First you need to identify what you wireless device you have.
Second, if you haven't already, connect it to a network/ethernet cable and do updates. You then likely find the "restricted hardware" box appears and your wireless driver is there. Just follow the prompts to install the driver, reboot x, and your away with wireless.
Click the menu logo (its on the far left over the upper taskbar), and this opens up the menu for you. At the bottom of the menu is where you can install software.
In essence, the first steps I do with any Ubuntu install are:
- Pull in all current updates and wireless/graphics drivers
- Edit my sources.list (/etc/apt/sources.list) to open up all available software sources. I do this through gedit, via terminal to make life easier (you need root permissions to save the file. So fire up terminal and type the following first:
Code:
sudo cp /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list.backup
This command copies the sources.list file to sources.list.backup so if you make a mistake you have an original file. Copying in linux is simple,and worth doing before editing any file using the terminal. Then type
Code:
sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
enter your username password, and it will open up the file. Any line that starts with # is commented out, and ignored. Remove the # from the start of the 4 or 5 lines of code towards the bottom (these start with #deb so remove just the #). You'll figure out which ones I mean, as they look very much the same as the already unmarked ones in the list. Click save when your done, and close and it will return to the terminal. type:
to update the sources list and make all software available to you. At this point you'll likely have some updates so complete them first.
- then Fire up terminal, and install the Ubuntu restricted extras pack. This includes the majority of restricted codecs (audio/vid), flash, java runtime, and other items needed to enable normal browsing etc. Install it with the following command:
Code:
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras
Insert your username password when instructed and it will install. (congrats on installing your first item of software via the terminal is due too.
- Install any software I want/need via eithe software panel in menu, or via the terminal
- restart x and enjoy
'sudo' invokes root rights in Ubuntu. Anything you require admin/root rights for requires sudo. Ubuntu is different to other examples of linux in that you don't run a seperate account as 'root', you simply elevate your permissions to root as and when you require them. That said, elevating to root gives you the power to destroy things in seconds, so think before using it if your unsure.
All of the above can be achieved by using the graphical interface if required, but your best learning how to cope with terminal early on.