Newbie - ubuntu update manager reads, then hangs
 

Hi folks.

I am new to Linux altogether, so I will sound stupid.

I installed Ubuntu on 2 machines this weekend.

One of them runs GREAT!

The second one, after installation, said I had 282 updates available, the same as it did on the first machine.

However, when I tell it to get them, it does the reading part
then puts a blank square ( or empty window ) on the screen, in the middle and just freezes.

Can anyone tell me why and what I have to do.

Thanks in advance for helping a newbie learn. I am about fed up with

many many years of microsoft. I build, repair, etc, so I DO HAVE the

ability to learn about Linux based systems and am eager.

thanks,

cody

Are you sure it has frozen and not just applying the updates? Sometimes it can appear to have stopped when in fact one of the larger packages is currently being installed. Especially when fonts are being updated or a newer kernel is being added.

Well, when the other machine updated I could watch the list and see it happening. This machine, which is older, just has the blank spot, plus a small square blank spot is there as well.

Hi!
Will you run,as root,from the terminal and then post the output of any errors that you might see?

terminal
 

I went to the terminal to do the apt get thing but the terminal comes up a blank white square just like the update window.

I did a complete clean re-install and have the same thing.

This pc is an older dell pentium III with 512 ram.

could that OR the video card be a problem?

Did the system work in LiveCD mode? or did you just jump straight into an install?

ubuntu
 

I went straight at it.

That's what I did with the first pc, newer, and it is STILL running like a charm.

Can you remove/disable Compiz by using Synaptic package manager or from the menu?Look for visual effects or similar in appearance preferences.

I did a search and found 153 compiz files.
I went to synaptic and the only thing I found was an option to install Emerald.(? too newbie to know what that is).

So I backed out and went to appearance. I changed effects from NORMAL to NONE.

Although, I don't know WHY that worked but I would guess something
to do with the video card capabilities?

She is now downloading 283 updates like she was born to it.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'm curious about the updates. I downloaded the newest Ubuntu ( 8.10 ) and it already has 283 updates available.

Thanks again. I don't know much about Linux so I will be back, I'm sure.

It definitely has something to do with your video card.You said yourself that it's an old PC.But maybe installing newest driver for your video card could solve some problems.I guess that there is "Device Manager" and something like "Hardware Drivers" somewhere in the menus which you can use to see some details about your hardware and install drivers.Look for hwinfo and lshw packages with Synaptic or try in the terminal:
About updates,in Linux world things are changing really fast,so it's not a surprise that you've seen so many updates available considering that Ubuntu 8.10 was released on October 30,2008.
You can see what's Compiz about here and what's Emerald here.
I suggest that you visit Ubuntugeek.It has a lot of tutorials about Ubuntu.Also,you could read this.
There are few links in my signature,I recommend that you check them out. ;)

Thanks, Alan, for the great info and links. I'm psyched and diving in.

Thank you.