Indeed, I was laboring under a misconception there. It sounds quite straightforward, when you explain it like that ...
On Mon, 2009-03-09 at 12:13 +0000, Michael G Fletcher wrote: > On Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 11:48 AM, Rowan Berkeley > <rowan.berke...@googlemail.com> wrote: > > I wouldn't mind installing 8.10, and then I could run all the updates as > > and when they appear, and enjoy all the cutting edge improvements. But > > it's true that I do not know whether the non-default interface driver > > was necessitated by the particular interface card used by Compal, the > > manufacturer of the machine, in which case my problem would re-appear > > even on 8.10, wouldn't it? > > > > I didn't try running the kernel re-install disc, because then I would > > have had to find all the essential applications somehow, including the > > one needed to find them online, i.e., the Internet browser, it seems to > > me, whereas I would hope that a complete new install of 8.10 would > > include a browser. To be stuck without a browser and without an > > installable version on disc ready in advance would be fatal, wouldn't > > it? > > > > Ah, I think I see where your reluctance to install a fresh and new > Ubuntu stems from - you are still completely engrossed in the windows > model of computing. > > 1. Installing Ubuntu from the CD (downloaded off the website) will > give you a fully function computer. by default practically everything > you need is installed. things like firefox, openoffice, synaptic and > many many more applications will be ready to go from the very > beginning! With windows all you get is a basic operating system. > > 2. If you download 8.10, burn it to CD, insert it into your CD drive > and reboot the machine (I think you mentioned pressing F12 and > selecting boot from CD) you will have an option there to "try Ubuntu > without changing anything.." or something to that effect. this is > called running a LiveCD - it basically gives you a picture of how > Ubuntu will work on your machine (only a little slower cause it needs > to constantly load info from the CD) but it will show you if the > network driver that installs will work with your laptop. So whilst > running the LiveCD, plug in the network cable and see if you have > internet connectivity. if it works, then double click the install > item. If it doesn't work, reboot, remove the CD and your computer is > exactly the same as you left! (I hope I'm not being condescending my > possibly explaining something that you already know!) > > Cheers > --Michael > -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/