Skype - cannot make phone calls audioplayback problem

This was exactly my problem:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/medibuntu/+bug/285412

In skype, trying to make a phone call. I get this message 6 times:
ALSA lib pcm_bluetooth.c:1619:(bluetooth_init) BT_GETCAPABILITIES failed : Input/output error(5)
and the call fails immediately with "problem with audio playback"...

This is on a laptop, with bluetooth enabled, but i'm not trying to use a bluetooth headset or anything...

The solution is:

sudo killall -9 pulseaudio

and permament solution:

System > Preferences > Session Pulseaudio (uncheck)

Now it works.

Lost wireless - Wicd

1. It occurred that I lost the ability to connect wirelessly on my work network. I tried different combinations but it just didn't work. Finally I googled and found that there is a program called Wicd. It doesn't work with network-manager and network-manager-applet or something. So when I installed Wicd on my laptop I managed without any problem connect to the work network but installation Wicd uninstalls network-manager and network-manager-something. Anyway, now I can again connect to my network.

Switching displays workaround Fn-F7

Original text:

http://mcphersonz.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/switching-displays-with-a-lenovo-t60-ubuntu-710-gutsy-gibbon/

xrandr –output VGA –auto # Autodetect the VGA
xrandr –output LVDS –auto # Autodetect the laptop display
xrandr –output LVDS –mode 1024×768 # Specify the laptop display resolution
xrandr –output VGA –left-of LVDS # Extend the VGA to the left of the laptop
xrandr –output VGA –right-of LVDS # Extend the VGA to the left of the laptop

xrandr -q # displays current configuration

Useful commands

If you want to get some information about your laptop:

root@arrow:~# dmidecode -s system-manufacturer
LENOVO
root@arrow:~# dmidecode -s system-product-name
6371EXU
root@arrow:~# dmidecode -s system-version
ThinkPad T60

No sound

Probably missing
linux-modules

cross against audio control and message:

'No volume control GStreamer plugins and/or devices found.'

Installed linux-ubuntu-modules. Hopes it helps.

when your wireless icon goes somewhere

Then try:
On the panel add: Add to Panel -> Notification Area

And you have again your wireless indicator in the panel

T60 and wireless

1. Installed
http://www.ngsys.eti.br/pub/miscelaneous/patch-wireless.deb
2. /compat-wireless-2008-08-06$ sudo checkinstall make install
but errors

(Reading database ... 136579 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking compat-wireless-2008-08 (from .../compat-wireless-2008-08_06-1_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /home/magg/dwnl/compat-wireless-2008-08-06/compat-wireless-2008-08_06-1_i386.deb (--install):
trying to overwrite `/usr/sbin/b43load', which is also in package patch-wireless
Errors were encountered while processing:
/home/magg/dwnl/compat-wireless-2008-08-06/compat-wireless-2008-08_06-1_i386.deb

3. removed patch-wireless.deb
4. compat-wireless-2008-08-06$ sudo dpkg -i compat-wireless-2008-08_06-1_i386.deb

5. /compat-wireless-2008-08-06$ sudo make load

6. I installed linux-backports-modules-hardy