[conspire] Re: Distro help

[Ryman]

Hi guys, I'm sorry about the unclear question. 

Here is my computer spec:
Pent4 2.G
GigaByte Motherboard. I'm not sure what model it is.
512MB of RAM
80G HD on hda1
60G HD on hdb1
Audizy 2zs sound card
NVIDA 5700 Ultra
I'm running Ubuntu Hoary only.

Here are the problems:

1/ Some times when I downloaded something via Firefox and I saved them
on desktop but when I check my desktop. They aren't there. They
disappeared. I can only see them after I restarted my computer.

2/ Firefox keeps crashing for no reason. 

3/ My computer didn't freeze during the day. It freeze when I leave
the computer overnight to download something. The download was still
working but I couldn't move my cursor or anything. I pressed Ctrl +
Alt + Backspace and it took me to text mode log in.

I think something is wrong with my HD because my HD is making weird
sound. The computer's temperature is at 95 degree.

I'm sorry about my bad engish. 

On 5/15/05, Rick Moen <rick at linuxmafia.com> wrote:
> Hi, Ryman.  I'm responding on the "conspire at linuxmafia.com" mailing
> list[1].  Why?  Because, in order to help you out, I'll have to first
> help you refine your question, and I get _really_ tired of people
> complaining, over on that other list, that I'd "criticised the poster"
> after doing that, in situations where refining the question is the
> _only_ way to assist.[2]
> 
> (I notice that nobody on that other list is helping you, and wish to
> be an exception.  You may remember my assisting you on IRC, several
> times previously.)
> 
> 
> Quoting Ryman (rymanle at gmail.com):
> 
> > Hi guys, I'm new to linux. I'm currently running Ubuntu but somehow It
> > keep freezing and stuffs. I think there is something wrong with my HD.
> > Is there any program to check it ?
> 
> There is.  However, first, I think it's worth spending a few minutes
> considering whether there actually _is_ evidence pointing towards the
> hard drive as a plausible suspect.  If there isn't, you see, then you'll
> have spent time fruitlessly on solving the wrong problem.
> 
> For people to be _sure_ they're helping you solve the right problem,
> they need to have confidence in what you say.  Techies learn the hard
> way to be wary of problem descriptions that seem to be the querent's
> _interpretation_ of the problem, rather than the raw symptoms.  The
> latter are what they'll want to see (or as close as e-mail permits).
> I jokingly say that this is because techies are all from Missouri:
> Their motto is "Show me."
> 
> You say:  "It keeps freezing and stuff."  OK, we believe you.  But it's
> in your interest to tell techies any relevant surrounding detail:  Is
> there something you're characteristically doing when "it freezes"?  Some
> program that you just started?  Some condition always present?  Is it
> possible that the machine is attempting suspend (sleep) mode and just
> not able to emerge from it?  Or does the problem emerge only after the
> machine has been running for an hour or more (which might correlate with
> heat build-up)?  Is this machine a dual-boot box, and does the problem
> manifest with the other OS (if any)?  Does it happen with Linux
> distributions on removable drives, such as Knoppix, the LNX-BBC mini-CD,
> or the Tom's Root-Boot floppy?
> 
> How frozen is frozen?  Are you still able to move the mouse pointer
> around?  Are you able to type in any still-selected field?  Does
> Ctrl-Alt-F1 still take you to a text console?  If you know (or can find
> out) the machine's IP address and have it on a LAN, does it still
> respond to ping queries?   Yes or no on these matters makes a _huge_
> difference in narrowing down what underlying type of problem you have.
> 
> You say you think something is wrong with your hard drive.  OK, but why
> the hard drive?  Is there something you see that seems to point
> specifically to it?  Or could your problem symptom be equally a problem
> with RAM, the CPU, your motherboard, or heat build-up inside the case?
> (If you have reason to think it's the hard drive, please do say, and
> I'll dredge up the information about HD diagnostics.)
> 
> What motherboard and other hardware are you using?  It may be that there
> are some known problems in Linux support for your particular components,
> but nobody can help you determine that until you post information on
> what you have.
> 
> 
> > I also wonder what is other distro that you guys recommend for newbie.
> > I'm only about a month linux old.  I'm trying to learn C program on
> > linux. Thanks.
> 
> Here are some:
> 
> Ubuntu/Kubuntu you know about.
> Xandros Desktop OS.
> SimplyMEPIS.
> SUSE Linux.
> Mandriva (formerly Mandrakelinux).
> Kanotix.
> Libranet.
> Linspire.
> Lycoris Desktop/LX.
> 
> Here's a good place to start:
> http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major
> 
> [1] Info:  http://linuxmafia.com/mailman/listinfo/conspire .  Please do
> _group reply_ (aka "reply to all"), if you answer this mail, so that you
> reply back that that mailing list, and not just to me privately.
> Thanks!
> 
> [2] I happen to have co-written an oft-cited article on assisting
> people with this problem.  I hope you find it interesting.
> http://linuxmafia.com/faq/Essays/smart-questions.html
>