ubuntu9 no owner permissions + screen res max at 800x600
 

I installed ubuntu9 on an offline desktop system: intel pentium III 800 Dual-Boot with winXPsp1. I have no internet connection on this machine.
The ubuntu system does not recognize me as owner so I do not have owner permissions. Why does ubuntu not see me as owner and how can I fix this problem?
PLUS I can only get a maximum screen resolution of 800x600 with no recognizable monitors.
My XP system boots into 1024x768 and runs fine.
I also cannot figure out, for the life of me, how to install packages offline since I don't have an internet connection.
I've been through the forums and get totally confused with all the different answers and half-answers and the totally broken english replies.
Any help with any of these issues will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
GiAd

What are you trying to do that makes you say you are not the owner. Linux requires permissions to do some things. With Ubuntu you can temporarily get those permissions by preceding certain commands with "sudo".

What graphics card do you have?

You may have to get apt on cd (the repositories) on cd/dvd. Do you have internet access on another machine?

Remember there are great wiki resources and documents at the Ubuntu site too; not just the forums (I know they can be challenging at times). When using the forums sometimes it is best to search first as many people may have had same/similar issues as you.

FIRST:
I just want to know why ubuntu did not set me as owner when I installed it. It should see me as owner, whether I use the owner permissions or not! But it (ubuntu) is telling me that I am not the owner.

SECOND:
3D PROPHET is all I can read on my video card

THIRD:
What is an apt and what are repositories???
And why does ubuntu require wasting cd's just to install software offline?
Yes I have internet access from another machine but I just want to transfer the file from my usb key but I can't do it.
Why is it NOT possible to install directly from a usb key??!!

FOURTH:
I've been to the ubuntu site FIRST with NO SUCCESS, next the forums and too much time spent finding "this might work" or "did you try that" or "maybe this" or "could be that" or try this link or that link sending me on endless NO-help searches or Viet-Namese wannabee technicians with their broken english descriptions and command line hieroglyphics.

I have to say this from my experience:
The Ubuntu community (in particular the programmers) should make installing software as easy as MS Windows. Download a program and install by clicking on the file.
Too much to ask for free I guess.
GiAd

When you installed Ubuntu you set up a user name and password. You have superuser priveleges which mean you can do things that require root access; this is done by preceding the command with sudo and then entering a password.

If you are upset at having permissions and a requirement to enter passwords to do certain things, you may not like any linux distribution. Linux is not windows (thankfully) and the passwords and ownership "stuff" is a large part of why it is so much more secure than Windows.

You never did say; what exactly are you trying to do that you think you are not "the owner"?

I am not familiar with that card. Have you tried googling for "3d prophet + ubuntu"? It gets quite a few hits and you may find your answers there.

It does not require "wasting" cd's. I merely suggested these as you can purchase the entire repository on cd/dvd. Some people find it convenient. I have seen posts on their forums that indicate how to download the packages and put them on a usb key (or other medium) so yes it is possible.

The repositories are a huge collection of software (free by the way) you can download via synaptic or apt-get. It requires an internet connection though. What I described above is a mthod to get all that software on cd/dvd so you can get them at any time without a connection to the internet.

If you are new to Linux you may want to be more willing to look around for help and be willing to read more (The Rute User's Guide is a good place to start.). There is also a sticky on the Ubuntu forums newbie sub-forum that allows you to download a free book as a starter's guide. You may want to exercise some patience when people voluntarily try to help you. You may want to tone down ethnic/racial comments as well. If you don't have a willingness to learn and accept help maybe a new O/S is not for you.

Ubuntu is easier to install than windows and is faster to install. And, best of all it does not cost over $200 to upgrade either. Your choice.

It sounds like you like windows better...have at it.

when using linux what you should(must) have is patience.else better option is windows.
lets solve the problem one by one
how did you come to know that you are not the owner?? while running application or opening a file or something like that.

Have at it??
You sure you're from Upstate NY? Sounds like UK lingo.
Well you have kept this thread alive for the second time and I still haven't gotten a single crumpet of help, just more of "I don't know, check here or there", nothing solid or productive.
I will probably get Windows 7 unless I can get this system figured out.
And if you don't like the way I talk, then don't help me, I don't give a rat's hind end.
If you can help me then do it, if you can't help, then I don't want to waste my time reading your useless replies.
The video card is not new and neither is the monitor, so I do not understand the problem with the screen resolution, since XP (an OS at least 7 years old) is running on the same machine with the same monitor at 1024x768.
This alone tells me there is a problem with the ubuntu OS (new OS since April '09).
Linux may be a great thing for businesses or programmers, especially since the operating system itself can modified or improved to suit individual needs, but for everyday dimwits like myself, we need point and click technology for just about everything done on a computer screen.
I do believe future releases of Linux distros will greatly improve in this.
No need to reply thank you, unless you have something I can use right away and get immediate results.
Take care
GiAd

How can anyone help when you do not answer specific questions asked of you? A rant back is not helpful. You were asked three times what you were trying to do when you decided/were told you were not the "owner". We cannot just wave a mgic wand and fix it for you.

And, sorry, but sometimes you will have to read and look for answers. That is how you learn a new operating system.

As for the crumpet of help, did you even bother to download the free guide for beginners from Ubuntu forums? Did you even look at the community wiki? Can't get you immediate results if you are unwilling to answer our questions.

If I tell you what I was trying to do, how will that fix the problem? The problem is that I am not the owner.
I installed the system, I am the only user on the system, the system is not connected to the internet, nobody else uses the system, yet I am not the owner, no matter what I try to do, I am still not the owner. Do you get it??? Do you understand??? I am not trying to do anything because ubuntu will not let me. What I am trying to do is not the issue, getting ubuntu to see me as the owner is the issue!!! Get it yet??? Tu comprend??? Comprende???
Now with that out of the way, I tried to read files that could only be viewed by the owner, I tried to edit my video settings that only the owner can edit, I tried to fix a broken operating system which refuses to let me fix it because it says I am not the owner!!!
That is what I was doing and it makes no difference now that you know because you still can't help me fix the problem. I don't want a work-around, I want the system to work correctly.
And I specifically told you the following, which you obviously did not read or chose to ignore:
"If you can help me then do it, if you can't help, then I don't want to waste my time reading your useless replies."
This thread is done
thanks for wasting my time
I hate blogs