Linux newby - totem plugins

ussromantics · 02-11-2009, 06:26 AM

I'm completely new to Linux and having lots of probs - for now I'll confine myself to need for totem plugins to play vids.
I've got Ubuntu 6.10 Efty Edge
I've followed threads and discovered the add/remove programs [also synaptic package manager] but can't install mplayer mozilla plug-ins as the message keeps coming up 'could not download all repository indexes'.

Also, confusingly, MPlayer is ticked in add/remove programs under 'sound and video', so i tried unticking it to install xine instead, but the message came up that 'Movie Player cannot be installed on your computer type (i386). Either the application requires special hardware features or the vendor decided to not support your computer type.' But i'm trying to uninstall it. This doesn't make any sense to me.

Anyway I'm stuck. What do I do next

?

Udi · 02-11-2009, 06:41 AM

Try this on the command line:
sudo apt-get update

It will re-sync with the repository indexes and solve at least some of the problems you're experiencing. It will also be easier for you if you install Ubuntu 8.10 instead of the old one you have now.

ussromantics · 02-11-2009, 07:21 AM

okay I've done that and it added lots of code but it hasn't fixed the problem - nothing has changed in ad/remove programs.
I tried downloading a new version of ubuntu from the net but didn't get anywhere [it downloaded okay but i couldn't get it to install, then it just disappeared] - i'm sure it's much simpler with a cd.

jdkaye · 02-11-2009, 07:37 AM

Isn't 6.10 a rather old version of Ubuntu? You might have more success if you upgrade to a more current version no?
cheers,
jdk

alan_ri · 02-11-2009, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ussromantics

I tried downloading a new version of ubuntu from the net but didn't get anywhere [it downloaded okay but i couldn't get it to install, then it just disappeared] - i'm sure it's much simpler with a cd.

Hi!
Now,can you describe a little better what have you done?When you download an iso image from the net it has to be the correct image for your PC.Post the output of uname -a from the terminal.Next,you have to burn that image on the CD and my advice is to do it with 6x speed.Then you have to boot from that CD and for that to happen' you need to tell your BIOS to boot from the CD and for that to happen' you need to press the correct key on the keyboard when you start your PC,it's something like F2 or F12 or similar.Also I reccomend that you download Ubuntu version 8.04.2,it's a long time support version(three years) so you want have to worry about updates for that period of time.Support for Ubuntu 6.10 was ended on Friday April 25th, 2008.

ussromantics · 02-11-2009, 08:34 PM

Okay thanks for your help. I typed uname -a and got this:
Linux luigi-desktop 2.6.17-10-generic #2 SMP Fri Oct 13 18:45:35 UTC 2006 i686 GNU/Linux

I now have to go out and get some blank CDs. Just to let you know how new I am I've never burned a CD before - at least not successfully.

IndyGunFreak · 02-12-2009, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ussromantics

Okay thanks for your help. I typed uname -a and got this:
Linux luigi-desktop 2.6.17-10-generic #2 SMP Fri Oct 13 18:45:35 UTC 2006 i686 GNU/Linux

I now have to go out and get some blank CDs. Just to let you know how new I am I've never burned a CD before - at least not successfully.

Not a problem really...

Do you plan to use Windows, or Linux to burn the ISO? If Windows... A couple of these are free utilities, and you can download them. If you're planning to use Ubuntu, post back here...

http://www.petri.co.il/how_to_write_iso_files_to_cd.htm

Then just go here, and download the "i386" iso, and then follow the instructions to burn the image...

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

and just point out that 6.10 is past its EOL, so its probably best to just reinstall now, before you have a lot of time invested in trying to configure it, only to run into closed repository after closed repository..

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Releases

ussromantics · 02-12-2009, 04:56 AM

I'll be using Ubuntu to burn the iso. I'm having a bit of trouble downloading - it got 70% through and then stopped and wouldn't start again. probably didn't help that i had to stop and start it a few times because someone else wanted to use their internet [networked to mine]. I'm now downloading again, without torrent, unlike last time, and it's 25% through - at this rate won't be finished till midnight [Australian time].

I'm looking through the programs for cd burning software, i'm guessing they don't like using the 'burner' word, but there's a thing called K3b - cd writing program...

alan_ri · 02-12-2009, 06:33 AM

My favorite burning program is Gnomebaker which you can find here.If you want to use it,download and extrat the file,then follow instructions how to install it in the readme or install file.Maybe it's better if you burn the image from the Windows,just to save some time and maybe avoid dependency issue for the burning program.

IndyGunFreak · 02-12-2009, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alan_ri

My favorite burning program is Gnomebaker which you can find here.If you want to use it,download and extrat the file,then follow instructions how to install it in the readme or install file.Maybe it's better if you burn the image from the Windows,just to save some time and maybe avoid dependency issue for the burning program.

Yeah, I'd use Gnomebaker also.. but if you have k3b installed, use it... It will write an ISO just fine, and you won't have to try getting another program installed on an outdated release.

This is a little old, but it should get you through using k3b to burn an ISO...

http://www.newlinuxuser.com/howto-bu...file-with-k3b/

Of course, first you gotta get the ISO downloaded.. Can't help you with that..

IGF

alan_ri · 02-12-2009, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ussromantics

I'm looking through the programs for cd burning software, i'm guessing they don't like using the 'burner' word, but there's a thing called K3b - cd writing program...

I've recommended Gnomebaker because I'm not sure if the OP is searching the net or his system for the burning program,since as he said "I never burned something on the CD"(at least not successfully) I've assumed that he doesn't have K3B installed since that's a KDE app and he is running Ubuntu with -Gnome- I suppose.Again,I'd say that at the moment it's better if OP use Windblows for this,of course if K3B isn't installed and working or some other Linux burning program.

ussromantics · 02-13-2009, 10:33 AM

Okay, I've downloaded iso but I can't use K3b, tho it's on my computer list. Says it can't be installed on my computer type [i386].I'll try downloading gnomeburner but it'll have to be through ubuntu as I don't have windows computer.

ussromantics · 02-13-2009, 10:54 AM

I've downloaded and extracted gnomebaker, but i'm finding the install file had to follow. Do i put
sudo ./configure gnomebaker -0.6.4
in the terminal? I'm sorry, i'm nervous about stuffing this up.

alan_ri · 02-13-2009, 01:21 PM

Just go in the directory gnomebaker-0.6.4 (do something like cd /home/you/gnomebaker-0.6.4 - you have to know the path)and run:

Code:

./configure && make && make install

IndyGunFreak · 02-13-2009, 03:52 PM

I still don't see why you need Gnomebaker, if you have k3b. It should burn an ISO just fine.

IGF