How do I configure my Ubuntu installation

The first time I installed Ubuntu on my PC, I felt like I'm entering a new world.. Back then I didn't know what to do and what not.. and it happens that I formatted my PC so many times just to get my installation right.. and I'm always comparing what I have in my Windows partition with what I have in Ubuntu's..

Now I can use all of my PC potential, so I thought of sharing my way of Ubuntu installation. Maybe someone out there would benefit from it.

Before I start, let me tell you about my PC:
Model: hp pavilion a420.me
Processor: AMD Athlon XP 3000 (2.17GHz)
Memory: 1 GB DDR RAM
Graphics Card: nVidia GeForce 5500 AGP 256 MB GDDR1/ 128bit
*(I used to have ATI Radeon 9250 Pro with the PC package and I'll explain how to use both)
Monitor: hp pavilion f1723 Maximum resolution is 1280 x 1024
HDD: (1) 40 GB, (2) 250 GB.

[A] Hardware Configuration:
After ordinary installation, (I will not go through the installation process, as there are other tutorials which take care of this best) I take care of my PC hardware, especially the video card driver.

1. nVidia GeForce 5500: How to
I use the proprietary driver for this:
From the menu System -> Administration -> Hardware Drivers -> Then I select "NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (version 173) [Recommended]"
Then I restart my PC..
After the restart, the driver is successfully installed..

2. Fixing monitor specifications
Some monitors are not modified by the system, so they require some of the user interference through the configuration. So to get to the maximum resolution, you should add some specifications in the xorg.conf file:

Section "Monitor"
  Identifier     "Monitor0"
  VendorName     "hp"
  ModelName      "pavilion f1723"
  HorizSync       30.0 - 81.0
  VertRefresh     56.0 - 76.0
EndSection

I also add this inside the Screen section

SubSection "Display"
  Depth       24
  Modes       "1280x1024@60"
  Virtual     1280 1024
EndSubSection

(By the way, "Virtual" fixes the resolution in the GDM)
and then I restart..

3. Fixing and making permanent resolution
I enter the nVidia settings through this code

sudo nvidia-settings

Then I choose "X Server Display Configuration",


choose "1280x1024", "60 Hz" and then press "Save X Configuration File"



It's perfectly normal that the model is not accurately detected. My monitor is LCD, but here it says CRT.

4. How to fix the resolution of the splash screen
We're talking here about the screen with the Ubuntu logo and progress line.. if you want to fix the resolution of this to match the rest of the resolutions of the other screens (GDM and X), we have to edit usplash.conf file:

gksudo gedit /etc/usplash.conf

here's how my usplash.conf file looks like:

# Usplash configuration file
# These parameters will only apply after running update-initramfs.

xres=1280
yres=1024

after saving the changes we want to apply them by this command:

sudo update-initramfs -u

Now you'll have a full experience of nVidia GeForce 5500 in Ubuntu..

In the next post I'll explain adding Language and codecs..

Holidays.. Yay!!

It's the month of holidays.. which means only one think: More time to spend in front of my PC monitor.

I always feel that I have the burden of doing lots of things so I bought this book. I set my next year resolution to finish all that I have promised to do. Thank goodness most of the things that I should do always involves PCs..

What about you?

Blender Advanced Fluids - DVD Video Tutorial

I was reading through one of the blog posts of Hand Turkey Studios and I said, why don't I check this out. I really need to learn some Blender Compositing Techniques. Then, I eventually registered in cmiVFX, just to check those techniques and I thought if I liked the way of the tutorials there I would buy the 'Blender Advanced Fluids - DVD Video Tutorial'. Unfortunately, cmiVFX does not send DVDs anymore, because they've become green. Their new moto now is:

"NO MORE DVD'S = NO POLLUTION!"

I though that it's ok for me to download a video then. To my surprise it's not allowed to save those files. To save them you have to sate this before you order and you should add to the total amount about 14 US dollars.

An extract from their email:

NOTE: MOST URGENT
All downloadable videos are hard encoded with your
personal information hidden inside. Only our cmi
Custom Software application can decode this hidden
noise algorithm. We track many different pirate
websites, forums, and custom flavors of FTP, HOTLINE
and KDX servers to prevent piracy of our videos. Any
reselling, trading, or sharing of a cmiVFX video is a
direct EULA violation and is punishable by
international law.


We have videos done for FTP transfer or torrent
distribution.

Its based on the exact dvd image that you would get
except you can start downloading them right away.

DVD’s used to be 60.00 USD plus fees.

To upgrade from a player video to a h264 HD file,
there is a 14.00 USD upgrade requirement per video.

In order to get these upgrades you can follow these
simple instructions.

Send a paypal payment to me at cmistudios.com for
the TOTAL amount of all your videos that need to
be upgraded.

Please include the names of these videos in the
comment box section of the payment form so we can
cross reference your order to our database.

Now that means the video is for $49.95 USD and to be able to download it you add $14 USD which makes a total of $63.95 USD. I've already paid for that video and I can't get my video to complete because their lousy video player which is really pain to use. I can't even get any video to complete to 3%. So, what do you think, I'll pay the $14 dollars. I hope to get it right this time.

I'll update you whenever possible about this. Keep checking this post.

Blender File Browser - Bug Report

There is this bug that it seems to be in every version that I know of..

Try to open the File Browser:


Then click on Window Type button:

Then the buttons (Open) and (Cancel) are gone!



Is this normal or not? Should I report this as a bug.. mmm I think I should..

It's the promised day, but...

It seems that the Ubuntu server cannot take the load.. it has error 503 from time to time the day of launch.. which only shows one thing for sure.. Ubuntu is loved by so many.. and one day will take over the reign of Microsoft.

The wait is almost over: Ubuntu 8.04

I've tried so many Linux distros: PCLinuxOS, Arch Linux, Xandros, Fedora.. but the one I find myself really comfortable with is Ubuntu..

There is something about Ubuntu that makes anyone fall right away in love with it. The wait is almost over with the new version 8.04. Can't wait to see it in action..