A CCCP like install for Ubuntu

I happen to have a wide array of video formats that I regularly use. For Windows, I have CCCP that does the job. But I need something for Ubuntu.

I happened to run across this one way around it. Given that it installs a HUGE amount of data (~250MB) but you can then pretty much play anything after that.

Fire up Synaptic Package Manager (under System --> Administration) and search for "ubuntu-restricted-extras".

I can now play my various files (and change audio and subs).

Also, I prefer to use Mplayer Movie Player (you can get it from Add/Remove under Applications).

Soundblaster X-Fi Drivers on Ubuntu

I covered the NVIDIA drivers previously so now it is the audio's turn (both are quite essential in everyday usage :p ).

First of all, I downloaded the driver source and extracted it to my home folder.

After that, we need to install dependencies:
sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r`

I then fire up the command line and type in the below to change directory:
cd ~/XFiDrv_Linux_Public_US_1.00
make
sudo make install

After that go to System --> Preferences --> Sound and make sure that the sound card appears.

Done! :)

Damn Creative... They are well known for having the most atrocious half assed drivers in the industry. But this really dips to new lows. I have just found out that the current 'drivers' only support 2.0 Stereo. WTF?! That is a major deal breaker for me. I can't really use Ubuntu if I can't at least get 2.1 if not surround through my optical out. GG Creative.

How to auto mount NTFS network folders/drives on Ubuntu (fstab)

Great great guide for something that is relatively complex to do.

GUIDE

For what its worth, I installed NTFS Configuration Tool prior to this (or else you will not be able to see anything when you manually mount the folder). Look for it under Applications --> Add/Remove (make sure to have the drop down menu that is to the left of the search field on 'All Available Applications'.

IMPORTANT

After following the above guide, drop these into your command lines:
cd /etc/rc6.d
ls -la

You should see :
Swpa-ifupdown the nr is probably 15 and
Sumountnfs.sh that nr is probably 31

Type: sudo mv S31umountnfs.sh S14umountnfs.sh

cd /etc/rc0.d
ls -la

You should see :
Swpa-ifupdown the nr is probably 15 and
Sumountnfs.sh that nr is probably 31

Type: sudo mv S31umountnfs.sh S14umountnfs.sh

SOURCE

Why was this important? Well so you won't have to wait 20+ seconds when you shutdown due to the error from having the network manager shutdown before network locations are unmounted.

Yay!

Getting dual monitors to run (NVIDIA) in Ubuntu

This one was kinda tricky. Spent quite a while wondering WTF and Googleing my life away. It was actually pretty simple.

First of all install the graphics drivers (NVIDIA in my case). To do this you can either go to System --> Administration --> Hardware Drivers (pick the latest) or System --> Preferences --> Appearance --> click on the Visual Effects Tab and choose Extra (it will then prompt a driver DL though it didn't use the latest one for me).

After it is done installing, it will then state that it needs a restart to take effect.

After restarting, fire up the command line (Applications -- Accessories --> Terminal) type the below:

sudo nvidia-settings

A window titled 'NVIDIA X Server Settings' will then pop up and from there go to the Display Configuration and set the TwinView settings properly.

Example of mine:
All done! :)