OpenSUSE 11

I used the Hibernate option rather than shutdown after my daily session on the internet today.
I fancied trying it as I haven't used it before.
Well, it powered the computer off, and when I switched on again the processor came to life but the screen was blank and the cursor was frozen.
What to do about this?
Don't panic.
Switch the pc off at the mains, as the on/off switch will keep the computer running.Restart the computer, with the openSUSE 11 live cd, and select the "hard disk" option to boot from.
Job done!

Mandriva Linux Powerpack 2008

I tried again to print something thorough my Canon BJC250, without success, so I have given up on it again, for tonight anyway.
The setup wizard finds the printer and the correct model, then installs the driver from its database, but when I have been guided through all the setup screens I get the message that my printer is not configured on the computer. Why, I don't know. I tried a test page, needless to say nothing happened.
I found the CUPS utility quite neat, especially as I needed to keep deleting print jobs, but I didn't get anywhere using the Administration section.
I hooked the same printer up to my second pc which is running openSUSE 10.3, and using the same CUPS utility, this time with success. I printed out what I wanted to print.
I don't like leaving computer problems unresolved so I shall try again sometime.
Just a reminder that openSUSE 11.0 is due to for release this Thursday 19th. June 2008.

Ubuntu - Installing Linux on to a MS Windows os computer - ie. create a dual boot system

If you are at all worried about installing Ubuntu linux on to a computer running Windows operating system, then don't be.
Less than twelve months ago I was running Windows XP as the only os on my computer and I wanted to install Ubuntu on the same pc, and run a dual boot pc.
I tried to find out as much as I could, searching the forums and reading bits here and there on the internet, about how people had done this, how they would do it, and trying to piece together some picture of whether to give it a try or not. I remember vaguely, coming across some kind of independent installer, which would do it all for me. In a word, don't bother.
All you need to do, bear in mind I'm ONLY talking here about Ubuntu, which I found very user-friendly when it comes to sitting side by side with Windows. Put your install disk in the machine, and follow the on-screen prompts. Sounds simple doesn't it. Well it is.
Ubuntu will know there is a Windows partition on the hard disk, and will work out for you how to partition enough free space to co-exist with Windows. It is that simple. Job done. When it comes to booting up, if you installed Ubuntu second after installing Windows, you will see a choice of continuing the boot with Ubuntu or you can scroll down to Windows XP and choose that option.
I kept my Windows partition for a couple of months after installing Ubuntu, just in case I fell out with Linux. I didn't, but I have deleted the Windows partition.
Good luck if you decide to have a go. I didn't back up anything before I tried it, but its advisable to do it just in case anything does go wrong, like a power failure for example.

In praise of GIMP

For those who don't know this very useful graphics application, or haven't tried it yet I heartily recommend it and I use it almost daily, and have done so for several months now.
It's quick, reliable, and easy to use. In true Linux fashion, it's hands on, straight in there without any how-to, although to be fair, there is a help guide, but how many of us read one of these before having a go at something which looks user friendly, and I have indeed found it to be so. And, importantly, I reckon it's a more stable application than the ones I used to buy when I used Windows operating systems.
Of course, it's nice that its free to use as well. But seriously, I used to get quite frequent screen freezes and hang-ups when using MS Windows compatible photographic software. It nearly always happened when I switched from hard disk files to working from USB documents. It was almost as if Windows was saying to me , "stick to one or the other, but don't keep changing the location of your files. I can't cope with that, all in the same session."
GIMP has lots of different functions and I don't pretend to know anything about them. I stick with the few functions that get the job done for me, and GIMP does this very well indeed.
For online documentation on GIMP click here
For viewing online manual in PDF format click here
For online tutorials, for different levels of competency, click here
If you want a reliable, trouble-free graphics application that won't let you down, on your computer, then look no further than the linux GIMP.