Ubuntu upgrade pointless

This happens when you're STUPID, when you don't know how to upgrade, when you don't read the specs of the thing before upgrading to it, when you are simply STUPID

my upgrade worked just fine, I used the dist-upgrade.. The eyecandy DOES work, and it works on any video card, it IS better than the previous one it contains compiz-fusion. just install the compizconfig settings manager to use the cooler effects

Just upgraded from 7.04 to 7.10 on an old dell laptop (took a number of hours) but my wireless card now works like a charm. (It was giving me fits under 7.04.)

After using Yellowdog Linux for sometime on my PS3, I fancied giving Unbuntu a shot.

I can't believe how bad it truely is. The PS3 release is REALLY badly borked.

Screen resultion is wrong during setup, It's wrong after install, and can't be changed. Wired and wireless networking seem to be non functional, and the kernel hangs on shutdown.

How difficult is it to test for a standard platform like PS3?

I upgraded my Ubuntu install, and now the nvidia drivers don't work (I run 2 graphics boards and 3 monitors). The new touted-as-amaaaaazing built-in config in ubuntu is totally broken, can't even enable one extra monitor, plus it gives me green garble on the extra monitors.

I tried 8 hours to solve this problem including trying all the different options of drivers there is. I miss the old drivers whose setup xorg.conf would not be recognized and overwritten with the "failsafe" config not caring to backup or give me an option to re-edit my config.

Nvidia actually has a monitor setup tool that _used_ to work. But now that driver doesn't start at all. Why do they release pre-alpha software? Bad management must be the reason. On a side note: WHY the heck do they have to restart X every time they change screen settings? Windows XP doesn't need that...

All in all this concludes the Ubuntu saga for now for me.. Back to windows XP. If they don't fix graphics driver issues and make it easier to configure it's pointless to even try running Ubuntu as a desktop OS, and that's what it is - so would render it pointless altogether. 

Maybe I'll consider Linux for me on the desktop as a viable option in about a year.

Iv upgraded two machines:

1. Desktop, 7.04 -> 7.10 no prolems at all
2. Laptop, 6.10 -> 7.04 -> 7.10 no prolems at all

Probably you are not lucky as I am.

it went almost smooth for me. only problem i have is related to dual-monitor resolutions and missing window decoration with custom compiz-fusion settings. while there are things to critizice i think those points you mentioned are not really fair. at least i dont know an OS that would not ask you anything when installing.

The disk swapping was because it uses Tracker by default to index your files. You could set it to be much less aggressive using Indexing Options. 

And when it asks you to keep your settings it also means the gui settings, as all of them are stored in your home folder...

I'm glad that you had a rather un-eventful upgrade process. Generally the lack of locating files is common for the first 1-2 weeks of a new release due to load and other reasons.

As for things being the same, they aren't. If however you happen to have hardware that you did not have any problems with or worked w/ underlaying OS issues (ethernet issues, filesystem corruption issues et al) then be very happy. 2.6.20 had a lot of problems that I for one ran into, enough that I had to go back to 6.10 release of code. 

the 2.6.22 kernel in 7.10 is a huge plus as it fixes a lot of underlaying issues (I've compiled that for 7.04 on other systems to manually fix things). 

Anyway, an OS should be there to enable you to get your work done. it's not 'eye' candy or any other purpose (regardless what crap microsoft is trying to pass as an OS or apple for that matter). 

If you have to think about the OS at all when you're using your system the OS has been designed wrong. It should be unseen and unheard.

Might be a bad upgrade, but it sure seems nice as a clean install. I installed 7.10 as my very first linux installation ever - been with the Vole since DOS. 

I chose to install Linux now for three main reasons; 7.10 finally offered full support for my NTFS partitions, ATi drivers should be on the way and Compiz sounded interesting.. And so far everything has been surprisingly easy to setup.

I think, if you plan on upgrading on every new release, it is easier to move your /home onto a seperate partition. 

This way you can install the new version (or any distro for that matter) without overwriting your files and you shouldn't encounter any dependency problems.

@ jonatan wallmander
Ubuntu is not Linux. There are many other Linux distros out there that will satisfy your needs better than Ubuntu. Try them.

@ Peter Yates
Then you're going to get problems on your desktop as settings made for the previous OS conflict with the desktop settings for the new OS. Software installed previously may no longer be available, hardware may have different locations, etc. 
It's a good suggestion you offer. One I have always followed. Just want to say it's not a trouble free solution. Definitely part of an upgrade strategy but not a replacement for a well made upgrade from the Distro provider.

I dont really understand why it has to look different from Fiesty Fawn to be an good upgrade. 

If you want to change the look of your buttons you could do it yourself. The biggest changes are a faster OS due to a new version of Gnome (if you use KDE you should switch) and the new kernel of course. 

And by the way if you didnt notice, the upgrade is optional and you can still use Fesity Fawn. A working os is better than a new one.

worked first time, downloads slow, but must be you mate. Can't do nuffin with it, can't do windows? must be poo!, can't do macOS?must be poo!. can do Ubuntu?, must be poo!

Get a jib you like!!

For someone work for technical site, and has been using Linux for awhile, how can you post a negative article on a new software because you do not know how to use/upgrade such distro. As another post said, you need to use dist-upgrade and have proper source in place. 
Better yet, just do a clean install. I did one the first nigth came out, in 15 mins (including manual fdisk 1.5 terabyte of partitions/data). came out beautiful, aditional 2 hours to configure, and now is the most beautiful desktop money can't buy. (I used xbuntu + beryl on feisty before, and it was 5x the time it took to get where I wanted). Gutsy does all the beautiful and very complex installs by default for you, compize_beryl, restricted driver for ATI/nvidia, true auto config for wireless, apt-get JAVA, vmware, Flash9 w/ nswrapper, all automatic...organizing one of the largest repositories in OSS world and bring synergy to 10000+ package so you can use it. ALL THESE ARE NEW FEATURES. 
Nick, go back to windows if you so desire, but please don't post something you don't know on this respective tech site.

Stop complaining, it's not perfect but it's quite good and it's free. And nobody forces you to use it (unlike Windows , which is pre-installed on most computers)

Nick, I think you should move from Ubuntu 7.10 to Vista; it's very FA"s"T.....

http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10006214o-2000331758b,00.htm

I didn't do the upgrade actually, I used the liveCD because I had to repartition my hard drive anyways. I have a few different OSs on my machine(XP/Ubuntu/openSUSE/PClinuxOS) and the only one I had problems with was Suse, and it was only figuring out the networking settings on install.

I've noticed a few minor things that seemed different at least with Gusty. For one, my KDE applications seem to work better under Gnome in Gusty. I've only had Gusty for a couple days now though, so I haven't experienced everything. Also, they replaced Gaim with Pidgin XD.

As far as the eyecandy goes, under System>Preferences>Appearance, go under the Visual Effects tab and you have some options.

You have to keep in mind, Ubuntu releases a new distro about every 6 months. It's not supposed to knock your socks off, it's just improved in certain ways.

NOTE: putting your /home on another partition is DEFINITELY a good idea, even if you don't plan to use the same config files. It's just safer for one. You can do all you want to the operating system's filesystem and it won't hurt anything in your home. What I did was use a slightly different name for each distro and kept all my home directories inside the same /home partition.

P.S. Getting sloshed may not help when avoiding installation errors XD

After having used Linux for my main OS for the past few years I've managed to have an epiphany. That is: Linux is not Windows.

Having an OS such as Windows with major consistency from computer to computer is a big plus, but it also has its drawbacks. I've chosen Linux because it is the OS without the influence of a major company that rarely these days operates in a manner conducive to the benefits of the consumer (they have 47 programs that spy on you in Windows Vista, not counting the WGA/WGN crap, and the fact that Microsoft coerced the hardware manufacturers into forcing DRM related circuitry in an effort to lock people into Windows if and when DRM becomes central to all computer use.) Yes, I'm saying that Microsoft did some very nefarious things in order to lock you further into Windows and for that reason I am not a fan of Microsoft nor of Windows these days. 

I warn everyone of what Microsoft has planted in Windows and I give the example of it being like Walmart coming to your home every Sunday morning to request to go through your belongings in an effort to determine whether all those are legitimately purchased from Walmart. Even if Microsoft is doing it with a hidden camera, per se, my opinion of their efforts would be no different if Walmart asked to put in a hidden camera.

I think you see my point. Even with the "consistency" of the OS and what it brings in the end it is not worth being locked into windows and being subject to an oppressive business model. I'm not interested in being locked into Windows. The fact that Linux has multiple distributions leading to some inconsistency has its own benefits and those are significant in their own right.

One thing I have also learned is that Window is not the end. I mean there is life after Windows. You have the whole playing field available still. You can give up Windows and move on to another OS that is very accomplished. Even if you don't like Linux you could still like the Mac OS. Anything at this point but Windows.

Yes, when Vista was released it did nothing but pass off a DRM infected OS with delusions that they would control the market for another 20 years (because, as Bill Gates stated, computers are being used primarily for the consumption of content instead of the creation of content). What Bill meant was that his company was gearing up to lock you into the content control mechanisms to keep you locked into the OS.

With Linux the story is different. The Linux industry is out to ensure your rights, to ensure your privacy, and to advance the technology continuously (instead of making you wait 5 years for an upgrade). Sometimes this incremental increase shows little visual improvement, though, that is often in the eyes of the beholder.

Linux is not Windows. You should not think about Linux as Windows. The software in the Linux community gets fixes and upgrades all the time. These incremental upgrades provide features that give you benefits continuously over time instead of having them bunched up at once (or in the case of Windows Vista hidden and possibly illegal).

So, when it comes to infrastructure changes you should be happy when an OS upgrades without much of a hassle and much of an imprint. In the Linux industry you should take the upgrade because other non-kernel specific changes and other updates over time are being made for that upgrade. Yes, you can stay with the old version and still see upgrades, and if you feel strongly you should stay.

One thing to say about the latest Ubuntu upgrade is that it upgraded virtually every aspect of the OS and the install went without borking the whole computer. Borking a computer does happen and it has happened to me but in the end I still have a solid OS that keeps me happy and does all those things I wish to do with an OS. I have a full featured office suit, I can do my mail, view my photos and videos, play my music and movies, explore the world with the web, chat with friends, keep an eye on the weather, learn about the technology behind the OS and stay free of the influences that are now ever present in Vista that deny me my privacy, with all of that tied to a solid security model designed into the OS from the beginning.

So, sometimes the releases are not globular and ever impacting. Sometimes they are just solid updates for the majority of us that give us a better upgrade path and more stability with privacy guaranteed.

I upgraded one desktop to Gutsy using the alt-install cd route. Then another 4 hours of downloading was apparently required, but in the end it ran OK, including fglrx ATI 3D drivers. I had taken another route the previous week and just installed 64 bit OpenSuse on my laptop, using the previous Kubuntu home partition, and found that I preferred this due to easier installation, firewall, and easier administration, so Gutsy was replaced on the desktop as well. I also used the same Suse version on my home file (samba) server, which worked great. They have finally fixed their package manager!

But, after all, all of this software is a free gift from others like yourself, so you can help out a lot by submitting bug reports for any distro you prefer. Some people also submit error reports to microsoft, but the difference with open source seems to be that Linux people listen to you more often and are quicker to fix things. I have made changes to both OpenSuse and Kubuntu through bug reports, which is an empowering feeling compared to the futility of just complaining to Microsoft.

Before everyone goes happy-go-lucky with their lappies and hits 7.10, compiz gave up on some popular chips.

$olely minor difference$ between Window$ and Linux. If 7.04 works and 7.10 doesn't... hey, put 7.04 back on. $upport is just that, $upport.

Well, I had issues w/m'Vista, and decided to give Linux/Ubuntu a try, esp. after all that hype that portrays Ubuntu as "Linux finally ready" for the regular desktop user etc. So I tried a dual boot. Didn't work, and almost screwed up my Vista. Thank God for Hiren's CD, otherwise you would've learned about my experience on the 11 o'clock news.

And I had done my homework, dug up and read all them dual-boot tutorials--none of which, unfortunately, addressed the specific issue of dual-booting Gutsy-Vista.

No hassle free Linux so far. Appreciate the efforts though.

So you want to replace the operating system, at the same time surf the web and do everything you normally did and think that every setting that was applied to your old applications will magically be carried forward to the new version and work without a hitch. 

This is what we all strive for, but not Ubuntu nor any other linux distro, windows, MacOS or any other generally useful OS can claim to do what you're asking for, reliably for every combination of software and hardware out there.

use your brain to think rather than rant about crap you clearly don't know anything about.

I recently installed Ubuntu on my laptop and Kubuntu on my desktop.

I have has ZERO problems with it on my desktop, and I really like the Restricted drivers manager for KDE, it was a pain in the butt setting up Nvidia drivers for Feisty, and the graphical .deb installer for Kubuntu is nice as well.

I have had a slew of problems on my laptop, but these are because it is an Acer and not designed to run anything but Windows. I had a hard time with the wireless, it won't suspend/ hibernate, and it takes a long time to boot, but it seems as if these are problems that all Acer owners have. I am still looking into getting them fixed. BUT I did not have to set up the monitor at all, I have a wide screen display and I have heard that it was like hell getting the wide screen resolutions to work on Feisty (or alt least some of them)

Overall, I would say that Gutsy is a great improvement for 6 months of work.

@ jonatan wallmander

First of all, X needs to restart because when you install a new graphics driver or change the configuration it needs to be reloaded. It is generally the same thing in Windows when you change the driver. The only difference is with the resolution. This difference is just because X needs to reload for settings to take effect. Windows and Linux operate differently and should not be expected to be exactly the same. And also, the new bulletproof-x is a great feature, and works most of the time. It is known NOT to be able to configure more than 2 monitors. Just so you know.

Well described and funny. I had exactly the same experience. And I'm a great fan too.

To the guy who says that XP doesn't need to restart when configuring the display, did this idiot know that Windows need to be restarted for anything that changes except the display resolution?

To the imbecile who writes the article, have you ever tried to install Windows yourself? Where you ever able to make an "upgrade" from W95 to 98, or from 2000 to XP or from XP to Vista?

Computers and Internet should be forbidden to the imbeciles, morons and ignorants.