Mint 11 & Ubuntu 11.04

[#1]

Installed Mint 11 on one machine with no problem at all, works like a dream and am well impressed.
By way of experiment installed Ubuntu 11.04 on another machine and it was an absolute nightmare of an experience, mouse pointer freezing up, error messages whilst trying to get basic updates etc. If this had been my first experience of Linux I would have left it well alone.
Deleted Ubuntu and installed Mint 11 in it's place and everything works perfectly so as a newbie to Linux I will forget about using any other distros and stick to Mint.
The only thing I can't get it to do is recognise my Epson 2480 Scanner despite downloading the appropriate file from the Epson website.

[#2]

Quote from: gleneagles

The only thing I can't get it to do is recognise my Epson 2480 Scanner despite downloading the appropriate file from the Epson website.

Does this help (not sure it's the same scanner)?

[#3]

Interesting that you had such issues with Ubuntu yet Mint works fine on the same machine. I moved from Ubuntu about 3 years ago due to an obscure bug causing my dvd drive to close after opening it, made removing dvd's difficult  Mint never had any issues on the same machine, I look at other disto's when I get my monthly Linux Format mag but still stay with Mint as it does everything I need from it. Now have LMDE on my EEE to play with so far ok. (only been about a week or so)

[#4]

Is there any problem installing Mint onto a machine with a separate Ubuntu /home - since my /home contains my various program preferences etc?
Furthermore, since I have several user accounts + a couple of user defined groups how do I set up my UID's and GID's properly.
(I can edit my passwd file, but not (effectively) my shadow passwd file).

[#5]

What you want 2 home partitions? or do you want
1. Ubuntu
2. home
3. Mint
with a shared home?
You could setup a shared ./home and create a NEW user id eg. Minty Fox to use it saving your existing home folder for Ubuntu etc. Any pref's you want can be COPIED from your existing /home/fox user.

[#6]

I want to keep my Ubuntu created /home but replace the rest of the system with Mint (in the distant future).
I shall want to delete Ubuntu because they want to turn my desktop into a mobile phone screen.
So I want to overwrite things like /boot, /usr, /etc, /var... with the Mint equivalents.
I don't want to change my user name - I'd like to retain it, so it is the same on all my PC's - the whole idea is that Mint looks like the standard "old-fashioned" Ubuntu screen.
Some of my scripts have names hard-coded.
Obviously, I shall need to rebuild things like /usr/local, /var/log, anacron scripts, miscellaneous scripts, cron files, /etc/hosts, /etc/fstab...

[#7]

Quote from: Waldo

Quote from: gleneagles The only thing I can't get it to do is recognise my Epson 2480 Scanner despite downloading the appropriate file from the Epson website. Does this help (not sure it's the same scanner)?

Great stuff, many thanks for the link.
This solved the problem.

[#8]

Quote from: A

So I want to overwrite things like /boot, /usr, /etc, /var... with the Mint equivalents. I don't want to change my user name Obviously, I shall need to rebuild things like /usr/local, /var/log, anacron scripts, miscellaneous scripts, cron files, /etc/hosts, /etc/fstab...

Ok you can't Mintalise the Ubuntu install. What you can do is make a list of all the programs you have installed. (You can use dpkg for this or download the Mint-Backup program and use it to build a list) and keep a copy of your essential bits, etc/fsta etc/exports etc, and any config files in etc/default you may need (or just copy the entire /etc folder which I tend to do) & any ppa's you use
Then you can install Mint OVER the Ubuntu install retaining the /home partition (it is in its OWN partition isn't it?)
As long as you do a CUSTOM install and choose the home partition as the /home & use the same user name it will install with the same home folder.
You can then install your program again using either Synaptic or dpkg (or the Mint-Backup program) using the list as a base. (After reinstalling the ppa's again)
I tend to use the Mint-Backup and edit what will be restored because it is a list of EVERYTHING including the OS programs you probably don't need any more,

[#9]

Yes - it is a separate partition for /home
It looks like it won't be too much of a problem. 
BTW - I do run a root cron job that records what packages I have:-

Quote

#!/bin/sh # See issue 40 of full circle [ -x /usr/bin/dpkg ] || exit 0 dpkg --get-selections "*" > /etc/installed.txt

[#10]

Quote from: A

I want to keep my Ubuntu created /home but replace the rest of the system with Mint (in the distant future). I shall want to delete Ubuntu because they want to turn my desktop into a mobile phone screen. [...] the whole idea is that Mint looks like the standard "old-fashioned" Ubuntu screen.

Am I right in thinking 'Mint looks like the standard "old-fashioned" Ubuntu screen' because it's using GNOME2?
Are you expecting Mint to be still using GNOME2 'in the distant future'?

[#11]

Quote from: Waldo

Am I right in thinking 'Mint looks like the standard "old-fashioned" Ubuntu screen' because it's using GNOME2?

Yes it uses Gnome 2.32

Quote

Are you expecting Mint to be still using GNOME2 'in the distant future'?

It is still open to debate at the moment what desktop will be used, so far the only looser is Unity <spit>
Also I read recently that Gnome 2.3 was split so a new branch will still be in development for user who prefer the "old fashioned" desktop.

[#12]

It is a problem.
Whilst Gnome 2.3 is to be supported for "a long time" (by Gnome), Gnome 3.x has already emerged.
Unfortunately, Gnome 3.x has got a Unity-like appearance (although it is functionally different).
If it ain't broke down fix it.

[#13]

I'm fed up with trying out the various options, so I am going to sit back with Ubuntu v10.04 LTS until it gets sorted. I even toyed with going over to Fedora (at least it recognises my wifi, Broadcom 43x which Ubuntu and Mint don't).

[#14]

I don't think it will "get fixed" as even M$ is going to a phone interface (see win8), & Ubuntu are sticking with Unuty (my sp!) in 12.04+. 
Sheep come to mind here 

[#15]

Looks like I shall have to carefully store my v10.04 LTS. I may have a sort around with various other distro's. That's one advantage of having a spare laptop.