[Instructional Manual] How To Get Tux In Tf2 - The Easy Way.

[Ruby 9,039]

Installing Linux and getting the penguin in Team Fortress 2 The Easy Way

Introduction: This guide will show you, step by step, how to install virtualization software, put a virtual machine in it, and then run Team Fortress 2 in it with intent of obtaining a promotional item. The machine itself will take around one hour to set up from scratch (or significantly less if you already have some of the files needed), and installing Team Fortress 2 depends on the speed of your internet connection or your computer, but it shouldn't take less than an hour.

Disclaimer: There is at least 9001 ways for you to fuck up your computer, and unfortunately, as unlikely as this seems, installing a virtual machine IS one of them. I cant guarantee that your computer wont get struck by a meteor in the middle of you creating a virtual machine. I've tested the method and IT WORKS, but PLEASE use common sense and be CAREFUL.

Warning: Virtualization is a VERY INTENSIVE process for your computer. Unless youre running on an Alienware, and even then, I STRONGLY suggest terminating ALL programs and disabling Aero prior to booting up your virtual machine. If you have to, print out this guide 4 pages is nothing compared to what you might experience if you do not clear as much memory as humanly possible.

Step 1. Preparation
Things you'll need:

1. Virtualization software (~100 MB). This guide will revolve around free VMwares Player, available at http://www.vmware.com/go/downloadplayer/, just because its the best one I could find out there. VMware is known for their excellence in making virtualization software, and Player is no different. You could also use any other software, but I highly recommend the Player.
2. Linux distribution (~700 MB). I highly recommend the free and lightweight Xubuntu, available at http://xubuntu.org/getxubuntu/. The difference between Xubuntu and Ubuntu is that Xubuntu runs a lighter (and, in my opinion as an occasional Linux user, better) user interface which takes up less memory and space, perfect for even weaker systems. You can get it via torrents (faster) or via a mirror on their website. Get the 32-bit edition.
3. Internet connection with at least 12 GB of bandwidth to spare, Steam (~100MB) account(s) with Team Fortress 2 (~11GB, or an existing TF2 installation on Windows). Fairly straightforward.
4. A host machine that should have at least 4 GB of RAM, at least a dual core processor and hopefully a graphics card whose name does NOT contain the word Intel.
5. A brain. This one is the toughest because you cant buy or download it.

6. Motivational music. I like

.

Dont proceed to step 2 until you have all the materials listed. (That includes the brain)

Step 2. Installing the virtual computer.
Run the installation for VMware Player. It should install fairly quickly, and it might be a good idea to reboot your computer when it installs so that the network drivers have a chance to update. Once youre in it, go ahead and create a new virtual machine. If it asks you about getting VMware Workstation, just tell it to piss off.

It will first ask you to provide it with an ISO file of a system you want to install use the Xubuntu ISO file youve downloaded in step 1. Give it AT LEAST 2GB of RAM and 30GB of disk space. Once youve fed it the ISO file, it will automagically figure out youve gave it (X)Ubuntu 12.10, and that it will use easy install, so that you dont have to fiddle with configuration. Hit Next and fill out your name, username and password (Linux requires each user to have an username and a password, no matter how dumb it is). Be warned that Linux will, by default, use standard US keyboard, so keep that in mind in case your country has a localized keyboard type with special models.

After youve chosen the location and size (remember, 30 GB) for your virtual disk, youll be presented with a list of hardware your machine will have. Click on Customize Hardware and:
Give it at least 2GB (2048 MB) of memory. 4096MB would be optimal
On Processors tab, pick at least 2 cores. Leave other options as they are.

Make sure the Power on machine after creation is selected, and hit Finish. You might get a message saying that youre unable to run in 64bit mode thats why you downloaded the 32-bit image in the first place. If it asks you to download VMware Tools for Linux, approve it (it installs the screen drivers and a lot of other cool stuff). Otherwise, fap for a while until Easy Install installs Xubuntu for you automatically. If you get stuck in the guest computer, hitting CTRL+ALT will get you out of it, although you should be able to move seamlessly from guest to host computer (an awesome Player feature!)

Installing and running a virtual machine is a very CPU and memory intensive process. I recommend quitting other applications for the optimal experience. Youll also need a working Internet connection Xubuntu will automatically update and download language packs.
When its done installing, your virtual PC will reboot and maybe spew out random messages while it boots up for the first time. Let it install the VMware tools.

Step 3 Running Linux
So, youve booted up Xubuntu and performed the first login into the system (first startup might take a while). You can use keys CTRL-ALT-ENTER to switch between full screen and windowed mode. First thing youll see is a window notifying you of updates a number which will probably go over 100, which shows just how up-to-date the Linux community is. You might want to perform the updates if you have some time to spare, but its not mandatory.

To start out, youll need to actually get Steam. For that, just move your mouse over the bottom of the screen and a small dock should pop out click the Internet icon (to the left of the e-mail icon) and it will launch the latest version of Firefox. From there, navigate to SteamPowered.com, click Install Steam and download the .deb package from the site. Save it somewhere, and then just double-click to open it. Ubuntu Software Center should pop up telling you to only install trusted files hit Install, and enter your password. After a few minutes the install should be done open Steam and once it finishes its update, youll be in the familiar waters.

(Note: If youve chosen to update which is very wise get to know Linux a bit while the updates download and apply since youll need to reboot your virtual machine after downloading it. Basically, dont proceed to the next step if youve got some updates running. Theres a lot to Linux and you just might like what you see. There is a very high chance that, even in virtual machine, Xubuntu will be way faster than your Windows install.)

Step 4. Getting TF2
Once youve opened Steam, your account might seem delightfully empty since it will show only games optimized for Linux. Dont bother about it TF2 is one of them.

Initialize the TF2 download and let it run for a while (if you have fast internet connection, you might just let it finish downloading in about an hour or so and skip to step 7. However, if youre not enjoying high speed internet, read on.

Step 5. Copying existing TF2 files from your Windows install.
One nifty feature about VMwares Player is that it allows for so-called Shared Folders. Hit the Player Menu (in windowed mode) and go to Manage -> Virtual Machine Settings. Click the Options tab and find Shared Folders. Make it Always Enabled, and then add your Steam folder to the list.
Close Steam on virtual machine.

Now, the next part is a bit tricky.

Double-click File System on your desktop. A window with a lot of folders should open click on the mnt one and then click on the one named hgfs. In there should be the Steam folder youve shared a few minutes ago open it and open steamapps folder. Go back to your desktop and click File System again so that you have two windows. Go to the home folder, then a folder named with your username, and then click on the View menu -> Show Hidden Files. You should see a lot of new folders pop up open the one called .steam, then go to Steam inside that folder and steamapps inside that one. Now, copy these files from the first window (the shared folder, which will likely have way more items in it) to the second one:

Source 2007 Shared Sounds.gcf
Source 2007 Shared Materials.gcf
Source 2007 Shared Models.gcf
Source Models.gcf
Source Materials.gcf
Source Sounds.gcf
Team Fortress 2 Client Content.gcf
Team Fortress 2 Content.gcf
Team Fortress 2 Materials.gcf

You might notice how the files in your Windows installation are named all lowercase, and the ones in your Linux installation are marked with every word capitalized. Linux allows that its file names are case sensitive, unlike in Windows. Make sure you delete the old .gcf files and rename the new ones accordingly (refer to the list above for the correct casing).

It will take about an average runtime of a My Little Pony episode (22 minutes) to copy the files, so watch an episode then come back.

Dont forget to rename the files to fit Steam for Linuxs naming system!

Step 7. Re-running Steam
Open Steam as you would usually. Start the download for TF2 it should be around 98% now. Let it download Linux Binaries.

Step 8. Running TF2.
Finally, run TF2 as you would.

You might get an error about OpenGL, saying that it cant be initialized. That is okay, you will still get the Tux next time you open TF2 on Windows.

Congratulations, you now own a Tux! You can delete the virtual machine, or get the Tux on several more accounts of your own! Remember that it wont be tradable for a while, though.

[-Tristan- 948]

I think the biggest benefit of this approach is not having to download tf2 again. This is a big deterrent for many people I think.

[Nano 7,892]

Pinned until promotion ends.

Great guide.

[Ruby 9,039]

Pinned until promotion ends.

Great guide.

thanks

[Computer 588]

For the background music I would personally prefer Baker Cat!

[Barbaro 466]

I'm glad that this item, will not even be worth scraps by the time the promotion ends. If you're not going to even try Linux, then don't get the item...this is just..wrong.

[- Mike - 2,728]

It might not be worth much, but if you have the means...why not get it?

[Sphagnum Peat Moss 748]

Orrrrr you can just use linux all the time and run Winblows in a virtual machine when you need some proprietary crap

[Nam 11]

You don't even need to load up TF2, just install it and when you log into TF2, you'll have your item.

[Nano 7,892]

I'm glad that this item, will not even be worth scraps by the time the promotion ends. If you're not going to even try Linux, then don't get the item...this is just..wrong.

I understand the sentiment, honestly.

But as of right now there are less than 16,000 of these out of more than 3.5 million backpacks, so they are still looking as if they might be scarce.

For comparison purposes there are about 57K earbuds in backpacks today.

Now scarcity doesn't guarantee a high price, but it certainly helps.