I downloaded the “alternate” install cd, backed up /home folders and ran the install using the existing partitions and allowing formatting only on the swap partition.

It worked. She now has network connection on startup (that wasn’t working either) as well as thunderbird and flash support.

Looks like I won’t need to downgrade to 32-bit after all.

32-bit is ALREADY obsolete. Most computers sold in the last three years are x86_64 machines. Pretty much the only place you’ll find 32-bit x86 on a new unit today is on netbooks.

The only “downside” to 64-bit is some proprietary apps not having 64-bit alternatives, but that’s getting increasingly rare.

A LOT of people FUD x86_64, despite the fact its very plainly superceded i686.

Also, I don’t generally recommend Ubuntu unless you’re just now learning Linux. Ubuntu’s quality is in the tank compared to most other Linux distributions.

I’m fairly new to linux, and not feeling quite brave enough to try 64 bit yet. My new machine (the first I’ll ever build myself) will have 8gb ram and I wanted to know my best options before I give newegg lots of money.

For the record, talking trash on the internet is silly. I don’t care who any of you are really… I just want the information. For the ‘regular folk’ who trash back at trolls, you’re wasting your time as well as mine. I don’t know many people who listen when you say “you’re wrong”, but those who do certainly don’t troll.

Thank you for the steps in making this work!

Seriously, get with the times. 64-bit x86 isn’t so bleeding edge as you might think. Pretty much any PC manufactured within the last 3 years has an x86_64 CPU in it unless its a netbook or so incredibly budget its not worth buying. We’re in the 64-bit transition now. Just like when we went from 16 to 32 a little over 15 years ago in the x86 world.

Another few years and you won’t even find a lot of software developed with 32-bit in mind. Linux will likely still support it… for another five years just because its open source nature allows it that luxury.

Also, yes, I do have a family, yet I can still afford to buy a $300 computer manufactured within the last couple years, and I bet I have less money than you.

“I have several computers, but run Ubuntu 9.04 on my Toshiba Satellite with a centrino duo processor, which just btw is 32 bit, and I can’t justify the expense of upgrading my laptop over my childrens needs.”

If you can afford a LAPTOP with a DUAL-CORE processor that has MORE than 3 GiB of RAM, you’re not that poor. All three of those things taken together equals expensive laptop even at the entry level. You can afford a cheap $300 64-bit desktop if you can afford the laptop you claim to have.

So yes, if you can afford to upgrade your laptop like you want to, you can afford to spend a little extra and get a better machine. Don’t make assumptions about people just because they can afford to get a decent computer.

PAE’s obsolete. Get over it. In another few years you’re going to be EXPECTED, even in Linux land, to have a 64-bit machine. Quit acting like 64-bit is bleeding edge or that expensive to get into, as neither is the case. If I could afford a 64-bit machine working a low-paying job three years ago and this year, you can afford $300 to buy a 64-bit desktop. Software solutions to get something you should have just by getting a decent computer every few years are just stupid.

So yes.

Get with the times, get a new computer. PAE’s a terrible solution for the long term, as 64-bit isn’t just about the damn memory.

Damn n00b.” then you are not better than a noob.

Remember, just because YOU DON’T Have a problem doesn’t mean the rest of the universe DOESN’T

Are there any performance implications for reading/writing memory -- relative to using the 64-bit OS?

Is there much overhead for “faking” 64-bit memory addresses on a 32-bit OS?

Its your hardware, not Linux. Myself, all my friends, everyone else I know who runs 64-bit says that it runs better than 32-bit, and nothing crashes.

So the instability has nothing oto do with your Linux’s support for 64-bit support, since it has EXCELLENT 64-support.

Remember, just because YOU Have a problem doesn’t mean the rest of the universe does or means that suddenly 64-bit support in Linux is lackluster. It helps especially to use dmesg and go on Google and not assume it’s because its 64-bit that its failing.

Damn n00b.

x86_64 is here. i686 is on the way out. Get with the times, people.

PAE is no longer the best option.

You need to make in menu.lst file, the default kernel is the kernel you just installed.

Ray

well, I didn’t go on to a 64 bit version of ubuntu because most of the software that I use are 32 bit, and there is no point in installing a 64 bit OS when all your apps are 32 bit.

I did consider the option of upgrading to 64 bit, but this little piece of advise has saved me a lot of trouble.

I am a newbie, but this worked for me. I used exactly what phil used and then I went to synaptic package manager and got the nvidia 180 drivers and linux-headers for kernal 2.6.27-9 server. I then activated the nvidia 180 drivers and rebooted. All works fine now.