[NTLUG:Discuss] My Linux journey with a new laptop, still have problems (be warned, long post)

[Wayne Dahl]

David Simmons wrote:
>   
>> the video
>> again came up in 800x600 resolution mode.  I
>>     
> figured it was a matter of
>   
>> just adding the desired screen
>>     
> resolution (Vista had it come up natively
>   
>> in 1440x900 mode), I
>>     
> edited /etc/X11/xorg.conf to add the desired screen
>   
>> resolution,
>>     
> rebooted (I'm a little fuzzy on the process of stopping and
>   
> starting the X server) and I now had the maximum screen resolution this
>   
>> laptop will produce.  The screen is capable of 720p HD screen
>> resolution, low end HD, to be sure, but it beats standard screen
>> resolutions.
>>     
>
> So, is video working like you want it to
> work?  Are you able to enable the 3D modes?
>   

Yes, I neglected to mention that, since it was running Vista Aero Glass
out-of-the-box, I knew it had the horsepower
to run Compiz/Fusion.  So yes, the first thing I did after getting the
desired screen resolution out of it was to install
Compiz/Fusion.  It works......sort of.  It was really flaky, doing
things like installing 4 more pagers to the 4 I already had open so it
*LOOKED* like I had 8 pagers.  However, if you moused over pagers 5-8,
they also said pager 1...so it looked like there were 5 pager 1's, but
only 1 each of pagers 2-4.  Also, the cube never worked.  When I tried
to rotate the cube, the desktop just flipped like I was switching
between 2 pagers.  So yes, the 3D modes DID sort of work.  However, I
ran across an entry in one of the (K)Ubuntu forums that said someone
else had flaky Compiz functionality and the thing to do was de-install
it and re-install it, which seemed to fix the flakiness for them.  I
de-installed it, but everything else is working so well from KDE
(translucency works like a dream, and NOT just the borders like in
Vista) with shadows and all, that I haven't tried to reinstall Compiz
yet again.  I'm almost afraid of breaking what I've got working.  :)


>   
>> However,
>>     
> while it's able to see them, I still can't seem to
>   
>> connect to my
>>     
> wireless router.  
>   
>> I believe the problem is in my WPA password,
>>     
> which works fine with
>   
>> Windows
>>     
>
> Yes, I was thinking it
> was a WEP vs WPA difference issue.  As WPA needs to communicate keys
> back, the drivers are different.  I would do some Googling (at
> http://google.com/linux ) for 'WPA Network howto setup' and go from
> there.....maybe you can put it into WEP mode just to test the theory that
> it's supposed to work....then tackle the tricker WPA setup?
>
> Good luck....and the best way to learn is have things break/not
> work....grin
>
>  - Dave
>
>   
Well, I've tried that, which is why I've come to you guys.  You guys are
my line of last resort.  There are literally thousands of entries on
using WPA, but nothing I've tried has worked.  And I am REALLY loathe to
try switching to
WEP (aside from the security, or, NON-SECURITY of WEP) in that every
time I have to mess with the router/access point, I usually have to
spend hours getting our XP box to resync to it.  It just won't connect
and I'm never really sure what it was I did to get it working again.  I
may have to do this, but I really, REALLY don't want to have to.

The thing is, it's ALMOST there.  I can now see the networks around me
with at least 2 of the WiFi managers, although WiFi Radar is by far the
best (it can see more networks for some reason).  That tells me the
driver seems to
be working ok, but that the problem seems to be related more to the
passphrase than anything else. 

Oh, btw, the program I used to get the webcam to work?  It was Cheese
(not the drug, :P) and it actually even works the built in light right
next to the camera itself.  I have yet to find out if the internal mic
also works with it, but Kopete sends a video sharing session to my wifes
XP machine just fine running a Yahoo! Messenger client.  Again, I came
across Cheese in the forums when searching for Kubuntu 7.10 webcam install.

Thanks again,

Wayne