic is spot on. I’m still puzzled about how to get mine (XP/Ubuntu) working smoothly. I can’t wait for the day (when I get a second system) when I can finally have a truly clean single OS linux system.
You are a brave man sir. :)
Richard,
It is a fine line indeed between brave and foolish!
:/
I have had the same problem with my mouse and KVM on just about every Debian derivative I have run. Here is the fix that is an change I do with every install.
Add the following line to /etc/modprobe.d/options
“options psmouse proto=imps” (without quotes) and reboot.
Rick,
Hey, thanks for the tip. I’ll give that a try.
Earl,
Very interesting article. I’m just wondering why you try all these Debian derrivities and don’t try the real thing. Debian 4.0 (Etch) is about to be marked stable. To be honest, it’s far more stable than Edgy, yet uses newer software. The new Debian Installer is very similar to the Ubuntu installer, probably because Debian got SOMETHING back from ubuntu’s work.
I recently switched from Running Kubuntu since Breezy days because the “under the hood” stuff that you mention is starting to become like Windows, where it is hidden from you. That might be fine for new users of Linux, but once you get used to how Linux works, the idea of freedom sets in, and Ubuntu is not about freedom, it’s about marketing. The recent deal with Linspire proves that.
Hi Joe,
No specific reason I didn’t try Debian. I just randomly selected some Linux distrobutions and gave them a shot.
I’ll certainly take your recommendation to heart and give Debian a look. Perhaps I’ll do a follow-up post on it.
I must admit that I had mixed feelings when I hear about the Ubuntu and Linspire deal. But then I think that to have Linux considered as an “equal” to Windows and OS X in the desktop OS debate is going to take some marketing.
We’ll just have to wait and see what the outcome is.
Good information. I can also seriously relate with your experience, as I was just recently rebuilding my work PC using Ubuntu as the core OS with VMware for the XP install.
I can’t say that I agree with your statement regarding the graphics card:
“if you want a completely trouble free install it is better to have an ATI Graphics card instead of a Nvidia Graphics card;”
Unfortunately, ATI didn’t provide Linux drivers until recently (which still feels “beta”) and around the same time, they finally released their source to be worked on by the Linux gurus (so hopefully support will increase rapidly). Therefore, there are still a number of issues related to ATI cards (especially within Ubuntu in my experience). Alternatively, Nvidia (although not open source) has been supporting Linux for quite some time, and release updated drivers in tandem (usually) with each window’s release.
For instance; setting up a dual monitor display in Linux using an ATI card can be extremely frustrating and a mixed bag of success. Only certain resolutions can be reached (since the ATI and Radeon cards have a 2048 x 2048 texture limit which is a factor when calculating your desktop size using ATI’s “BigDesktop” add on). To make matters worse, a dual monitor setup can only be obtained by using the aforementioned, beta-like, “BigDesktop” feature or by using an open source solution like “Xinerama” (that may or may not work).
NVidia, on the other hand, has long since provided “TwinView” which (in my experience) has worked flawlessly.
I’ve also seen NVidia regularly rate higher on the benchmarks than ATI within Linux.
So aside from dual monitor support, and benchmark, test scores … ATI works just as well as NVidia.
Anyways — there’s my two cents … just in case anyone is interested. Personally, I need my two monitors for work (I.T. tasks, coding, and website design/maintenance) and wish I had known what I know now prior to specing out my work system … and it’s ATI card. :)
@Dustin: Hey, great info. I’ve not tried a dual monitor set-up in Linux so it’s nice to hear your experiences.
Perhaps my NVidia/ATI issues were particular to my select model of cards. With Windows or OS X, I normally prefer NVidia and have always had great luck with them. I was surprised to have a problem in Linux.
Thanks again!
Thanks Earl.
Thanks for the feedback … and perhaps your right; sometimes video card issues are model specific. So who knows … all we can do is share what we’ve seen personally.
Great site by the way. I initially stumbled here while looking for a way to locally host WordPress and your was a great help. After that I could help but see what other juicy bits of information you had on here :)
I still feel like a novice with WordPress (and probably will for some time) … hence the importance of the test environment. It still needs some work; nevertheless, I’d be flattered if you wanted to
Keep up the great work man … it’s much appreciated.