Monday, August 24, 2015

Ubuntu 14.04.3 LTS, Virtualbox and Windows 10

This is the guide to future me from the current me who's had some troubles installing the guest OS on her computer in the past, but now sort of get it.

So here goes.

STEP 1 Download and Install:

VirtualBox: 5.0.x build for Windows

UBuntu distro: http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

This will give you an iso disk image of the UBuntu distro. I use Ubuntu 14.04.3 LTS, which was the most recent at the time.

STEP 2 Set up the guest OS on Virtualbox.

Follow this tutorial:


Summary:

1. New > Name and choose your operating system > Memory Size : Half of your installed RAM (depending also on what you'll use the VM for) > Hard Disk: Create a virtual Hard Disk > Dynamically allocated (Fixed size is okay but it will take a lot of time) > Size (40 GB or what's appropriate)

Creating a virtual hard disk is like installing a hard disk for your guest OS, but it uses the space of the real hard disk at the host OS. This separates all operations of the guest OS from the host OS so that anything you do on the guest OS will not affect your host OS. By dynamically allocating the disk space, your guest OS will not take up 40GB of hard disk space initially, but will grow in size until it reaches the limit as you add stuff to it. Fixed size, according to my understanding, will take up that 40GB of space as you install it, as if reserving that space for future works.

2. Settings >

> Processor > Processor (Set to as many processors you wish your Guest OS will utilize)

> Storage > Controller: IDE > Empty (Set optical drive to the UBuntu ISO disk image, which is, according to my understanding, is the installer of the OS)

3. Install

Run the OS and follow your instinct (LoL) This may take a while, especially if you opt for fixed allocation so do not shut down or bail or give up or whatever.

TIPS:

Tip 1: If your VT-x virtualization is not enabled, go to BIOS > advanced setting > CPU > enable VT-x virtualization. For the love of god, try scrolling down if you can't find the VT-x virtualization option. Don't be stupid like me. And don't ask me what that is because I don't know that either. All I know is that it's a thing that makes hosting virtual machines possible.

Tip 2: Skip the virtualbox Guest Additions installation instruction because his doesn't work for the circumstances are different. Instead, go to step 3.

STEP 3

Now that you got your shit together, you may have noticed, as you launch your new guest OS, the resolution is shit. You need a VirtualBox Guest Additions to fix this.

Follow this tutorial:

vBox Guest Additions install

Summary:

1. "Now click "Devices > Insert guest additions CD image" in the virtualbox window. This will insert the guest additions cd image into the guest OS. On Xubuntu the cd should get mounted automatically inside the /media directory."

And wallah, you're done.

Regards,

Hajar 



Saturday, August 1, 2015

How to navigate Windows using a keyboard

It was 6.45 am and there was a nagging voice inside my head that told me not to go back to bed and be productive this time. So I turned on my PC begrudgingly, and still lazy, I've decided that using the mouse is too bothersome.

Perhaps it's not too late to learn the shortcuts to navigating windows?

Hence I asked google for help and found this really helpful page :  How to navigate Windows using a keyboard

And I did something extra. I took all the tips on the page, and fit it in a sticky note which i put up on my desktop for easy reference and training.




KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
Windowsclose | ctrl+f4
menu | alt+spacebar(Sp)
window operations:resize | win + down
max  | win + up
window mode  | alt + Sp > restore > enter
move | alt + Sp > move > arrow keys
switch windows | alt + tab
navigate fields | tab, Sp , arrow, enter
browser operations:Close tabs | ctrl + F4
Switch tabs | ctrl + tab / ctrl + shift + tab
new window | ctrl + n
new tab | ctrl + t
close tab | ctrl + w
documents navigation:one word / paragraph at a time | ctrl + arrow keys
Begin of document | home key
End of codument | end key
Highlight text | shift + arrow ( + ctrl / + end key)
Right click | shift + f10

Regards,
HAJAR.