When there is failure, there is something to learn. Earlier, when I started my desktop, all I got was just a basic color of my desktop. Without any taskbar or desktop icon or wallpaper! So, what I did was using Ctrl +Alt + F1 to go to the console to get the things fix.

TIPS: For newbies out there, you can swap in between 6 virtual terminal from F1 to F6 using Alt + F<terminal number> when you in the terminal. Or if you on gnome, then you need to use Alt + Ctrl + F<terminal number>.

In the end, I found that it was due to some gnome related files I had removed earlier. So getting it back just by using sudo apt-get install will make it. However, I discovered 2 cool commands.

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Learn something new

Yesterday, I bought a AMD AM2-64 X4000 CPU and of course also a new motherboard and 1GB of DDR2 RAM to support the new CPU. My first thought was that I need to reinstall my Linux OS to 64bit. But then, I learn from the shopkeeper that 64-bit is backwards compatible to 32-bit.

This new motherboard only comes with one PATA IDE, and the rest are SATA. However, when I plugged in my PCI IDE card with 3 PATA hard disks connected, I got the GRUB Error 22 message.

I guess there is something to do with the PCI IDE card. Hope to solve it by this week.

One of the thing you want to be proud of using Linux is you can compile the kernel yourself! Of course, if you using Linux distro on your desktop, you will not need to worry of the kernel compilation or upgrade. Time to time, there will be ready binary download for you to upgrade.

But if you want to learn then carry on the reading.

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The easiest way to compile Linux Kernel in Ubuntu

This video shows how a 3 year old child get to love Linux in just less than 2 minutes. From the beginning, he is a Windows fan, but when he slowly discovered the beauty of Linux. He could not resist it any further more.

Of course what make him love about Linux not the functionality or open source. It is just the colorful screen and the ability to let him drag-and-drop desktop icons.

Maybe from now on, you should train your kids to love Linux more.

Today, I faced a problem on setting up Compiz for my company Ubuntu Gibbon Gutsy desktop. At the System > Preferences > Appearance > Visual Effects tab, no matter what I choose, normal or advanced. In just 10 seconds, a dialog box pop up saying that “Desktop effects could not be enabled”.

After some troubleshoot, by running “compiz” in the terminal, I finally got myself a reason why I could not run it.

Checking for Xgl: not present.
Blacklisted PCIID ‘8086:2a02′ found
aborting and using fallback: /usr/bin/metacity

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Compiz blacklisted Graphic Cards

Yes! Today is the release of Ubuntu 7.10 - Gibbon Gutsy. If you do not have Ubuntu on your laptop, desktop or server. You could go download from this url: http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download.

If you are an existing Ubuntu users, you can just upgrade your system by just go to System > Administration > Update Manager and then click check for new updates. You might prompt to install some updates first, if so, just do it first. After that, a message will then alert you of the new Gibbon Gutsy! Just click Upgrade!

For Kubuntu desktop and Ubuntu servers, it is recommend to upgrade over networks. Try out the new 7.10 and share your experience with us!

Still have 3 more days left for the final release of Gibbon Gutsy. On the internet, there are all kinds of related news spreading. Here I share some which I think worth reading.

• Ubuntu Power Consumption Test
  On the new Gibbon Gutsy will be using Linux kernel version 2.6.22, this is where it will put the tickless kernel feature to test. This help to improve the power efficiency of desktop.
• Ubuntu Repositories Merge
  One changes on Ubuntu 7.10 is the merges of the Ubuntu Studio repositories. So what does that mean? It mean you could install all the multimedia software just with one command line.

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Ubuntu Gibbon Gutsy News

Still have 9 more days count down for the official release of the Gibbon Gutsy. Yeah~ …

Most of the Ubuntu user should already get the news that Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon is around the corner. Just in 11 more days for the official release.

Actually you now already available to download the beta version. From what I know download the iso mirror image from their web site and burn to your CD. Then upgrade would be the best way.

But you could still download directly by just change your Ubuntu Feisty Fawn repository.

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How to upgrade Ubuntu Feisty to Gutsy in 3 Steps?

Today Skype have released a new version of Linux Skype - version 1.4. It is codename Panacea. If you used Windows Skype, you will find that Linux Skype is only very basic feature with chat and voice chat.

Download it here for Ubuntu、Debian、Fedora、openSUSE、Mandriva、Mepis、Xandros and the rest Linux distro.

What is the major changes on ver 1.4 different from the previous?

• feature: Command line switches, run “skype —help” for more details.
• feature: —resources= to set an alternative to /usr/share/skype for resources.
• feature: Add an option to Sound Devices to enable/disable automatic mixer adjustment.
• feature: Allow keyboard/keypad to be used to enter DTMF numbers in call window.
• feature: Clickable links in chat topics.

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Skype 1.4 for Linux released!