abraham's questions

I have a file with linked data each two columns ( in this example is just 3, but could be more), in a tab delimited file:

Names   SampleA   Names   SampleB   Names   SamplesC
Name1      5      Name3      7      Name1         8
Name2      9      Name2      1      Name2         2
Name4      4      Name4      8      Name3         8

And so on, what I want is to have a single column with the columns Names with not redundant data, and in this case 3 columns with samples; in those samples that are not values for x name will be fit with 0:

Names     SampleA     SampleB    SampleC
Name1          5          0        8
Name2         9           1        2
Name3         0           7        8
Name4         4           8         0

How can I approach this matrix with pandas ???, I jus have tried with R and Perl, but I think will be easer with python using Pandas !!!

Thanks so much !!!!

I just have installed Ubuntu 12.04 64 bits just few days ago, and everything is ok, but just some times when I tray to shutdown the system just freezes for a long time, and I have to force the shutdown with the power button.

Any advise or any way to use the terminal to know what is the problem.

I'm using a Dell with ATI video card, 4GB Ram.