Ubuntu, missing files, and ancient updates

[tpgames]

I just inherited a desktop with ubuntu installed and a bunch of other cool apps. The issue is that the person who gave me the computer accidentally deleted the folder that update manager uses to actually update the programs after one oks updating. Thus, I can't update anything using manager. The folder was called "pool" I think.

Question: If the last update of anything was around Firefox 2.00.1 for all programs, including GIMP, Open Office, and Evolution, do I have to do a manual updating? Or is their an easier method that would be more error resistant?

Also, is it possible that I might have to reinstall Ubuntu given the outdatedness of everything might mean too many missing files in order to get anything working properly?

Lastly...
I did go to the official ubuntu site about updating firefox and was confused as to whether method 1 was part of the manual install and one of the steps, or if it was its own method one could use instead of the manual install. :D

Many thanks! :D

[Plater]

Well you could just update to the newest release maybe?
I think the apt-get command will work?

[tpgames]

Thanks for your help. I found out that because my version is so old, I have to do a fresh install. I found the answer after much digging on another site. So, now i'm going to go google books and relearn how to get the computer to boot from the cd that i had my sister make. This computer is missing so many key files, that it can't make cd's either.

[tpgames]

Stupid computer refuses to boot from cd-rom! Now, I'm going to try and make a floppy disc. Fortunately, I still have floppies. However, I'll have to make one from my laptop. If that does not work, then the only option I'll have is either bring to computer geek and pay to have it fixed, or attempt a file by file find and copy to replace the missing files and try to guess what was in the bloody /pool/ folder! That isn't too likely to work, so I guess I dish out money I don't have. Ugh! I guess I'll have to wait until my renters rebate check comes in.

The IT techie who actually has a job keeping computer running smoothly told me that he doesn't remember how to do a fresh install of Ubuntu on the computer he gave me. I think he is a big fat liar. I'm going to have to call him and tell him the issues I'm having to see if there is something else about this computer I should know about.

Any comments are appreciated. Thanks! :D

[AmberJain]

Hello,

I am not a frequent Ubuntu user, but hre are some points that are worth noting:

1. Are you sure that you copied the image to CD to make it bootable? If not, you can try downloading the latest Ubuntu ISO and burn it to CD (or ofcourse, you can request a free Ubuntu CD)

2. Trying to boot a floppy that in turns loads the bootable CD is a good option. This should work in very old computers too. If you do this carefully, you will see Ubuntu installer in front of you. And, the Ubuntu installation is a very easy process (the only step that seems difficult is partitioning but I suppose you will easily handle partitioning). It's very easy....No computer geek required. You don't have to be a (*nix) geek to install Ubuntu :).


AmbrNewlearner

[tpgames]

It turned out that I didn't enable USB keyboard in BIOS. I thought I had, but when I checked, I hadn't. The ISO was burned properly as I used a program made specifically for ISO burning.

I did get it to install after I got the keyboard working. Now, the only issue I have is that forum fonts are too tiny. I'm saving for a new monitor as the one I have blurs the text slightly. It gets worse if I click the options that suppose to make tiny text clearer. lol

[tpgames]

By the way, I did change the fonts sizes to 20. I only actually need 16. The fonts on forums still show up as 10. I changed the font sizes in the browser too. I'm using Firefox for Linux. I'm tired of doing ctrl++. Now I'm going to see if squint will work on firefox in linux. Squint is better at forcing my font size needs. :D

[tpgames]

NoSquint worked! Yea!

[Nepomuk]

Well done for getting that all working! :-)

By the way, if for any reason the updater won't work in future, you can always follow Platers tip and use

apt-get update && apt-get upgrade

- although in this case I'm sure a fresh install was probably really the best solution.

Greetings,
Nepomuk

[tpgames]

it was, especially since 7.10 uses a folder called pool and that folder was deleted.

Tomorrow, after I get some programming done for my webstie, I hope to get the sound working. I have to reinstall the sound drivers. This might have to wait until Monday as tomorrow is pretty busy.

[tpgames]

I'm going to have to try apt-get [name of program here] again!
gnome-alsa mixer is in one folder, but the error message I get gives another folder I can't even find for the gnome-alsa mixer. The wrong: /app/gnome-mixer/ vs. The correct: usr/share/gnome-mixer. Consequently, its not saving the setting but tells me that the setting are set to NO mute. However, I still do not hear sound. I do get indication that it recognizes the sound card and that the sound card isn't the issue.