Hello;
I've tried several different Ubuntu offerings.
Each had issues but the one that surprised
me most was version 12.04. I liked the smooth
installation but was surprised to find:
1. that my wireless mouse would not function.
ALL of the other versions worked fine with
the mouse, why not 12.04
2. 12.04 would not connect to the internet.
All of the other version worked fine.
On the other versions I indicated current
updates should be downloaded and applied.
The bullet for 12.04 for updates was
X'ed out and couldn't be changed. This
may have caused the issues with mouse and
internet but am unable to find out.
3. I have several books on Linux on the way
and hope there will be helpful information
for solving the issues.
4. While I'm no fan of Micro.... I am more
than a little put off by the feeling that
some disaster is imminent because of the
less than informative install process.
ex: All of the other versions would boot
and install when the CD was inserted. The
12.04 cd insisted on needing a boot loader
installed but there was little documentation
available about this REQUIRED software.
5. Why do some of the other versions actually
install themselves in the WIN partition
and others re-partition the drive for
the Ubuntu install.

Since I have zero tolerance for clumsy
software installations I make it a habit
to always work on a cloned copy of my drive
as a defense against disaster.

Hi there,

well, one thing first: Your experience isn't typical. While Ubuntu is heavily polarizing the Linux community since 11.x (the latest version I liked was 10.10), and apparently does have some issues, the accumulation of problems you describe is anything but normal.

Wireless mouse: Is yours a very special one that requires a special driver? Very few of them do. Usually, they work like a standard PS/2 or USB mouse. Your problem must have a very specific and rare reason.

That sounds like your problem isn't connecting to the internet, rather, Ubuntu seems to have trouble recognizing your network card.

Strange, very strange. All the installation CDs and Live CDs offered for download on the internet are bootable images. You must be making a terrible mistake if that doesn't work for you. Your BIOS does support booting from a CD, though, does it?

Partitioning the HDD is your job during installation. You decide which partitions you want to create, where they're going to be mounted.

That's one point we agree upon: I also make a full backup (usually an image of the partition) before I try something that might impair the overall system configuration and/or stability.

By the way, why do you garble your posting by inserting countless line breaks at arbitrary positions? You make it damn hard to read that way.

[X] Doc CPU

I'd be interested in seeing whatever message you got. The Ubuntu CD has its own bootloader, isolinux.
As far as the partitioning, you may get a suggested partitioning scheme but in the end the choice is yours. If you select to install to entire drive or install alongside or a similar option, you are basically given the installer permission to do whatever. You need to get control and in the new version of Ubuntu that means selecting the Something Else option.

Not quite sure if this is the issue here, but there are 2 fundamentally different types of Ubuntu install

1. (normal) this requires its own clean disk partition
2. wubi(?) this is installed as an 'app' under MS-Windows.

Possibly you should try another distro eg Mint, but see www.distrowatch.com for a list of choices.

DOC_CPU
Let me start by saying that I have been building Windows based systems, averaging 3 per week, for almost 2 years. I am very hardware oriented as a result. I was recently asked to build several Ubuntu systems and set out to do so. The requested systems have not been delivered and likely will not be delivered because of my so far unsuccessful attempts to achieve even one good Ubuntu install. I have tried to install Ubuntu on a variety of hardware. That list includes Dell, HP, emachines laptops and 1 emachines desktop. The desktop came closest to being installed - got the red "desktop" like win desktop.

The wireless mouse has worked on every Win computer it's been plugged in to - works flawlessly without any special driver. It goes through the detection process in Windows and does the same with several of the Ubuntu versions I've tried to install, 12.04 being the exception.

The network card..... don't think so. Every computer I've tried the install on has a different net card - are they all defective. Don't think so, the Win installation is happy and several of the Ubuntu installs did download updates, not 12.04 though.

Booting or starting the install. ONLY the 12.04 would not start, insisting on installing a driver. This fits the "STANDARDS ARE WONDERFUL, EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST ONE" concept. This is just plain nuts.

Partitioning.. Then why do 2 of the installs do their own partitioning, showing me the partitioning plan and asking if it's ok and the others just do it or don't bother because they install in the Win partition?

I find your last comment complaining about line breaks to be in line with the rest of your semi-arrogant responses and repulsive. Where do you get off doing that when I simply was asking for help.

Well I've made a decision. I WILL NOT invest another second trying to figure out what to do with this collective mess called Ubuntu and I will cancel the order for the 3 requested systems. I have better things to do and don't need to waste my time dealing with this mess.
I value my time and my customers and refuse to pass this mess along to anyone else.

[X] oljoe

Installing into windows is a WUBI install, repartitioning is a native install.

Doc CPU was just asking why you put those breaks in. No need for namecalling.....in fact, its counter productive.

oljoe,
I would also like to add your experience is not typical with installing Ubuntu. I have been building Windows systems for around 10 years and Linux systems for the last 5 years. I am typing to you from Ubuntu 12.04 right now.

In addition to that, you appear to be making your decision to no longer offer Ubuntu based on comments in a 3rd party forum rather than their official community forum or other official help resources. While LinuxQuestions.org is a great place to get information it doesn't always mean it's the best nor official for the distribution offered (though we strive and I like to think this is the best place for information based on my experiences).

You may be interested that Ubuntu offers professional support to resolve the problems you experience. This service is paid but it also means you have someone to hold accountable for answers.

You must take away something from this forum experience on LinuxQuestions. You will recieve a similar reaction on any Linux forum because, we're offering support to you as volunteers in our spare time. We're not obligated to help you, you don't pay us, and it is you who should be more understanding; not us.

And while you have been rude with your one reply, not one person has lost their temper and shot you down for help. Remember, the more rude you are regularly on this *free* help resource the less likely you are to receive help in the future from its members. Doc CPU asked about the formatting because it's nice to not have to work too hard to help someone (I had similar problems reading your initial post).

I understand you feel you have the right to demand certain things and quality but that's the Windows world where you pay in excess of $300 for an OS and thousands of dollars for annual support. The Linux professional world (i.e. SuSE Enterprise, RedHat Enterprise, Cononical professional, etc.) is no different than getting support in the Windows world. However the Community world is *much* different than you're used to. If you would like to depend on paid support where you can make demands as usual, I provided you a link to Canonical Support (makers of Ubuntu). But please, give us a break we're doing this for our own enjoyment as hobbyists and interested professionals a-like.

Please do not take my post as scolding, that is not my intent. I'm merely attempting to show you the difference so that next time you may approach with the right mind set. I've made similar mistakes when I first came to learn about Linux though my actions had much more dire consequences.