Thread: Frustrated newb with questions

i installed ubuntu 12.10 x64 guest os in vmware workstation 9.0.2 vm, host os of win 7 x64. laptop dell precision m6400 16gb ram , 1.5tb hdd. guest os assigned 1 cpu, 1 core, 2gb ram, , 80gb hdd.

feel i've spent whole afternoon chasing down ratholes of forum searches trying figure out things seem should intuitively obvious.

1) when first installed, ubuntu kept telling me wired connection has broken (or that) , offline. check in system settings/network tool , show wired connection turned off. turn on , have internet access again few minutes. rinse. repeat. after hour or of messing , doing forum searches host os, couldn't find helpful, wired connection stabilized , has been working last couple of hours. idea what's that?

2) need mail client connect ms exchange using activesync, doing on http proxy. outlook runs on host os , connects way. installed evolution , exchange add-on , not seem have support connecting on http proxy. there client this?

3) logitech wireless mouse has 5 buttons , scroll wheel. want thumb button perform in browser. can't seem find anywhere in settings configure this. scroll wheel works, don't see configuration option that, either. after searching, found recommendation use dconf editor. so, went ubuntu software center , searched , says it's installed. but, don't see icon in tool bar , doesn't show when click on dash home button, either. so, how new user supposed know program installed , how run it? how run it?

4) when messing around trying wired networking working, wanted go out command line , see if check configs obvious problems. software developer trade , used unix in 80s, , have hacked around in terminal session on g/f's mac or on android devices, hopeful. there's not terminal app accessible system tool bar or under dash home button. wtf??

5) hate bring "if windows...." thing. i'm sure not popular drum around here. but, geez, obscure tools in windows @ least accessible through start menu. so, if don't know you're looking for, @ least have prayer of finding poking around. right now, mystified @ how think os fit use in mainstream, joe user, desktop environments. parents, 1 example, not particularly pc savvy. but, can figure out how adjust mouse button settings in windows without help. i'm supposed "expert" , can't figure out here! missing forest trees??

5a) in trying diagnose wired network connection problem, not see event viewer (from windows) let me possibly see messages might getting logged regarding ethernet interface getting mysteriously turned off. tool that, if exist, why not shown somewhere in tool bar or dash home area mere mortals can find it?!

6) started thunderbird before downloaded evolution, see if had exchange support. doesn't, bailed out of before completing first account setup. have mail message icon in top right corner of screen can't seem make go away. if click on it, drop down list includes thunderbird mail, compose new message, , contacts. went thunderbird , held down alt key, chose file/quit menu bar, icon still there. how make go away?

please help! thanks!

it might not seem obious, on left bar, top button start menu. @ bottom of menu, there icon looks crayon, ruler, ect.. click installed apps. hover on installed click see installed apps. should see dconf there , terminal app. btw, unity new paradyme , throws out old. if want windows-like desktops . use kde or cinnamon. may better. seeing unity isn't old, new. not you, kids. if grew on command line, kids started using new fangled, not powerfull "desktop". wouldn't understand.

other stuff here. evolution , thunderbird support imap , pop protocals (as far i'm aware of). can use gmail account mail. mouse settings in system settings panel. unfortuantly, it's setup 2 button mice, other 3 buttons have not useless, have manually map them using shortcut tool.

heres linux network man may you.
http://www.linuxhomenetworking.com/w...g#.ut6kv1eupk8

hope helped.

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