Migrating to Ubuntu

Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 8:30 am

So far I have done nothing but praise Ubuntu so now is the time to mention some specific issues I had in migrating data.

Outlook
I had noticed that Ubuntu's default mail client Evolution Mail had an import from CSV facility so I exported my email data from Outlook in CSV format and then imported it into Evo.
I failed to take into consideration that the number of data columns would be different (a silly thing to do) so when I did the import, all my emails got put in the Evo Contacts address book lmao.
With over 10,000 pieces of data in the wrong place and clearly of a size the Evo fields were not supposed to have things went a little 'sluggish'.
I resolved the problem by deleting the address book and Evo then created a new default 'Personal' address book.
According to the Ubunu forums, it works better if you export from Outlook to Thunderbird (in Windows) and then export from Thunderbird and import that to Evo.
If you really need all your contacts and emails then that is probably the way to do it.
However, I'm quite philosophical about it. Sooner or later, anyone of any importance is going to email me again and Evo will then automatically add their details to the address book. I only really needed maybe a dozen emails which contained data I did not want to lose so I just sent them to a temp account and picked them up when logged into Ubuntu - job done and far less messing about.
Besides, this is about a clean start so I didn't want to just carry every over from one OS to the other.
Evolution Mail is Ubuntu's equivelant of MS Outlook so it has pretty much everything you need - mail client, task manager, address book, calendar/appointments etc.
A lot of people on the Ubuntu forums have said it is not as good as Thunderbird. That may or may not be the case, it really depends on your needs. I tend to use most of the features in Outlook and they are not available in Thunderbird so I'm perfectly happy with Evo.

Firefox
No problem!
Export your bookmarks as an HTML file and simply import it back it

Accessing other drives[b]
DVD/CDRom is accesible, no problem.
My other hard drives are not. To see any other drives got to 'My Computer' and you can see them. If you try to access them you will be given the option of mounting the drive. I know [b]mount is a technical term but it also has other connotations (which I found highly amusing). You can mount the drive permanently or just for that log-in session - a great security feature!!
You also get the same options when navigating a network and having the option to password protect the 'connection' to the network dirve/'place' - another great security feature.
In Windows, if you are on PC 'A' and share a network connection to data on PC 'B' but PC 'B' shares a connection with PC 'C' it means you (on PC 'A') can effectively go directly to PC 'C' - thats not going to happen in Ubuntu.

Site Admin Joined: Jan 06, 2006 Posts: 311

BTW, I picked up FF extension Foxmarks about a month back. Very nice for synchronizing my FF bookmarks across different computers.

Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 1:19 pm

Cool, thanks for that I'll take a look at it.

Client Joined: Sep 25, 2006 Posts: 75

So is there a HTML WYSIWYG editor available for Ubuntu? You know something like Dreamweaver.

Also what about graphics?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 2:30 pm

Yes there is an excellent package called Komposer that is very much like Dreamweaver, only it doesn't cost the earth, it is free open source Smile

There are some good image packages like Gmip but I have not really looked at the too much yet.

Client Joined: Sep 25, 2006 Posts: 75

Hmm, I've got an old laptop sat around doing nothing, might have to give it ago.

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 3:52 pm

Well I won't be moving back to windyblows so if you get stuck you know where to find me Wink

Client Joined: Sep 25, 2006 Posts: 75

Right this weekend I'm going to do it!
I've got my old laptop and I'm going to install Ubuntu.

I don't need anything on the hard disk, so is it best to format the hard disk and then install Ubuntu?

Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:53 am

No you can let Ubuntu do all the work.
Once you have downloaded the Ubuntu 'image' file use whatever disk buring software you have using the burn image option - this will unpack the image file and burn it to the CD.
Once you are finished, boot from the CD.
You'll see an option to "check the CD for errors" so it is best to use that to make sure everything is super cool and dandy on the CD, then you can proceed with installing the OS.

You will be prompted for you 'Region' so just select United Kingdom.
Then you'll be prompted for your keyboard type - the default (as usual) is US so just change that to United Kindgom in the left hand pane and the right hand pane should show the correct keyboard type - you do get a little text box to test the keyboard so I always just check the @ symbol displays correctly.

After that we are into the install proper. It will say the "Partitioner is loading".
Give it a minute to load the files then look for the option use entire disc then look just to make sure the option guided is selected - it should be by default.
Ubuntu actually uses three seperate partitions but so long as guided is selected it will work out the optimal sizes and create them auto-magically for you so you do not have to worry about that bit at all.

The Ubuntu CD wil the wipe your drive and reformat it to use the etc3 file system then install the OS.

I recommend that you plug the laptop into your router/hub/modem before starting the install so Ubuntu can set up your net connection and make sure your network card/wireless card is correctly configured and using the correct drivers as it installs - just like Windows does (only faster).

During install you will be prompted for a username and password. This forms your PC log-in and the password is used for other things too so make sure your password is reasonable 'strong' but something that you can remember.

Client Joined: Sep 25, 2006 Posts: 75

Well I'm in the process of installing it at the moment. Windyblows has screwed up my system a bit and it wouldn't let me boot from the CD, but I got there in the end. Very Happy

I'll let you know how I get on.

Client Joined: Sep 25, 2006 Posts: 75

I'm in!

I am surfing using Ubuntu. Now what to do? Confused

Client Joined: Sep 25, 2006 Posts: 75

What's the name of that 3D desktop thingy that you've got? Can't remember where I read about it. Confused

Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:56 pm

It's called Compiz Fusion
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=809695

Client Joined: Sep 25, 2006 Posts: 75

Ah yes, I've found the website. How do I determine my hardware in Ubuntu. Can't remember what graphics card I've got.

Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 8:02 pm

From the top tool bar
System->Preferences->Appearence
then select the Visual Effects tab
If you cannot select any of the enahnced options there, you might not have a 3D capable graphics card