Having just installed the latest Kubuntu 9.04 64bit version I must say I am disappointed.. after having a look around I notice many people are having the same issues as I am..

I am running:

Toshiba Satellite A100-926
Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 @2GHZ
512mb ATI Mobility Radeon X1600
3GB DDR2 Ram
200GB SATA Hard Drive

and I am having a few problems... mainly it seems when I go to add/remove programs GUI end NOTHING comes up in any searches! Though if I use the command console/bash then I can install apps etc.. However I am pretty new to Linux so don't know what commands to use etc..

I have Firefox installed and mp3 codec for Amarok (Both installed thru Bash) so no problems there.. I added VLC and then some issues arose.. When I try to open a film the film starts for a second and then the pc locks up...

I have enabled desktop effects and can get the cube working but not the sphere nor the cylinder. I have the "Magic lamp" effect working and I tried snow screen and that works too.. so some of the desktop effects are working but some are not..

Am I right in saying this is an issue regarding X?

Also If I plug my laptop into the router using a cable then I can browse the net no problem.. if I try using the wireless card then again my pc locks up.

I only want to browse the net, watch films and listen to music on my pc so once I get the wireless card issue sorted and VLC working without locking out my system then I am good to go! Can anyone point me in the right direction? Cheers

Also can anyone recommend a good repository? I am after "Recordmydesktop"...

Which video driver are you using? (You can probably find it in the Device section of /etc/X11/xorg.conf, otherwise in /var/log/Xorg.0.log). There's some info (although not a lot about ATI on http://userbase.kde.org/GPU-Performance A read might give you a better idea of where your problems come from.

For recordmydesktop, you need to enable the "universe" repositories. They should be preconfigured already (but probably disabled).


Also, you might have more luck with the 32bit version. (I usually use that one as it's often better tested and there's little to gain with 64bits anyway, for my use cases.)

Video driver? The one that came with the installation.. I haven't installed any other drivers for it.. when I seleced the Hardware Device Driver icon all it came up with was drivers for my 56k modem hahaha So I haven't installed proprietry drivers for my gfx.. but whether they were pre installed or not I am not sure.. I will take a look, gota reboot cos using WinXP atm as I have to connect wirelessly to my router when at work and as the wireless card aint workin properly in Kubuntu yet I have to use WinXP at work for the time being..

Universe repositories? nice one I will try that

I was told the opposite about 32bit.. I was told 64bit would be better as its better configured for my cpu.. so thats why I downloaded that version hahahahaha everyone has their own opinions eh mate? I may just download the 32bit one and give that a try.. hey.. who knows!?! The glitch might not exist in the 32 bit version! hahaha

cheers for the tips mate

AMD/ATI is AFAIK not the best driver for Linux. Next time you're buying computer try nVidia, it's getting better all the time.

And not to veer you away from your distro of choice, but you could try another ditro...
As this seems like distro problems, more than anything else. Also you could ask this on KubuntuForums...

I bought my laptop about a year ago... maybe 2.. can't remember.. at the time I used WinXP Pro and I used Omega drivers, games looked great on it. I have used NVidea in the past but wasnt happy with the quality.. I have had 3 GForce cards burn out before.. so put me off them. So whenI got my laptop I got one with ATI instead, and has worked a treat for all games I have thrown at it... I am building a desktop PC atm though.. so may stick a Gforce in there.. see how that does..

With regards to another distro.. well I have been moving back and forth between Fedora KDE and Kubuntu.. Fedora 11 Leonidis is out in 11 days apparently so waiting on that. In the mean time I thought I would give the new Kubuntu a try. I am thinking of reverting back to the previous Kubuntu as I had no issues with that at all!! No problems ever with that! Only downside was I just could not get the cube working on it and OpenOffice 3 wouldn't install. With Fedora.. no problems at all Only downside to that was I couldn't remove GNOME from the system.. don't know how.. and at login it shows the GNOME login screen, not the KDE one, even tho I changed the settings to use the KDE one and boot into Fedora KDE:(