Newbie Questions Ist Try. Random Questions

[anon_private]

Hi,

Random questions after 1st tryout.

I have just tried UBUNTU - not installed.

Since I have not unstalled UBUNTU can I click the 'Restricted Drivers Available' box. If so what extra features will I have?

According to the Help, the Network Manager is a yellow star. I see a little grey icon next to padlock (Restricted Drivers)!

When I connected to Wireless, I was asked for a password for the default key. What is the usual nomenclature for this password? Can it be used if I am just trying out UBUNTU? I don't really get the key bit!

Can I save files, etc if UBUNTU is not installed?

Is it possible to see my VISTA directories, files, and programmes and use them under UBUNTU? I'll need to change directories to c:

If VISTA became infected could I clean the hard drive, C, from within UBUNTU? Could I run my anti-virus programmes from UBUNTU?

Is it better to do on-line banking from within UBUNTU using Firefox, rather that IE under VISTA? How safe would it be?

Thanks

A

[micio]

Hi,

Random questions after 1st tryout.

I have just tried UBUNTU - not installed.

Since I have not unstalled UBUNTU can I click the 'Restricted Drivers Available' box. If so what extra features will I have?


Usually this function will install/activate a new kernel module, so you need to reboot in order to get this feature working fine.. you can't do it in live mode (in live mode, every change is stored in RAM)

According to the Help, the Network Manager is a yellow star. I see a little grey icon next to padlock (Restricted Drivers)!

When I connected to Wireless, I was asked for a password for the default key. What is the usual nomenclature for this password? Can it be used if I am just trying out UBUNTU? I don't really get the key bit!

Are you talking abount WEP/WPA wifi key?

Can I save files, etc if UBUNTU is not installed?

Yes, but not on desktop you must mount an hdd and then save the files there.

Is it possible to see my VISTA directories, files, and programmes and use them under UBUNTU? I'll need to change directories to c:
You can see your files and folders at all but you can't run your applications under linux.

If VISTA became infected could I clean the hard drive, C, from within UBUNTU? Could I run my anti-virus programmes from UBUNTU?
You don't need it Virus can't affect ubuntu! (not windows virus)

Is it better to do on-line banking from within UBUNTU using Firefox, rather that IE under VISTA? How safe would it be?

I guess.. however be carefully about firefox extensions (both on Linux and Vista)

Thanks

A

Please note the answer on quote

[lovinglinux]

Please note the answer on quote

Please do not reply inside the quotes. It is confusing and makes harder for others to quote you.

Is it better to do on-line banking from within UBUNTU using Firefox, rather that IE under VISTA? How safe would it be?

I guess.. however be carefully about firefox extensions (both on Linux and Vista)

Definitely safer, although any browser has security issues. So keep your system and Firefox always updated and be careful with phishing [wikipedia.org]. Additionally, see these Firefox extensions for Security and Privacy.

In regard to extensions, you should avoid those that are not hosted by Mozilla Add-ons site and the Experimental ones. Extensions that are hosted by Mozilla and does not have a experimental status are ALL reviewed by a Mozilla editor before going public and thus pretty much safe to use. Nevertheless, some extensions have additional privacy policies, because they might collect information about your system and browsing habits.

BTW, I use 52 extensions.

[anon_private]

Thanks for responding.

I was asking about antivirus because it occured to me that if I picked up a Windows virus that I could not remove then I might be able to use UBUNTU to gain access and clean up the c drive. Is this not possible?

I get the impression that I cannot save or use files to/in my Windows directories from UBUTU. Hence, I need to decide in advance which OS to use for any particular job - assuming I decide to keep both.

Thanks for the link to the browser extesnsion site. Do you recommend any particular extensions for those who conduct Internet banking. I am assuming that I can connect to a bank using Firefox (not tried as yet). Can the extensions be sucessfully installed if UBUNTU is not installed? I am wondering if anything can be save to UBUNTU if it is not installed (UBUNTU on CD-R).

Regarding the key, yes I was referring to the WPA wifi key.

Best wishes.

A

Ps. It does seem that some people use both OS's because there is an option to have both installed on a pc.

[lovinglinux]

I was asking about antivirus because it occured to me that if I picked up a Windows virus that I could not remove then I might be able to use UBUNTU to gain access and clean up the c drive. Is this not possible?

It is possible and common to do that.

I get the impression that I cannot save or use files to/in my Windows directories from UBUTU.

In fact you can. What you cannot is read a Linux file system (ext3, ext4...) from Windows without additional software.

I am assuming that I can connect to a bank using Firefox (not tried as yet).

Not necessarily. Some banks are stupid enough to provide compatibility only for IE. If this is the case, then try to use User Agent Switcher.

Can the extensions be sucessfully installed if UBUNTU is not installed? I am wondering if anything can be save to UBUNTU if it is not installed (UBUNTU on CD-R).

Yes, you can install software and Firefox extensions with an Ubuntu LiveCD. In fact, using Ubuntu CD to do Internet Banking is a new trend in security recommendations. Nevertheless, once you reboot, the changes will be lost. There is a way to make these changes permanent, but I'm not sure how and that would be less safer. Anyway, if you are doing your Internet Banking using a LIve CD and go only and directly to your bank site then yo don't need those security extensions.

Ps. It does seem that some people use both OS's because there is an option to have both installed on a pc.

Yes, it's called dual-boot. Nevertheless, there is an easier way using Wubi. See this.

[anon_private]

Thanks for the responses.

Is there a good tutorial that covers the questions I have raised.

Thanks

[anon_private]

I noted that I could see the OS directories that I can see in VISTA, but I could not find my music directory and files etc.

Will these be available to me under UBUNTU. If not, is there a solution?

Thanks

[lovinglinux]

I noted that I could see the OS directories that I can see in VISTA, but I could not find my music directory and files etc.

Will these be available to me under UBUNTU. If not, is there a solution?

Thanks

I'm not sure how Vista handles permissions, but perhaps you need to put the files on a shared folder or set the current ones to be shared.

[anon_private]

Thanks for responding.

I don't like the font that I am using.

Can it be changed to say and Ariel style font. Point change would also be nice.

Can the mouse buttons be swapped?

Thanks

A

[anon_private]

Is there s firewall in UBUNTU

Thanks