Ubuntu: just about nothing works in my new install. Normal?

tom2u · Mar 19, 2014

So I'm trying to navigate around a new install of Ubuntu. Just downloaded it online today so I would have thought it be updated. Some of the files that didn't work, besides all media online (said it needed some plugin from Adobe but that didn't download).
mp3, avi, mkv all didn't play with the built in player.
Since I use VLC and love it on my XP machine, I thought I'd download that as surely it would come with whatever is needed to play modern file types. So I download it and it asks me what I want to use to open it. Huh? Are they trying to alienate new users? Why wouldn't it just install? There were no tips, no explanation, no Help area I could find. Is there some secret words I have to use to install a program on Linux?

alienworkshop · Mar 19, 2014

i don't know what your talking about, but a fresh install of windows requires you to download flash from the website, the reason is because they can't legally do it. they can't have permission to do this. just go to the flash site, and under "rpm" download that one. for "other" downloads. should be one of the last options in the menu under the linux options.

tom2u · Mar 19, 2014

Ah....OK. Will do. Thanks!
Any idea why common types of files like mp3, avi, mp4 and mkv won't play? And what do I select to open VLC so it will install?

alienworkshop · Mar 19, 2014

as for the vlc thing, i don't know what's going on there, i'm using fedora core 20, and i'm finding it annoying as well when i'm trying to install programs. you got that right. it's really annoying.

alienworkshop · Mar 19, 2014

maybe after you install flash, you will be able to play music files. other then that i would reccomend fedora core 20, as i find it okay to use after i install flash.

tom2u · Mar 19, 2014

> i'm finding it annoying as well when i'm trying to install programs.

So how do you install your programs? Or do most install normally like Windows and OSX?

tom2u · Mar 19, 2014

> maybe after you install flash, you will be able to play music files. other then that i would reccomend fedora core 20, as i find it okay to use after i install flash.

I thought flash was only for web based media. Does it have to be there to play MP3's and avi files?

I really need to read more on the different characters of all these Linux distros. If you learn a popular one, does it often change later so you have to learn a bunch of new stuff then? I would have thought the core stuff is the same, but it just looks different. But it seems it can be quite different.

alienworkshop · Mar 19, 2014

well, you have to look for .rpm extensions, so that it installs like a exe file like windows, other then that, you have to do crazy commands, which i don't even get. it annoys me. so i search for rpms, which fedora core 20 can take and install. that's what i'm using now, fedora core 20. it's been awesome aside from the annoyances though.

alienworkshop · Mar 19, 2014

well, for fedora core and rpms, it won't change much, it's like an exe file, personally, i wouldn't mess with anything else except rpm's. hope this helps.

tom2u · Mar 19, 2014

Linux has already helped make me feel mentally deficient!

And I have hardly started. I think I'll just poke around in it for a while each day so it doesn't get so frustrating. Gradually it will sink in. Patience, patience. I'll definitely try out Fedora. Guess it was compiled in Las Vegas on a stage.

alienworkshop · Mar 20, 2014

spankmon · Mar 20, 2014

Open the Ubuntu software manager and search for restricted extras then click the install button and you'll have all the necessary codecs to play media except encrypted dvd.

skittle · Mar 20, 2014

Generally in Linux you do not install software in the traditional windows way.

Typically you trust the package maintainer/distribution to do the hard work.

Code:

sudo apt-get install vlc

will install vlc. Maybe all you need to do is change default"open" type "mime Type"

stillblue · Mar 20, 2014

Ubuntu doesn't install non-free programs as part of the main install. You can add them later from the depot and the easiest way to do that is as spankmon said install ubuntu-restricted-extras. It includes the video stuff as well as MS fonts and other proprietary programs. I have no idea what could have gone wrong with VLC, I've been using it for years. Did you install from the Ubuntu software center? One click should have done everything.

Aristotelian · Mar 21, 2014

Just to clarify what others have said, you do not install programs in Ubuntu by downloading and running a setup program the way you do in Windows. Instead, you click the program you want in the "software center" or "synaptic package manager", or select the program manually using terminal (using the command skittle gave). Whichever method you use, Ubuntu installs the program for you.

VLC will install most of its own codecs, but one exception is libdvdcss and libdvdread4, which you need for DVD playback and do not come pre-installed in Ubuntu.

chamaecyparis · Mar 22, 2014

" . . . surely it would come with whatever is needed to play modern file types. . . Is there some secret words I have to use to install a program on Linux? . . . Guess it was compiled in Las Vegas on a stage."

Thank you, OP, for starting my day with a little humor! It's appreciated. I laugh because I've been ther, just not so severely.

As skittle and others have said, "sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras" are the magic words. Now, just figure out where to say them! lol!

USAFRet · Mar 22, 2014

tom2u :

Fedora is no easier than any other Linux variant.
Operating Linux is significantly different than operations Windows.

Aristotelian · Mar 22, 2014

tom2u :

The reason the codecs are not pre-installed is that they are proprietary software, and Ubuntu has a very strict open source policy. Some distributions are not as strict as Ubuntu. Linux Mint comes with the Ubuntu kernel but has all the proprietary codecs preinstalled if that interests you. The beauty of Linux is that everything is customizable to suit your needs and values, you just need to do a little research. (Also, you can check a little box during install in Ubuntu to add the restricted extras).

nss000 · Mar 22, 2014

Yes, random trivial tasks snark in Linux. Carry on.

chamaecyparis · Mar 23, 2014

To add to Aristotlian and USAFRet, specifically, " . . . a little research," and, " . . . significantly diferent than . . . Windows,"
An Oldie But Goodie

@nss000 -- interesting grammar and vocabulry! (as in asking about them may lead to snarky remarky?)

USAFRet · Mar 23, 2014

chamaecyparis :

Excellent read.

Edir · Mar 25, 2014

Linux Ubuntu takes a while to navigate and get used to - it's a delight to use in my opinion.
Although if the problem is really serious, then it may not have installed correctly.
Please don't give up on Ubuntu - it just takes some adjusting. You are not babied and everything done for you like in windows.

Ubuntu: just about nothing works in my new install. Normal?

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