Freeciv crash in Ubuntu 10.10

I am having an ongoing problem which continually ruins playing Freeciv on my Ubuntu 10.10 installation.

I will play for several hours and then in the middle of a seesion, bingo, Freeciv crashes. The game will not restart from that point onwards.

Any help, comments or advice would be appreciated.

Details:

Ubuntu 10.10
Gnome 2.32.0
Kernel Linux 2.6.35-25-generic
Intel Celeron M CPU 530 @ 1.73GHZ
Memory: 2.0GB
FreeCiv- server version - Freeciv: 2.2.1-1ubuntu1

Error Message from system.log

Feb 26 08:20:39 xxxusernamexxx kernel: [ 5540.017512] freeciv-server[2221]: segfault at b4 ip 0000000000485b60 sp 00007fff2ae10ae8 error 4 in freeciv-server[400000+185000]

Installing Ubuntu on a Laptop

First of all you will need too decide which media you will use for booting the Vaio

- usb stick
- cd

Make sure you know how to select boot mode - some laptops will let use use F11/F12 to select your boot media otherwise you will need to go into the bios F2 or delete key and change the boot selection media.

If you are not sure, use the boot from cd option. It will be slower but probably easier for newbies.

Before downloading, make sure that you know whether your Vaio is has a 32bit or 64bit processor so that you can select the correct version.

Download your preferred ubuntu distribution from ubuntu here:

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download

Very Important:

Insert the cd and boot to the live cd version. Make sure that all the essential systems are working. Sound, Networking, wifi etc.

There should be a systems testing entry on the Systems > Administration menu. Run it and see if it reports any major problems recognising any important devices such as ethernet port, wifi, sound. If it does find problems and you are a newbie, this is probably not for you to do without help..

If all OK, now go Systems > Administration > Disk utility.

Look at the Volumes table. You may find that in addition to your normal hard drive partitions (e.g. C: D: in Widnows) there may also be "hidden partitions", created on installation at the factory to customised the machine and how it runs Widnows!

If you are doing a full Ubuntu install you will need to select "use the full disk" when prompted to ensure that the hidden partitions get "nuked", otherwise you may encounter booting problems.

If all has gone all OK so far reboot the machine and when prompted select the install to disk option on the Ubuntu live CD menu and follow the walk through.

It is fairly easy process. Easier than Windows, I would say.

At the end of the installation process, let the machine remain "online" to download the latest updates. You will be prompted for authority to install them. Let them install and away you go,

Learn to use the "Synaptic Package Manager" on the System > Administration menu to install extra packages such as codec packs etc.

Hope this helps

Why I use Linux on a Laptop

I have used Ubuntu Linux on my main machine, an Acer Aspire 4310 Laptop of 2008 vintage. At first there were problems with wifi and sound rivers, but since 9.04 everything has been fine.

I use the machine for remote server admin, personal use, client IT problems diagnosis, and a full range of admin.

It gives me such flexibility particularly when talking over the network to both Apple and Win systems

Switch from Linux to Mac

Not at all! I've now been on Ubuntu since 2005.

I love linux as I am able to interface with practically every other OS sans problems.

10 days ago a tech turned up at a client's office to deliver a top of the range HP colour laser wifi scanner printer which required installation of over 250MB of drivers and software on Windows 7 or MAC before it would work.

"Give me 20 minutes" says he!

Me say - "No, me no have 20 minutes!"

Fired up my trusty 3 year-old acer laptop with ubuntu 10.10 aboard.

Went system >> printing

Find network printer

Selected Generic-PostScript-Printer

and the I.T. guy was just standing there with his mouth open and aghast as in 30 seconds a page comes flying out the new unit!!

Much as I appreciate apples as Audis of the desktop world, give me open source and linux any day.

As for looks, who cares. If the OS works, I can live without the flash of Apple and proprietary systems.

Alternative software to read MS Publisher files

1. The lack of exportability and readable access of MS Publisher files has long been a source of irritation for sole proprietor/micro and small business owners who used it in the late '90's and early 2000's to produced newsletters, brochures, etc. With each new incarnation of MSOffice, they have found themselves tied more and more to purchasing a later version of Publisher and ever increasing cost. In short, there is no other program that can open .pub files.

2. In the linux world there is an open source DTP program called Scribus.
See: http://wiki.scribus.net/canvas/Scribus

3. However, even this has its own type of file system that can only be read by the program. To publish a finished article one must export to .ps, .svg or .pdf.

4. I understand that there is now an installer for Scribus on Windows systems.

5. Also see: http://goo.gl/gYMT9