Trying to download ubuntu, the file says AMD, i'm on Intel

Lumia925

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Hi there
I'm trying to download Ubuntu, from the official website.
I choose the desktop version, and then it wants to download a file named ubuntu-14.04.1-desktop-amd64.iso
Why's it AMD64? I'm on a secong generation intel core i3
 
Solution


Yes.

AMD64 (AMD's implmentation of the 64-bit x86 extensions) and Intel 64 (Intel's implementation of the 64-bit x86 extensions) are for all intents and purposes identical. For the purposes of naming conventions, there is no difference whatsoever between AMD64...


AMD released their 64 bit platform before Intel did, so they got first dibs on the naming conventions.

AMD64 is synonymous with x86_64.
 

Lumia925

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So then, it's okay to download this file, right?
It'll work on intel systems? :)
 


Yes.

AMD64 (AMD's implmentation of the 64-bit x86 extensions) and Intel 64 (Intel's implementation of the 64-bit x86 extensions) are for all intents and purposes identical. For the purposes of naming conventions, there is no difference whatsoever between AMD64, x86_64, and x64. The broader development community simply hasn't converged on a single identifier yet.
 
Solution

Lumia925

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Typing this from ubuntu :)
it's running live from a USB stick
1>How do I install it on the usb stick (not HDD), so that i can save files and install apps?
2>Where's "Start"? I have a taskbar like thing on the left side, but no Start on it. Just has links to some apps, how do I launch apps not listed there?
3>Is there a way to move this taskbar to the bottom of the screen? Like in Windows?
4>When I do a "su", it asks for the root password. What is the root password? I havent installed it so sdidn't create any passwords. Pressing enter without typing a password results in authentication failure.
It's running from a flash drive in a USB port, but is still faster than Windows running from my HDD :)
 


1. That's pretty distro dependant. Some of them have an application on the desktop which allows the user to install the OS to the hard disk drive; many others allow the user to select between a LiveCD and Installer at boot time. Some support both. I can't recall which method Ubuntu supports, just look around.

2. One of the bigger drawbacks of Linux based operating systems is the lack of a universal installer and desktop framework. There are several competing package management programs, but since Linux is not built around a single desktop environment in the same way that Windows is, there's no quick and dirty way to add shortcuts to a start menu by simply dropping links into a folder like there is on Windows. All of the various desktop environments handle application shortcuts differently, so you'll have to dig through the documentation to figure it out.
In general though, the OS package manager will typically install an environment-appropriate link to software that is installed through that package manager. However, if that same software is installed from outside the repository (such as from a source build, or unmodified binary distribution) it usually wont. I've spent far, far too much time fiddling with software post-installation; it's aggravating.

3. There should be. I haven't used Unity (Ubuntu's in-house desktop environment) but all of the major environments make it quite easy to move.

4. root is to Unix based operating systems as Administrator is to Windows. It's a fully privileged machine account and almost all operations that affect the system must be performed as root. There are two mechanisms by which a program may be run as root when the user is logged in as a different account.

A) Log into the root account in a new shell. This is done through `su root` or `su -`, the former preserves some environment variables such as the present working directory while the latter starts fresh. On Ubuntu, the root account has a disabled password, so logging into it through su (switch user) cannot be done at first. On RedHat Enterprise Linux and CentOS, the root account is assigned a password during installation.

B) Execute a program as root using sudo (Super User Do). Sudo is quite similar to the UAC in Windows, but a little bit less user friendly. It allows the user to run a command as root without actually logging into the root account. Only users that are authorized to use sudo may do so (it's fairly easy to edit the permissions though). On Ubuntu, the account that is created during installation is granted sudo privileges which allows the user to administrate the system, including assigning a password to the root account if desired. On RedHat Enterprise Linux and CentOS, the account that is created during installation is not granted sudo privileges; the user must use the root password that they created during installation to log in.
NOTE: if you need to open a shell as root and haven't set a root password but do have sudo access, you can run the command `sudo su root`.
 

Lumia925

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This is so cool :)
It's so different, i'll be the only person in college to be using this :)
Had to install a software for a wireless mouse, the CD that came with the mouse had Linux software, but couldn't install it at first. Double clicking on it opened a page full of code in a text editor like thing. I tried to install it from a shell and got an access denied error. Tried su, but couldn't log on, didn't have a password. But finally managed to install it using sudo, it's working now!
Clicked everywhere, but couldn't, unfortunately, find an option to re-position the taskbar.
Found the "Start" though, we need to click on "Search", and on the search window, near the bottom, there's a button which switches to a list of installed apps :)
Starting the system from the live USB drive, gives the option to install it or use it live. But then if i choose install, it wants to install on the HDD, doesn't list the flash drive as an option. There's also another app in ubuntu that lets me "Create startup disk", and this has the "persistence" option which lets me select how much of the disk space will be used for data, i assume this will let me install it on the flash drive. But couldn't let it roll, as it returns an error, probably because the flash drive i'm selecting is the drive from which ubuntu is running..
Overall, i think it's pretty good. Setting up the internet connection was so easy.
But i've used Open SUSE before, and i think OpenSUSE is better (Better graphical effects, better Start menu, more options to play with). Although I'd say Ubuntu is a bit easier to use than OpenSUSE, and OpenSUSE is a 4GB download, while Ubuntu is some 900MB.
Thanks Pinhedd, for all your help :)
 

stillblue

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By default a USB Ubuntu install has no user password. Yes, a persistence file allows you to save. That said, you do not want to save valuable items only on your flash, a USB is not a hard drive, it will fail given enough time and running an OS from a flash will accelerate that fail time as you are working it very hard. The install you have on your flash using USB installer is a full version, there is no need to try and do a "normal" install on it. It ain't broke, don't try and fix it. With a large enough persistence file you can add software there to your heart's content but the earlier warning about using a USB as a primary storage area not a good idea needs to be emphasized. Since you have Ubuntu you can install into it a variety of desktops versions. Gnome, KDE, Cairo dock to name a few. Under synaptic or ubuntu software center search desktop. If you want a look at Mint without downloading the whole thing google install mint ubuntu. I just added it for 45MBs.

You can switch between these at the login screen by clicking on the Ubuntu icon, or logging out and switching and logging back in. Whatever was running when you shut down will be the default at log-in.