This error message usually comes about after an installation is incomplete for
some reason, meaning that the package manager is stuck and can't proceed until
the damage is fixed. You need to open the terminal and type sudo before the
command. This requires that you enter your password since it is making a change
to the system.

For future reference type sudo before any command that requires root or admin
privileges. This is peculiar to Ubuntu and its derivatives. In other distros you
need to change user to root by typing su plus enter then inputting your
password. then you can type any commands and all will be as root. I only
mention the two ways because you may encounter advice for each and I want you to
know that Ubuntu uses a different scheme to accomplish the same thing, all in
the name of security.

I can sort-of help you with this one. You need to find out what
graphics unit/chip/whatever is on the MoBo.

Somewhere on your system's case (underside for laptops, side panel
for desktops, and often revealed in the BIOS setup) is an identifier
known as a "Service Tag" (sometimes abbreviated "SvcTag"). It'll be
typically 6 to 8 alphanumerics.

Visit www.dell.com, click on "Support" (upper right corner).
On that page, click on "I'm looking for drivers and downloads".
On that page, find "Choose by service tag" and click "Enter a tag".
On that page, enter the service tag and click "Go".

You'll now be on a page specific for your system, and there are lots
of options including Warranty, Manuals, drivers, etc. One of the
options is a copy of the shipping/packing slip as originally sent
with the system which identifies all the hardware, devices, etc. on
the system. Heh, the service tag for one of my systems I entered to
get to that page shows "Operating System: Red Hat Linux 7.0" though
it's presently running SLED-10-SP1 (Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop).

A Google search on the device(s) should point you to where you may
find the Linux drivers. Also do this: on the "Operating System"
display box, click the pull-down menu button and see what Operating
Systems are available, Linux may be there! When I just did this for
my system, the choices are Red Hat Linux 7.0/6.2,6.1, Windows 2000,
Linux, various Windows releases, AIX, UnixWare, Solaris, Open Server,
HPUX, and OS/2. Selecting one of those changes the list of available
drivers so you just may luck out.

Been there, done that - zero support for the C800 Latitude using Linux.



I see where dell does ship desktops using linux, but I cannot find a video
driver that matches my laptop.



I know my service tag number from memory. Before the service contract ran
out, I was always calling them about the piece of junk!



At least it runs linux, it crashed running W2k. BSoD!



The sound card is not synchronized, the line in A to D is a few hertz off
from the line out D to A. They never did understand why 15Hz difference made
a big deal. 15Hz is half a PSK31 channel!



Is there a program that will tell me the configuration?? In Windows, I would
use Belarc Advisor.

I cannot think of anything for Linux as good as Belarc Advisor. Even
my Solaris box requires running a number of programs; see:

<http://thadlabs.com/FILES/sysconfig.txt>

Some info can be gleaned from /proc if you cat some of the items there.

Believe it or not, there are two things from Sun that do characterize
a hardware platform, and I used one of them (install_check, an ISO for
a bootable CD) that I took to stores before buying the system detailed
above in sysconfig.txt); if you're interested and/or curious:

<www.sun.com/.../install_check.jsp>

The install_check ISO is 74MB. A similar Java device detection tool
is here:

<www.sun.com/.../device_detect.jsp>

Interesting things I learned about Linux 8.04

The FIRST user (set up at install time) is the only one who can use the
sudo command, unless that first user sets the other(s) up as administrator.

The sudo command is in preference to establishing a 'root' user. You can
become 'root' temporarily by entering *sudo -i* on the command line
(followed by your password). This gives you the *#* root prompt. To
leave this temporary account, type *exit* and press enter.

You can also create a 'root' account if you want. I didn't want, so
didn't bother to find out how. *sudo -i* is plenty for me! ;-)

For those die hards who find sudo less to your liking it may be
tempting to try to convert Ubuntu to the Debian norm, but in my
experience it is not worth the effort.

I have added a root user in Ubuntu with a separate password, but due to the way
the groups are set up it becomes very confusing. One application may prompt for
one password and another may prompt for the other one which only succeeds in
making the whole exercise confusing to my way of thinking. You can probably go
to the user admin and change groups manually, but it is not so easy to do this
if you don't know what the groups do and you can really mess us your system if
you make a mistake.

It took some getting used to sudo when I switched to Ubuntu, but it works better
in Ubuntu than you might think. If you want to get rid of sudo, it is probably
better to switch to a distro that does not use it such as Debian. However, a
little research will reveal that sudo is as secure and a little practice will
make it second nature.