xubuntu alternate install on usb stick

I am working on a project which has to do with very old and low computing power computer and low memory. So, I had to choose a reasonable linux distro with reasonable desktop manager, user interface, etc.
After trying different very lightweight distros, I am back with xubuntu. I have my reasons, which mainly is that I am so familiar with this one.
I tried lubuntu, which uses LXDE, but this old computer could not handle it.
Due to that, I chose xubuntu alternate installer. So, I prepared xubuntu alternate installer in a 2GB usb stick, since the old computer does not have any optical drive.

I faced a problem during installation using the usb media, because the installer keep searching for cdrom (optical) drive. It was terrible. I tried to go to virtual terminal and tried to mount the usb stick manually as a cdrom, but got problem.

Thankfully, I found the way to do it successfully from ubuntu site. http://ping.fm/nDHWx Issues
The required action to solve the problem is simply insert/append the following argument:
'cdrom-detect/try-usb=true'
in the grub boot menu. To do that, just choose which installation method you want to use, in the grub menu and press 'E' to edit the command, and append the argument, which I mentioned earlier, at the end.

Now, enjoy the lightweight installer and the distro itself.

Brian Bromberg Solo

Enjoy!

Victor Wooten - DMB concert (live)

Victor Wooten solo bass @ Live DMB Concert.

Sync Google Calendar with your Gnome Desktop

This is pretty exciting for me. I just realized that I could sync my Ubuntu Gnome Desktop Calendar with my Google Calendar account. And also the great thing about it is that it is really easy to do.

First open your web google calendar account. On the left pane, under "My Calendar" and your email address, click 'Settings'. Then you will see the setting page. Click again your email address to get more detailed settings. On the bottom of this page you will see "Private Address". Copy the private ICAL url.
Once you have done that, open terminal and enter the following command:
$ /usr/lib/evolution-webcal/evolution-webcal YOUR_PRIVATE_ICAL_URL

Set the appropriate configuration if necessary, and you are done.

Now, to see the result, click on the Date Time info on the toolbar (above), and you should see the dates which you have activities (appointments) are marked bold. You should also see 'Appointments' list.

Enjoy managing your time and day with Google Calendar and Gnome Desktop.

Autostart Vino and Configure Local Connection Only

Continuing my previous post about vnc over ssh, here is a way to limit the connection to local only.

If you are using gnome, you can configure it via gconf-editor. Go to the following key: /desktop/gnome/remote_access/network_interface and set 'lo' as the value. This way, vino server will only listen to local (loopback) interface only.

Now, if you would like to have vino server ready on each time you logged in, you need to configure it from, System -> Preferences -> Desktop Session Settings, and enable Remote Desktop.

Remember to configure Remote Desktop itself, from System -> Preferences -> Remote Desktop Preferences and allow other users to view your dekstop.

Install Windows XP from usb flash

I just finished installing windows xp on HP Mini 110 netbook. Since it does not have any optical drive, like any other netbook in general, I had to install it from usb flash.

Before you proceed you need to have and prepare the following files and apps:

• windows xp installation (cd or iso)


• usb flash (1 to 2GB)


• wintoflash


• sata windows xp driver if needed, for example sata driver (from HP)


• nlite, if need to have sata driver ready during installation


• winrar, to extract sata driver


• If you have windows xp installation in iso format, you need to be able to mount it. One way to do it is by using daemon tools lite

A little bit more information about wintoflash, it needs .net framework to run. If you do not want to install .net framework, there are several portable wintoflash with .net framework built-in, just search and use it.


Scenario #1: Without SATA driver

• Simply, load the windows xp installation cd, or mount the iso file.


• Then, use wintoflash to create windows xp installation usb flash.


• All you need to do in wintoflash is to choose the source drive (windows xp installation cd/iso) and choose the usb drive.


• Restart your computer and boot from usb drive.


• Choose text for 1st time boot, and GUI for 2nd and 3rd.

Scenario #2: With SATA driver

• Insert windows installation cd or mount iso (using daemon tools lite)


• Extract sata driver files using winrar


• Run nlite, proceed until there is an option about driver integration


• Choose insert and multiple drivers folder options, select all extracted sata driver files


• Nlite will prepare windows installation files with sata driver in the target directory. Done with nlite.


• Plug usb flash


• Run wintoflash, choose the appropriate source installation folder from previous step, and the target drive (usb). Done with wintoflash


• Restart computer and boot from usb flash.


• Choose text for 1st time boot, and GUI for 2nd and 3rd.