New to Linux and using an old Dell 700m

Hi, I was wondering if anyone uses a Dell 700m. I downloaded Ubuntu 9.04 and it works really well except some flash or java sites. I usually just see a big Play button when I go to these websites. Anyways, some graphic things do seem sluggish and I was wondering if there is a driver that I am missing or might work better than the ones that came preloaded. Can anyone else me out? I think it's an Intel Extreme Graphics GM855 chipset.

Also, is there something like disk defragger or CCleaner like in Windows? What can I do to maintain my computer? Thanks!

 

Do you have flash installed? Check by opening up the Synaptic package manager and searching for flash-nonfree. There should be a green mark after it that means its installed. Also did you install the add on flashblock by any chance?

 

It was not installed for some reason. It is installed now and flashblock was not installed. Hulu does not work still.

 

http://go.notebookreview.com/?id=525X832&url=http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=766683

I followed some of the instructions here, but it didn't really do anything. I copied and pasted a bunch of commands in terminal and I'm not really sure what it did. Can I undo the commands?

 

Linux does not have a breakable registry like Windows does, and the ext4 filesystem has built-in functions to prevent fragmentation.

 

Hulu and HD you tube wont work unless you start using flash 10. Google the version of ubuntu you using with flash 10 and youll find many guides to solve that issue.

 

This is true of ext3 also correct? I thought that all journalizing file systems were safe from the fragmentation effect. And since ext3 is a journalizing file system...

 

NTFS is a journaling file system too and it still fragments, as a matter of fact sometimes the journal file gets out of control and occupies half the drive. But indeed, it is less prone to fragmentation than FAT or FAT32. Same for ext3/ext4. All file systems will fragment given enough time. It's a matter of whether the fragments do or do not affect performance. If a large video file breaks into say, 5 fragments, it won't matter, if 100 small files required to load the OS fragment, then it does.

Now, if you all upgrade to SSDs you'll have better things to care about and fragmentation will be a non-issue due to the almost instant access times. Me, i stick to my mechanical drives, thank you.

 

Just type this in a terminal to get flash:
Code:

sudo apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree

java plugin:
Code:

sudo apt-get install sun-java6-fonts sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin

 

The intel driver that works in jaunty is a bit of a work-in-progress. Once you've got the flash plugins installed, try reverting to the older Ibex driver:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReinhardTartler/X/RevertingIntelDriverTo2.4

^^^This helped flash run a bit smoother on my netbook. Also, a better intel driver exists and it should be showing up in ubuntu soon.

Another idea might be to run crunchbang linux (lighter ubuntu derivative with openbox) rather than full ubuntu. You won't get the cool compiz effects but it will free up your ram to work with flash video.

 

Did you try the commands I posted?