Answer My Searches

For a while now I haven’t been able to get any Ubuntu updates or otherwise use the Apt-Get system or Synaptic. Really just anything related to Apt-get would give me all manner of connection problems. For example here’s what I got from running:

$ sudo apt-get update

Err http://dl.sourceforge.net ./ Release.gpg
  Connection failed [IP: 212.219.56.167 80]
Err http://www.beerorkid.com dapper Release.gpg
  Connection failed
Err http://security.ubuntu.com dapper-security Release.gpg
  Connection failed
Err http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper Release.gpg
  Connection failed [IP: 195.248.90.54 80]
Ign http://www.beerorkid.com dapper Release
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com dapper Release.gpg
  Connection failed [IP: 146.137.96.7 80]
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com dapper-security Release
...

The fix it turned out was to upgrade my wireless router’s firmware. At least this was the fix for me running with a Netgear WGR614 v5 router. I upgrade from firmware version 1.03 to 1.09

To upgrade this router just head on over to the WGR614 family page, choose your version (v5 for me) and follow the instructions). If you have a different brand of router just follow the directions in your router’s instruction manual (feel free to post instructions for other routers in the comments).

My Search Queries:

1. “146.137.96.7.80″
2. ubuntu can’t get repositories
3. Ubuntu + “could not download all repository”
4. apt troubleshooting
5. “Couldn’t find package automatix”

[tags]Ubuntu, Repositories, Repository, Apt, Apt-get, Synaptic, Netgear, WGR614, Upgrade[/tags]

After you’ve plugged the ethernet wire coming out of the cable modem into your router’s port labeled WAN, and plugged your computer’s ethernet cord into one of the other ports on the router, the only remaining trick should be to clone your computer’s MAC address.

Apparently this is something RoadRunner requires. What you are basically doing is tricking RoadRunner’s servers into thinking that your router IS your computer!

Here’s how to find your computer’s MAC address. Just click the link there for your operating system.

Once you find your MAC address be sure to write it down.

Next go into the Linksys Router’s settings and type in the new MAC address you wrote down.

Look in your Linksys user manual for how to do this or try this instruction page.

Now you should be connected.

Here’s an easy to follow tutorial with pictures. I took the pictures myself!

And by the way, you turn off the splash screen by just removing it from the text you see after pressing F6 (See above link for more help).

My search terms:

1. ubuntu boot options on the installer
2. boot options on the installer
3. ubuntu boot parameters
4. edgy boot splash

I built my first computer last night and in the process I came up with a list of questions that I just couldn’t figure out from the various manuals. In hopes of helping some future confused computer builder I present to you the questions I had and also hopefully some reasonable answers.

First the final result :

This post focuses specifically on the GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel motherboard, but a lot of the questions here are non-motherboard specific so the whole family can enjoy my article

Credits:
Mayor West, the famous Ask Meta Filter poster who bought the same motherboard as me and generally knows more than me about computer building pitched in to answer a lot of these questions.
Warnings:
Some of these answers are incomplete and/or just plain wrong, please pitch and and comment if you see such a thing.
As always, I don’t know what I’m doing (and especially with expensive hardware): caveat lector!

Here are my system specs for reference:

CPU= INTEL|CORE 2 E6300 1.86G 775 R
Motherboard= GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 P965 775
video = VGA GIGA N 7600GS GV-NX76G256D-RH R
hard drive = 320G|ST 7K 16M SATA2 ST3320620AS
memory = Kingston ValueRAM Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2-667 DIMM Memory Kit,
240-Pin, CL5, Non-ECC, Unbuffered, Model: KVR667D2N5K2/2G

And Finally on to Things the Motherboard Manual Doesn’t Tell You:
(In Question and Answer Format)
(more…)