Re: [newbie] group psychologist
onepatrick i have elected myself as group psychologist :) any questions ? GAPrichard I have this friend ah, i see. please ask your friend to see me :) Ed Liear. LIER, Lier we all Know NO-ONE named PAtrick would have ANY friends (just a joke) Ed rolling on the floor He won't come in, he's afraid. He's been having these nightmares. This Blue Screen (of Death) comes out of the monitor and engulfs him. What can we do to help him? Buy him a pair of Blue Blocker sunglasses. He hasn't had nightmares about a GREEN sreen of death, has he? :o) The Blue Blockers didn't work. Monsters emerge from the screen screeming "FATAL ERROR, MS32.DLL". What does it mean?
Re: [newbie] group psychologist
onepatrick i have elected myself as group psychologist :) any questions ? GAPrichard I have this friend ah, i see. please ask your friend to see me :) Ed Liear. LIER, Lier we all Know NO-ONE named PAtrick would have ANY friends (just a joke) Ed rolling on the floor He won't come in, he's afraid. He's been having these nightmares. This Blue Screen (of Death) comes out of the monitor and engulfs him. What can we do to help him? (sorry if in my rearranging i didn't get this in the right sequence. -Gary-)
Re: [newbie] group psychologist
I have this friend In a message dated 11/17/2000 2:50:53 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: i have elected myself as group psychologist :) any questions ?
Re: [newbie] OT--HELP RECOVERING MAIL FROM NETSCAPE
Michael, First try the obvious, if you were using Windon't, go to the recycle bin on the explorer desktop and restore everything. Some applications don't support this, and I don't know in which group Netscape is, in which case I hope somebody has another suggestion for you. -Gary- In a message dated 11/15/2000 7:43:55 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I realize that this is OT but don't know where else to go for help at 3:30am...I stupidly deleted all my profiles in Netscape (windows-sorry) as I am the only person using my box now. I can't get at my email archives which hold things like keys for tests and oh, you know...important stuff. Does anyone know if recovery is possible? -michael-
Re: [newbie] Installing 7.2: swap problem
It must be a percentage or something. I didn't get 128MB, not even 256; I got 384MB (if I recall correctly). Couldn't size it down. I wonder if it's whatever one cylinder is. -Gary- In a message dated 11/2/2000 9:46:11 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Check your 'man swap' and you will find they say 128 MB. You can have up to 8 swap partitions (16 according to the LPI study guide). Uhm...under what conditions? Swap isn't a single number, it's dependent upon OS use of swap space, the size and number of apps being run, etc. If you auto-allocate a 128m memory machine using Mandrake installer it will give you 250m of swap. Cheers --- Larry
Re: [newbie] choice of computer - fix contacts
Ron, Cards are easier to deal with than sockets. If the problem moved from board to board with the moving of the cache stick, yes, it is likely that the problem is with that RAM stick itself. So try this before the Stabilant22. Assuming that the motherboards are fine with other cache. It could also be both. Or just an unhappy combination, which Stabilant22 will work on. RAM is especially sensitive to static, as I'm sure you already know. So use care when trying what I describe. SIMMs, DIMMs, etc. are all basically small circuit boards with memory chips mounted on them. Using a strong magnifier (12x jewelers loop equivalent as a minimum) look for hair-line cracks in the circuit traces on the circuit board, especially where the (socket contact) pads narrow to normal trace size and go up to the RAM chips, and around where each chip is soldered to the traces on the board. Both sides. If you don't find anything, as I suspect that you won't, proceed to the contact cleaning. If the contact pads themselves don't look clean and shiny, being especially careful to use static control procedures, literally rub the pads with a paper towel. A horizontal scrubbing across all of the pads is fine as long as you are using your fingers to press the paper towel to the contact pads. Just pinch the folded (double thick) paper towel on the contacts (pinching front to back) and slide the board back and forth sideways. [I usually hold the stick and run my fingers and the paper towel back and forth. Just don't get too vigorous.] If a particular pad does not clean up well in this way, carefully use a pencil eraser (not an ink eraser!), stroking the pad itself from the card down toward the bottom edge of the contact pad. Wipe the eraser leftovers off with a paper towel -- again downward only, NOT side to side as you had done before. Try it and see if it works. -Gary- In a message dated 11/2/2000 6:23:08 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: On Wed, 01 Nov 2000, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ron, Treat unreliable connections with Stabilant22. Given that I had the problem on two motherboards, and they went away when I removed the cache RAM stick, I have been tempted to blame the RAM itself ;-) But I'll see if I can find Stabilan here in Darkest Paraguay. Cheers, Ron the Frog, on the banks of the Paraguay River. --
Re: [newbie] choice of computer - fix contacts
Ron, Treat unreliable connections with Stabilant22. It can work magic, as long as the problem is in the sockets and not broken contacts in the multi-level motherboard beneith them [see below for how to test]. TV radiofrequency contacts, high end stereo, computers, any low voltage contacts. I wouldn't have believed that one product would work so well in such widely different environments and uses if I hadn't used it these ways myself. A 15 mL service kit (about $30 in the U.S.) is more than sufficient. This stuff is manufactured in Canada by: D.W. Electrochemicals Ltd. 97 Newkirk Road North Richmond Hill, Ontario L4C 3G4 CANADA Write them and they will give you any local dealers. I do know know about a web site though I would expect them to have one. If there are no local dealers, and you might be surprised that there may be since this stuff is used in service of critical electronics, you can mailorder directly from them. Now the warning, I only found that it helped about twice a year when I was working as a computer technician. Hand "rock" the socket itself sideways (you don't want to be rough with this) (without touching anything in the socket or allowing it to NOT move freely as the socket is rocked -- disconnect any chassis attachment, loosen cables so that the board moves along with the socket, etc.) while operating whatever is in the socket. Not touching any bare contacts may be difficult, that's to be expected. If things go berserk its the motherboard not the socket. If it's the motherboard it's unreparable beyond what you can achieve by wedging toothpicks under the socket, etc. If it's the socket the Stabilant22 WILL solve your problem. -Gary- In a message dated 11/1/2000 1:35:03 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: My thanks to all who helped, Frankenstein has woken up again and is working; Took the MB that supported 4 banks of memory, put on it the fastest CPU, and apart from a flaky cache RAM-stick and having to juggle PCI boards around to get them to work, no problem. I can now wade through 1200 emails that have accumulated in between time ;-( Thanks again to all for the kind advice. Ron the Frog, on the banks of the Paraguay River.
Re: [newbie] partitioning lockup
In a message dated 11/1/2000 2:41:38 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: "Michael H. Bracey" wrote: Sorry if this is a re-post. I never saw the original one show up... I'm booting from the CD-ROM to make a first install of 7.2 on a 27.9G IDE HD with only the existing windows partition. Everything seems to go fine until I hit the confirming screen which requires an OK to go ahead with the partitioning process. But as soon as this dialog box pops up, everything freezes up. I can't even scroll down, cancel, or go back to a previous install step. My only recourse is to reboot. Nothing seems to be harmed, as I can reboot to the CD to try again or reboot to the HD and get W98 back just fine. Why can't I partition? (I did scandisk and defrag as recommended.) Thanks for the help, Michael Are you using a BIOS feature to prevent writing the MBR? Some stop it with LMK, others don't. -Cmo Likewise, are you using a shim, that is a disk/motherboard-bios manager program. If so it may be that you must boot to the program and use it to create the partitions for linux [there are several and I don't remember the details of all of them]. Otherwise, did you shrink you windows partition (perhaps with fips) and leave empty, unallocated space for linux mandrake to actually partition? [Admittedly it doesn't sound like you are getting quite this far.] -Gary-
Re: [newbie] installing on 2nd hd
Alex,
The use of hard drive (interchangible) trays is an excellent suggestion.
I have worked on machines with with these as a technician, and I have also
installed them. They work very well. Two points: don't lose the key; the
drives are VERY fragile, treat them as such. The trays work so well that you
may tend to forget how delicate the hard drives can be. -Gary-
In a message dated 11/1/2000 8:37:05 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Alex,
Since you have two harddisk, suggest putting your disks in removable
trays, config each as pri. master, insert whichever you wish to use and
boot-up. When you are comfortable with the OS's involved then do the
'marrying'.
I now have at home, Win95B, Win2000 (was WinNt 4 used by my son),
Linux-Mandrake 7.1, Red Hat 6.0 each on its own - will be doing that
also for SuSe 6.3 on a 4 Gb. When I am 'comfortable' with one of the linux
distro, Win95B can exit thru' the window.
You seem to be wanting dual boot, try read up {Windows/Linux Dual
Boot} at http://www.linuxgazette.com/issue38/veselosky.html
Just my $0.2. Good Luck.
At 04:02 PM 31-10-2000 +, you wrote:
I have installed the bootloader to both hda and hdb I have also tried
disconnecting the other win 98 drive and trying with just the linux drive I
keep getting this message:
starting linux
kernal (hd0,4)/vmlinuz root=dev/hdb5 hdd=ide-scsi
[linux-bzImage, setup=0xe00, size-0xa4530
I have also tried using just one linux partition 7.5gb and a swap partition
300mb to no avail
Re: [newbie] Password
In a message dated 10/29/2000 6:10:49 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: In a message dated 29-Oct-00 16:44:16 Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Uhm...there's a failsafe (simple) mode set up with LILO as well. I guess I'm confused as you guys talk as though you don't understand the idea of passwords. If you can get into your Linux box by simply booting and selecting failsafe without a password, what's the point of passwords at all? have no clue but it works on my system, if no one else can reproduce it so be it, however unless you have mistrusting roomates, or a micheivious child there is no real point in it when you access from failsafe, however the passwords are in place to prevent a network login, that is where security needs to be greatest. all of my roomates are windows dweebs or completely computer illiterate so i never have to worry about linux being hacked and i use a cmos password anyways no one on this base knows how to get passed that, sure there is a way but you have to tear this laptop completely apart to get at the jumpers! To clear a CMOS password you don't need to alter jumpers. With the computer unplugged, all you have to do is remove all batteries and wait. The button battery that powers the COMS memory often tips and slides sideways out of its holder. Sometimes sufficient power bleeds from another source to keep the CMOS intact, thats why I say to disconnect everything. 15 seconds usually works, though I've had to wait as much as 30 min. The CMOS information will clear, including the CMOS password. Reinsert the batteries, repower and change things as you will. In rare instances where there is a physical jumper for password use, the password may change to something generic which varies according to BIOS brand. So don't feel over confident about your security. It depends upon what the other person is willing to do (the trouble they are willing to go to). -Gary-
Re: [newbie] 7.1 will not load is solved---Thanks
Jim, Tell us what you tried--what didn't (quick overview) and what finally DID make for your success (and a restatement of the original problem + any refinements as you learned about your problem along the way). Such a summary helps us (newbie) [or let me speak for myself and say ME], and helps those who search the archives looking for solutions before posting a problem to newbie. Just because I haven't had the problem doesn't mean that the information isn't helpful to me, personally--and if you've been on newbie for a while you know that I will occasionally write that I have read about ...(something from months back)... as a means of pointing someone in the right direction if someone hasn't made a concrete suggestion. It might help, if not that person then another. -Gary- In a message dated 10/26/2000 9:49:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: To All: Thanks again to all on the list. You saved me again. 7.1 now loaded on the new disk. What a great group. Hope I will be able to help others in the future.. jim
Re: [newbie] kde question
And whenever a good enough change comes along, I will buy it thus supporting the Mandrake infrastructure. I'm not into this "new version every 6 months" thing, but when there is fundamental improvement (functionality or reduction of (install) problems, etc.) I will vote my approval with money. There are disadvantages to being too quick. XFree 4.0 bombed on my system, and shortly thereafter 4.0.1 came out fixing some problems. I know that this is a continuous process, but I wonder if Mandrake is sometimes too cutting edge. The "bathtub curve" is a functional reality. And the pioneers are the ones with the arrows in their backs. Dumb cliches that echo a basic truth. -Gary- In a message dated 10/26/2000 9:08:39 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: snip I'd also like to point out just how hard the Mandrake developers work to keep Mandrake the most up to date distro. As evidenced by the speed with which they got the kde 2.0 rpms out, and that they're workin hard thru the night to tweak and upgrade them, I'm sure the 7.2 final in a few days will be the biggest jump in performance and 'slickness', any distro has seen in some time. It's a shame they don't make any money off of cheap CD's or downloads. I'll prob'ly get the final 7.2 Cd's from lsl.com or cheapbytes, but i've made up my mind to send Mandrake a donation. They ought'a sell the cheap CD's themselves. I'd buy from them even if they wanted twice+ what cheapbytes/lsl wants. -- Tom Brinkman[EMAIL PROTECTED] Galveston Bay Snip I would have to agree hole heartedly on the last point. I have tried almost every flavor that I can think of including FreeBSD, Red Hat, Corel, and Caldera and I would have to say that this is by far the best kept package for installation support and just all around functionality that there is our there! I applaud the Mandrake crew and everyone on this list for there outstanding efforts. Regards Mike Freeman
Re: [newbie] Advice on Library Versioning in Linux
Colin, And please post the answer here. Now that you asked the question I'm interested. This list is about learning. -Gary- In a message dated 10/26/2000 8:39:56 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Thanks to all fro the replies. I''ll try the expert list Regards, Colin Close Doug McGarrett wrote: I think you're asking on the wrong list. Try the "expert" list. Probably most of the folks reading here do not even understand the first of your questions! (I speak for myself, of coourse.) --doug At 11:48 AM 10/25/2000 +0100, you wrote: Hi, I'm new to Linux but I cut my teeth on SVR4 so I'm pretty familiar with Unix like systems; but I'm stumped on this one. I'm trying to build a program that uses the mesa3d libs the package (freedraft-0.38) uses the standard GNU configuration tools which are normally very effective. In this case however it is not finding the requisite libraries even though they exist. The problem seems to be due to library versioning I can make the configure scripts work by symbolically linking (for example) libGLU.so.1 to libGLU.so but this seems to me to be wrong in that I shouldn't have to do this if library versioning is working properly. I have run ldconfig as well as checking that /etc/ld.conf.so contains an entry for the path where the libraries are stored all to no avail. Can anyone help here??? I also have a minor configuation query. When working on SVR4 it was possible to run man on the console and then press the DEL key to kill it and get back to the command promt without the screen being cleared. This was very conveniant because the remnants of the manual page were left displayed thus making typeing the syntax of an unfamiliar command less of a memory feat. I can do this in any of the terminal windows supplied. As soon as I press q to get out of less the screen is cleared. I would like to change this behaviour but I don't know whether it is a function of man less or the terminal app. Any ideas??? Regards, Colin H. Close [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [newbie] Browsers
In a message dated 10/18/2000 7:27:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hey! Wadda u mean, Larry? You get to BUY betas to test with Micro$oft! And then buy it again (it's now "the product") and do it again! Why buy the same product only once? Capitalism to the extreme [the wrong extreme that is]. -Gary- Wait a minute there Gary---I thought Micsrosoft only sold Beta software! --Greg Stewart, MCP :-) 10/20 They DO. That's the point. But you knew that. -Gary- In a message dated 10/18/2000 12:13:32 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: One of the things I see regularly is people's unfamiliarity with beta-test software, both in terms of expectations and interpretations. I guess it is pretty unique for most people working in Windows to see true beta-apps with all their trace code, dead code, etc. still hanging inside them. With Windows you get to beta-test after you buy it and the bloat there is more a matter of programming taste than anything else.
Re: [newbie] Linux question
In a message dated 10/18/2000 12:35:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The most time consuming but exacting choice is the expert install. On the screen where you choose package groups there will be a small button at the bottom of the window to "choose individual" programs. The help screen below says something about individually choosing from over 1000 program packages--and they're not kidding! You will have an information screen Doesn't this overstate the situation? It takes me only a few minutes to run through that list, unmarking the things I don't want and marking a couple that I do want added. Most of the stuff is already pre-marked for install so most of those 1000 packages need no attention. Pretty easy to say "I want C C++ packages but don't need Fortran." Since the C C++ are already turned on, you take care of those 15-20 packages with a single click that causes the Fortran packs to be skipped. The problem comes when guys want to start picking and choosing among system files, most of which they don't know what their function is :-) Linux Mandrake 7.1 selected using the spacebar (if I remember right), but 7.2 has check boxes. The selection area was out of view to the right on my screen, scrolling may be necessary to find the boxes so that you can select them. Allow an hour to an hour and a half to read through and select what If you're a newbie you shouldn't be deleting that close to the bone in my view. If you want to eliminate games, developer kits, and applications, fine. Anything requiring careful reading is best left until you're not a newbie and by then you know the names of most of those system packages. Just another view. Cheers --- Larry Larry, Just telling him how to do it since he seemed ...upset. Frankly I agree with you, and in my own case I used expert to add things so that I have them to play around with later. I can delete them individually with RPM later if I decide that I don't like them. -Gary-
Re: [newbie] Browsers
In a message dated 10/18/2000 12:25:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: One of the things I see regularly is people's unfamiliarity with beta-test software, both in terms of expectations and interpretations. I guess it is pretty unique for most people working in Windows to see true beta-apps with all their trace code, dead code, etc. still hanging inside them. With Windows you get to beta-test after you buy it and the bloat there is more a matter of programming taste than anything else. Hey! Wadda u mean, Larry? You get to BUY betas to test with Micro$oft! And then buy it again (it's now "the product") and do it again! Why buy the same product only once? Capitalism to the extreme [the wrong extreme that is]. -Gary- I think I said that Gary. But what seems to get to people coming from a world of commercial-only software is that there are real reasons why code in development should run more poorly than it would if all the extra code was removed. Rather than saying to themselves, "Oh...this is beta, I expect it to be slow and big" they say "Ooo yuck, this is a horrible program; it's slow and big." Maybe all Linux beta software should be released with the statement "This is a beta; it will be slow and big. We're just trying to make you Windows users feel at home." :-) Cheers --- Larry Larry, Once again I argree with you. Both in the buying the same software twice and with the notion of buying test betas. And though it might seem dumb, a lot of people don't know just what a beta is and some kind of blatant message is also a good idea. -Gary-
Re: [newbie] g++ compiler
In a message dated 10/18/2000 6:11:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
/* Sample code - Hello World to test g++ */
#include iostream.h
int main()
{
cout "Hello World" endl;
return 0;
}
This fails under a standard, developer installation of LM 7.1. Go figure.
I just don't know what they're thinking.
Cheers --- Larry
Larry,
They're thinking desktop (as in Windon't desktop) not hobbiest or
programmer. Yet hobbiest is the level needed to configure the system for use
(configure cards, X resolution desktop configuration, etc.).
-Gary-
Re: [newbie] Install problems
Dennise, After LM7.0 was installed I switched my drive up to ATA/66 mode and it worked just fine with Mandrake. I understand that there may be problems when installing and using /66 mode, and with Promise controller cards (which require a patch if I recall what I read in newbie correctly). -Gary- In a message dated 10/19/2000 11:06:56 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: "Kelly, Christopher" wrote: I have one IDE drive hooked up to an Ultra ATA/66. Even if I select "no" at the prompt, it brings it back up...(sigh) Does LM 7.1 fully support ATA66? I seem to remember something about 7.2 would but can't recall where or when, I'm getting old and crotchetty. Somebody know about ATA66? -- Dennis M. a registered Linux User #180842
Re: [newbie] Browsers
In a message dated 10/18/2000 12:13:32 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: One of the things I see regularly is people's unfamiliarity with beta-test software, both in terms of expectations and interpretations. I guess it is pretty unique for most people working in Windows to see true beta-apps with all their trace code, dead code, etc. still hanging inside them. With Windows you get to beta-test after you buy it and the bloat there is more a matter of programming taste than anything else. Hey! Wadda u mean, Larry? You get to BUY betas to test with Micro$oft! And then buy it again (it's now "the product") and do it again! Why buy the same product only once? Capitalism to the extreme [the wrong extreme that is]. -Gary-
Re: [newbie] Acrobat install error
In a message dated 10/18/2000 12:17:36 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I'm trying to install Acrobat 4.0 from a 7.0 cd. After Installing platform dependent files I get the error "./INSTALL: ed: command not found" ERROR installing /usr/local/Acrobat4/bin/acroread. Could it be that you're not root when you're doing this? It would be at the point that the install tried to actually place acroread that it would generate an error like that if you didn't have permission to write into /usr/local Cheers --- Larry Larry, Would it also give this method if it were trying to install when the program was already there? I had a similar error and guessed that to be the cause. -Gary-
Re: [newbie] Linux question
Yes, there are a couple of ways to get rid of programs that you don't want. If you have a working installation use RPMDRAK, and toggle it to show what's installed. You'll get a description of what a selected thing is, its size, and you can choose to uninstall it. If you're talking about doing a new installation there are a couple of ways you can go. With something like a custom install you will get a confirmation screen with a slider noteing a percentage. If the megabytes it quotes are too much, slide the slider down. As you install less you will get only the more basic of the packages for the package catagories you have chosen. The most time consuming but exacting choice is the expert install. On the screen where you choose package groups there will be a small button at the bottom of the window to "choose individual" programs. The help screen below says something about individually choosing from over 1000 program packages--and they're not kidding! You will have an information screen similar to that in rpmdrak with size, program details, and an importance rating (to help newbies like us) available for each program in the catagories you selected. Mandatory programs cannot be unselected so you should end up with a functional system as a minimum. Pick and choose the individual programs you wish. Linux Mandrake 7.1 selected using the spacebar (if I remember right), but 7.2 has check boxes. The selection area was out of view to the right on my screen, scrolling may be necessary to find the boxes so that you can select them. Allow an hour to an hour and a half to read through and select what will be installed. There is a counter that will keep track of the megabytes that you have selected for installation. -Gary- In a message dated 10/18/2000 3:11:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I have been using mandrake for a while now, i have noticed something in the mandrake distribution that i really dont like...mandrake tends to installs lots of stuff on the computer, althought this comes in handy sometimes but it's also irritating since it takes a lot of space, i could safely say that about 1/2 of the stuff installed i dont use. Is there a way to actually pick what you want? remember that i dont mean the package choice.. because it still installs lots of stuff like icq and the likes..In otherwords...i would like to get a very simple installation and then i can build on it with the softare that i need...can mandrake do that? if not then is there a distro that does that but at the same time supports rpm's? thanks TiGereYe - Accept No Substitutes -
Re: [newbie] large hard disk
Joe, See all of my earlier discussions on "shim" programs. A lot in the last month, for some reason. Use shim programs ONLY if you MUST. Being that you say your motherboard is only two years old I would expect it to support LBA drives; are you ABSOLUTELY sure that you have to use the bios overlay ( "shim" or disc manager program) to see the full capacity of the drive? If not, or to test it, reinstall the shim to the hard drive to undo the mbr corruption you have now, then "uninstall" it. Check that CMOS is set to hard drive "auto" for both configuration and mode. Fdisk should now function normally and see the entire drive capacity. If so you can go ahead with a normal installation. The following discussion is assuming that you must use a disk manager program: Your problem arises because the Linux install put the Lilo (or grub) bootloader in the mbr area. This is where the disk manager (shim, bios overlay) lives, thus the shim program is messed up and this in turn is causing all of the disc problems. The fix is that you must reinstall the shim onto the hard drive. Since you say that the floppy with the shim software shows that everything is still there, Windon't and Linux may both be intact, but with unknown damage from trying to fdisk /or format while experimenting. The discrepancy where fdisk is showing only 8GB is because it can't access the shim information, it cannot see the whole drive; this is not a significant problem. Primary partitions must be created by the shim program, not by fdisk, either DOS or Linux, and not by Partition Magic. The Linux install may be able to then assign and divide up an empty available partition to itself, or you may have to hand-create all Linux partitions before you begin the Linux install. Read the information about the shim that is with the program (a leaflette or a readme file); it will probably say to press spacebar when the EZ BIOS message is displayed to boot from a floppy. In this way you can access the floppy drive and boot Linux from the boot disc you make when you install Linux Mandrake. Forget conventional dual-booting. Begin your Linux Mandrake install by using the boot from floppy procedure that the shim requires (not doing so may cause the Linux install not to see the Windon't partition, overwriting it: Linux doesn't see the shim's partition information and sees the drive as empty, handling the whole drive itself.). Do not do an automatic install. Write Lilo (or grub) on the beginning of the partition containing Linux, NOT TO THE MBR. There is an option near the end of the install for this that you will see when you reinstall. This should allow you to complete your Linux install and have it co-exist with a Windon't installation on this drive. Though I've worked with shim programs as a computer technician, I have not used them with Linux, thus I'm not sure about your having to make all partitions from the shim software before beginning the Linux install. -Gary- In a message dated 10/16/2000 6:37:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: A few months ago I bought a Maxtor Diamondmax 40 gig hard drive. I installed it with Windows 98 using the included Maxblast Plus software floppy. The software included a BIOS overlay called EZ BIOS. Everything installed correctly and gave me two 20 gig partitions labeled D: and E: Whenever I booted up I saw the words EZ BIOS on the screen after the Compaq startup logo disappeared. (I have a Compaq Presario 4834 about 2 years old). When I set up a dual boot with Linux, I put Linux on the Maxtor 40 gig drive. I never did check to see how many gigs I was actually getting but the install seemed to indicate I had 40 gigs available. Since then I've had to remove Linux temporarily. I repartitioned and reformatted the drive using DOD fdisk, but fdisk tells me I only have 8 gigs available on that drive. I no longer see the EZ BIOS at boot. When I try to reformat with the Maxblast floppy it seems to partition the drive into two 20 gig non-dos partitions. Fdisk shows those two non-dos partitions but still says I have only 8 gigs available. If I try to reformat the two partitions into DOS partitions, it will only let me have the 8 gigs. Any ideas? Thank you to the experts out there. Joe
Re: [newbie] Help With MBR
Jim, I hope you don't mind if I put my response to your message to me [which is copied below] on the newbie list. Many people are having problems with the same things you are. This response is a natural followup to several things I've written about, ususally under the topic "[newbie] large disc", and will allow me to tie up some loose ends resulting from treating several separate but related topics separately. If the motherboard bios, referred to as the CMOS, (using any fdisk, or the CMOS "hard drive detect" and typically needing to reset the first CMOS page back to "auto" afterward) sees the full capacity of the hard drive there is no need to use a bios overlay (known as a disc manager program, which I refer to as a shim) or to to update the motherboard bios. If the motherboard cannot see the full drive capacity, and the motherboard has a flash bios update feature, check with the motherboard's manufacturer because they may have a fix for the problem. If the motherboard does not have a flash bios, updating CMOS by replacing the on-board chips can be done but the cost is typically 3/4 of what a new motherboard would cost. By the time you factor in the effort involved it's hardly worth it, and I don't recommend it. The (literally) last choice option is to use a shim program. Shim programs work, but when there is a problem it's a big one. The cause could be hardware, software (including virus), or electrical (UPS use is highly recommended, especially with a shim). You will lose access to your entire drive, and it is VERY difficult to recover from, at best. If you are going to use a shim do the same as you would if you were using DOS hard drive compression (which was fashionable a few years ago): be devoutly religious about FULL backups on a frequent basis. I've personally used both shims and disc compression without data loss, but I was very careful. I've installed many shims as a computer technician. You won't find many people who have used them without having major trouble because of them. Use Linux fdisk to delete stubborn partitions (it will handle some things that the DOS version will not), use DOS "fdisk /mbr" (without the quotes) to reset your master boot record area of the hard drive from the effects of Lilo (or grub) [DOS "fdisk /mbr" (without the quotes) can also clean up "partition table errors", sometimes they turn out to be mbr errors but the error message doesn't distinguish] and then (if Windows is not already installed) use DOS fdisk to set up the first partition into which you will install Windows. Install Windows before installing Linux or Windows will choke. Use the Linux fdisk to create the partitions you need for Linux (usually done as part of the Linux installation). Note that the two fdisks are different. It has been written months back in newbie that using DOS fdisk even to establish a partition into which you will install Linux can lead to DOS utilities damaging Linux. If you use a shim program you will have to use it to make all of the partitions, do not use either fdisk, and also use the shim's special floppy boot procedure to start both the Windows and the Linux installations. Jim, in your specific case, use the DOS utilities that are on the Linux Mandrake CD. Use the Linux fdisk to delete the partition where you intend to install Linux. If Windows exists on your first partition (you may need to use the DOS "fdisk /mbr" (without the quotes) command to restore the hard drive to DOS bootable), the Linux install should show you both that and the unallocated space and allow you to install Linux in the unallocated space. You should not need to create a partition first unless you are using a shim. You may prefer (or simply want ) to obtain Tom's root boot. It's available on the internet in both Linux and DOS downloadable form. This makes a one disk self-bootable Linux floppy with many utilities and disaster recovery tools including a Linux fdisk. Documentation is on the site. The DOS fdisk won't fix some things that a Linux fdisk will. Tom's may be a very good choice for you to try. Note that with some programs, especially drive utilities, you have to save the changes, exit, and reboot for them to go into effect (I dont remember whether this is true about Linux fdisk specifically). In my own system I have one hard drive with Win98 and Linux Mandrake set to dual boot with grub. I have a second hard drive with a second linux to play with. If I screw something up, my primary installation is not bothered and there is no loss, simply wipe and reload if I can't fix it. This second Linux boots from floppy. It allows me, still very much a newbie, to test and experiment before I change my primary Linux Mandrake installation. I hope this info will allow you to fix your problem. If not the next step is Partition Magic to delete that partition. I hope some of
Re: [newbie] Bad mbr-cannot load or boot linux
In a message dated 10/14/2000 9:19:38 PM Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hello All: I think my Master Boot Record is corrupt. My system only sees 2 gigs of 6.4 gig HD. Do I have to take it in too shop and get a low level format? I can create an extended file, but cannot load anything into it. snip First, take comfort in the fact that Fujitsu drives have a reputation for being good drives. They are more common in network settings used in SCSI configuration [performance reliability]. In these days of IDE and EIDE drives there is very seldom any need to low level format a drive. It's seldom necessary to even high level (re)format a hard drive (because of bad sectory or whatever) these days (which is much more likely than needing low leveling). DO NOT low level that drive. Do not high level format (the regular "format") that drive, especially before everything is fully backed up! BACK UP EVERYTHING ON THE DRIVE NOW, as any change in configuration may render what you can see now invisible in the new configuration. [Yes, you can go back, and the data will be there as long as you have not written to the drive in any way, but booting can be enough to cause problems with lost data.] Anything you do (like formatting or installing--any writing to the drive) may distroy your data existing in another configuration on the drive! Only one configuration is in use at any one time but they all exist in the same physical space, so any writing done in one can distroy something that you may have put on the drive when another configuration was active. [If you had SCSI you wouldn't be reporting a problem with not seeing the full drive capacity, so this discussion focuses on IDE type drives.] Is this drive connected to an older motherboard? Full drive capacity not seen is usually a motherboard limitation. This is where shim programs come in [avoid these "disc managers" if at all possible]. Flash upgrades of the motherboard bios usually fix problems not expand capability. Buying new bios chips for the motherboard isn't too practical to do. I am wondering about a bad address line (read: wire) in your controller to drive cable and other physical problems with the drive installation (assuming this drive is new to this motherboard), but this is not likely the cause of you not seeing the full drive capacity. Has the full capacity of this drive ever been seen [a previous install?] ? Has this motherboard ever seen more than 2GB of drive capacity? Is the drive new, and/or is this a new installation of this drive with this motherboard? What does CMOS (motherboard bios) show for the drive capacity. Do you know how to get in, and more importantly how to get out of the CMOS without changing anything? If CMOS has an "auto" hard drive configuration setting it's generally best to use that rather than specify the Cylinder-Heads-Sectors of the drive in the CMOS. Sometimes having a hard CHS configuration set on the first page creates a problem but "auto" works fine. This is the case with the FIC motherboard I'm currently using. That could be enough to create your problem. Set hard drive "mode" to "auto" also [a separate setting]! This could likely be the problem. After checking that the general information page drive configuration is "auto", open any CMOS page about "detect hard drive" you might have and run it to check what the CMOS can actually see. Do not be surprised if you get a list of three configurations for a drive. The question is: "Does one of them show the entire capacity of the drive?" Exit this CMOS page, without selecting anything if you can, and DO then go back and doublecheck (likely needing to reset) the first page configuration is still auto (it will usually get values plugged in when you use the detect function). Remember to reset "mode" to "auto" also![see other things I've written about CMOS for background about how to get in, get out without saving (BEWARE THIS IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE), etc.] Sorry if this has been too general, but CMOS vary widely and it's difficult to be specific. -Gary-
Re: [[newbie] wp8]
Yes, I have buttons like this. I thought it was intentional (free version and all). Haven't had any time to work with it. I'm interested in solutions others have. -Gary- In a message dated 10/14/2000 6:27:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Anyone have this problem? The buttons for word perfect, the linux version, will not show up. They are there, you can click on them, but the all look like a garbled mess. Any help would be appriciated. ~Lance
Re: [newbie] Problems compiling 2.4.0
OK, what does the beginning of your message about having to have an updated kernel to recognize your modem mean? What type of modem to you have? I am beginning to try to configure a USR3com 56K faxmodem, ISA, PnP, no jumpers. I'm wondering if what you've said about needing a new kernel applies to me also. I'm using LM7.1, and I think the kernel is 2.2.15 (it's stock at any rate, and handles UDMA/66 hard drives with no problems). -Gary- In a message dated 10/11/2000 10:55:40 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: After a four month war to get linux installed and running, I found that I needed a 2.3 or higher kernel to recognize my modem. snip
Re: [newbie] 3comUSR56K faxmodem -was Lilo configuration
Charles, Mine is ISA not PCI. And I don't remember the exact model number! Since I know my problem is the PnP and the IRQ assignments, do please let me know what you found, if it's not too much problem (and don't go to much trouble since it may or may not apply to mine). I've been asking for help on newbie since trying to search with no model number is likely to be fruitless. When I was a computer technician I used to like Phoebe modems. They used to make a jumpered modem that solved a lot of problems for me as a technician. I'm thinking about upgrading my computer and don't want to buy anything until I sort some things out. And I'll learn a lot once I get down to working on this problem. I'm sure your information will help considerably, even if it isn't the exact solution I need. And maybe I'll discover something to help you (if I know what you've done). Thanks! -Gary- In a message dated 10/11/2000 4:52:43 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: snip next modem I buy will be an external modem. Again if you need the info I will send it to you but it would be better if you found the source on the internet as the solution is quite detailed. Have a nice day. Charles
Re: [newbie] Can not boot to windows after installation
Ercan, It sounds like Win is still there, it's just a matter of getting to it. Two issues: #1) Are you using a shim program? These are variously known as disk manager programs and designed to allow an older motherboard bios to use the full capacity of a large hard drive when the motherboard cannot see the full capacity itself. If so there is a special method to boot from floppy (which varies). You MUST use that method, and do NOT fdisk/mbr that hard drive! If you have a shim, it lives in the mbr area and Lilo or Grub try to install themselves there, hence your problems ... the shim is damaged and he Windon't bootloader can't find the rest of the files without it. Don't use Linux Mandrake's automatic install, let Lilo or Grub write to the front of a Linux partition, and boot Linux Mandrake from the floppy you make during the install (you may or may not have to use whatever the special method is (but it often involves pressing the spacebar at a certain point during bootup) since Lilo does find Linux). If you have a shim, it sounds like Lilo overwrote it, and you will need to repair the boot manager to gain access to Windon't and boot Linux from floppy. If you don't have a shim you will need to go into etc/lilo.conf (if I remember right) and repair the error in the Windows section. 2) If you are not using a shim program, and the floppy is not being sought during boot you need to change the boot sequence in CMOS (the motherboard bios configuration). Do you know how to get into CMOS? It is often delete, but can be F1 F10 or others. VERY IMPORTANT once you are at the first CMOS screen determine how to get out without "saving changes". This is almost always possible. If you are not completely comfortable that you have changed exactly the right thing (and nothing else!), then exit without saving and do it again. Bioses vary, but in general you will find what you need on the second configuration page. Look for an entry about boot sequence, and change it (usually F1 shows the possible choices and pageuppagedown will change the setting, but it will say on the edge of the screen) so that A: is first, C: is next, etc. Back out, usually esc, and exit saving your changes. Confirm that "Y"es you want to save the changes. You should now be able to boot to floppy. -Gary- In a message dated 10/11/2000 3:30:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: snip Somebody suggested using DOS' fdisk /mbr but I can not boot the machine from startup floppy either snip Ercan Solak
Re: [newbie] 3comUSR56K faxmodem -was Lilo configuration
Newbies, I have an ISA internal 3com U.S.Robotics 56K faxmodem that I know is not a winmodem, and I have had a problem with Linux Mandrake's isapnp not assigning IRQs to it [error message re what to do about ...(series of IRQ #s.)..]. It is PnP, and on COM2 in Windon't. I set up the symbolic link in LM. I can get a dialtone with minicom (I assume because of the link) but it's basically useless. How do I straighten out the IRQs assignments for PnP devices? I'm wondering if this person's problem is similar [see below]. TIA -Gary- In a message dated 10/10/2000 10:06:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Now, I can´t use Linux because it doesn´t seem to like my modem I can´t surf internet, I have a 3com U.S. Robotics 56k Faxmodem, maybe is set as a winmodem, I don´t have any idea, it looks just if it didn´t exist. Typically a winmodem reports busy rather than being "nonexistent." Maybe you need to check the port you think it's using. Cheers --- Larry
Re: [newbie] install hangs with 7.1.
Rod, Also look in the archives for discussions of "hdparm" -- it's not exactly like overclocking the discs, but... The first time I did it (using 33MHz on the disc) I got something like a 10x increase in throughput. When I switched the hard drive to 66MHz (for the sake of Windon't) it wasn't as dramatic. -Gary- In a message dated 10/10/2000 8:22:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: snip access, but most people seem to go for faster CPU's all the time. Now if I could overclock the disks!! snip
Re: [newbie] computer internal fans -was HP Jetdirect printing
Greg, Mark's advice is good. And do it now while the fan is still squeeking. This won't work once the fan seizes, which is coming soon. When seized you will probably want to replace it. [*speaking of computer chassis from here down*] It: it's normally easier and better to replace the entire power supply rather than the fan inside. Once the fan has quit there are lots of reliability questions that have to be considered. And anytime you have the case open and the machine off, check the CPU fan. Do not remove the CPU fan and heatsink unit unless you are replacing it or are prepared to redo dried heat-sink compound you might find beneith it (a GOOD idea). It should turn so freely that when spun it locates to the magnetic poles of the motor [also a good test of a new CPU fan to find ball-bearing type fans]. If it doesn't locate try one carefully placed drop of 3in1 oil to free it (after cleaning, of course). Note that a sleeve-bearing motor won't "notch" with this test. If it won't, then replace it (ball-bearing motors are much more reliable). And, of course, blow out the CPU heat sink, if not replaced, with canned air as part of the internal clean up. -Gary- In a message dated 10/11/2000 7:42:43 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Greg, Take some canned air and blow the crap out-a the fan. Then put a few drops of 3-in-1 oil on the fan shaft and no more noise. I've had to do this for a few of the older PC's in our building and the users think I'm performing some kind of magic! works great. -- Mark
Re: [newbie] install hangs with 7.1.
Rod, A couple of thoughts. First, do I assume correctly that PnP aware O/S is disabled in CMOS? About the time I joined newbie (about 6 months ago) there was a discussion of Linux incompatible VIA motherboard chipsets causing problems. I have VIA, but these incompatibilities didn't apply to me, and I only caught the end of the discussion anyway. Might be worth looking it up in the newbie archives. Since you say that Red Hat runs OK I know that this is reaching, but the idea of motherboard chipsets does seem to link with your locking up on PCI probe. I assume install completes with no probing. I agree that the S3 is probably not the cause of this locking; S3 is reputed to be well supported. An install with generic server and 16 colors should be safe for an install trial. Have you tried the text based install? Have you done any overclocking or related optimizations? I was overclocking 15% for over a year and a half with no problems, but began to have Windon't lockups on scandisk. I thought the HDD was getting ready to quit, but the problem was traced to the overclocking. Memory timing optimizations remained stable. -Gary- In a message dated 10/9/2000 9:24:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Gary, I bought the package (Linux Mandrake 7.1 complete)from the local software shop and the bios virus is disabled. Since posting this email I have elimated a few things. I had the motherboard with only the video card installed, and as its a PCI s3 it should not be the cause of the problem. The motherboard does use the Via Apollo chipset, and the hang will occurr anytime linux probes the PCI bus. I ran through the expert install, and anytime I answer yes to probling the PCI bus it dies. I tried reseting my motherboard to defaults, still no different. I also tried a 5GB drive which is only udma33, but still the same problem. I also tried another motherboard, a 233MMX and it hangs as well. The only item I havn't changed is the video card, which I will do, but as Red Hat works fine, I don't expect it to be the video. I am fairly new to linux, however I know PC's fairly well incidentally. Regards,Rod - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2000 6:43 AM Subject: Re: [newbie] install hangs with 7.1. Rod, What is the source of the Linux Mandrake CD you are using? Newbie recently discussed problems with installs hanging being caused from both some bad ISO sources on the net (literally different file lengths), and from images not being downloaded as "binary." Do you have CMOS (motherboard bios) based anti-virus protection enabled? -Gary- In a message dated 10/9/2000 1:56:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: My machine boots from the cdrom (or floppy, same result) and after selecting language, then customised install I have to pick from server, normal etc. When I do this I get a message flashed on the screen for about 1 second "Please wait, configuring IDE". This message goes and my machine locks up, no response to keyboard or mouse, even Crl-Alt Del wont work. Reset is the only answer. snip I have looked in the archives but I seem to be the only one with install hangs!! Anyone any suggestions?? Rod
Re: [newbie] Problem Loging in ISP
You do not need a modem. Since I have yet to configure my own, I'll let others tell you about which delay it is that you need to increase. -Gary- In a message dated 10/10/2000 2:07:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I have a modem which although it is a internal and not being recognised by my system it works!! snip (it even works under real DOS !!!) Saying that it is really slow to communicate with my system, it may take half a minute or more for the info to go to my modem I therefore configured kppp and everything and my computer dials out when it goes to sending the login and password: 1. either not sends it at all (if it is in pap connection mode I think) 2. or it sends the login and then by the time it sends the password the terminal shows incorect pass try again and hence my password is being send as a login What can I do??? (apart from bying a new modem!) Also: i have connected once using netconfig from drakeconfig and everything worked but then the modem is even slower to communicate with the system kppp thinks it is connected (and it is propably) but in reality I am not as I cannot access the web
Re: [newbie] IDE drives
Chris, Sometimes there is a problem with older versions installing on dma66 drives (I recall reading about Promise controller card issues). 7.1 installed and runs on my WesternDigital dma66 drive just fine. WD drives have the ability to switch to dma33 if one should run into problems; I presume other drives do also. Linux hdparm optimizations [see newbie archives for discussion] worked better at the dma33 settings, so even having to stay at the lower drive setting isn't any sacrifice to Linux performance. (Your mileage may vary, of course.) -Gary- In a message dated 10/10/2000 7:33:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Does anyone know if Linux MDK 7.1 supports Ultra DMA\66 IDE drives? I just got a new motherboard and I can't get my HDD with Linux on it to boot. Do I need to reinstall? Help! Thanks, Chris Kelly Registered Linux user 185775
Re: [newbie] Can't boot into Windows!
John, Using a floppy made by and wih the utilities from the version of Windon't that you have installed (and there are several versions of Win95 alone), booting to the floppy and fdisk /mbr should work. I don't know if it would work on versions after Win98, but on any earlier version it works (be sure to remove the floppy or it will again boot to the floppy). The floppy MUST be MSDOS not Linux. Pardon me for stating the obvious, but one never knows what the person on the other end of the message knows. Did you shrink the Windon't partition? Are you getting any error messages? I'm wondering if you shrunk the partition (you did defrag Win first and didn't cut the end of the occupied section off, right?) to the point that there isn't disk space for Windon't to set up a virtual memory file. -Gary- In a message dated 10/7/2000 7:03:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: recognized anymore. Help! I've tried fdisk /mbr from a floppy, that didn't work. The Windows files are there, I can access them as
Re: [newbie] Gateway Solo 9300 and Xfree86
Jose, I had the same thing when I updated to LM7.1 and used the new XFree86 4.0 option (on custom install), where version 3.x worked fine. When I changed back to the version 3 XFree86 it again worked, but don't make my mistake: I tried making changes while using this illegible screen and seriously screwed up Linux. I went ahead and reinstalled. I know that LCD screens are more difficult, but my question to you is: which X are you using? I'm behind, if this matter has been addressed, my apologies to all. -Gary- In a message dated 10/1/2000 3:40:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: the chipset being the Rage Mobility P which is the one in the laptop. When I go to test the screen becomes white with lines crossing it and that's it. If
Re: [newbie] who answers?
Put your question up, hopefully with sufficient information, and anyone that has help to give will. In my own case, as a former computer technician, I tend to answer hardware questions and leave the others. I learn by reading the proposed solutions and e-mails marked SOLVED (whatever the problem was). I delete anything I'm not interested in, such as isolated questions. We're all volunteers here, but with over 3000 of us, and given the background of some of the people, there is quite a knowledge base here. Now if I knew more of the abbreviations like TIA -Gary- In a message dated 9/29/2000 10:38:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hey all I was just wondering who answers these questions we all ask because ive read some I could help answer but NOT sure if I can. Can anybody that knows the answer respond. I have a question about security if I dont use linux for the internet only windows do I still have to disable my ports in the inetd.conf.file.
Re: OT [newbie] Off-topic posts.
In a message dated 9/29/2000 6:09:43 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: be moderated. If not then anything that even vaugely relates should be fine. When people start telling others what they can or can't talk about then things just go to hell w/ flame wars etc. A new list is great but minor snip Maybe I'm missing the obvious here, but what the fsck is it about US Politics that "even vaguely relates" to Linux? Please, humor me, this bemused Linux user is eager to learn... snip Regards, Ozz. As you've noticed, politics is a very unusual topic. Everybody seems to have something to say. It is much tollerated, except when you disagree. And it's sad that anybody has to suffer exposure to it if they don't want to, let alone on this Linux group.And it has nothing to do with Linux, just with the survival of the human race. Whoever the idiot is that becomes the president, he has the power to distroy the world, he will have to deal with Saddam Hussein and the whole Arab situation, he has to deal with China and Russia, he has to deal with the U.S. Congress and they with him [they prettymuch stopped the current guy], and many other things of botlh United States and world wide importance. And somehow its far too much like a High School Presidential election! [i.e. has aspects of a popularity contest] However everyone in the world will live with the consequences of the election, one way or the other. Like it or not. And some don't so much that they try to assasinate him. And, the oddest thing of all -- most Presidents start doing good for the U.S. and the world after they become ex-Presidents! I was flamed for posting something about the history of computing and how situations at that time influenced the development of GNU and eventually Linux. It's amused me at how long this political discussion has gone on and the turns it has taken, from funny to screaming curses. -Gary-
Re: OT [newbie] Off-topic posts.
Oh, if it were as simple as that to get away from U.S. politics. -Gary- In a message dated 9/30/2000 2:27:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I'm thinking about moving to Canada. On Sat, 30 Sep 2000, Dan LaBine wrote: Hear, Hear, or Here, Here !! Thanks for some common sense ! I'm Canadian, and and I'm sick to death of this crap!
Re: [newbie] who answers?
Thank you, Patti. About the only one I know is IMHO = InMyHumbleOpinion. -Gary- In a message dated 9/30/2000 12:01:34 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Now if I knew more of the abbreviations like TIA -Gary- TIA = Thanks In Advance :-)
Re: [newbie] Linux and Windont (was: Installation of Java JDK ...
SYMPA doesn't like me. Again trying to repost this message. -Gary- on 9/27/2000 got SYMPA error back, this seemed to be what was missing from on 9/27/2000 got SYMPA error back, this seemed to be what was missing from the postings -- resubmitting sorry if accidental duplication. -Gary- -Gary-'s comments interspersed. In a message dated 9/26/2000 7:57:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I really suspect that the future will generate distributions with far fewer programs included...and/or more along the lines of KDE2.0 where they include a specified KDE-developed suite of apps and that's it. Probably so. -Gary- I think it has to be better than it is but I'm less sure about it needing to be "better" than Microsoft. In fact, I think it's not too far from that already :-) What it lacks is hardware manufacturer driver support and that seems to be changing quickly. Linux seems to be one of those things that is hard to get set up, and after it is it works much better that Windonts. First there is the problem of everything being different (different commands, names, programs, structures) but I see the first issue, that of the difficulty of configuring the installation as being the barrier to be broken through. There may not ever be a solution for winmodems and the like. I see this as an irqsome problem, only. -Gary- One of the things I've come to realize is that much of the "simple" I see in Windows is mostly due to my familiarity with it and I think we need ot keep that in mind when comparing things. For instance, here we see lots of discussion of application software installations, setup, and execution. Suppose you know nothing of Windows. I agree again. Most people have forgotten how much time and effort and money they have spent learning Windonts. -Gary- Those niches seem to be becoming larger and larger :-) ... and Linux is the largest growing (selling?) o/s in the server market. Growth is good. I would just like to see growth of more relevance to everyone: i.e. the desktop users. That is beginning to happen. The important thing is that this growth doesn't get stalled out. I'm sure you've read the posts in newbie about it worked in Windont but I can't solve my problems in Linux (or it's too difficult) therefore Linux is no good, or therefore I'm giving up on Linux. This is someone who was willing to try something new and different, just the people we need to grow, and we lost them. One of the related problems is that help for this person comes down to you and me, and I am only able to help a little at this point. Others help. But there is noplace one can go for a difinitive answer. Therein lies the problem for Linux, even though it is almost as true for Windows. In Windonts case the answer is a driver or wipe and reload the o/s (standard operating procedure), although with much excuse making and finger pointing along the way. But when people fail with Windows they feel that they have to accept the (incompatability, nonfunctionality, or whatever). But then there's this new machine with the new and improved version of Windont.. And people really do buy, or occasionally they sell out. -Gary- Not in my opinion. Corel is 1) barking up the wrong Linux tree and 2) trying to oversimplify the installation which dumbs down Linux and ends up shooting themselves in the foot as it won't install on many platforms. I was VERY disappointed in Corel's distribution because it felt crippled to me. But -- How is the new exille from Windont going to feel about it? The problem I see here is the clout Corel carries because of "brand recognition" phenomenon. They don't know what Linux is capable of so they won't miss First of all it has to work. The bells and whistles come a bit later. -Gary- Cheers --- Larry I agree with the rest of your posting. Thanks, you put things well. -Gary-
Re: [newbie] Microsoft and George W. Bush
Microspot lead the way, now everybody is trying to do it. -Gary- In a message dated 9/27/2000 9:20:36 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: AFAIK, Mac OS-X (and thats "ten", BTW), is the classic, slick Mac GUI sitting on top of a version of BSD Unix. My little brother just paid $30 for a beta version that he is going to install on his iBook. (go figure-paying that for a beta! smile)
Re: [newbie] Installation of Java JDK (I need JAVA!!!)
Dennis, I ran into the same thing: no support on programs supplied on the Mandrake (in my case 7.0 Deluxe) disks. Since as new purchasers/users we're trying to put these programs on a new install of Mandrake and they were supplied via Mandrake, I hope this policy will change since Mandrakesoft has taken over support. My logic for this, besides the "it came in the package and it ought to work together" viewpoint, is that on a new installation there is no assurance of just where or what such a software problem might be -- it could very well be a Mandrake vs. hardware issue and this was just the first thing that showed there exists an underlying problem traceable to the installation of the Mandrake Linux o/s. -Gary- In a message dated 9/25/2000 2:18:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: ...Mandrake (preferably Sun's 1.2.2). Apparently MandrakeSoft Professional Services technical support does not support the installation of the JDK off of their CD set.
Re: [newbie] rpmdrake (helium) does not add to install list
Kevin, Does kpackage behave this same way? -Gary- In a message dated 9/26/2000 2:37:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I have this part down... I know how to add new CD's, and how to give them meaningful names. http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/demos/Spotlight/RpmDrake/ It is pretty clear about how things are SUPPOSED to work. The thing is, rpmdrake on my system DOES NOT work this way. It lets me insert the CD and give it a new name. Then it acts as though it is rebuilding the database of available packages, but when the "available to install" package tree comes up, it is EMPTY. Thanks for the thoughts, though... Yeah, I found out about the kicking back CD's if the wrong one was inserted, but, I still wanted it to ask for a meaningfully named CD. For that matter, I think it would be a great feature upgrade to allow the user to see which CD the item was on, so that if you didn't have the full set of CD's, you wouldn't have to try adding a package to see what disk it was on. What I really want to know, is how to put the original library back, since obviously the database was pre-existing as it contained the options for a 4 CD set when I only had 2 CD's in my set. Kevin Bulgrien
Re: [newbie] [OT] Fwd: possible virus
As I read posted here a month or two ago, mark things like these as Subject: [OT] (whatever) and people won't get so upset. Besides, it seemed humerous to me, hardly worthy of (nearly cursing). -Gary-
Re: [newbie] Install on formatted HD
IF you can boot from the CD your in business. If not you will need access to a working machine so that you can go to /dosutils (on the Linux Mandrake CD) and use rawrite to make the install boot disk you will need to boot the machine into Linux and do the install. -Gary- In a message dated 9/25/2000 8:41:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hello/morning I just formatted my C: drive. Im looking to do clean install [mandrake 7.1] Do i need a boot disk to install it? Where can i find a boot disk or how can i make one from the DOS prompt. Remember my c: drive is now formatted. Im at the GRUB command line. Im needing some help here. Thanks Guyzz Dominick -
Re: [newbie] Install on formatted HD
Or go to /dosutils on the CD. There will be an information file that will tell you how to use rawrite to make a Linux install floppy, if your machine cannot boot from the CD. -Gary- In a message dated 9/25/2000 8:52:28 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: At 08:40 AM 9/25/00 -0400, you wrote: Do i need a boot disk to install it? Where can i find a boot disk or how can i make one from the DOS prompt. I just booted off the cd itself and it prompted me from boot up
Re: [newbie] 00 stuck key
NO, on the sticking metal mechanism under the keytop. And a precision oiler (so that you can precision place just use one drop) so that it doesn't get into the key's switch mechanism. -Gary- In a message dated 9/23/2000 8:10:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Don't want to use oil on plastic keys. Use silicon so it doesn't deteriorate the plastic.
Re: [newbie] Odd Problem . .please help
Did you just "install" over the top of the first one? Did you format the original partitions, delete and recreate partitions.? I assume you didn't "upgrade" over the top of the same version of Linux. Then, after you installed Win2000 you obviously redid the partitions. Linux shouldn't do anything to the drive that deleting its partitions and DOS fdisk /mbr wouldn't fix. I understand Win2000 is different in what it does to a drive [and I hope someone will explain more] and I wonder if there might be an interaction with Linux here. -Gary- In a message dated 9/22/2000 3:14:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: whole 15GB to learn Linux or I may do a multiboot, but my question really is did the first install of Linux do something to the drive that the second install would not clear up? My problem seemed with not being able to write the boot floppy and bombing on the Grub / Lilo went away after Windows reformatted the drive? Am I missing something . Linux is new to me but I need out of Win32 in a bad way . . any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Phil
Re: [newbie] Tech Support from Macmillan -- Personal Inquiry
Mandrakesoft taking over support is good new for all of us, Dennis! The MacMillan support did less than nothing for me--it wasted my time and effort. [I had bought the 7.0 Deluxe with e-mail support from Linuxcare.] This kind of experience can only hurt Linux Mandrake's reputation and sales. If Mandrakesoft can turn this support issue from a liability into an asset. Personally I believe in supporting good things, and I will purchase Linux Mandrake again when I will be able to get what I'm paying for, which includes the support should I need it. I'm not still working out of Windows based e-mail for nothing. [For those new to newbie let me explain that I'm disabled with Multiple Sclerosis Fatigue and I literally haven't had the effort available to apply to solving my modem issues myself, even with the help of newbie people.] -Gary- In a message dated 9/22/2000 11:14:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: FYI: MacMillan is not responsible for support anymore. It is us,us, and again us, and if/when we come up with some shit, we'll try to fix it as soon as possible. Unfortunately, we are still "warming up" as far as support is concerned, and I expect to see problems during next few weeks. But we'll fix them as soon as we find them out. - Dr. Denis Havlikhttp://www.ap.univie.ac.at/users/havlik Mandrakesoft||| e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quality Assurance (@ @)(private: [EMAIL PROTECTED])
Re: [newbie] DPMS in LM7.1 won't stop
Jeff, I'm sure it must be something simple too. Let me clear up one point of confusion: the whole computer goes into power conservation, this is not just a problem of the video card. When it goes to the next step of power saving shutdown there is no getting Linux back up without cutting the power to the computer [at least I haven't been able to revive it]. And since Linux wasn't properly shut down this can be a problem. -Gary- In a message dated 9/23/2000 1:01:34 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: On Fri, 22 Sep 2000, you wrote: Jeff, This looked so good, but it didn't work; power saving is still active. All steps went smoothly, and as your instructions described. I rebooted the new configuration. When the computer began power saving mode for a user, I tested root which was also still functioning. I verified that the Kdpms package was gone (for both), and that the change for #Option was in place, which it was. The laptop battery power saving daemon is also disabled. I appreciate your help, and I hope you have more ideas: it still wants to do things its own way. I haven't tried booting to run level 3; is this worth trying? -Gary- I'm really not sure what it could be then. The steps I listed have always worked fine for me. Maybe your video card has more options than mine when it's using power_saving.. Maybe searching through the list archives a little for dpms vidcardname? Just glance at that file again and see if you see any more power oriented type things you can turn on and off. You want to ask on the list or look up for yourself before your turn something off you don't know about though. Just some ideas but I'm sure this must be something really simple.
Re: [newbie] 00 stuck key
Jeff, You didn't say, but is this stuck key message a POST error [that is an error during the self-diagnostics, before your motherboard turns control over to an o/s to boot itself] ? If so, with the power off, disconnect the keyboard and inspect the connector and if possible the socket on the motherboard (likely not do-able, but take a flashlight and try to look). Clean guck off pins with rubbing alcohol and Q-tips (or better skinny pipe cleaners) if you don't have contact cleaner -- NO ABRASIVES -- or deal with bent pins or whatever you discover. Loose pins mean replacement time; a soft-flexible spot in the cord (especially if near the connector) probably indicates an internal wire failing, and is grounds for keyboard replacement. This message could be pointing to a problem with the motherboard itself, or with the connector, cord or internally within the keyboard. It could really be a key that is sticking. Depending on the construction of the keyboard mechanical mechanism, this might not be apparent on casual observation. Keyboards vary substantially. Do you have another keyboard to substitute? [The cheapist test might be to buy the most inexpensive keyboard you can find simply to test with, if you find nothing when you pull and inspect the keyboard connector.] Did the new keyboard clear the error message? Do you get the same error? If you get the same error you might have serious hardware problems [a motherboard with internal failures]. -Gary- In a message dated 9/21/2000 10:36:35 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Occasionally on boot up I get a message that says "00 stuck keyPress F1 to continue, F2 for setup If I press F1 all continues normally. Any idea why this might happen from time to time? Thanks. -- Jeff Malka [EMAIL PROTECTED] Registered Linux User 348854
Re: [[newbie] Aol and Linux]
Several years ago aol was worse than it is these days. They have updated their network and line availability [I regularly connect at 50,333, sometimes better but never lower than 49,666 and the program seldom needs to try a second phone number to connect] -- the "aol cuts you off" problem is somewhat better (it used to cut me off when replying to e-mail online, now it checks you and if you are typing it doesn't cut you off). -Gary- In a message dated 9/17/2000 7:34:27 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: snip that I would consider using AOL, my opinion of AOL is not a very good one, but these threads have interested me this morning. I saw this snip
[newbie] DPMS in LM7.1 won't stop
Newbie group, please help me get rid of this annoyance! The DPMS (computer operation suspension for power conservation) function disabled correctly under Linux Mandrake 7.0, but since I upgraded to LM 7.1 I can't disable the DPMS from functioning. I have been setting it from KDE by going K configuration Hardware DPMS and then unclicking the DPMS enabled button. Finally clicking OK or the Apply button and then OK makes no difference. Root or a user makes no difference. Setting DPMS and rebooting doesn't make any difference. In all cases DPMS works whether enabled or not! This is not coming from the motherboard BIOS! If it makes any difference I'm using XFree 3.3.6 not 4.0 (which gives an illegible screen). Curiously, (even though the DPMS button doesn't make any difference) the DPMS enabled button only remains released during the current session for either a user or root. Logging in always finds DPMS enabled button pressed, whether rebooting or not, whether changing from root to a user (or back) or not. How do I set DPMS off in another way and get past this annoyance? -Gary-
Re: [newbie] Athlon thunderbird ka7-100
Newbies, I want to clarify a couple of points, given all of the discussions since my posting: having done modest overclocking (15%) I found it to be more trouble than it was worth overall (that is, the overclocking wasn't worth the time and effort spent solving instability problems a year and a half later). Yes, I liked the free performance. People seem very adament on this topic, and whether they have any experience seems secondary. Personally, I don't love or hate any group, overclockers included. I was reporting my direct experiences in response to a question. And let me add a further point in response to the equipment destruction messages I saw a while back: after I reset my CPU back to stock and thus cured my instability problems my system has remained stable and alive for almost 6 months now [I'm using it to compose this message]. Yes, as a computer technician I ran into overclocking, but I have not personally seen any distroyed equipment. I have heard of equipment damage happening. Likewise I have heard of people overclocking 25% and operating for years with no problems. I do not know people from either group. My own experience was completely stable operation with 15% overclocking, increasing instability after a year and a half *, successfully restoring my system, and continuing correctly clocked, again stable, with no failures after another nearly six months [no failures in the two years overall]. * a possibility that I had never heard of and that hadn't occured to me, hence my original posting to this group (equipment death I had heard of, but not just decline). And, yes, I have been in computers long enough to remember S-100 systems, and I briefly studied them before buying a Z80 based Osborne, the machine they invented the term lugable to describe. It screamed at 4 MHz. [Since it was basically not graphic as we now understand the term, it really was a decently performing suitcase sized machine.] I also remember the wonderfulness of having to change ROMs and regenerate the CP/M kernel when making a hardware change. They had you on that one. Much like Apple and their ROMs -- Apple was able to successfully keep any clones out of existance because they had the copyright on the basic graphic routines in the ROMS, upon which the operating system was built [i.e. the ROMs were indespensible to doing what an Apple did, and nobody successfully developed a workaround]. IBM was trying to do something similar, but Phoenix reverse engineered (first successful (in court) reverse engineering ever?) the motherboard BIOS chip. That act began a chain of events that resulted in PCs as we know them. Have any of you wondered about the "reverse engineering" clause in so much of Windon't's software? I'm sure others here on newbie could tell more of this and other things that led to the Free Software Foundation and eventually to Linux as we know it. -Gary- In a message dated 9/15/2000 8:50:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: i just love overclocking. :) im glad some of u do too. and for those of u that dont. oh well On Fri, 15 Sep 2000, you wrote: Your not down with www.hardocp.com then eh? :) Overclocking is the best thing since sliced bread, when i got a 700mhz and O/ced to 840mhz it was awsome, tests showed it. :p markOpoleO - Original Message - From: "Abe" [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, September 15, 2000 3:32 PM Subject: RE: [[newbie] Athlon thunderbird ka7-100] Yes, the sentence "How much faster is it going to be at 800mhz or even 900mhz then it is now?" from my previous email was intended as sarcastic irony not a true question. I have experience with over clocked ram and cpu's. Like you I've learned that it is not worth it. If I need pc-150 performance I will buy pc-150 DIMMs. If I need a gig processor I'll buy one. Abe = Original Message From John Rye [EMAIL PROTECTED] = [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Abe, The extra speed that comes as a result of overclocking IS noticable, but not a big change. A more significant question is: if a system is overclocked but stable, how long will it remain stable, and what will you go through before you find the culprit: how much trouble will it cause you and is it worth it. I include a copy of a posting I sent to newbie in May. The relevant sentence is : " These things [ referring to 15% overclocking ] were OK and had worked well for a year and a half." I've done it, and my answer is that I doubt I will overclock again. As always, remember that your mileage will vary. -Gary- Subj: [newbie] beware old hardware optimizations Date: 5/27/2000 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I had taken hardware optimizations for granted; this is a reminder that
Re: [[newbie] Athlon thunderbird ka7-100]
Abe, The extra speed that comes as a result of overclocking IS noticable, but not a big change. A more significant question is: if a system is overclocked but stable, how long will it remain stable, and what will you go through before you find the culprit: how much trouble will it cause you and is it worth it. I include a copy of a posting I sent to newbie in May. The relevant sentence is : " These things [ referring to 15% overclocking ] were OK and had worked well for a year and a half." I've done it, and my answer is that I doubt I will overclock again. As always, remember that your mileage will vary. -Gary- Subj: [newbie] beware old hardware optimizations Date: 5/27/2000 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I had taken hardware optimizations for granted; this is a reminder that things can change over time. Having read here a while back that Linux is very demanding of hardware set me thinking. For the last six months I've had problems with Windows Scandisk completing. I suspected my hard drive was heading toward failure [before I was disabled I was a computer technician, and this IS one of the first signs of hard drive failure a user will see], and before I installed Linux Mandrake 7 I installed a new HDD. The Windows Scandisk problem remained. In trying to solve Linux WordPerfect vs. StarOffice installs corrupting X windows, and sound configuration failures it occured to me to remove my 15% overclocking and accelerated DIMM timing from my hardware. These things were OK and had worked well for a year and a half. Removing the overclocking solved the Scandisk problem. The DIMM timing changed nothing and was reset. Too bad this didn't fix my Linux problems. -Gary- In a message dated 9/13/2000 11:42:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: How much faster is it going to be at 800mhz or even 900mhz then it is now? And how unstable will it be? Bottom line is, I don't need to over clock it to feel like I got my moneys worth. If it ain't broke it works just fins and should be left alone.
Re: [newbie] Newbie:Lost partition table - grub - lmk7.1
Alan, I just ran a win98 scandisk (thorough) and defrag with startup optimization (after running a backup, as I normally do before system level work). Wont98 boots operates fine, and Linux Mandrake (7.0 upgraded to 7.1 and with booting changed from LILO to GRUB for dual boot) also appears fine. Having been a computer tech and working with shim programs like EZdrive, I suspect that it is your problem source. I'm surprised installing GRUB didn't totally block your access to the drive, frankly. I may not be right here, but lacking further information I think this might be a good first guess. In case you haven't read my recent post regarding shim programs, I include it below your message. What is not clear to me is if you actually boot with the shim. If so, why do you need to use it? I want to be sure that there is no confusion with other utilities that Western Digital supplies with a new drive (as I recall they are all listed together on a unified menu). Just because you are using a utility from the menu doesn't mean that EZdrive is needed or installed. AND, just because you used it for something doesn't necessarily mean that it is installed for booting, as I describe below. I have used their drive image program to move Windont98 to the new drive and used another program to resize that partition in preparation for LinuxMandrake to be installed in the lions portion of the drive [i.e. I did not move Linux this way, so I don't know if that would work, before others of newbie ask]. This worked exactly as advertised, and has caused no problems. A few months ago there was dialogue about not letting Windont tools do the partitioning for Linux. Did you leave empty (unallocated space) for the Linux install to partition? -Gary- In a message dated 9/13/2000 5:22:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hi All For the second time I lost my partition table/info and could not boot into either win98 or linux. Each occasion followed a scandisk+defragment on win98 sys - on rebooting the grub prompt came up. I could do nothing with the grub prompt - had no access to man or info. I loaded "rescue" from 7.1lmk cd but again could do nothing - the /boot, /home, /usr partitions couldn't be seen. Only the / partition seemed available. Win98 wouldn't load. The win boot disk worked - but win98 could not find VFAT. Booting from win98 cd didn't work - the registry was not available. To get into windows I had to re-install win98 using setup.exe HD is 4.1 Fujitsu split 1.7/2.4 win/linux with lunux hda6, 7, 8, 9 partitions + swop What have I done wrong?? Why would scandisk/defragment seemingly destroy boot map. How do I copy to floppy the boot sector of the HD and boot from the floppy as if it was the HD if I loose partition table again, or doesn't life work that way. I'm not sure if this is relevant but when moving from win95 to win98 the HD was cleaned/reformated using Western Digital EZ-Drive programme for reformating FAT32 file sys - did I foul up here. Thanks Alan Smith South Africa ** I left the title so that interested persons can lookup the original discussion ** Subj: Re: [newbie] More C++ problems Date: 9/14/2000 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mark, How is the hard drive utilization set up in your motherboard's CMOS now? LBA has been in general use for several years, and your motherboard is definitely young enough to have LBA support. If your CMOS shows your hard drive's CHS and mode both "auto", are you using a hard drive from an earlier machine? Auto will support the hard drive in the manner it is setup. If the drive came from a non-LBA capable machine, the new machine will use it non-LBA. At the end of this message I'm putting a longish rant about shim programs and LBA. If you are using a shim program you need to read it, otherwise read it for background. If you have a drive over about 8.4GB and are using the full capacity without a shim program you are using LBA mode, so your error message is from another cause. If your CMOS has a hard drive detection/configuration routine, you can use that to confirm thst your motherboard is using LBA mode. The instructions in the fourth paragraph of the shim material which begin, "To see what the BIOS thinks about the new drive", at the end of this message will tell you if your motherboard is capable of and is using LBA mode. If there are several choices, one may be marked with "", this is what auto would use. When doing anything in the CMOS, you should KNOW how to get out without changing anything before you do (or change) anything. If in doubt abort and begin again. Better safe than sorry [I know, it's an old cliche', but true]. If you have a large drive that was setup as non-LBA that can be fixed, even a shim can be fixed, but it may be more involved than you want to deal with. The suggestion of using GRUB
Re: [newbie] Spanish co.
The curious part of this deal is that here have been other non-English messages in the last couple of months. Why the stink this time? If any given message isn't applicable to you bypass it; leave it for those that want to help others. I have read several postings about people intending to leave the newbie list over this whole stink. I agree with others who have said what a shame that would be. Maybe if we could get the mail server fixed so that there weren't so many duplications everybody's stress level would go down. Or maybe some of the flamethrower people need to grow up. In the mean-time anybody can deal with anything that displeases them in the same way, delete key. It's much bettter that wasting over 3,000 people's time (and in some cases phone charges). I know that some out there discount what I say (or block messages) because my ISP is aol. That poor regard of a temporary practicality is also regretable [YES, I would LOVE to get those people out of my pocket, and I will when I can!]. I feel that do I contribute a little here, and I feel that it's their loss if they delete key. I would like to appologize to the Spanish speaking person at the butt of this and say to you that if you will try to communicate with us, we will try to help you. I honor your desire to express yourself well rather than mangle English. I also respect people who try to communicate with me dispite MY handicap (of not being able to speak their language). I was flamed over a matter of computing history, which I felt affected everybody including Linux people, if that helps you to feel any better about your bad treatment here. Remember to treat critics with the delete key! Sorry for the waste of bandwidth, I never did deal with "stupid" very well. In general it sounds like people need to lighten up and get reasonable! -Gary- In a message dated 9/14/2000 11:40:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hi Folks, I am really sorry to see such a flamethread over a guy who posted a question in spanish. So what? We are supposed to be a friendly bunch of linuxers, not a bunch of wicked old men who have nothing better to do than flame-ing each other. If you don't understand Spanish, ignore it, if you do answer the guy, and all are happy. If/when spanish questions start popping up very often, spanish people will get a separate list, just as germans, frenchs and italians already have. Relax. Don't be lusers. yours Denis -- - Dr. Denis Havlikhttp://www.ap.univie.ac.at/users/havlik Mandrakesoft||| e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quality Assurance (@ @)(private: [EMAIL PROTECTED])
Re: [newbie] penguin icons
I agree. Computing history is implicit in some of the configuration and learning curve issues we're having to deal with as newbies; knowing computing history helps to explain some otherwise odd and confusing things in Linux. Besides, many things, like the Xerox PARC deal, are just plain interesting. If it wasn't for the stupidity of Xerox execs we would be paying them royalty money. -Gary- In a message dated 9/12/2000 10:18:52 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I have to admit, there is something fascinating, as a newbie, about hearing people reminisce about the old days of UNIX/Linux and their first experiences. -paul r
Re: [newbie] I am having problems with my modem
Mark, As I said, if you disable COM2 on the motherboard you may find that the modem will successfully reassign and operate in both NT and Linux, since you will have cleared an address conflict. Some motherboards will stop the PowerOnSelfTest before turning control over to an operating system with this kind of address conflict, though most will not. And, yes, changing to a p/s2 mouse will clear the IRQ conflict (since COM1 and COM3 share the same interrupt) and allow you to use COM3 for the modem. Borrow your friends p/s2 mouse and verify it for yourself. You will have to reconfigure the mouse, but hopefully most of this will be automatic. This will let you see what configuration problems you are getting into so that you can backout if you wish, but once reconfigured you won't want to go back to a serial mouse, if nothing else simply to avoid the headaches. Maybe I should have been more explicit when I mentioned the p/s2 mouse before. Again, my question is why this works in NT. You and I are on the same track with this one. The IRQ conflict, as a function of the motherboard, exists independently of any operating system; if it works in NT it should work in Linux, and if it doesn't work in Linux I would expect it not to work in NT. I'd like to hear the explanation for that one! -Gary- In a message dated 9/13/2000 8:14:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The modem works fine on COM3 in NT, in fact, it will not run on COM2, I tried. There is a conflict on COM2, I am not quite sure what it is right now, but NT would not even detect the modem on COM2. Anyway, a friend of mine said that I might try using a PS/2 mouse. He said that he used his on his Linux system and didn't have a problem. The only thing is, if COM3 works in NT then it should work in Linux, thus there would be no need to get the PS/2 mouse, correct? Mark - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2000 3:56 PM Subject: Re: [newbie] I am having problems with my modem Mark, If your mouse is on COM1 and your modem is on COM3 you do have an interrupt conflict. Interrupt lines are a function of the motherboard (not the operating system as I saw mentioned in another posting), and there are a physically limited number of interrupts available on the motherboard, hence the sharing. I don't know if moving the mouse to COM2 is viable or not. Usually COM1 is hard configured, i.e. whatever you plug in "here" is COM1. There is usually a COM2 preexisting to complicate matters. Your motherboard CMOS will give you the answer about whether those physical ports can be flipped or logically reassigned. I don't think that this is going to be a simple swap, but I've never needed to reassign the mouse and this is beyond my experience. If you do move the mouse, you may also have software configuration problems because the mouse is NOT on COM1. A like reason is why some programs will not operate with nonstandard soundcards. Tell us what your results are if you try. What's stopping you from using COM2 for the modem? Assuming that your modem will assign there, which it should if it is now on COM3 (but it actually may or may not), to change the modem to COM2 you may first have to eliminate the address conflicts by disabling COM2 in CMOS. Maybe the COM2 address being occupied is what was stopping the modem from assigning to COM2 in the first place (assuming the modem is not jumpered). If the modem is jumpered the jumper configuration is usually printed on the circuit card and it's just a matter of whether it will take the COM2 address space, which they usually will. Jumpering to COM2 will work in this case even if there is an address conflict, though the conflict could stop the POST requiring you to fix it immediately to boot into any o/s -- the conflict would need to be eliminated in CMOS for the modem to work in any case. Another option, if you cannot change the modem to COM2, and COM2 is not otherwise in use, might be to change the modem to COM4, which uses the same interrupt as COM2 but a different logical address. This should work "as is", but in some cases you might need to disable COM2 in CMOS. If you have a free interrupt available, and either COM2 or COM4* is already in use tying up that interrupt, you might assign the modem to COM5 and then assign the free interrupt to COM5. Once you get past the first four COM ports things get easier, though they eat additional resources (interrupts). Configure software as necessary in all cases. * in which case moving the mouse to COM2 will create another interrupt conflict, this time with COM4. Sorry, but a modem on COM3 is an unusual problem. As a former computer technician I've never seen it set up this way, presumably
Re: [newbie] More C++ problems
Mark, How is the hard drive utilization set up in your motherboard's CMOS now? LBA has been in general use for several years, and your motherboard is definitely young enough to have LBA support. If your CMOS shows your hard drive's CHS and mode both "auto", are you using a hard drive from an earlier machine? Auto will support the hard drive in the manner it is setup. If the drive came from a non-LBA capable machine, the new machine will use it non-LBA. At the end of this message I'm putting a longish rant about shim programs and LBA. If you are using a shim program you need to read it, otherwise read it for background. If you have a drive over about 8.4GB and are using the full capacity without a shim program you are using LBA mode, so your error message is from another cause. If your CMOS has a hard drive detection/configuration routine, you can use that to confirm thst your motherboard is using LBA mode. The instructions in the fourth paragraph of the shim material which begin, "To see what the BIOS thinks about the new drive", at the end of this message will tell you if your motherboard is capable of and is using LBA mode. If there are several choices, one may be marked with "", this is what auto would use. When doing anything in the CMOS, you should KNOW how to get out without changing anything before you do (or change) anything. If in doubt abort and begin again. Better safe than sorry [I know, it's an old cliche', but true]. If you have a large drive that was setup as non-LBA that can be fixed, even a shim can be fixed, but it may be more involved than you want to deal with. The suggestion of using GRUB sounded good to me [as I am not knowledgeable about the limitations or capabilities of LILO or GRUB], but if you want to know more about LBA, ask. -Gary- In a message dated 9/12/2000 8:58:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: That being the case, I have a ABIT motherboard that is about 10 months old and it is made for a PIII. How can I change the installation so that it uses Grub or change the bios settings so that it supports Large Harddrives? I had previously installed the automated version and it worked just fine, why is there a difference when I install the development version? Mark - Original Message - From: "Charles A Edwards" [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2000 8:11 AM Subject: Re: [newbie] More C++ problems Mark The LBA is causing your problem NOT the # of CDs you install from. I did the Dev. install on 2 machines and on both used all 4 Cds with no problems. If your BIOS does not support LBA(Large Block Address) which is a fancy way of saying Large Harddrives then the bootloader you choose to use and were you install it are critical. Grub has no problem with it but the LILO as shipped with 7.1 does. Charles (-: - Original Message - From: "Mark Thurston" [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2000 9:50 AM Subject: Re: [newbie] More C++ problems That sounds like a good idea, I am using the Complete 7.1 installation. So what packages are on the applications CD? I know that Star Office is there, what else is on it? Thanks again. Mark - Original Message - From: "Patti Wavinak" [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2000 7:28 AM Subject: Re: [newbie] More C++ problems Mark -- which distro are you using? Mandrake 7.1 Deluxe? ISO images? With the errors you are getting I am guessing the Deluxe package and using all 4 CD's (install, ext, application 1 and application 2) It has been my experience when you use all 4 CD's you will get this exact error. Try installing the developer version with only the install CD and the Ext CD -- NOT any of the application CD's and you shouldn't have any problem. That is what I had to do anyhow on all 3 of our computers. :-) Let me know how it works out. Patti -- Registered Linux User #184611 Original Message dated 9/12/00, 6:06:08 AM Author: Mark Thurston [EMAIL PROTECTED] Re: [newbie] More C++ problems: This is Mark again, I tried to install the developer version of Mandrake-Linux so that I could get the developer utilities. Everything went smoothly until I tried to make a bootdisk, it said that the bootdisk program had failed. I thought, well I will just make one later then. So on I go to the Bootloader... I tried every possible combination, and I tried installing it twice, the same problem came up, at the Bootloader main options screen I got the following error: "LBA (doesn't work on old BIOSse)" Now this is rather perplexing to me, because I installed the "Automated" version before and I had no such problem. What am I doing wrong? I have to get this working as soon as
Re: [newbie] penguin icons
I agree. Computing history is implicit in some of the configuration and learning curve issues we're having to deal with as newbies; knowing computing history helps to explain some otherwise odd and confusing things in Linux. Besides, many things, like the Xerox PARC deal, are just plain interesting. If it wasn't for the stupidity of Xerox execs we would be paying them royalty money. -Gary- In a message dated 9/12/2000 10:18:52 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I have to admit, there is something fascinating, as a newbie, about hearing people reminisce about the old days of UNIX/Linux and their first experiences. -paul r
Re: [newbie] I am having problems with my modem
Mark, If your mouse is on COM1 and your modem is on COM3 you do have an interrupt conflict. Interrupt lines are a function of the motherboard (not the operating system as I saw mentioned in another posting), and there are a physically limited number of interrupts available on the motherboard, hence the sharing. I don't know if moving the mouse to COM2 is viable or not. Usually COM1 is hard configured, i.e. whatever you plug in "here" is COM1. There is usually a COM2 preexisting to complicate matters. Your motherboard CMOS will give you the answer about whether those physical ports can be flipped or logically reassigned. I don't think that this is going to be a simple swap, but I've never needed to reassign the mouse and this is beyond my experience. If you do move the mouse, you may also have software configuration problems because the mouse is NOT on COM1. A like reason is why some programs will not operate with nonstandard soundcards. Tell us what your results are if you try. What's stopping you from using COM2 for the modem? Assuming that your modem will assign there, which it should if it is now on COM3 (but it actually may or may not), to change the modem to COM2 you may first have to eliminate the address conflicts by disabling COM2 in CMOS. Maybe the COM2 address being occupied is what was stopping the modem from assigning to COM2 in the first place (assuming the modem is not jumpered). If the modem is jumpered the jumper configuration is usually printed on the circuit card and it's just a matter of whether it will take the COM2 address space, which they usually will. Jumpering to COM2 will work in this case even if there is an address conflict, though the conflict could stop the POST requiring you to fix it immediately to boot into any o/s -- the conflict would need to be eliminated in CMOS for the modem to work in any case. Another option, if you cannot change the modem to COM2, and COM2 is not otherwise in use, might be to change the modem to COM4, which uses the same interrupt as COM2 but a different logical address. This should work "as is", but in some cases you might need to disable COM2 in CMOS. If you have a free interrupt available, and either COM2 or COM4* is already in use tying up that interrupt, you might assign the modem to COM5 and then assign the free interrupt to COM5. Once you get past the first four COM ports things get easier, though they eat additional resources (interrupts). Configure software as necessary in all cases. * in which case moving the mouse to COM2 will create another interrupt conflict, this time with COM4. Sorry, but a modem on COM3 is an unusual problem. As a former computer technician I've never seen it set up this way, presumably because of the mouse conflict issue. It is going to take a little fixing. Does the modem on COM3 work without errors in NT? Then it should in Linux. What I'm saying is that something doesn't seem right in this equasion. -Gary- I Mark Thurston wrote: I do have a serial mouse, it is connected right next to the printer and under the keyboard. I have a PIII and the motherboard is an ABit BH6. According to the manual, the mouse is on COM1 the keyboard is connected using the PS/2 connection. I am dual booting Linux and WindowsNT, is there going to be a problem if I do move the mouse to COM2? Thanks for the help. Mark - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, September 11, 2000 10:02 AM Subject: Re: [newbie] I am having problems with my modem I haven't checked the latest mail, so if this has been covered already please pardon my duplication, but: Do you have a serial mouse on COM1 [the typical hookup uses the 9-pin D-shell connector on the back of your computer] (or anything else on COM1)? If so you have an IRQ conflict. COM 1 AND COM 3 share the same interrupt (IRQ4), as COM2 and COM4 likewise share another (IRQ3). I don't know whether this is alterable in the CMOS (the motherboard BIOS configuration), but the standard fix is to put the modem on COM2 so that it uses a different interrupt, assuming that COM2 is available for you to use and that you know how to change the modem settings. If your motherboard is set up for it you could also change to a ps/2 mouse [a round connector about the size of your little finger], which uses a different interrupt (IRQ 12?) but the mouse may need configuration in your o/s. The suggestions that others have made for your problem may well (also) be necessary, and they might even get your modem dialing and on-line even if you do have an IRQ conflict, but if you do have an IRQ conflict modem operation will not be reliable until it is corrected. -Gary-
Re: [newbie] I am having problems with my modem
I haven't checked the latest mail, so if this has been covered already please pardon my duplication, but: Do you have a serial mouse on COM1 [the typical hookup uses the 9-pin D-shell connector on the back of your computer] (or anything else on COM1)? If so you have an IRQ conflict. COM 1 AND COM 3 share the same interrupt (IRQ4), as COM2 and COM4 likewise share another (IRQ3). I don't know whether this is alterable in the CMOS (the motherboard BIOS configuration), but the standard fix is to put the modem on COM2 so that it uses a different interrupt, assuming that COM2 is available for you to use and that you know how to change the modem settings. If your motherboard is set up for it you could also change to a ps/2 mouse [a round connector about the size of your little finger], which uses a different interrupt (IRQ 12?) but the mouse may need configuration in your o/s. The suggestions that others have made for your problem may well (also) be necessary, and they might even get your modem dialing and on-line even if you do have an IRQ conflict, but if you do have an IRQ conflict modem operation will not be reliable until it is corrected. -Gary- In a message dated 9/10/2000 5:54:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: - Original Message - From: "Mark Thurston" [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2000 3:57 PM Subject: Re: [newbie] I am having problems with my modem I do have a serial mouse, but the modem is on COMM3. I actually found the modem now, and Linux says "initializing modem" but it never even dials. I can not figure out what is wrong. When I go in to query the modem, it finds it, then runs through about 7 different tests but nothing ever shows up in the results.
Re: [newbie] I am having problems with my modem
Not true, I own a Sporster 14.4K USRobotics that is ISA and definitely is a winmodem; it is now installed on my son's 486, which is only ISA, for e-mail. Since he doesn't have a phone it is not actually in operation, though it still worked the last time I tried it, but only under Windows, of course. -Gary- In a message dated 9/10/2000 4:59:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: problem. Since it was ISA, it could not have been a winmodem, but it still would not respond.
Re: [newbie] Modem Problems
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (pardon me, I misplaced your real name), How did you configure your voicemodem? Since yours and mine are very similar, I would expect your solution to work for me too. My modem is a 3Com / USRobotics, 56K, ISA (I forgot it was ISA, previously I wrongly stated it was PCI), PnP, and a faxmodem. "PnP aware o/s" was disabled in CMOS prior to any LinuxMandrake installs. Linux Mandrake's "isapnp" misdetects the modem's interrupt (the modem operates on COM2 in Windoze (no change in modem operating status or operation when going from motherboard CMOS PnP ON to OFF)). I went into the isapnp file to verify just what the errors related to, and I confirmed the boot errors I was getting were from this modem interrupt problem. Even under these conditions, using minitel I sent an ATDT to the modem and got a dial tone. I've never had need to change a PnP device over. If the card has to "be configured" when used as non-PnP then this is my problem, and it certainly makes sense in 20/20 hindsight. I also wondered if I needed to "setserial" in Linux. My new install of LinuxMandrake7.0 upgraded to 7.1 without incident. I skipped any modem configuration, and at this point I have not yet even put in the symbolic link for the modem. I'm at a clean starting place to do this right. By-the-way, webmaster, what are CNR and AMR slots? I used to be a computer tech, but I'm getting our of date. -Gary- In a message dated 9/7/2000 4:05:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Correct, PCI slots are usually white and the components mounted on the PCI board face away from the CPU. ISA slots are usually black and the components on the ISA PCB board are mounted facing the direction of the CPU. AGP is brown and usually closest to the CPU (not to be confused with the brown CNR and AMR slots which are smaller than the PCI slots). -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Goldenpi Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2000 10:59 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [newbie] Modem Problems PCI slots are the small card slots in your pc, as opposed to the older, bigger ISA slots. - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2000 10:51 PM Subject: Re: [newbie] Modem Problems Is this a PCI modem? What did you do to configure it? I have a USRobotics / 3Com internal modem, 56K PCI PnP faxmodem to deal with. Last time I tried (LinuxMandrake 7.0) isapnp detected it's configuration wrong stopped with error messages (including errors at boot). Before I got back to this I corrupted my LinuxMandrake install. I have reinstalled LM 7.0 and re-upgraded to 7.1 due to a problem with XFree86 which left the screen illegible. Please pardon the late reply, I'm still catching up with newbie emails. -Gary- In a message dated 9/4/2000 8:44:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I just got and installed a UsRobotics / 3Com internal modem, 56K voicefax, which runs fine under Linux; but I had to boot W once to configure it.
Re: [newbie] HELP! Linux stole my windows partition!!! (Thank Yous)
Don't be put off by the zealots. There is much good help to be had here. And I agree, I appreciate the help I get here. -Gary- In a message dated 9/6/2000 5:54:12 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I would really like to thank the following people for giving me genuine support on finding a solution: 1) Mark Weaver 2) Doug McGarrett 3) Goldenpi 4) Paul 5) Ed Tharp Your help was greatly appreciated. J. Azeke
Re: [newbie] Very simple question on Partitioning
Have I missed something here? I understood that the DOS version of fdisk zeroed (what was that called?) when used to repartition a HDD, thus forcing a reinstall. I understood that the Linux fdisk only altered the partition information itself. I thought that was why all of the gyrations to resize a DOS partition to make room for Linux were necessary. Is there a simple way to resize a DOS partition without having to reinstall Windoze, for those of us still stuck having to use it? -Gary- In a message dated 9/6/2000 5:23:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I have accomplished and the same task that you are conjecturing over. Adrian is correct in that you have to firt defrag your haddrive (run an error test first!). ONce you have did this, you can either use fdisk in DOS, which I have also did successfully, to repartition your windoze drive or do it all from diskdrake. I took the added precaution of writing down my harddrive "properties" (the actual size of information currently occupied on my harddrive.) so that I could give windows two GBs of harddrive space. The rest
Re: [newbie] ISP
And doesn't AOL own Compuserve. They bought it a few years ago, but I'm not sure if they still own it. F.Y.I. (before we start a range war on this) I use AOL because of the kid restrictions, and because I haven't had the time to get my modem working in linux [I sent a separate replyquestion re. modems earlier today]. It works until something better... -Gary- In a message dated 9/4/2000 4:06:35 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: -- Compuserve IS AOL. They have the same basic premise. Crappy service with crappy software on crappy windoze boxes. There is no way you can make Compuserve work with Linux. Jay
Re: [newbie] Modem Problems
Is this a PCI modem? What did you do to configure it? I have a USRobotics / 3Com internal modem, 56K PCI PnP faxmodem to deal with. Last time I tried (LinuxMandrake 7.0) isapnp detected it's configuration wrong stopped with error messages (including errors at boot). Before I got back to this I corrupted my LinuxMandrake install. I have reinstalled LM 7.0 and re-upgraded to 7.1 due to a problem with XFree86 which left the screen illegible. Please pardon the late reply, I'm still catching up with newbie emails. -Gary- In a message dated 9/4/2000 8:44:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I just got and installed a UsRobotics / 3Com internal modem, 56K voicefax, which runs fine under Linux; but I had to boot W once to configure it.
Re: [newbie] grub Xserver4.0 Xserver3x
Thanks for your reply, and please pardon MY late reply to you. In my newly installed Xserver 4.0 (as part of my 7.1 upgrade), I had white text on a white background (I could SOMETIMES change part of the screen to Pumpkin color (the color I had set for the root toolbar in my 7.0 installation)) with black and blue horizontal stripes obscuring. Working with an illegible screen I screwed things up so badly I had to reinstall (this means it wouldn't even boot to a login screen, before somebody asks). Since I was doing it over anyhow, I tried it several different ways and ended up patritioning / (root) much larger. The install of 7.0 and update to 7.1 went smoothly and completed Thurs night. I have 460 newbie messages to catch up with before I go back to set up sound and modem and begin working with it. -Gary- In a message dated 8/28/2000 2:06:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I don't think you do. Just make sure that you don't format you partions and things should work ok. (snip) Mark Hillary From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] How can I boot with grub into run level 3? How can I change from 4.0 back to Xserver 3.x (I can hardly see what I'm doing!)? (snip) -Gary-
Fwd: [newbie] grub Xserver4.0 Xserver3x
Since I got no response, I'm sending this again. I didn't get an "upgrade" option when upgrading from 7.0 to 7.1, and I don't want to spend the time needed to go through this in expert mode if it can be avoided. -Gary- How can I boot with grub into run level 3? How can I change from 4.0 back to Xserver 3.x (I can hardly see what I'm doing!)? My son corrupted Windows 98 forcing a refresh install. This completed but screwed up Grub, making the HDD unbootable for Win or Mandrake. A DOS FDISK / MBR solved that, as it would if it had been Lilo. Since I hadn't had time to play with my LM7.1 upgrade to realize I had a problem with it, and I didn't have many programs installed in my new install of 7.0 (forced to repartition for the upgrade to complete), I installed LM7.0 again, installed RPMs, and redid the upgrade to LM7.1. I chose Xserver4.0 again not realizing the grey and blue horiz lines are not a feature but a bug which makes the screen is nearly illegible. I thought I could change this when I configured my desktop, but it's a bug apparently with my Trident Providia 9865 video card, rather than a feature. How can I change back, especially since the screen is nearly illegible? Yes, Xserver 3.x is on the drive. Thank you for helping me not to have to do this again!-Gary-
Re: [newbie] grub Xserver4.0 Xserver3x
How can I boot with grub into run level 3? How can I change from 4.0 back to Xserver 3.x (I can hardly see what I'm doing!)? My son corrupted Windows 98 forcing a refresh install. This completed but screwed up Grub, making the HDD unbootable for Win or Mandrake. A DOS FDISK / MBR solved that, as it would if it had been Lilo. Since I hadn't had time to play with my LM7.1 upgrade to realize I had a problem with it, and I didn't have many programs installed in my new install of 7.0 (forced to repartition for the upgrade to complete), I installed LM7.0 again, installed RPMs, and redid the upgrade to LM7.1. I chose Xserver4.0 again not realizing the grey and blue horiz lines are not a feature but a bug which makes the screen is nearly illegible. I thought I could change this when I configured my desktop, but it's a bug apparently with my Trident Providia 9865 video card, rather than a feature. How can I change back, especially since the screen is nearly illegible? Yes, Xserver 3.x is on the drive. Thank you for helping me not to have to do this again!-Gary-
Re: [newbie]
I'm not a gamer. What is FSAA? -Gary- In a message dated 8/15/2000 10:42:51 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: snip I've found that you can use its FSAA in almost any game that isn't brand spankin' new to great affect. I mean that games without any jaggies or pixel popping or crawlies are amazing. I can't stand to look at my old machine now.
Re: [newbie] AOL for Linux ( FREEISP issues asking suggestions)
(I capitalized a couple of things to call your attention to them, I don't mean to be yelling!) As long as you don't mind lying--the FREEISPs I've used have a users agreement where you have to agree that you are 18 to establish an account and in some cases agree that no one under 18 will use the account. And you put up with the ads (almost always). The majority of them gather information on you as you are on line [beware the ones that say you must have (receiving) cookies enabled!, however nothing says that you won't delete them periodically for housekeeping purposes (oops, I forgot, we never have to optimize our hard drives in Linux; but they don't have to know...), which only slightly takes the edge off the problem]. BUT THE FIRST THING IS does this ISP have a local access number? If you have to pay the phone company to connect to the "freeisp" it could end up costing quite a bit. [TIP: check the front of your phone book for the numbers of the exchanges that are in your local calling area.] The suggestion to get two or three freeisp accounts is a practical necessity. As has been mentioned in newbie about a week ago, several have suddenly ceased to exist. Complain as you will about the AOL interface; I found the freeisp ads worse. The one I signed up with that had an big flashing ad bar I canceled immediately. Check out a number of them, they vary greatly. I am saddened to see WorldSpy go (and I have their software to remove yet), for they didn't have ads. This brings up the issue of Technical Support, which can be a problem; removing the first WorldSpy software to install improved software had me hand-removing Win98 registry entries! If I hadn't had good instructions it could have been a serious problem.] Get recommendations of good freeisps and, especially, backup your system before you install their Windows software. I WOULD LIKE RECOMMENDATIONS for good freeisp organizations in the United States, especially ones that can be accessed via Linux. The less obnoxious the ads the better. I would like to get AOL out of my pocket, too. "1NOL and Freei have easy hacks to avoid using their software" Greg, I'm definitely interested in details about this, besides it may be applicable to other services as well. -Gary- In a message dated 8/13/2000 2:02:27 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: HEY!!! Age shouldn't prevent you from getting this thing called a FREE internet service provider account, they're all over the place--trick is to get several so you're never cut off, and then tell your parents to follow the directions I gave in another e-mail so they can cut their AOL bills in half! There's absolutely no reason people (even those who view a computer as a fancy typewriter--like me) should have to pay more than $20 a month for a company to download all sorts of unkown garabage to your hard drive (snip) --Greg
Re: [newbie] Linux resources online
Then there is the Sears business model: they buy more and more of a smaller companies output, then suddenly cancel. This forces the company into financial distress, ripe for aquisition. The mistake here is for the company to become dependant upon one buyer, but when someone wants to buy from you this rarely looks to be the mistake that it is. In the audio industry contracts are set up that a dealer must take several items in a manufacturer's line, and that they cannot have anything from certain other manufacturers. If you want to have things to sell in your store that's the game you have to play. If things like the above are commonplace, which they are, then when dealing with a company as industry-dominant as Microsoft who knows just what rules apply. On the other hand, many companies are founded with the intent that once successful they will be sold (for a bunch of money). Some people's skill is in founding and building to success. That is what they do, and that is all they are interested in. And I wouldn't want to compete against Microsoft either...let alone what they are capable of doing to competitors. Linux, on the other hand, isn't really playing any of these games. But it's going to remain a "niche" product until people can put a disc in and it will work. You may not like Microsoft, and their products don't work the way anybody likes, let alone all of the problems these products do have, but they DO work (at least for the most part). That's what Linux needs to achieve -- with Linux's other inherent advantages THEN it will be able to challenge Microsoft, dispite Microsoft's dominance. IBM's alliance is a good thing, but they have little real influence that will help Linux. "Nobody ever got fired for recommending IBM" doesn't mean that they are liked. -Gary- In a message dated 8/5/2000 11:00:58 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Nobody "froces" anyone to sell their company. That is a business decision, most often for the best of the business-owner. Microsoft has the clout to "buy" its expertise. None of these exchanges can happened with consent.
Re: [newbie] X configuration
I'm new and need to know how to approach things. What did you do, look at, experiment with, etc. I'm also behind, so pardon me if this has been asked already. -Gary- In a message dated 8/2/2000 7:41:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: you have to keep working with it until you find one that will work with his hardware. Sometimes it can be a real challenge to get the display working correctly with Linux. Especially Mandrake. This week I configured LM 7.1 on one of our users' laptop at work. I spent the better part of one day off and on trying to get the display to fill the screen and behave itself while doing that. It took a while, and with patience I was able to succeed. a word of encouragement...you won't always be able to get the display working with the choices that are most obvious for the hardware. You may find your hardware on the list, but that's not a guarentee that it's going to work with those drivers. Just don't give up. Sometimes you end up using drivers that you wouldn't think will work. I'm using an HP driver to get my Canon BJC6000 to work in Linux Mandrake 7.1. And they said it couldn't be done! -- Mark ** Registered Linux user # 182496 **
Re: [newbie] Linux resources online
Since you took the time and trouble to "respond" for everyone's edification, I will respond to you [and, everyone, I'm lengthy but I hope others of you will find this interesting]. In the post that I responded to we were talking about microprocessors. Doesn't your computer use a microprocessor? Assignment of the basic patent for the microprocessor effects everybody using a computer. Since patent is done in secret, the outcome is only known when the final decision has been made, Intel, Motorola, and others have gone ahead in the mean time, and once the patent is assigned things must be sorted out. If the guy in (was it Stanton, California?) got the patent, it raises many questions. Part of what I have learned here on Newbie has been from tying into the expertise of others here regarding the background of computing that Linux developed in, sprang from, and exists in currently [haven't you learned something interesting here that wasn't strictly "my install didn't recognize my NIC" or how do I get this game to run?]. I began in computing by teaching myself WordStar and CP/M on an Osborne when the only Apple was an Apple II (and with an expansion board for $400 you could run run CP/M and have a good wordprocessor: WordStar). Unix belonged to ATT, and the FreeSoftwareFoundation didn't exist yet. Several years later SCO Unix cost $2600 for a single 386 machine, and the FSF had the GNU C compiler but not enough other parts to make a working system. Understand that things change. I didn't pay enough attention, didn't have enough background, and wasn't able to appreciate some of the things that I was aware were going on. EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IS BUILT ON WHAT CAME BEFORE, and history does influence what we experience as Reality, both in computing and in the world at large. I'm trying to make up for my lack of understanding; learn from this and don't make the same mistake that I did. I asked if someone knew the outcome of the patent decision because I felt that someone here would know, newbie being a very informed and varied group, and that these related issues DO effect us all. Maybe you need to spend a few hours playing the original ADVENTUR. That might help you to appreciate some of the games available now and illustrate this process of building on the past. For those of you that don't know, ADVENTUR was a game designed to play at a terminal with slow access to the main computer (300 baud modems if I remember right). It was developed at a time when there was no graphics, no sound, no mouse, etc. Yet it maintains your interest. It uses your imagination -- similar to the pre-TV days of radio drama. The radio program of Orson Wells "The War of the Worlds" LITERALLY had people committing suicide! Convincing? Involvement? That program's impact is still around today. I missed the days of Radio, but I see the effects. Have you noticed any of what I'm talking about? ADVENTUR was good enough to be ported from where it was originally developed (a PDP11 mainframe?) to CP/M, MSDOS and Windows. It established the category of adventure games. Since it was strictly text, it should work on DOSEMU, WINE or other emulators under Linux. You might want to spend a few hours to see if you can actually find and get into the entrance of the game, and what the foundation of today's games actually is. You can still experience your own history for yourself. You might even find it a little interesting. If nothing else you'll have an appreciation for the quote below, and a few other references you'll see from time to time. "You are standing at the end of a road" as ADVENTUR began, and the rest is up to you. -Gary- In a message dated 8/2/2000 1:31:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: [since I received only 35 Newbie on the 25th, none on the 26th 27th I'm reposting this. If there was an answer I would appreciate it if someone would forward it to me. I had thought that the Newbie server might be down, but since I have only a few (rather than scads) messages from Newbie today I'm assuming that I just didn't get my mail for some reason.] Apple has always used Motorola. But I never heard the final disposition of the copyright issue for the microprocessor chip itself. Last I heard some guy in a garage was going to be granted the basic patent for the microprocessor. What became of this? -Gary- In a message dated 7/23/2000 11:54:16 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Didn't Intel originally own the patent rights for some of the early chips that Apple and other companies were using? Roman this has nothing to do with linux or mandrake ...this is not the forum to discuss this. if you are interested go to the motorola forum and ask there .zye . THIS IS A LINUX FORUM!!! AND MAILING
Re: [newbie] Logitech Marble mouse?
I'm using the generic p/s2 mouse driver (under LM 7.0). Most Logitech mice need special Logitech specific drivers to function or function well, this marble mouse does not. -Gary- In a message dated 7/29/2000 1:48:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Has anyone found a usable driver (substitute) to enable the 2-button Logitech Marble trackball mouse under Drake? TIA, Bill
[newbie] Differences of versions of a distro release distro families
2 closely related questions. sorry for being so wordy but I want to understand the range of linux as a field and the way things are done here Given that there are different major groupings of linux distributions (Red Hat, Debian, ), and that different release versions are not directly comparible (like RH 6.1 vs. LM 7.0 which I understand to be basically comparible--using the same kernel revision, similar versions of major components like X-windows, etc.), I have noted that there are also different versions of the same release (ex: Linux-Mandrake 7.1 "download" and retail versions). Just what, how much, etc. difference exists between the LM 7.1 download version, the LM 7.1 disk that recently appeared in Maximum Linux magazine, and the retail version (besides the magazine having a single disk)? I know the retail version will have four CDs from having followed earlier discussions in newbie (and a deluxe retail version with extra apps such) [admitedly I missed a week due to vacation just before Maximum Linux Aug/Sept 2000 came out]. I recently purchased LM 7.0 Deluxe and installed it. I'm wondering how much I can expect out of upgrading to 7.1 from the magazine disc vs. the retail vs. learn with what I have and upgrade later. And then there is the question of the bugs in the new version and when they will be removed, since the download has been around for a while, the retail should have recently arrived on the shelves, and I don't know just where the magazine version fits in the scheme of things. I have a couple of "flavors" of linux to try out, though I have not yet done so. Just what differences can I expect to see compared to my installed LM 7.0? What are the differences among the "flavors" of linux like Debian? [I know that the same thing can be named differently (like a network card port) among the various distribution types, that some have different things available (like the update function), that the same function is slicker in some linux flavors (or versions) than others, and that different families have compatibility/incompatibility issues (how severe are these?).] -Gary-
Re: [newbie] Proxy Connection FROM 98 to Mandrake?
Yeah, Juno bought WorldSpy, also a free ISP, recently also. -Gary- In a message dated 7/20/2000 11:25:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Help! The free ISP I use in Linux (FreeWWWeb) was just bought out by Juno! :::refraining from vulgarity:::
Re: [newbie] Linux resources online
I've heard many times over the years that Apple got the graphical interface idea from the Xerox PaloAltoResearchCenter people. A couple of years ago I saw (?The Pirates of Silicon Valley? -- don't recall) which portrayed the people at PARC adamently against showing this idea to Steve Jobs (of Apple). They were ordered by Xerox's Corporate Offices to show him their graphical developments. He took the idea and developed the LISA and the Macintosh. Bill Gates (of Microsoft, the young contender at this point in time) saw (the LISA?) at Apple, if I recall correctly, and began development of Windows. Copyright rulings were that the expression of an idea was what was copyrightable in these issues, and Apple lost the suit over Microsoft stealing the idea of the graphical environment, which they had stolen from Xerox PARC in the first place. PARC spawned several seminal ideas over the years. One is ETHERNET, the foundation ideas of interconnecting computers and how to do it, the protocols, etc. As I recall Xerox wouldn't support further development so these people (sorry I forgot the names) took ETHERNET with them when they left PARC, and continued to develop the protocols. Xerox blew things several times due to large (read industry dominant) company "corporate mentality". Xerox had no idea what to do with these ideas, but they made fortunes for other people and changed the face of computing. -Gary- In a message dated 7/23/2000 4:43:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: A nice little thing I once read in a book (don't recall the title, I read too much :) is that at one time Apple wanted to sue Microsoft for copying the idea of the mouse-driven graphical interface. Then, from Palo Alto, Kodak (!!) came up and threatened to sue Apple for the same thing if they were going on with that. Old film and paper documents showed that Kodak had been experimenting with mouses etc. already long before Apple got the idea. (Could be that I am completely wrong with Kodak as the company, but that is how I remember it.) Paul
Re: [newbie] Linux resources online
Apple has always used Motorola. But I never heard the final disposition of the copyright issue for the microprocessor chip itself. Last I heard some guy in a garage was going to be granted the basic patent for the microprocessor. What became of this? -Gary- In a message dated 7/23/2000 11:54:16 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Didn't Intel originally own the patent rights for some of the early chips that Apple and other companies were using? Roman
Re: [newbie] Linux resources online
When Osborne was still making CP/M computers Xerox made computer office computers. I wonder what else they do these days also. -Gary- In a message dated 7/25/2000 2:48:13 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I wonder what happened with Xerox? So many original ideas. They must be concentrating more on business solutions. -- Roman Registered Linux User #179293
Re: [newbie] PPP connection for other than root
Sure getting tired of the duplications preceeded by: *This message was transferred with a trial version of CommuniGate(tm) Pro* Occasional (regular) duplications are bad enough, and harder to trace and eliminate. Where are these CommuniGate(tm) Pro messages coming from and can they be stopped? -Gary-
Re: [newbie] Configuring my ISA Modem
Having worked on Compaqs I would suspect that it IS a winmodem. While many have odd configurations like IRQ10, the fact that it is on COM2 does not mean it is a real (completely self-contained) modem. Is it detected by Linux as a "communications device"? -Gary-
Re: [newbie] Grub added newer kernel version to it's list of selections
I haven't done this yet, and I'm running 7.0 so I'm not using grub. If I understand the original question you have a new additional boot listing. This is a fail-safe. If there is a configuration or other problem you still have access to your original, working, kernel. That way you still have easy access to your system. Once the new one is demonstrated dependable you can remove the "original" entry and delete the file from your system. -Gary- In a message dated 7/1/2000 9:59:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Romanator [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: After downloading a newer version of the kernel, I noticed that the kernel version number was added to Grub. Although, the updater has updated my kernel, is there a way of editing Grub to remove 2.2-16.9mdk? edit the file: /boot/grub/menu.lst Is there a reason for this, and is it really necessary? hu, if you want to boot the kernel yes, is it -- MandrakeSoft Inchttp://www.mandrakesoft.com San-Francisco, CA USA --Chmouel
Re: [newbie] Linux-Mandrake 7.0 Complete installation
CMOS (i.e. the motherboard BIOS, what you are referring to as the setup screen) -- there are many brands, and they all differ. TYPICALLY after you get in, via DEL or F2 or F10 (the three most common ways) or whatever, look at what is displayed for options (perhaps after having to clear a warning message). 98% of the time you will find an option to exit without saving use this if you are unsure about the changes you have made. If there is there will also be an option to exit saving changes. When used, either choice will be confirmed with a box upon exit--it can be confusing, read it carefully before making a choice. Some CMOS do not give you an option to exit without saving; IN THIS CASE BE VERY CAREFUL. How to change your boot order. You are correct that normally it is desirable to seek a floppy first, then the hard drive; for many things including installing Linux it is absolutely necessary to seek the floppy drive first. Highlight the boot order field (usually by TABing down to it). F1 will often give you a list of the selections possible. Changing values will cycle through them. Stop when the one you want is displayed, then exit that page and exit CMOS saving your changes. Read the border messages on the CMOS page--It should say "info = F1" or whatever, and "to change values PgUp PgDn" or + - or whatever. Install through DOS. No, you don't install Linux through DOS, although you can do a text-based install. You can even install Linux ON the DOS filesystem, though that is undesirable for a number of reasons. Once you have made the boot order change so that the motherboard will look at the floppy drive first, the disk that you have already made should work just fine. That floppy disc will boot a small version of Linux and then find your CD ROM (be sure to have your Mandrake disk inserted when your machine is booting up), and it will transfer over to the CD and begin the graphical install directly. Be SURE that you know what partitions are Windows and which are to be for Mandrake (assuming you will be dual-booting) as the installer may need to mark your new partitions itself [meaning it may find no space and want you to delete these partitions to make space, which can be easily done within the installation]. Normally one creates "free" or "unallocated" space and the installer will divide it and set it up with "auto allocate". The only time I have been put into text install was when I booted on the Mandrake floppy and the CD was not in the drive when the floppy Linux system found the drive. It should go right into the graphical install on its own if the CD is in the drive. -Gary- In a message dated 7/1/2000 3:31:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Dear All, Thank you everyone who gave me wonderful advice. Unfortunately I found out that my CD rom is not bootable. In the Bios setup it shows that it is an option but a technician told me it is not anyway. My Bios setup is C,A,SCSI. Should not that be changed to the floppy first and how do I do that? I am a true newbie and have not done much on the Setup screen. Also, may I install by graphical installation or text installation through MS-DOS? I have made the floppy for graphical with rawrite but how do I do it for text installation? I have already done the partitions with Partition magic and I have Bootmagic installed. Those applications seem to be OK but I cannot get the Linux boot disk or Linux Installation CD to boot the installation screen so that I may install Linux. In other words I have bootmagic and partitionmagic on and the next step was to boot up so that I may install Linux through the CD next. Linux is not installed yet. May I install Linux another way such as text installation through DOS without uninstalling bootmagic or partition magic? I appreciate your help with this. I have contacted Linux-Mandrake support days ago several times but I have received no answer. I have looking through everything that I can find in documentation and other Linux sources but have not found the answer yet. I appreciate anyone's input. I do have a Pentium 200 MHZ with 2 IDE hard drives one with 2.5 gigs and the other with over 8 gigs. I have 96 megs of memory and everything else should be compatible from my research. As a reminder my hard drive is already partitioned through partition magic and Linux is not installed yet. Thank you very much for your help.Sincerely, Marcia
Re: [newbie] Linux-Mandrake 7.0 Complete installation
Be SURE you have the correct field highlighted, move to it as necessary, usually TAB. If F1 shows you the correct set of choices, you know what is possible and the sequence you will see when you actually change values. Clear this help info, try F1 key again, then you will find that the PgUp PgDn keys (or whatever) will move the sequence one step at a time [often PgUp moves down PgDn increases the value]. Set the boot sequence to A:, (CDROM if avail), C:, and (SCSI doesn't matter if you don't have this type of drive, OK to leave it last if you don't have an option that doesn't include it). When the value for "Boot Sequence" is the way you want it back out of the CMOS page, usually ESC and "Exit Saving" the new values. The dialogue box will ask if you actually want to write the new values to the CMOS, with a "N" entered as default. Enter "Y" that you actually want to save, and the CMOS will begin the POST check from scratch again, this time seeking A:. If your Mandrake floppy is in the floppy drive and the CD is in the CD drive it should put you directly into the install. The white on black messages you will first see are a normal part of Linux booting, and will let you know whats going on. Some may fly by, but the CD ROM takes a while and things will seem to stall for 10 seconds or so. Good Luck! Keep us posted. -Gary- In a message dated 7/1/2000 7:57:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Thank you for your advice. I was able to get into the Bios and it had the save exit option or exiting without saving. The F1 does give me the list of boot sequences but I have not been able to scroll through the list. How do you change values to cycle through the list? I have used the arrows and nothing happens. There is a place that shows what F1 is for and other options. The one for modify is PUPD and it has/+/-. Would there be a way to install with my setup as is: C,A,SCSI? I suspect that there has to be a way for me to make the changes of the boot sequence but there is something I am not doing correctly obviously. Thank you very much for your help. I will keep working on this. Thank you. Marcia
Re: [newbie] Lilo MBR
If you happened to buy the last issue of Maximum Linux magazine, the issue that had the Mandrake and Stormix CDs, make the "install" floppy from the Stormix disc. Boot this floppy and tell it where the Mandrake root partition is on your hard drive (the partition that you want to boot from); it will then boot that particular Linux. I can boot Caldera (on hdc1), Stormix (on hdc2), or Mandrake (on hda6) [but I normallly use my Mandrake floppy to boot Mandrake]. I have these other installs specifically so that I have something that I can play with, screw up and reinstall without messing with Mandrake. Go can also go to http://www.toms.net/rb and download a DOS copy of Tom's root-boot. This will allow you, through MS DOS, to create a self-booting Linux floppy. The intended use is to allow you to log to your own damaged file system or do other serious system repair, but from what I've read on Tom's documentation you should be able to log to Mandrake and run LILO to restore dual booting on your system. -Gary-
Re: [newbie] 2nd Hard Drive
Let me clarify my earlier posting. 1st (Primary) IDE controller drive jumpered as master = hda drive jumpered as slave = hdb 2nd (secondary) IDE controller drive jumpered as master = hdc drive jumpered as slave = hdd Drive detection is a function of the motherboard CMOS, enable the position that you lhave installed the new drive two (write down any configuration information for your original drive for safe keeping); setting "auto" generally works better than entering the new drives information in the hard drive information area of CMOS (if your motherboard is new enough and supports this). Master/slave is a function of jumpering the hard drive, not of the CMOS. /66 operation has certain requirements for physical connection and motherboard support if it is to operate. DO NOT use an overlay (EZdrive, et.al.) unless your motherboard will not support the full capacity of the hard drive by itself. Adding a new hard drive to certain machines (Compaq, Packard Bell,..) can be a problem, but "imaging" the drive will copy hidden partitions and may be a sufficient solution. Try it the regular way first, but maintain your original hard drive intact. If you run into problems booting, blow the partitions on the new drive and "image" from the original. -Gary- In a message dated 6/30/2000 11:20:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Jason Angus wrote: Got a question for all of you Linux Experts out there. I am buying a new Hard Drive this weekend, I want to have Windows 98 on the master drive and Linux on the slave. I want to know how to address installing Linux in that environment and how will Linux see that second disk \hda2?
Re: [newbie] 2nd Hard Drive
Yes, he's right. In my own case I have a Western Digital /66 drive alone on the first controller so it will work in /66 mode [which it does without modification on the 2.2.14 kernel of Mandrake 7.0]. Windows98 and Linux-Mandrake share this drive (hda). The secondary motherboard IDE controller has a second hard drive (as master it is hdc) and a CD ROM as slave. These two were put together because they operate at the same bus speed; I have Caldera and Stormix on hdc and boot to them from floppy. Since they are different flavors of Linux, they seem to have different startup requirements (mappings, etc.), and I haven't figured out how to boot them from a unified LILO yet. -Gary- In a message dated 6/30/2000 10:07:44 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: t will see the drive as hdb. If I remember correctly the way linux does IDE drives is by chain. So the master and seconday drives on the primary controller are identified as hda hdb while he master and secondary drives on the second controler are hdc and hdd.Again Ithas beena while since I payed attention to that. :) To install just run setup from within win98 and it will do the rest. You'll just put the linux partitions on the new secondary drive and then use LILO or Grub to boot win98 or Linux. *** REPLY SEPARATOR *** On 6/30/2000 at 5:49 AM Jason Angus scribbled: Got a question for all of you Linux Experts out there. I am buying a new Hard Drive this weekend, I want to have Windows 98 on the master drive and Linux on the slave. I want to know how to address installing Linux in that environment and how will Linux see that second disk \hda2? Thanks, Jason
Re: [newbie] Installation problems still.....
Depending on the motherboard CMOS (the motherboard BIOS) is often reached by DEL. But on some motherboards it could be F2, F10 or many other possibilities. Depending on the capabilities of the BIOS it may or may not be possible to set the CD ROM to boot. -Gary- In a message dated 6/30/2000 12:37:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The controls fo booting from the CD are in the BIOS. When you start your machine and the RAM check is going on, press the DEL key, that should drop you into the BIOS. Change the boot sequence so that CDROM is 1st.
Re: [newbie] error with install of tar.gz files
I have MS and get brain-glitches at times myself. Mostly it's that I'm so tired (all the time) that I can't think clearly--dangerous when working as root! Everybody please be patient with us. -Gary-
Re: [newbie] another modem
When I was a tech I installed many Phoebe modems. They are pretty decent, and had models that could be jumper set to COM IRQ (a very good thing!). I bought my USRobotics before the v.90 spec had existed very long, if there would have been a need for updating this was a better choice. At this point in time, since the v.90 spec has been in use for quite some time the Phoebe is what I would choose for myself. -Gary- In a message dated 6/19/2000 7:50:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: On Mon, 19 Jun 2000, you wrote: Hi folks... Looking for some info about my modem, it turned up to be designed for windows... So, I am thinking about getting another one... Which modem would be the one that satifies my needs, do you guys have any sugestion... I plan to use both windows and linux on a dial-up conection, on a digital line... Thanks for the help given. A search of 'harware modem' at www.pricewatch.com will return several dozen. A Phoebe built around the Texas Instruments chipset is about $40. It's basically the same modem as the 3com/USR that costs twice as much. ~~ Tom Brinkman[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [newbie] Power failures whilst in LM
answering 6/18 posting from [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Tom Brinkman) Tom, You are correct that the UPS has surge/spike protection within it (at least all of them that I've run across). And, I've found that the surge/spike protection built in to the UPS rivals the best separate units available [I had a data corruption problem where surge/spike effectiveness was obvious] -- remember that I bought good surge/spikes and UPSs, your mileage may vary. None-the-less I've always used a surge/spike before my UPS and (later on) a surge/spike/RFI after. I replaced my UPS with a new APC 650VA earlier this year. I don't remember reading anything saying not to also use surge/spikes inline [though you are correct that it would not strictly be needed], but remember that I volunteered to being paranoid about this. I've had data problems caused by powerline irregularities and fixed them with surge/spike and UPS additions. [I also recommended a surge/spike UPS combination to one of my customers when I was a technician and had that customer's problems were cut over 90%. I guess nothing is 100%.] Even if APC did recommend use of no other in-line surge/spike units, unless there was a VERY good reason for not doing it, I would run extra surge/spikes anyway. Better surge/spike units use better components and will stand up to more line abuse before beginning to deteriorate, but the problem remains: ALL surge/spikes deteriorate with exposure to powerline overvoltages that are in their working range, and there is no way to tell this without laboratory instrumentation. With cheap surge/spike units combined with bad line conditions it might be wise to replace the unit every six months. Normally you do not replace one at all unless it took a serious "hit" [you can usually test if it is dead, it will be shorted]. If something's going to have to be replaced early I'd rather it was $50 to $100 for a surge/spike, not $300+ for a UPS. I put the newest best surge/spike nearest to the computer, and the oldest next to the power line. In this configuration my APC has automatically handled low line voltage conditions and momentary outages easily. In Windows, where I have UPS monitoring software, everything is reported metered just as it should be. -Gary-
Re: [newbie] Power failures whilst in LM
I'd like to reply to item one. The cheapest insurance you can have (for your equipment (that is, literally, it's logevity), operational reliability, software (lack of corruption problems), piece of mind, personal free-time, etc.) is a GOOD surge/spike (maybe with RFI) protector, or two, and a quick (less than 4 micro-seconds (less is better, but the extra speed may or may not be necessary)) UninterruptablePowerSupply (operating at 50% or less). I say two surge/spike protectors because they use MOVs and these can take hits and lose effectiveness, and there is no way to test for it. I've had problems and found tham caused by power, and I use 2 surge/spikes and a UPS. Color me conservative! I suggest a UPS running at less than 50% of rated capacity because that gives more operating time "on battery" to complete operations and shut down, and room to grow: i.e. you can replace equipment (even add) without worrying about exceeding the capacity of the UPS (in which case it would very likely fail to work). A UPS is one thing you can buy based on specifications, surge/spikes less so. A well reputed manufacturer will cost you a little, but this will pay back over the life of the item. Just try to find support or batteries for a UPS a couple of years after the company sold the operation. I was fortunate that I could take care of the problem, and when I needed to buy a replacement UPS I bought APC brand (a very good brand in the United States, often used for network servers). Find out what equipment is being used to protect networks, it's a good general measure of quality. -Gary- In a message dated 6/18/2000 3:36:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hi Friends 1. What safety measures/preventative action should I take to minimise the effects of sudden power failures. 2. I read somewhere that switching off the system without logging out in the recommended manner (equivalent to a power failure) can/will (I'm not sure which) result in corruption of sys files rendering LM unbootable (or was that an exageration). 3. For example are there special keyboard inputs I can make to save that which is in Ram as I go along, say every 10 minutes. 4. Win will scan the disk and save corrupt or unlinked files - what does LM do in this situation. Thanks Alan (South Africa)
Re: [[newbie] Mouse Problem after CPU Switch]
Did you try changing connections (i.e. swap two of the CPUs locations on the switch)? It could be that the switch is bad in that one location, and that your problem is not related to different o/s. -Gary- 6/16 Leo Stutzmann wrote: Thanks, Yes, it is a rotary dial switch allowing 4 cpus to share 1 keyboard, mouse, and monitor. It works correctly in Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Solaris X86. It loses the mouse after switching back to a cpu. The mouse can be restored by CTL-ALT-BACKSPACE, shutting down X, and then starting X again. Everytime I switch, the above has to be performed. There must be something, as Solaris works OK. Thanks Leo
Re: [newbie] partition magic
I know I'm late in responding, but. here's how to fix your Windows partition so that you do not have to low level your hard drive. As a computer technician, if you brought your computer to me I would probably wipe reload your windows partition, which would save your Linux partition. I have not done a low level hard drive (HDD) format since I was in tech school--it isn't needed on IDE drives made in the last ten years; let alone there are many reasons NOT to. If there is some reason to seriously consider low leveling a drive, it would very likely be better to replace the drive while information can still be pulled off it, rather than to lose all the time and effort represented by the installingconfiguring that's already invested in it. The time and effort you've put into what's on the drive (system, programs, and data) is the most valuable part of the computer! If you were willing to try something on your own, I would advise you to do the following [this is what I would do (and have done) for myself]: [for the Windows partition, prior to seriously considering low-level HDD format] 1) Back-up all,important,criticaldata on depending on what tape CD floppy media you have avail. 2) Disable anti-virus, screen saver, power management (if active), etc. CTRLALTDEL (once only!) should show the following tasks active on Win98 (others should be similar) Explorer Systray Wsloader [CTRLESC on Win3.1 shouldn't show anything (except program manager)] 3) [ I always liked to run "chkdsk" [ without the "" ] from DOS prior to anything serious with a HDD. Boot to DOS or shutdown to DOS, not "shelled out." Ignore the scandisk advisory. If there are any errors run "chkdsk /f" to fix them, as a message will instruct. ] 4) "defrag" "thorough" the drive. If it hasn't been done in a long time it may run 1.5 hr or longer. DO NOT STOP IT unless you are SURE it has hung. If it does hang, reset everything and run it again. And again. And again. Does it stop at the same place? Is it getting further each time? Is there no pattern? In the latter case you should think seriously about buying a new drive (this is the point I bought one for myself), though there are cables and other things you might want to check first. If defrag completes successfully but problems continue do a "refresh" reload [SEE BOOT FLOPPY WARNING BELOW]. Boot from floppy and access the CD. ChangeDirectory to \windows run "setup" from there. This should maintain you previous configuration, but you MAY still have to configure periperal drivers (you DO have them on floppy don't you?). The exact results you get will depend on exactly which version of Win95 (there are three, without considering special versions for Compaq other large computer makers) or Win98 you are using. Refresh reloads can also be done with Win3.1. If your refresh completes successfully but problems continue do a wipe and reload. Boot from a floppy and format c: ... /u unconditional (forced) format [note that the format program must be on the floppy for this to work]. Then change to your CD and run "setup" from the root directory. You do not need to CD to \windows. BOOT FLOPPY WARNING BE SURE (and I mean to TEST IT FIRST!) that you have a working boot floppy configured to access your CD ROM -- BEFORE -- you refresh or wipe reload. Write protect it before you test it. This should solve your problems. If it does, then go on to use partition magic to create the additional space you want for Linux. If it doesn't, think again about buying another drive. -Gary- On Wed, 14 Jun 2000, KompuKit wrote: I need to completely un-install win98...from off the first partition of my 8.4 gig Maxtor HD. there's two partitions...of equal parts... I'm buying the full version of Partition Magic.. and after re-installing win98 (don't want to,hehehe) I'll install Partition Magic...simply because I need to resize my root partition...under linux so I can install the developement packages. I was told to low-level format, but if I did that I would lose linux...and I worked to hard to get it like I want. will all this work...?
Re: [newbie] isapnp config error
Sorry for the late reply--if this has been addressed I'll get to it. I had very nearly the same error. I haven't had time to delve further. I hope somebody gives what the (corrected) line should look like. I know the interrupt to use when I have the line otherwise correct. -Gary- In a message dated 6/9/2000 11:53:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I was trying to get my ISA(yuck)to work in linux. I have a Us Robotics 56k Fax Internal PnP modem. So I was editing some files bla bla bla then when I ran "isapnp /etc/isapnp.conf" it gave me the following- "Don't know what to do with 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11 or 12. on or around line 58 /etc/isapnp.conf:58 --Fatal - Error occured parsingconfig file --- no action taken" My modem is on ttyS2/COM3. Any suggestions? I am running Mandrake7.0 on kernel 2.2.15 and was running as root. Any more info you need I can provide. Thank you all
