I originally had a problem connecting to internet, and in spite of two nice people trying to help, the problem isn't fixed and my thread is now on pg 2 with no more help posts.

So, i thought I'd just download Mint 12 and start from scratch. Not as easy as I expected. I got into linixmint.com/tutorial and got to the instructions to do a complete new install.

First off it says to backup my files. good idea. so I go to admin, backup tools. I only have two small files to backup, so I exclude all folders except Documents, but it still copies lots of other stuff. But my two little files are there. Good, but it took forever.'

I am then instructed to download the new ISO. Okay, so I go to linuxmint.com/download. First thing I need to do is find out whether I need a 32 bit or 64 bit version. I go back to Admin, System Profiler and see a list of just about everything I'd ever want to know about my computer and operating system EXCEPT whether it uses a 32 bit or 64 bit. So I just guess 64 bit. Next I'm asked to choose a download mirror. I go to USA and have four choice(why?). I choose the first, Linux Freedom, where I have to select 32 or 64 bit again, but that's not all. I also have to choose between Protocol ftp or http, and/or Sum md5. i have no idea what this is, and still don't know if I need 32 or 64 bit.

All I need to know is how to find out whether I should choose 32 or 64 bit, and the other choices, so i can download the program to this Dell PC and burn it to a DVD for installation into my Shuttle (which still won't connect to the internet). I am also fairly sure there is a simple terminal command to copy files to an external drive easily without going thru the bulky backup tool.

I have been working on this for 3-4 days after ignoring the problem for a week. It seems that most posts on this Newbie thread are not Newbie at all. I am not a programmer or geek, but I've used computers for 25 years, was introduced to Unix many years ago, but have forgotten most everything. I have been reading and reading tutorials, terminal tutorials (was only on basics before I lost internet). I an so frustrated, get a headache and knots in my stomach whenever i need what I consider basic help either from the menu selections or the good people on this forum. Several times i've tried to access Help from whatever program i'm into, and i'm told that Help is not loaded or found on the system. Probably if I had that I could get answers for myself.

is there a forum for the REAL newbies? Is there any access to quick question/answer re basic info via phone or chat? I really need help.

OK, take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Everything is OK. Someone on this forum should be able to help. Forgive us a bit. We can't easily diag stuff a few hundred or thousand miles away from a few sentences.

Without knowing more about your computer, I'd suggest you download the 32 bit. It is excellent for any newish person. It should work mostly. It should be a "live cd". You can just run it as a cd and don't have to install it.

If you have a pretty new system with maybe 6G or more ram and you run applications that demand large amounts of ram then the 64 bit version may suit your needs.

Lemme go back and see about the original deal. Forget everything on the other post and tell me if you have the original cd or dvd that installed Mint linux? Tell us more about the computer if you can.

I can't say that I am an expert but if you wish you can send a PM to me. Like others on this forum we tend to peek in when we can. It may take a day or so to get back. Some posts get overlooked if someone seems to be working on it.

Actually it does look like a person is actively helping you so maybe let them continue to help or go with two posts.

1 members found this post helpful.

Thank you so much jefro! Okay, so I bot a new Shuttle computer a few weeks ago that came loaded with linux. I've been looking for a Linux system but so few computers come with it. This Shuttle was inexpensive and installed with Mint 11.

I had some glitchy stuff happen for a couple of weeks, but it settled down and i started reading and learning. Then a couple of weeks ago I couldn't connect to the internet (original thread was "can't connect to internet suddenly"). I got some help from the forum, but not enough to solve problem. Considering the other glitchy happenings I thought maybe there was a problem with the original installation. I hoped that updating to 12 would solve many small issues at once.

So, I have a Dell PC that I'm using now. I also bought an external CD/DVD drive for use with my Shuttle. What I'm trying to do is download Mint 12 to this Dell, copy that onto a DVD and install it on the Shuttle. Thank you for suggesting 32 bit. Sounds like that is for light-end users that don't need so much power.

Does it matter which "mirror" I choose? Also, should I select ftp or http Protocol, and/or sum md5?

Sorry about venting earlier. And thank you so much for your patience

Maggie Rose

Hi,

If you're in the US, pick a mirror in the states so your download will (should) be quicker. Select http protocol so your browser can access the site although any modern browser can handle ftp protocol as well.

md5 checksum is usually use to check the iso downloaded matches. Wiki explains it better http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MD5

Normally you dont need to check as most iso burner (nero, windows 7 in built burner) does a good job.

Hope this helps.

Rgds.

1 members found this post helpful.

Thanks, aazkan. Just finished downloading Mint 12 and burning DVD. Will install tomorrow when rested.

Hi mrmorrighan.
I would suggest that you boot from the DVD first before you proceed with the installation. From there you can test that all your hardware works with that OS version. 32BIT is like all purpose but nothing is perfect out there so test that your wireless card is supported also test your sound card and your video card works.

Once you know for sure then you can proceed and install it.
Good luck to you.

1 members found this post helpful.

Hi, TroN-0074,

Why do I keep running into problems with a simple upgrade download? (Rhetorical question)

I downloaded Mint 12, took about 1hr 15 min. When I double clicked the download, I got an automatic Roxio copy/burn, with Copy image file alredy selected. So i inserted a blank DVD, checked settings (couldn't find a setting for speed of burn) and hit "start". The first attempt said it would take abt 6 minutes, which i thought was strange after the long download time. But that attempt failed. So I put in another DVD and set it to go through hard drive (slower) to get a better copy. That took only about 6 minutes also, but it said it completed. I went to bed.

This morning I hook up the external DVD to my Shuttle and plug it in. Up comes a screen that has Home Folder, File System, and Linux Mint 12. Good. so I double click on Boot which brings me to a "grub" folder. Double clicking on that brings me to loopback.config. Double clicking on that brings me to code which seems to look right (except that it's only code). I has menuentrys for Start Linux Mint, Check integrity, Test Memory and so forth.

What happened? Did the right stuff not get copied on the DVD burn? Seems like the code is there. What now?

The correct files probably did get copied to the DVD. However, it sounds like you booted the Shuttle from its hard drive and not from the DVD. When the Shuttle first boots there should be a message of how to get to the BIOS or to choose the boot device. My Dell systems use F12 to select the boot device. If the Shuttle will do this press F12 at the initial boot and then choose the external DVD drive. If this option is not available, try pressing F2 or Del to get to the BIOS setup. Poke around and you should find the settings for boot order. Make sure the external DVD drive comes before the internal hard drive. The idea is to get the Shuttle to boot Mint from the DVD.

Let us know how this works for you.

Ken

Why? because I have no idea what i'm doing. Forgot I needed to restart!

I've got a Mint 12 screen, so seems the restart worked. Said I had wireless networks available, but I cant cnnect to Firefox. Back to original problem! I'm getting another headache and belly knots.

HELP again, please.

Maggie Rose

I think we posted at the same time. If you are booted in Mint from the DVD things are looking up What sort of network situation do you have? A home wireless router I am guessing(?) If so, I trust you have configured it securely. You need to tell Mint the network name, password etc. for your wireless network.

I don't have a copy of Mint 12 handy. I will download and boot my netbook in Mint do I can walk though the steps to configure the network. In the mean time, please try this:

Open a terminal window on the shuttle and enter the command then post the results to the thread. Just the lines pertaining to eth0 or eth1 or similar. Here is an example from my PC From this information perhaps it will be possible to figure out what is going on.

Ken

Hi, Ken,

Instead of me retelling all that happened before, can you pull up "can't connect to internet suddenly" that i posted a few days ago. That will update you on what i have and what's been tried. i really appreciate your help. Please keep talking to me.

maggie Rose

I have looked at the other thread. I have Mint 12 downloaded. Let me play with it a little and I will post back.

Ken

OK Maggie Rose, I think we are ready to move forward. I have Mint 12 up and running on my Dell netbook and was able to configure the wireless connection. Please allow me to ask for some information which may be important.

1 - Does the Shuttle have a wired network connection? This might come in handy if Mint 12 does not recognize your wireless card right from the start.

2 - You said in the other post Is that the name which your wireless DSL or cable modem/router box broadcasts? It is called the SSID in the router setup. Do you have WEP or WPA security configured on the modem/router? If you do not have security set it will be easier to connect but it will also be easy for unauthorized rascals to connect as well. (We can fix that later).

3 - With the Shuttle booted to Mint 12 do you see an icon on the top right which looks like a PC sitting on a wire? That represents the network. If it is present please right click on it and select "Network Settings". If you get there we are making great progress! If there is an icon which looks like 2 PCs and an X that shows that the network is disconnected. If you right click on the double PC icon there should be an entry for Wireless. Please tell me what it says next to Wireless. If it says something like "firmware missing" then a driver is needed. If you have a wired connection this should be very simple. If not, it will be more fun.

4 - Is there an icon on the upper right of the screen which looks like a circuit board? If this is present then there may be additional drivers needed to fully utilize the computer. That is why I asked the first question.

For my next trick let me describe how I connected my netbook to my wireless network. The netbook has a wired connection which I plugged in before booting to Mint. Upon booting Mint I observed the circuit board icon. I right clicked on it and told it "install drivers." A dialog came up and I clicked activate and the driver was downloaded and installed. It told be that I needed to reboot but actually I did not. Otherwise the driver would have been deleted when I booted from the DVD.

Next I right clicked on the network icon and brought up the Network Settings dialog. On the left side of this dialog I observed a list with 3 entries. Wired, Wireless and Network Proxy. I highlighted Wireless and was presented a dropdown to choose the Network Name. I selected "other" and was asked me to enter the Network Name and select the type of Security.

My wireless router is hidden - that is it does not broadcast its SSID or name. I therefor had to type the secret name. I chose "WPA & WPA2 Personal" as my security type and was prompted for the password to the router. I supplied this and clicked Connect. I then was prompted for the password again and this time I entered the correct password Connect then did the deed and I am now connected to my network.

If your router is broadcasting its name, 2WIRE006, then that value may show in the Network Name dropdown list. If so, select it and click Configure. In the dialog which is presented have a look at the Security tab on the right. You can then set the security type and provide the password for your router. If you made a change on your router that might have been what broke Mint 11.

Please take your time and try and read through all of this stuff I have written. Please feel free to ASK me what the heck I said where something does not make sense. I will be happy to work through it step by step with your.

Ken

1 members found this post helpful.

Hi again, Ken. had to put this problem down for a while (nap) but back now.

Actually, since I was having the same problem with Mint 12 as with 11, I just decided to boot back from 11. i went into network connections, wireless tab (I've had this modem so long that the wires to make it wired are somewhere..)


there are no wireless connections to choose from. So i select to "add". I get

SSID
Mode;

Ken, that last post wasn't complete.
when adding a new wireless I am asked to give SSID (is that 2WIRE006?), then select Mode (infrastructure or AdHoc), BSSID, Device Mac address,
Cloned MAC address, and MTU (automatic).

In the Wireless Security tab it has a dropdown list, I think mine is a WEP something.

In IPv4 Settings tab, I have no idea....

in IPv6 Settings, ditto...

I am Very Very Sorry you went thru all the trouble to install Mint 12! Seems whatever the problem is might have to do with adding a network connection. On Windows wireless listings i have 5-6 including my 2WIRE, so don't understand why nne listed here, esp since it tells me that wireless networks are available.

Oh, and I'm working with mredd555 on the other thread "cant connect to internet suddenly" so it might be helpful for our replies to go to that thread instead of having the two threads working on the same issue.

Thanks, Ken