New Mint User - Help Needed

[#1]

Quote

It has 512Mb of RAM, a 2GHz processor but only 20Gb of disk space.

Ubuntu should be fine on that Bob. Disc space should be ok , Ubuntu takes about 2-3Gb.

[#2]

Quote from: bobboulby

Thanks Poppy, that's an interesting quiz. My top recommendation was OpenSuSE (100%) followed by Mandriva, Ubuntu and Mint (all 95%)

Hmm looks like it is aiming you at a KDE desktop, I used to use Mandriva about 4 years ago but I know prefer the Gnome desktop, the KDE is too much like vista, all gadgets and widgets 
At least with Linux you can change your desktop simply by a few commands and a wait while it installs. (something like sudo apt-get install kde kde-desktop would install the KDE desktop in all its glory) and if you don't like it you can change at the login, bu selecting a different one. LXDE is an interesting one on slow machines definatly a grower.

[#3]

Interesting - not explored SuSe but just checked and it uses the Gnome desktop too, but gives the option early on of KDE. Looks a bit Mint-ish on the screenshots.
KDE desktop is Windows-ish and this is why I initially liked it. Possibly new Linux users look
for a point of reference so it is good in some ways.
However, now I actually don't want things to look like Windows and just like simplicity and clarity.
I might burn a disc to have a look at Open SuSe.

[#4]

Quote from: bobboulby

2. I've currently only got a wired connection as the laptop doesn't have a wireless card. Before I buy one, are there any limitations with PCMCIA wireless cards or can I just buy a cheap one off eBay?

As another option - most laptops have the facility to install a Mini-PCI wireless card inside. This usually means removing the keyboard to access the slot. You have to check out some instructions for your lappy to see what is involved. That would be a neat solution as it is all tucked away inside. Intel crads are generally well supported with Linux. I use an Intel Pro2200 in my Dell C400 running Mint Gloria, and it works fine.

[#5]

Thanks Denzil.
Biker has offered me an old PCMCIA card to try so I'm going to give that a go first.
Bob

[#6]

With reference to getting wireless working on my Mint laptop. Biker is sending me a D-link DWL-510a to try. Please could I have some pointers as to how I should install this. Do I just plug it in and expect it to work or do I need to download anything?
Thanks - Bob

[#7]

Hi Bob, on my Mint laptop (which isn't up to date it had 164 new updates to load) it was just plug it in and go to network manger, choose your base station and enter the wpa code.

[#8]

Great, I'll let you know how I get on.
Bob

[#9]

Hello again
The card arrived in the post yesterday (thanks biker) but I'm stuck. I've plugged it in and looked in “Network Connections” but it's not there under the wireless tab (see screen shot). I've tried re-booting and even  installing Mint again from scratch with the card in place but I still can't see it.
I've tried Googling a solution but there seems to be lots of things to try, most of which I don't really understand.
Any suggestions please.
Bob

[#10]

Bob,
You could try looking in the system log ( with the log file viewer ) to see if there is evidence that the system has detected the wireless card.

[#11]

Strange, try the other slot,i.e. if it is in the upper the lower.

[#12]

@biker - I've tried both slots and it doesn't show up in either.
@MisterW - there are 2 syslogs - sorry I don't know what I'm looking for so I've posted them both. Please let me know if there is anything in here that I shouldn't be making public  
syslog is below:
Sep 25 10:24:15 linux-laptop syslogd 1.5.0#5ubuntu3: restart.
Sep 25 10:24:15 linux-laptop anacron[2662]: Job `cron.daily' terminated (exit status: 1) (mailing output)
Sep 25 10:24:15 linux-laptop anacron[2662]: Can't find sendmail at /usr/sbin/sendmail, not mailing output
Sep 25 10:24:16 linux-laptop anacron[2662]: Job `cron.weekly' started
Sep 25 10:24:16 linux-laptop anacron[12357]: Updated timestamp for job `cron.weekly' to 2009-09-25
Sep 25 10:27:53 linux-laptop syslogd 1.5.0#5ubuntu3: restart.
Sep 25 10:27:53 linux-laptop anacron[2662]: Job `cron.weekly' terminated
Sep 25 10:27:53 linux-laptop anacron[2662]: Job `cron.monthly' started
Sep 25 10:27:53 linux-laptop anacron[15786]: Updated timestamp for job `cron.monthly' to 2009-09-25
Sep 25 10:27:53 linux-laptop anacron[2662]: Job `cron.monthly' terminated
Sep 25 10:27:53 linux-laptop anacron[2662]: Normal exit (3 jobs run)
Sep 25 10:30:02 linux-laptop /USR/SBIN/CRON[15834]: (root) CMD ([ -x /usr/sbin/update-motd ] && /usr/sbin/update-motd 2>/dev/null)
Sep 25 10:30:02 linux-laptop console-kit-daemon[2306]: WARNING: Couldn't read /proc/2304/environ: Failed to open file '/proc/2304/environ': No such file or directory
Sep 25 10:40:01 linux-laptop /USR/SBIN/CRON[16085]: (root) CMD ([ -x /usr/sbin/update-motd ] && /usr/sbin/update-motd 2>/dev/null)

syslog.0 is attached as a pdf.
Bob

[#13]

Don't know anything about Bluetooth, but your log includes

Quote

Sep 25 10:20:48 linux-laptop bluetoothd[10374]: Bluetooth daemon Sep 25 10:20:48 linux-laptop bluetoothd[10374]: Starting SDP server Sep 25 10:20:48 linux-laptop bluetoothd[10374]: bridge pan0 created Sep 25 10:20:48 linux-laptop bluetoothd[10374]: Starting experimental netlink support Sep 25 10:20:48 linux-laptop bluetoothd[10374]: Failed to find Bluetooth netlink family Sep 25 10:20:48 linux-laptop bluetoothd[10374]: Registered interface org.bluez.Service on path /org/bluez/10374/any Sep 25 10:20:52 linux-laptop NetworkManager: <info> HAL disappeared Sep 25 10:20:54 linux-laptop acpid: client connected from 2502[0:0] Sep 25 10:20:56 linux-laptop NetworkManager: <info> HAL re-appeared Sep 25 10:20:56 linux-laptop acpid: client connected from 10628[111:120] Sep 25 10:20:57 linux-laptop NetworkManager: <info> (ttyS0): ignoring due to lack of mobile broadband capabilties

BTW I think a text file would be easier to look at.

[#14]

Hi bob,
            I recently tried this and it was really straight forward,(or it was for me) when you go to your networks connection bit and click on the tab for wireless nothing was there on mines either,however when i went to add it came up a small window to fill in and then my wpa key and then it detected the network and away i went,when you click on add you should get a window like this to fill in,really new i am too this aswell but thats how i got it going mate

[#15]

Bob does the led come on at all? Also rather than right clicking on the network tab left click it.
Also is your wireless broadcasting its sid or is it not?