September 2020 - WLUG - wlug.mailman3.com

Re: Ubuntu update question

by Tim Keller

Ron, I hear you on the quality aspect. When you get near the sub 1k desktops, they're really trying to hit a price point and they'll do that shaving off any corner they don't think you'll need. My wife's desktop is nearing the end of its life and while I haven't had any issues with her prefab desktop, it's basically not upgradeable except for ram. I'm glad to hear everything is going well with the desktop! Tim. On Sat, Sep 19, 2020 at 11:30 PM John Stoffel via WLUG <wlug(a)lists.wlug.org> wrote: > > THE> Thank again for all the recent advice. I have one question. I > THE> installed Ubuntu (from a 20.04 flash drive I did a while back) > THE> and checked the option to download additional software. It was > THE> then up and running. I then had updates available. They were > THE> installing, and then the computer said a restart was needed. I > THE> clicked restart and rather than restart as expected it went to > THE> what I think was a grub menu. Ubuntu was highlighted, I hit the > THE> enter key. It said "unpacking failed" (forget if before or > THE> after) and started up. Everything seems to be fine, but I am > THE> sending this email in case if anyone knows if I will have > THE> problems. > > Did you remember to remove the USB stick? Just making sure you > weren't booting off that. The next thing to check is to just reboot > and not touch anything. Does it boot on it's own? If it does, then > you're just seeing the message during the timeout phase it gives you > to select different boot options. > > If it does NOT boot properly, then we're going to need more details. > Basically, when you get to the grub menu and Ubuntu is highlighted, > just don't do anything and see if it boots on it's own. > > THE> I tried googling "Ubuntu unpacking failed" and se references to > THE> initramfs, but can't say if my message said this. It flashed > THE> quickly. I'm confused on what I read there anyway. > > THE> FYI on the bios to make things work I changed: > THE> PTT to off > THE> Secure Boot Enable to off > THE> Changed RAID to AHCHI > > What happens if you change these one by one? With 3 changes, you have > 8 different combinations. But the last one, RAID to AHCI, I agree > with. Not sure what the PTT means, I associate it with Push To Talk > myself. > > > THE> The machine seems blazing fast compared to the previous one. > THE> Materials much more cheaply made, though. Surprised me that > THE> there was no Windows CD or label with license number. > > Most systems these days just come with a Windows10 restore partition. > But you can also just install windows 10 from an image you download > from MS and it just works. For some value of works. :-) > _______________________________________________ > WLUG mailing list -- wlug(a)lists.wlug.org > To unsubscribe send an email to wlug-leave(a)lists.wlug.org > Create Account: https://wlug.mailman3.com/accounts/signup/ > Change Settings: > https://wlug.mailman3.com/postorius/lists/wlug.lists.wlug.org/ > Web Forum/Archive: > https://wlug.mailman3.com/hyperkitty/list/wlug@lists.wlug.org/message/MBHBW… > -- I am leery of the allegiances of any politician who refers to their constituents as "consumers".

Sept. 21, 2020

Re: Ubuntu update question

by John Stoffel

THE> Thank again for all the recent advice. I have one question. I THE> installed Ubuntu (from a 20.04 flash drive I did a while back) THE> and checked the option to download additional software. It was THE> then up and running. I then had updates available. They were THE> installing, and then the computer said a restart was needed. I THE> clicked restart and rather than restart as expected it went to THE> what I think was a grub menu. Ubuntu was highlighted, I hit the THE> enter key. It said "unpacking failed" (forget if before or THE> after) and started up. Everything seems to be fine, but I am THE> sending this email in case if anyone knows if I will have THE> problems. Did you remember to remove the USB stick? Just making sure you weren't booting off that. The next thing to check is to just reboot and not touch anything. Does it boot on it's own? If it does, then you're just seeing the message during the timeout phase it gives you to select different boot options. If it does NOT boot properly, then we're going to need more details. Basically, when you get to the grub menu and Ubuntu is highlighted, just don't do anything and see if it boots on it's own. THE> I tried googling "Ubuntu unpacking failed" and se references to THE> initramfs, but can't say if my message said this. It flashed THE> quickly. I'm confused on what I read there anyway. THE> FYI on the bios to make things work I changed: THE> PTT to off THE> Secure Boot Enable to off THE> Changed RAID to AHCHI What happens if you change these one by one? With 3 changes, you have 8 different combinations. But the last one, RAID to AHCI, I agree with. Not sure what the PTT means, I associate it with Push To Talk myself. THE> The machine seems blazing fast compared to the previous one. THE> Materials much more cheaply made, though. Surprised me that THE> there was no Windows CD or label with license number. Most systems these days just come with a Windows10 restore partition. But you can also just install windows 10 from an image you download from MS and it just works. For some value of works. :-)

Sept. 20, 2020

Re: Ubuntu update question

by joshua.gage.stone＠gmail.com

Ron, Is this the latest point release of 20.04 LTS? 20.04.1 LTS came out last month, which would probably have some bugfixes for this unexpected behavior. https://releases.ubuntu.com/20.04.1/ Alternatively, Fedora has frequent respins (for Workstation and other supported flavors) which package the latest stable kernel to ensure your hardware is supported OOTB and has bugfixes for broken updates. https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/alt/live-respins/ I don't think disabling Secure Boot is necessary; it's generally going to work OOTB in a modern distro like Ubuntu if you don't need additional drivers, and provides some security since only trusted kernel modules can be loaded. You may have to defer additional updates when reinstalling (that is if you plan on upgrading the OS drive from HDD to SSD), as it's a bit concerning that there are boot errors are happening right from the start. You'll be able to more easily see log output when running `apt update && apt full-upgrade` in a terminal window too. Josh On Sat, 2020-09-19 at 14:05 +0000, THE HAMMER via WLUG wrote: > Hello everyone. > > > > > > > > Thank again for all the recent advice. I have one question. I > installed Ubuntu (from a 20.04 flash drive I did a while back) and > checked the option to download additional software. It was then up > and running. I then had updates available. They were installing, > and then the computer said a restart was needed. I clicked restart > and rather than restart as expected it went to what I think was a > grub menu. Ubuntu was highlighted, I hit the enter key. It said > "unpacking failed" (forget if before or after) and started > up. Everything seems to be fine, but I am sending this email in case > if anyone knows if I will have problems. > > > > > > > > I tried googling "Ubuntu unpacking failed" and se references to > initramfs, but can't say if my message said this. It flashed > quickly. I'm confused on what I read there anyway. > > > > > > > > > > FYI on the bios to make things work I changed: > > PTT to off > > Secure Boot Enable to off > > Changed RAID to AHCHI > > > > > > > > The machine seems blazing fast compared to the previous one. > > Materials much more cheaply made, though. > > Surprised me that there was no Windows CD or label with license > number. > > > > cheers > > > > > > > > > > Ron > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________WLUG mailing list -- > wlug(a)lists.wlug.org > To unsubscribe send an email to wlug-leave(a)lists.wlug.org > Create Account: https://wlug.mailman3.com/accounts/signup/ > Change Settings: > https://wlug.mailman3.com/postorius/lists/wlug.lists.wlug.org/ > Web Forum/Archive: > https://wlug.mailman3.com/hyperkitty/list/wlug@lists.wlug.org/message/NOGNS…

Sept. 19, 2020

Ubuntu update question

by THE HAMMER

Hello everyone. Thank again for all the recent advice. I have one question. I installed Ubuntu (from a 20.04 flash drive I did a while back) and checked the option to download additional software. It was then up and running. I then had updates available. They were installing, and then the computer said a restart was needed. I clicked restart and rather than restart as expected it went to what I think was a grub menu. Ubuntu was highlighted, I hit the enter key. It said "unpacking failed" (forget if before or after) and started up. Everything seems to be fine, but I am sending this email in case if anyone knows if I will have problems. I tried googling "Ubuntu unpacking failed" and se references to initramfs, but can't say if my message said this. It flashed quickly. I'm confused on what I read there anyway. FYI on the bios to make things work I changed: PTT to off Secure Boot Enable to off Changed RAID to AHCHI The machine seems blazing fast compared to the previous one. Materials much more cheaply made, though. Surprised me that there was no Windows CD or label with license number. cheers Ron

Sept. 19, 2020

Re: desktop advice update

by THE HAMMER

Josh, Thanks for the info. I did not realize that the costs were so low for an SSD. I think I will get settled first and then pick one up! ...I don't know if windows 10 is pre installed on this, or if it comes with an installation cd as I have not opened it yet (won't be home till tonight). I hope that I can just install Ubuntu with having to "register" or install windows on the computer. I'll try to launch the usb flash drive as a live os first to see how it runs, etc ________________________________ From: joshua.gage.stone(a)gmail.com <joshua.gage.stone(a)gmail.com> Sent: Friday, September 18, 2020 11:11 AM To: Worcester Linux Users' Group General Discussion <wlug(a)lists.wlug.org>; wlug(a)mail.wlug.org <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> Cc: THE HAMMER <hammerron(a)hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [WLUG] desktop advice update Hey Ron, That machine looks like a great starting point -- the 6C/12T i5-10400 should be excellent for productivity workloads, and having all of the parts already assembled into a pre-built system saves a lot of hassle. You're unlikely to ever have to worry about UEFI (Secure Boot specifically) on this particular machine since you picked a configuration without Nvidia graphics, and most of the popular distributions have their own signed kernel modules for full UEFI support. This machine is even certified to run Ubuntu 18.04: https://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/inspiron-3880-desktop_users-guide_en-us.pdf… More documentation can be found here: https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/inspiron-38… I think the one recommendation I would make is to install an SSD, because I guarantee that it'll make this machine *fly*. Almost everything will be accelerated, even common applications like file browsers and web browsers will load faster. A CPU and GPU will spend more time waiting than actually executing tasks if copying data into memory take seconds to complete instead of milliseconds. An M.2 SSD should be an excellent investment and will be very easy to install: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/internal-hard-drive/#i=85&sort=-rating&pa… I hope that helps! Josh On Fri, 2020-09-18 at 14:18 +0000, THE HAMMER via WLUG wrote: First off, thanks to everyone for the great advice. It's rather a long story for another day, but I wound up picking up this model: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-inspiron-3000-desktop-intel-core-i5-10400… [https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/6416/6416004…]<https://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-inspiron-3000-desktop-intel-core-i5-10400…> Dell Inspiron 3000 Desktop Intel Core i5-10400 8GB Memory 1TB HDD Ethernet WiFi Bluetooth keyboard and mouse Black i3880-5920BLK-PUS - Best Buy<https://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-inspiron-3000-desktop-intel-core-i5-10400…> Shop Dell Inspiron 3000 Desktop Intel Core i5-10400 8GB Memory 1TB HDD Ethernet WiFi Bluetooth keyboard and mouse Black at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Price Match Guarantee. www.bestbuy.com There are way bigger and badder machines out there, this one should still has way more to offer that what is replacing. I have experience distro hopping and before had no worries about installing a linux distro on a pc, but they have always been older machines. I presume that the one will have uefi which is something I have never worked with. I am a bit apprehensive and hope I can figure it all out without major problems. I hope to get this all up and running tonight or over the weekend. Ron _______________________________________________ WLUG mailing list -- <mailto:wlug@lists.wlug.org> wlug(a)lists.wlug.org To unsubscribe send an email to <mailto:wlug-leave@lists.wlug.org> wlug-leave(a)lists.wlug.org Create Account: <https://wlug.mailman3.com/accounts/signup/> https://wlug.mailman3.com/accounts/signup/ Change Settings: <https://wlug.mailman3.com/postorius/lists/wlug.lists.wlug.org/> https://wlug.mailman3.com/postorius/lists/wlug.lists.wlug.org/ Web Forum/Archive: <https://wlug.mailman3.com/hyperkitty/list/wlug@lists.wlug.org/message/GO27S…> https://wlug.mailman3.com/hyperkitty/list/wlug@lists.wlug.org/message/GO27S…

Sept. 18, 2020

Re: desktop advice update

by joshua.gage.stone＠gmail.com

Hey Ron, That machine looks like a great starting point -- the 6C/12T i5-10400 should be excellent for productivity workloads, and having all of the parts already assembled into a pre-built system saves a lot of hassle. You're unlikely to ever have to worry about UEFI (Secure Boot specifically) on this particular machine since you picked a configuration without Nvidia graphics, and most of the popular distributions have their own signed kernel modules for full UEFI support. This machine is even certified to run Ubuntu 18.04: https://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/inspiron-3880-desktop_users-guide_en-us.pdf… More documentation can be found here: https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/inspiron-38… I think the one recommendation I would make is to install an SSD, because I guarantee that it'll make this machine *fly*. Almost everything will be accelerated, even common applications like file browsers and web browsers will load faster. A CPU and GPU will spend more time waiting than actually executing tasks if copying data into memory take seconds to complete instead of milliseconds. An M.2 SSD should be an excellent investment and will be very easy to install: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/internal-hard-drive/#i=85&sort=-rating&pa… I hope that helps! Josh On Fri, 2020-09-18 at 14:18 +0000, THE HAMMER via WLUG wrote: > First off, thanks to everyone for the great advice. It's rather a > long story for another day, but I wound up picking up this model: > > > > https://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-inspiron-3000-desktop-intel-core-i5-10400… > > > > > > > > > > > > > Dell > Inspiron 3000 Desktop Intel Core i5-10400 8GB Memory 1TB HDD > Ethernet WiFi Bluetooth keyboard and mouse Black i3880-5920BLK-PUS - > Best Buy > > Shop Dell Inspiron 3000 Desktop Intel Core i5-10400 8GB Memory 1TB > HDD Ethernet WiFi Bluetooth keyboard and mouse Black at Best Buy. > Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store > pick-up. Price Match Guarantee. > > www.bestbuy.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > There are way bigger and badder machines out there, this one should > still has way more to offer that what is replacing. > > > > I have experience distro hopping and before had no worries about > installing a linux distro on a pc, but they have always been older > machines. I presume that the one will have uefi which is something I > have never worked with. I am a bit apprehensive and hope > I can figure it all out without major problems. I hope to get this > all up and running tonight or over the weekend. > > > > Ron > > > > > > _______________________________________________WLUG mailing list -- > wlug(a)lists.wlug.org > To unsubscribe send an email to wlug-leave(a)lists.wlug.org > Create Account: https://wlug.mailman3.com/accounts/signup/ > Change Settings: > https://wlug.mailman3.com/postorius/lists/wlug.lists.wlug.org/ > Web Forum/Archive: > https://wlug.mailman3.com/hyperkitty/list/wlug@lists.wlug.org/message/GO27S…

Sept. 18, 2020

desktop advice update

by THE HAMMER

First off, thanks to everyone for the great advice. It's rather a long story for another day, but I wound up picking up this model: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-inspiron-3000-desktop-intel-core-i5-10400… [https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/6416/6416004…]<https://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-inspiron-3000-desktop-intel-core-i5-10400…> Dell Inspiron 3000 Desktop Intel Core i5-10400 8GB Memory 1TB HDD Ethernet WiFi Bluetooth keyboard and mouse Black i3880-5920BLK-PUS - Best Buy<https://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-inspiron-3000-desktop-intel-core-i5-10400…> Shop Dell Inspiron 3000 Desktop Intel Core i5-10400 8GB Memory 1TB HDD Ethernet WiFi Bluetooth keyboard and mouse Black at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Price Match Guarantee. www.bestbuy.com There are way bigger and badder machines out there, this one should still has way more to offer that what is replacing. I have experience distro hopping and before had no worries about installing a linux distro on a pc, but they have always been older machines. I presume that the one will have uefi which is something I have never worked with. I am a bit apprehensive and hope I can figure it all out without major problems. I hope to get this all up and running tonight or over the weekend. Ron

Sept. 18, 2020

Re: desktop advice

by James Gray

ZaReason is another supplier of computers preloaded with Linux operating systems. I haven't bought from them. From what I know they are a very small company with all the pluses and minuses that come with that. https://zareason.com/Desktops/ On Fri, Sep 18, 2020 at 8:44 AM Tim Keller via WLUG <wlug(a)lists.wlug.org> wrote: > Ron, > > For a desktop machine, I would consider the following minimums: > > Ram: Minimum 16GB > Modern web browsers are memory hogs. Once you throw in the window manager > and a couple more applications, there's never been a situation where I've > thought, "Damn, this machine has too much memory" My current machine has > 16gb of ram, and frankly, I wish it had 32GB or 64GB. > Disk: Minimum 512GB > Disk Type: If you can afford the price, buy an NVME, if not an SSD. > NVME is essentially a solid state disk plugged directly into the PCI bus > skipping the SATA buss) so the I/O performance is kick ass. Yet again... > nobody ever complains their program loads *too* fast. The price has come > way down on these. > > Personally, other features that I'd want would be support for dual > monitors. > > Tim. > > On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 7:48 AM THE HAMMER via WLUG <wlug(a)lists.wlug.org> > wrote: > >> I want to consider getting a new desktop computer. Can anyone advise me >> as to a specific model and place to purchase from? It's been a long time >> since I've bought new. >> >> I would be using it mostly for emails, a few general apts (like music >> streams and libre office), and a bit of amateur coding. I am not a gamer. >> >> If it is a windows machine, I'd like to load on a linux based os >> >> Suggestions? >> >> Ron >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> WLUG mailing list -- wlug(a)lists.wlug.org >> To unsubscribe send an email to wlug-leave(a)lists.wlug.org >> Create Account: https://wlug.mailman3.com/accounts/signup/ >> Change Settings: >> https://wlug.mailman3.com/postorius/lists/wlug.lists.wlug.org/ >> Web Forum/Archive: >> https://wlug.mailman3.com/hyperkitty/list/wlug@lists.wlug.org/message/UE5BM… >> > > > -- > I am leery of the allegiances of any politician who refers to their > constituents as "consumers". > _______________________________________________ > WLUG mailing list -- wlug(a)lists.wlug.org > To unsubscribe send an email to wlug-leave(a)lists.wlug.org > Create Account: https://wlug.mailman3.com/accounts/signup/ > Change Settings: > https://wlug.mailman3.com/postorius/lists/wlug.lists.wlug.org/ > Web Forum/Archive: > https://wlug.mailman3.com/hyperkitty/list/wlug@lists.wlug.org/message/BNKJ2… >

Sept. 18, 2020

Re: desktop advice

by Tim Keller

Ron, For a desktop machine, I would consider the following minimums: Ram: Minimum 16GB Modern web browsers are memory hogs. Once you throw in the window manager and a couple more applications, there's never been a situation where I've thought, "Damn, this machine has too much memory" My current machine has 16gb of ram, and frankly, I wish it had 32GB or 64GB. Disk: Minimum 512GB Disk Type: If you can afford the price, buy an NVME, if not an SSD. NVME is essentially a solid state disk plugged directly into the PCI bus skipping the SATA buss) so the I/O performance is kick ass. Yet again... nobody ever complains their program loads *too* fast. The price has come way down on these. Personally, other features that I'd want would be support for dual monitors. Tim. On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 7:48 AM THE HAMMER via WLUG <wlug(a)lists.wlug.org> wrote: > I want to consider getting a new desktop computer. Can anyone advise me > as to a specific model and place to purchase from? It's been a long time > since I've bought new. > > I would be using it mostly for emails, a few general apts (like music > streams and libre office), and a bit of amateur coding. I am not a gamer. > > If it is a windows machine, I'd like to load on a linux based os > > Suggestions? > > Ron > > > _______________________________________________ > WLUG mailing list -- wlug(a)lists.wlug.org > To unsubscribe send an email to wlug-leave(a)lists.wlug.org > Create Account: https://wlug.mailman3.com/accounts/signup/ > Change Settings: > https://wlug.mailman3.com/postorius/lists/wlug.lists.wlug.org/ > Web Forum/Archive: > https://wlug.mailman3.com/hyperkitty/list/wlug@lists.wlug.org/message/UE5BM… > -- I am leery of the allegiances of any politician who refers to their constituents as "consumers".

Sept. 18, 2020

Re: desktop advice

by Theo Van Dinter

I'll throw a +1 for this idea. The sorts of things you're looking to do aren't particularly intensive, so you don't need anything high powered. For some projects at home, I've been looking at getting older refurb desktops, like a Lenovo M83 or HP 8030, something with an i5-4570 or 4590, and 8G of RAM. If it comes with an SSD great but new small ones ~120G are only $25 or so, so it's cheap to slap your own in and do an install. These machines are fairly plentiful (old office desktops) and you can find them pretty inexpensively. For example I'm watching 2 on Facebook marketplace right now at $100 and $120. fwiw, I need some GPU power as well, so was going to get an NVidia 1650 LP to put in there, but for your list of things the built-in graphics should be fine. On Tue, Sep 15, 2020, 11:34 Richard Klein via WLUG <wlug(a)lists.wlug.org> wrote: > My last few computers have been used Dell or HP workstations, mostly > off-lease from a couple ebay sellers I have experience with. One was from > a WPI student off craigslist. They all do great with Linux and I've had no > regrets. > > A couple ebay sellers I've had good luck with: > https://www.ebay.com/str/dellofficialrefurbishedstore > https://www.ebay.com/str/enviroit > > -- > Rich > > On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 7:48 AM THE HAMMER via WLUG <wlug(a)lists.wlug.org> > wrote: > >> I want to consider getting a new desktop computer. Can anyone advise me >> as to a specific model and place to purchase from? It's been a long time >> since I've bought new. >> >> I would be using it mostly for emails, a few general apts (like music >> streams and libre office), and a bit of amateur coding. I am not a gamer. >> >> If it is a windows machine, I'd like to load on a linux based os >> >> Suggestions? >> >> Ron >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> WLUG mailing list -- wlug(a)lists.wlug.org >> To unsubscribe send an email to wlug-leave(a)lists.wlug.org >> Create Account: https://wlug.mailman3.com/accounts/signup/ >> Change Settings: >> https://wlug.mailman3.com/postorius/lists/wlug.lists.wlug.org/ >> Web Forum/Archive: >> https://wlug.mailman3.com/hyperkitty/list/wlug@lists.wlug.org/message/UE5BM… >> > _______________________________________________ > WLUG mailing list -- wlug(a)lists.wlug.org > To unsubscribe send an email to wlug-leave(a)lists.wlug.org > Create Account: https://wlug.mailman3.com/accounts/signup/ > Change Settings: > https://wlug.mailman3.com/postorius/lists/wlug.lists.wlug.org/ > Web Forum/Archive: > https://wlug.mailman3.com/hyperkitty/list/wlug@lists.wlug.org/message/2TAOH… >

Sept. 18, 2020