Preparing to install PCLinuxOS

[menotu]

If you simply want a Gnome desktop you can download the PcLinuxOS  Gnome distro and install that;

http://pclinuxos.com/?page_id=184

[notwatson]

yes - I've tried that, but my onboard Intel (845) graphics prevent the LiveCD working correctly - it constantly scrambles the display and hangs and locks up.  The very same CD works brilliantly on my neighbour's machine - in fact, I think I may have converted him from Windows to PCLinux in one easy step !!

I do want the Gnome desktop, but wonder if updating to it from LXDE will work as a get-around.

Thanks,

Jon

[menotu]

've been using PCLOS 2007 for the last (almost) three years - all has been fine (well, brilliant actually)

Unfortunately, as it has been working *so* well, I have neglected to keep the system all updated and think that it is too late to update it now.

Bet you don't do that again     

I'm guessing you've tried booting in Vesa mode or Safe Mode (from the grub menu list) ?

[notwatson]

yes - I've tried everything.

I shall certainly try to keep whatever I end up with fully updated....

Jon

[pags]

Pags - could you answer one more question please ?

If I install LXDE 2009.4 - which I have downloaded... and update to the current Gnome desktop, will the onboard graphics still be a problem - in other words is it purely a LiveCD problem or a Gnome/KDE issue ?

Thanks,

Jon

I believe you'll be fine (but, as I said, I haven't changed the DE on this PC, yet).  The LXDE uses a newer kernel than the 2009.2 releases, which started incorporating some of the fixes to the Intel code (there were problems with all distros, for a while, back when this happened...it just so happened that the problem kernel became the basis of the 2009.2 iso  ).

I would suggest getting a working install and fully updating it.  Confirm it's still working.  Remaster (or otherwise backup), and then update to the latest available kernel.  Confirm it is still working.  Remaster again (if you want a stable point to fall back to).  Then install the new DE (i.e., Gnome, or whatever else you care to try).

This is all conjecture on my part, at the moment.  Hopefully it gives you a reasonable road map to get what you want.  Bear in mind that in order to go forward, you'll still need to re-install the 2010 release (at a minimum, when it goes final).  It may not hurt to try the beta liveCD on the PC now.  I'm not sure when I'll get a chance to do so.

You mentioned that you have an AGP slot available.  That may provide a good solution.  That is not an option for me (Dell Dimension 2400 ... no video slots...only PCI), and I don't really want to spend any more money on this machine.  I'd rather buy an inexpensive new one, if it comes down to it.

Good luck!

[notwatson]

I'm currently watching a few 128Mb AGP graphics cards on ebay (some Nvidia, some ATI) so hope to have one installed at some point next week...

Do you think that using that as a graphics card, the 2009.2 Gnome LiveCD will work ?

Otherwise - I really like your suggestions !

Thanks,

Jon

[pags]

If your BIOS allows you to disable the onboard video (or, at least set a preference for the AGP card), then the 2009.2 .iso's will probably be fine.  I believe they have pretty good support for both ATi and nVidia.

[notwatson]

well - last night bought good news - the 2010 (beta 1) ISO of PCLOS Gnome !

I downloaded it and it runs like a dream (my new graphics card has yet to arrive, so this is still running the onboard Intel graphics).

I will probably use this version to install.

It has lead to one (I hope, final) question...
I use Thunderbird 2 at the moment - I have copied the profile folder (whatever that oddly named folder inside /home/.Thunderbird is called) to my second hard disk - can I copy this to the freshly installed Gnome PCLINUX and see my emails and retain my settings ?  If so, where exactly do I drop the folder in the new installation ?  Is it in the same place ?  Mozilla on-line help is not that helpful on this issue at the moment.....

Thanks,

Jon