Ubun 2: The Ubuntuning
Feb. 20th, 2011 07:38 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alexandraerinSo, I have not yet fully succeeded in getting my laptop completely clean... even using a combination of Spyware Doctor, Ad-Aware, Spybot S&D, Microsoft Security Essentials, and ComboFix (not all running at once, obviously) has not managed to root out all the ad ware or fix the error that keeps the computer from booting up successfully without using the recessed reset button.
I've mostly been dealing with this through the magical thinking of hoping that if I don't acknowledge it, it won't be true, hence no mention of the additional time and brain cycles I've been spending each day working on it. It isn't the sole reason that any story progress has been slow this week, but it hasn't helped.
So last night I decided to face up to a harsh reality: I need my laptop to work... period, exclamation point, no matter what. So I've installed Unbuntu on a partition, and when I get back to Omaha I may end up getting rid of Windows XP on it entirely.
I did this on my previous laptop computer, but it didn't "take" for a variety of reasons. That laptop wasn't a netbook and it had impressive specs. I could play games and run applications on it better than on the desktop I was using at the time. Learning how to do that in Ubuntu and making everything work was frustrating to me. Even doing work stuff was frustrating because I had to use different tools to do so.
My netbook doesn't really do games. I don't do anything on it but word process, listen to music, and surf the web... and increasingly my word processing and music-listening are done 'midst the clouds. If Chrome works on Unbuntu (and it does), then there is no learning curve for them and no files to be backed up and transferred. I've still in the time since I installed it encountered some frustration at not being able to immediately find where I need to go to do what I want to do, but it was never worse than moderate and I now have things more or less in order. I can get my computer to start up on first try every time and my browser remains unhijacked.
I need my netbook to work first time, every time. When I'm at the dollhouse it's just a convenient little thing that lets me write and surf from odd places around the house, but as soon as I step outside it's my lifeline to the world, my connection to Jack, and my place of business. I need it to be there. I don't believe that Ubuntu serves my needs as well as Windows 7 (what is or will soon be on my two desktop computers) when it comes to other things, but what I need from my laptop is for it to be bulletproof and reliable.
I've mostly been dealing with this through the magical thinking of hoping that if I don't acknowledge it, it won't be true, hence no mention of the additional time and brain cycles I've been spending each day working on it. It isn't the sole reason that any story progress has been slow this week, but it hasn't helped.
So last night I decided to face up to a harsh reality: I need my laptop to work... period, exclamation point, no matter what. So I've installed Unbuntu on a partition, and when I get back to Omaha I may end up getting rid of Windows XP on it entirely.
I did this on my previous laptop computer, but it didn't "take" for a variety of reasons. That laptop wasn't a netbook and it had impressive specs. I could play games and run applications on it better than on the desktop I was using at the time. Learning how to do that in Ubuntu and making everything work was frustrating to me. Even doing work stuff was frustrating because I had to use different tools to do so.
My netbook doesn't really do games. I don't do anything on it but word process, listen to music, and surf the web... and increasingly my word processing and music-listening are done 'midst the clouds. If Chrome works on Unbuntu (and it does), then there is no learning curve for them and no files to be backed up and transferred. I've still in the time since I installed it encountered some frustration at not being able to immediately find where I need to go to do what I want to do, but it was never worse than moderate and I now have things more or less in order. I can get my computer to start up on first try every time and my browser remains unhijacked.
I need my netbook to work first time, every time. When I'm at the dollhouse it's just a convenient little thing that lets me write and surf from odd places around the house, but as soon as I step outside it's my lifeline to the world, my connection to Jack, and my place of business. I need it to be there. I don't believe that Ubuntu serves my needs as well as Windows 7 (what is or will soon be on my two desktop computers) when it comes to other things, but what I need from my laptop is for it to be bulletproof and reliable.
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Quick suggestion
on 2011-02-21 02:22 am (UTC)I just wanted to suggest that you check your laptop for a boot-sector virus. They're coming back into vogue lately. And by "check", I mean "write a new boot sector as a precaution". This won't hurt a thing.
ComboFix should have installed the Windows Recovery Console. Boot to it and select your Windows installation. Once at a C: prompt, type the following commands:
fixmbr
fixboot
Odds are pretty high that FIXMBR will indicate you have a non-standard boot record and ask if you're sure you want to replace it. Respond in the affirmative, and do likewise if FIXBOOT asks for confirmation.
Reboot and see if things work.
If not, carry on with your planned Ubuntuu modifications.
NOTE: DO NOT attempt this if you've already reconfigured for the Ubuntuu dual-boot. Odds are high it will muck with that setup.
Re: Quick suggestion
on 2011-02-21 01:47 pm (UTC)I'm glad to add this knowledge to my repertoire of virus troubleshooting, though, for the future.
no subject
on 2011-02-28 06:04 am (UTC)