BleepingComputer.com: re-installing ubuntu

i need to re-install ubuntu on my netbook (so no disc drive) i installed using a usb. but now i have forgotton how to put ubuntu on usb plus i am unable to download software as my software centre is not working. can i/how do i reinstall/format and put ubuntu back on

This is probably where you made your USB from -


http://www.ubuntu.com/download


Have you tried running these two commands in a terminal on your current installation to see if it corrects the Software Center issue?


sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get upgrade

This post has been edited by Keith1: 05 February 2012 - 01:15 PM

how do i do that where is terminal? i think i should wipe and start again can i do that without dvd or usb?

I'm not sure, but I think you are using version 11.10? Not being sure, you can do it this way -

CTRL+ALT+T will open a terminal. Type or Copy/paste the first command I posted at the prompt in the terminal then hit enter - you will then have to enter your password. After it finishes do the same with the second command - it will ask if you want to continue at one point, just hit the y key. After that's finished close the terminal window. see if Software Center will work now.

I was just looking at your previous post about a video downloader, and see this issue mentioned there. It does look like you may wind up doing a fresh install. As far as installing Ubuntu without a cd/dvd or USB stick, I don't know for sure so I won't comment on that.

In Ubuntu look for Startup Disc Creator. I forget if it's installed by default. If it isn't and Software Center or Synaptic isn't working maybe apt will work in terminal. This command should installed it.

sudo apt-get install usb-creator-common

That should do it.

You'll need to either download the ISO or have a live CD handy to create your live USB stick.

i get this message from those commands

"the package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened"

software centre not working

I'm pretty sure it should already be installed in Ubuntu. But I could be wrong. OK try this, go to this page and download the .deb package from there.

My linkhttp://packages.ubuntu.com/lucid/all/usb-creator-common/download

The file is called usb-creator-common_0.2.22.3_all.deb

Just double click the file to install.

Or use terminal to install it. cd to where the file is then do this code,

sudo dpkg -i usb-creator-common_0.2.22.3_all.deb

Hopefully if it needs dependencies not installed yet it'll grab them but not sure in your case. Give it a try. If it doesn't work there is UNetbootin.

http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

Click the big blue button at the top to download it for Linux. Scrol down for Linux installation. Select your USB stick. After it's created it should prompt you to reboot then see if your USB stick will boot.

nothing is working when i use the terminal commands sourceforge downloads but will not open, nothineg ever opens when dloaded from the web i need to use the software centre right? the one that doesnt work...

i think i will have to make it on another computer

when I installed linux mint 12, I used ubuntu to install it on the usb. first I downloaded the iso to the ubuntu desktop pc from the ubuntu site.

system>administration>startup disk creator>under 'cd-drive image', your iso goes>under 'device' your usb goes

my sisters dell mini netbook was very fussy. I had to try three different flash drives before one would work. exact same procedure, different flash drive.

If you have access to a Windows computer, YUMI is a good program to easily install to USB. As an added bonus, it's portable, so you don't have to install it. That is probably the easiest method.

If you don't have access to Windows, let me know and I'll try to come up with a Linux specific solution to install to USB, using the information above.

yes i typed startup disk creator into the dash and used the startup program to mount the iso now installed 11.10