Hitches after UBUNTU installation

I faced a few hitches after installation of Ubuntu. I wanted to share my experience-how to resolve issues without spending time searching google and asking forums.

Installing Ubuntu

There are 2 ways one can install Ubuntu.

1.Installing Ubuntu alongside Windows

'Dual-boot' usage. Both Ubuntu and Windows will be available the machine.

2.Installing Ubuntu replacing Windows

Hitches after Installation

Some times even after succesfull installation and by carefully following the step by step instructions, it will lead to failure. Problems may be either not getting the boot menu or unable to install applications.

Grub Error - Boot menu problem

Problem

• After succesfull installation of Ubuntu, it prompts for system restart.
• Once restarted a boot menu either in black color(Windows) or in a lavendar shade(Ubuntu grub) will appear.
• If above is succesfull, grub menu is working fine. Else grub is not working and the screen ends up showing grub rescue or grub error.

Resolution

• Insert/plug back the Ubuntu Disc/Bootable drive and restart.
• Follow the same steps to go to installation menu.
• Now instead of opting for "Install Ubuntu" option, choose "Try Ubuntu".
• The system now shows a mini operating system loaded in RAM.
• Make sure the internet/wifi is on and connected. Establish a connection.
• Open the terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.
• Type the following and execute it one by one. This is done in order to install an application named 'Boot-Repair' developed by Yannubuntu

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install boot-repair

Below are the screen shots.

After following step by step instructions, a message "Boot succesfully repaired" will pop up. 

Now the Boot menu problem is solved. Grub is recovered properly. :)

Unable to install applications in Ubuntu Software centre

Recently I faced this when I was installing Ubuntu in my friend's PC. There weren't any problem in booting and even in the basic operations inside Ubuntu. But I was unable to install some basic softwares either through 'Ubuntu Software Centre' or through Terminal using 'sudo' commands.

Problem

• Sometimes, in 'Ubuntu Software Centre' application, there won't be any options for installing. 
• 'Install' button won't be there against each software. 
• Instead only 'Use this Source' option will be there.

Resolution

During installation of operating system-Ubuntu, one might installed it offline or might not have connected to Internet and updated all the packages. So the system may not have all the details about the list of software even if you try this with Internet connections ON.

Try this command in the terminal. Open the terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.

sudo apt-get update

This will download few headers and files from Internet. Restart the system after execution of the command is over.The ubuntu software centre or the terminal will now allow you to install applications.

P.S: 

I strongly believe in 'Learning by Experience'. Infact I am a lazy guy. Instead of sitting for hours on a book and study theories, I go and test things in real world. Many times it gave me a hitch. But I took back learning every time.

Ubuntu is an free and open source operating system based on LINUX kernel. Moving to open source be a cost cutting measure for corporates. But for developers and programmers, it offers a pool of learning opportunities. 

For over a long period of time I wanted to experience Linux OS and of course there are many flavours available. Ubuntu is one among the widely used Linux flavours with Fedora, RedHat, KUbuntu, Open Suse, etc. being the rest. Currently am using UBUNTU 13.04 LTS and it is pretty good.