Testing Mageia 3 beta1 in VirtualBox

Go to the VirtualBox section for more information.

Fancy looking installation actually. I choose the gnome desktop environment and swedish language. seems to be working.

After the installation somehow it automatically unmounted the dvd. Sweet.

Seems like there is no nvidia driver for mageia. So I need to use the nvidia installer? No thank you, then I will corrupt libraries and it will not work to do updates to the system any more.

This means that without building own rpms I will not use the nvidia driveer on this distribution. Major problem for me.

Fresh kernel version 3.7.0

To update your system, you use Mageia control center, it is in swedish so I won't post any picture.

Going in to graphical adaptions in the Mageia control center suggests that there are already vendor graphics drivers included. So maybe the nvidia driver is already there.

Actually the control center looks very complete and seems to be a nice place to configure things if you are a Windows home user just coming to linux, and feel like doing things the "windows"-way.

The problem with this is only that it is so very different from other distributions way to do it.

For example it seems like Mageia uses Nautilus and Konqueror. For example when sharing hard-disc over network, it says that a "share" option will be available in Nautilus and Konqueror. So it seems this tool makes assumptions on what kind of software you are using. I prefer more general tools since this may make it less flexible in terms of changing to another browser like Chrome or Dolphin. It also highlights a lot of options that aren't really necessary to configure for a normal user.

No I don't really like Mageia. It seems like it (coming from mandrake) has some kind of windows-inspired-user-permission-style. Which makes the whole thing like a distorted piece of applications, seen from my experience with Fedora. And why not use a regular web browser?

Thumbs down from me.

I recommend Linux Mint over mageia.

Testing Arch Linux in VirtualBox

Go to the VirtualBox section for more information.

So downloading the installation iso and booting it, ends you up here:

Following the installation guide here: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Installation_Guide

I do loadkeys sv-latin1 to get my swedish keyboard working properly.

Maybe I will continue this another day. The installation requires you to partition using the command line. I don't really see how this will make anything better.

I guess using arch will give you a better understanding of what parts are required to run a linux distribution.

But if you feel like digging into details go ahead!

Start using Fedora 18 beta like the final version

If you are using the Beta, and want to just do an update to have the same repositories as the final Fedora 18 version has, just disable the updates-testing-repo.
This has to be done on a completely new installation and you should not have updated any packages using for example yum update.

How to disable updates-testing-repo:
Using a terminal, disable the updates-testing repo in /etc/yum.repos.d
    >su
    >gedit /etc/yum.repos.d/fedora-updates-testing.repo

    Find a row that says "enabled=1" and change it to "enabled=0", then save it.

http://nosnahoi.blogspot.com/2012/12/fedora-18-making-it-home-usable.html

Fedora 18 beta nvidia driver

The best way to install the nvidia graphics driver is to use the RPM fusion repository.

Go here for a guide: http://rpmfusion.org/

When the fusion repository is installed, you can find the nvidia driver using yum or the software installation application, the kernel module for the latest driver is called akmod-nvidia, this will have the driver as a dependency. So if you have a Geforce 8 or newer:
   >su
   >yum install akmod-nvidia

Otherwise just look here: http://rpmfusion.org/Howto/nVidia#GeForce_8_and_newer

You may have come from Fedora 18 - Making it home usable to.

Starting to use linux

So, here is what you do if you want to start using/testing Linux.

If you want to install it to your computer:
1. Just download linux mint. Choose Cinnamon with codecs.
2. Download VirtualBox and install it there to test it!
3. If you like it you can burn it to a DVD and install it, side by side your perhaps windows installation, with something called dual boot. Then you can choose to start either Mint or Windows when your computer is booting, this way you will also see if your hardware works properly with Mint.
Dual-booting can be selected during installation, and you should test this in virtualbox before installing it for real so that you know what you are doing.
4. If you really want to use Linux as your only desktop I would suggest that you use Fedora instead of Linux Mint.  Fedora is much more suited for developers and the software used there is very similiar to what is found in commercial linux. And you will get much more fresh software. So learning that gives a lot more than learning Linux Mint.

TVtime with BT878 in linux, sound issues. Alsamixer, Fedora, linux Mint, Ubuntu

Sound and Video, Linux

Common problems with this is that the sound is not working.
The normal setup with this card is that there is a cable from the tv card going to the line in of your sound card.
1. To get sound, you need to make sure that your sound goes from the soundcard input to the speakers.
You can do that by using alsamixer in a terminal, press F6 to choose the correct sound card.
In the bottom of each volume control it may say MM, that means that the control is muted. You unmute it by pressing m.
This should solve most problems!

2. There is also a setting in tv time that allows you to mute the sound coming out of the BT878 device. That is the second issue, and when you have unmuted the sound coming out from the device, you will have sound.

Fedora 18 Beta - working/not working

Most things in the installation is working.
But one thing that is not working are all of the desktop alternatives.

• GNOME Desktop works.
• KDE Plasma Workspaces works.
• Xfce Desktop does not work properly, there is no application menu and an error message when trying to view it.
• LXDE Desktop I have not tested.
• Cinnamon Desktop does not start properly, X is crashing/restarting on login.
• MATE Desktop not starting properly.

If you want to use the beta and upgrade packages when the real version is released, know that the beta has the updates-testing repository enabled. If you have this enabled and do an update of all packages, you will have to do some yum downgrade command to fix it afterwards.

Spotify on Fedora 14,15,16,17,18

Sound and Video, Linux

1. In the Software application, search for wine and select "A Windows 16/32/64 bit emulator" and press Apply to install it.

Now you are able to run windows-applications.

2. Now all you need to do is go to www.spotify.com and download the application, don't try to run it yet. Open the location where you placed it, in downloads normally.

3. Right-click SpotifySetup.exe and choose Wine Windows Program Loader.

More guides here: http://nosnahoi.blogspot.se/2012/12/fedora-18-making-it-home-usable.html

Windows Fonts in Fedora 18

Open a terminal and do:
yum localinstall http://fedora.missingbox.co.nz/core-fonts.rpm --nogpgcheck

Restart your browser!

Browsing help for Fedora in general.

Linux Mint 14, getting a decent Wine Version

Go to more about Linux Mint and making it usable

The Mint repository has not got a recent enough version of wine compared to other distributions.
To get a newer version, do this in a terminal:

>sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-wine/ppa
>sudo apt-get update
>sudo apt-get install wine1.5

Using this version you will be able to play everything on these lists on the winesite:
http://appdb.winehq.org/

The stable wine version can not play those games (a little funny).

Highlighted well working common games are:

• World of Warcraft
• StarCraft 1
• Guild Wars
• StarCraft 2
• Team Fortress 2
• Watchtower Library
• Left 4 dead Full (steam)
• Counter-Strike: Source Retail / Steam
• The Sims 3 All
• Warcraft III The Frozen Throne: 1.x
• Warhammer Online Live
• Steam Official Release
• Fallout 3 1.7 and GOTY
• League of Legends 1.61.xx
• Aion: The Tower of Eternity
• Adobe Photoshop CS2 (9.0)
• Supreme Commander SC 1.x.3xxx
• Gothic 3 1.x
• Runes of Magic Official release
• Day of Defeat: Source Steam
• EVE Online Current
• Adobe Photoshop CS3 (10.0)
• Guild Wars 2...

Just go to the appdb link if you want to see more applications, just included these here so that you arrive to a proper page when using google since your wine version in mint is obsolete!

Fedora 18 - Making it home usable

More information about starting to use linux

This is a post where I try to single out all things one needs to get working in Fedora 18 on a home computer.
These things are not difficult to install yourself, there are automated scripts that do it, but it will not save you much time, especially since you will know more about what you have done in the future. I always think that it is best to fix it myself. And the chrome flash part I don't think any script can fix that as of now, probably not skype either.

1. Skype.
2. Browsing
3. Sound and Video
4. Nvidia driver
5. Bittorrent client
6. Start using the Beta before the real release.
7. Semi-advanced Image manipulation like Gimp (similiar to Photoshop, maybe not quite as good) can be found if you go to the software application and search for it.
8. Wireless with BCM4313 Linux Fedora 18
9. Alternative Wireless with BCM4313 Fedora 14,15,16,17,18 this is to have another way of installing the kernel module.
10. Android development with eclipse on fedora 15,16,17,18
11. Using Fedora on a laptop/workarounds
    
    
    
    

About gnome 3, the Window Manager in Fedora since Fedora 15.

I am testing Fedora 18 in Oracle VM VirtualBox. 
If you want to do this, you probably want to use Guest additions, so that you can use it in fullscreen etc. A guide to install guest additions in Fedora 18 Beta is found here: VirtualBox

Problems that may arise when using a fedora beta:
yum bug fedora 15 beta
Dependency broke on yum update in fedora 15 beta
Fedora 15 release delayed

Video Codecs in Fedora 18

Sound and Video, Linux

1. Go to rpmfusion.org/Configuration, install the repository by using the terminal.
3. Go to http://rpm.livna.org/, install the repository by using the terminal.
2. Install these packages:

• gstreamer-plugins-ugly
• gstreamer-plugins-good
• gstreamer-plugins-base
• gstreamer-plugins-bad-free
• gstreamer-plugins-bad
• gstreamer-ffmpeg
• gstreamer1-plugins-ugly
• gstreamer1-plugins-good-extras
• gstreamer1-plugins-good
• gstreamer1-plugins-base
• gstreamer1-plugins-bad-freeworld
• gstreamer1-plugins-bad-free-extras
• gstreamer1-plugins-bad-free
• gstreamer1-libav
• gstreamer1
• gstreamer
• libdvdcss
• libffmpeg

Open a terminal and do this, you can copy and paste it so that you don't have to type them all in:

>su

>yum install gstreamer-plugins-ugly gstreamer-plugins-good gstreamer-plugins-base gstreamer-plugins-bad-free gstreamer-plugins-bad gstreamer-ffmpeg gstreamer1-plugins-ugly gstreamer1-plugins-good-extras gstreamer1-plugins-good gstreamer1-plugins-base gstreamer1-plugins-bad-freeworld gstreamer1-plugins-bad-free-extras gstreamer1-plugins-bad-free gstreamer1-libav gstreamer1 gstreamer libdvdcss libffmpeg

More guides here: http://nosnahoi.blogspot.se/2012/12/fedora-18-making-it-home-usable.html

Flash in Firefox and Chrome Fedora 15,16,17,18

Browsing help for Fedora in general.

1. Open a terminal (Activities -> Terminal), type :
2. > su 
3. Press Enter and then your root password, this gives you root permissions.
4. Execute the following commands:
5. For both 32 and 64-bit if 10 is true:
6. > rpm -ivh http://linuxdownload.adobe.com/adobe-release/adobe-release-i386-1.0-1.noarch.rpm
   > rpm --import /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-adobe-linux
7. For 64 bit:
8. > rpm -ivh http://linuxdownload.adobe.com/adobe-release/adobe-release-x86_64-1.0-1.noarch.rpm 
9. > rpm --import /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-adobe-linux
10. If you are using a 64-bit environment, and want it to work in Google Chrome also:
11. > yum install nspluginwrapper.{x86_64,i686} alsa-plugins-pulseaudio.i686 --disablerepo=adobe-linux-i386
12. Last command:
13. > yum install flash-plugin
14. To get flash working in Google Chrome, you need to disable the embedded PepperFlash that Chrome includes, go to chrome://plugins and disable the row that says Adobe Flash Player 11.5.31.5, then it should work:

This should make you able to view videos in Firefox 17.0.1, and in Google Chrome Version 23.0.1271.97. Before doing this I did a "yum update". 

Should also apply to Fedora back to version 15.

For the beta: Note that before doing "yum update" in the beta, disable updates-testing repo using for example yumex (yum install yumex), or commandline, as described in the skype post for example.


More guides here: http://nosnahoi.blogspot.se/2012/12/fedora-18-making-it-home-usable.html

Sound fix nvidia and external sound card Linux Mint/Fedora KDE

Go to more about Linux Mint and making it usable

Right after the installation the sound should not work.
To make it work you need to change the priorities of the sound devices.
To do this, rightclick the speaker icon down to the right and choose AUDIO SETUP.

I have a creative soundblaster that I use for sound, it is called CA0106.  So Audio Playback in the table, select it and press 'Apply Device List To...', apply it to all under Audio Playback, until it reaches the top on all rows.

What you do for 'Audio Recording' and 'Video Recording' would depend on your setup.

In the Audio Hardware Setup tab, I Choose Analog Stereo Output.

It is likely that you need to restart current sounding applications or reboot your system for this to apply completely.

Fedora 18 +beta - Install Guest additions

Go to the VirtualBox section for more information.

If you are testing Fedora 18 in a virtual machine, using virtualbox, to get this running smoothly, you need to install guest additions.


1. Execute the following command in a terminal as root (if it doesn't work, go to rpmfusion.org and follow the instructions there):
> su (write the root password)

>yum localinstall --nogpgcheck http://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-branched.noarch.rpm http://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-branched.noarch.rpm

2. Now go to Activities -> Software and search for VirtualBox Guest Additions, install it. Install the kernel module also.

3. Reboot and the guest-additions should work!

Google Chrome in Fedora 18 Beta

Browsing help for Fedora in general.

1. Go to Activities -> Terminal, enter the command
>su (and your root password)

2. Start gedit at a new repofile:
>nano /etc/yum.repos.d/google.repo

3. And paste this in (copy it, then right-click in the terminal and choose paste):

[google-chrome]
name=google-chrome - 32-bit
baseurl=http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/rpm/stable/i386
enabled=1
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=https://dl-ssl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub



[google-chrome]
name=google-chrome - 64-bit
baseurl=http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/rpm/stable/x86_64
enabled=1
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=https://dl-ssl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub

save by pressing ctrl+o (not a zero)

4. Now you can install it by typing:
> yum install google-chrome-stable

5. Now you can browse with google chrome!

More guides here: http://nosnahoi.blogspot.se/2012/12/fedora-18-making-it-home-usable.html

Fedora 16,17,18, 18 Beta - Skype installation

1. Do a yum update (Beta info below).
    >yum update

Just type yes if there are any imports of keys etc. If you are doing this on a new installation it will potentially take a lot of time.

2. Install these packages using a terminal:
    >su

    >yum install alsa-lib.i686 libXv.i686 libXScrnSaver.i686 qt-x11.i686 qtwebkit.i686

If you are using a 64-bit version, this is about 69 mb to download on a fresh, updated version. If you are using a 32-bit version, it would be less.

3. Go to Skype.com and download the 32-bit package for Fedora 16+, do NOT choose open with, just download it.

4. Install the package using the terminal (Activities, type terminal, press enter).
    >cd Downloads
    >su
    >rpm -ivh skype-4.1.0.20-fedora.i586.rpm

5. You can now start skype by typing skype in Activities!

Ideally you should have a repository and signing keys for the skype packages, if you just download and try to install the skype package using the GUI it will require a key and it will not install. So step 4&5 is a workaround for that.

More guides here: http://nosnahoi.blogspot.se/2012/12/fedora-18-making-it-home-usable.html

Beta info:

If you are using the Beta: This has to be done on a completely new installation and you should not have updated any packages using for example yum update. (If you did, you can use yum downgrade to revert the updates that comes from updates-testing that the skype application is not compiled against.)

0. ONLY FOR BETA
Using a terminal, disable the updates-testing repo in /etc/yum.repos.d
    >su
    >nano /etc/yum.repos.d/fedora-updates-testing.repo

    Find a row that says "enabled=1" and change it to "enabled=0", then save it. (ctrl + o, not a zero)

Testing Fedora 18 beta

Testing Fedora 18 beta in virtualbox using linux mint.

1. To do this, just open the synaptic package manager.
2. In the quick filter, write virtualbox.
3. Press apply.
4. Go to: http://fedoraproject.org/en/get-prerelease
5. Download the x86_64 version of the Install Media. (Im assuming everyone uses 64 bit now)
6. Open VirtualBox.
7. Press new, Choose Fedora, 64 bit. Make the ram more than 1gb, and the disc at least 15gb.
8. From now on it is pretty straight forward.

More guides here: http://nosnahoi.blogspot.se/2012/12/fedora-18-making-it-home-usable.html