(SOLVED. THANK YOU!) No sound. Amarok hangs

[Old-Polack]

Just don't know what's wrong.  I may have to do the upgrade.  Question:  I have / on sda1 and /home on sda5.

When i do the upgrade, I should just select partition sda1 and make the mount point "/."  This will wipe the old PCLinuxOS off the / partition and format and install PCLinuxOS 2010.7. It will leave my/home directory alone and all my files intact. When I reboot, /home should be there.

Or do I need to make the mount point for sda5 as /home before I install the OS to sda1?

Your best bet is to rename your old /home/mark to /home/mark-old so it isn't used by the new installation. If you use your same user name and UID, in the new installation, you will still own the mark-old directory too. You can then go in at any time to retrieve any data, or move it to the new directory. You get a fresh start as far as application settings and hidden files and directories go, so there can be no interference.

[Georgetoon]

Just don't know what's wrong.  I may have to do the upgrade.  Question:  I have / on sda1 and /home on sda5.

When i do the upgrade, I should just select partition sda1 and make the mount point "/."  This will wipe the old PCLinuxOS off the / partition and format and install PCLinuxOS 2010.7. It will leave my/home directory alone and all my files intact. When I reboot, /home should be there.

Or do I need to make the mount point for sda5 as /home before I install the OS to sda1?

Your best bet is to rename your old /home/mark to /home/mark-old so it isn't used by the new installation. If you use your same user name and UID, in the new installation, you will still own the mark-old directory too. You can then go in at any time to retrieve any data, or move it to the new directory. You get a fresh start as far as application settings and hidden files and directories go, so there can be no interference.

Excellent idea!:)  But, stupid question time...do I rename this directory in the user area of PCC?  Do I rename the direcotry path here?  Or do i do this while in the Live CD? 

[Old-Polack]

Just don't know what's wrong.  I may have to do the upgrade.  Question:  I have / on sda1 and /home on sda5.

When i do the upgrade, I should just select partition sda1 and make the mount point "/."  This will wipe the old PCLinuxOS off the / partition and format and install PCLinuxOS 2010.7. It will leave my/home directory alone and all my files intact. When I reboot, /home should be there.

Or do I need to make the mount point for sda5 as /home before I install the OS to sda1?

Your best bet is to rename your old /home/mark to /home/mark-old so it isn't used by the new installation. If you use your same user name and UID, in the new installation, you will still own the mark-old directory too. You can then go in at any time to retrieve any data, or move it to the new directory. You get a fresh start as far as application settings and hidden files and directories go, so there can be no interference.

Excellent idea!:)  But, stupid question time...do I rename this directory in the user area of PCC?  Do I rename the direcotry path here?  Or do i do this while in the Live CD? 

From the liveCD, as root, mount the installed /home partition somewhere, (I make a directory, as root, named /here so it's easy to find) then if you go to /here your directory should be there. You may have to check to see who owns it according to the liveCD. If it says guest:guest for owner and group you can just rename it as guest. If it gives a UID:GID number, you'll have to rename it as root. Renaming it shouldn't change the ownership, just the name.

Once that's done, you can unmount the partition, then proceed with the installation. Use the same partition as /home, and don't let the installer format that partition. When you reboot to the new installation, set the root and user passwords as usual. When you log in it will be to your new home directory, but if you navigate up one directory you should see both the new and old directories, and have full access to both.

[Georgetoon]

OP, I understand, but don't understand the moves.

I can mount the /home directory by simply dong so in the GUI. Can I then do this renaming, etc. through PCC?

[Georgetoon]

OP, I understand, but don't understand the moves.

I can mount the /home directory by simply dong so in the GUI. Can I then do this renaming, etc. through PCC?

Okay, I was talking with Weric and we went through a few troubleshooting things.  Because the IcyDock I have doesn't seem to be reading the drive from Bay 3 properly.  I moved it to drive 4 and have been moving it back and forth and this may have messed something up.  Not sure.  Anyhow,  Weric built the system, so I wanted to consult with him.

Before i do a new install I'm going to delete .amorak and .digikam, etc and see if these reconfigure.    Also, I'll create a new user and see if Amarok launches there.

Now, if I have to do a reinstall/upgrade to 2010.7, all I need do is format and install to root and make sure I mount /home. 

Now, rather than rename, mount, etc. the current user as "mark-old", why can't I just make note of the ID number, and on reboot of the new install, create a new user account making sure the ID isn't the same?  I could use Markz or some such thing as the user name. Then, I'd still have the old account "mark" and the new account.  OP, I think you advised me on this once before and made this suggestion.

Actually, I was bit fearful last night about all this.  Now, I'm pretty excited to get going on this. I sure wish I was at home in front of the system!

[Old-Polack]

OP, I understand, but don't understand the moves.

I can mount the /home directory by simply dong so in the GUI. Can I then do this renaming, etc. through PCC?

Okay, I was talking with Weric and we went through a few troubleshooting things.  Because the IcyDock I have doesn't seem to be reading the drive from Bay 3 properly.  I moved it to drive 4 and have been moving it back and forth and this may have messed something up.  Not sure.  Anyhow,  Weric built the system, so I wanted to consult with him.

Before i do a new install I'm going to delete .amorak and .digikam, etc and see if these reconfigure.    Also, I'll create a new user and see if Amarok launches there.

Now, if I have to do a reinstall/upgrade to 2010.7, all I need do is format and install to root and make sure I mount /home. 

Now, rather than rename, mount, etc. the current user as "mark-old", why can't I just make note of the ID number, and on reboot of the new install, create a new user account making sure the ID isn't the same?  I could use Markz or some such thing as the user name. Then, I'd still have the old account "mark" and the new account.  OP, I think you advised me on this once before and made this suggestion.

Actually, I was bit fearful last night about all this.  Now, I'm pretty excited to get going on this. I sure wish I was at home in front of the system!

Most people like to keep using the same user name on all their installations, so the directory renaming allows this. If you don't care about keeping the same user name then just choose a new one, (I'll use your suggested Markz for example) but with the same old UID:GID. That way you get a new /home/Markz directory that you log into, and user Markz still owns the mark directory also.

Again, to illustrate, I've been old-polack, polack, the-polack, polack1, and a few others on various installations, but always with UID:GID 1000:1000. It doesn't matter which data partition, or home directory I mount and bring up in Dolphin or Konqueror, I show as the owner, by the current login name, because all the data or /home/<whatever> directories are actually owned by 1000:1000, no matter the current user name.

I once did a test install, and forgot to do the UID:GID check, when I created a few new users in the wrong order. After using it a few days, I deleted that installation. Now, I still find files, here and there on my data partitions, that I downloaded from that installation, and I know this because they all have the UID:GID 1003:1003. I have to change that, as root, to 1000:1000 to have access as my current normal user.

[Georgetoon]

OP, I understand, but don't understand the moves.

I can mount the /home directory by simply dong so in the GUI. Can I then do this renaming, etc. through PCC?

Okay, I was talking with Weric and we went through a few troubleshooting things.  Because the IcyDock I have doesn't seem to be reading the drive from Bay 3 properly.  I moved it to drive 4 and have been moving it back and forth and this may have messed something up.  Not sure.  Anyhow,  Weric built the system, so I wanted to consult with him.

Before i do a new install I'm going to delete .amorak and .digikam, etc and see if these reconfigure.    Also, I'll create a new user and see if Amarok launches there.

Now, if I have to do a reinstall/upgrade to 2010.7, all I need do is format and install to root and make sure I mount /home. 

Now, rather than rename, mount, etc. the current user as "mark-old", why can't I just make note of the ID number, and on reboot of the new install, create a new user account making sure the ID isn't the same?  I could use Markz or some such thing as the user name. Then, I'd still have the old account "mark" and the new account.  OP, I think you advised me on this once before and made this suggestion.

Actually, I was bit fearful last night about all this.  Now, I'm pretty excited to get going on this. I sure wish I was at home in front of the system!

Most people like to keep using the same user name on all their installations, so the directory renaming allows this. If you don't care about keeping the same user name then just choose a new one, (I'll use your suggested Markz for example) but with the same old UID:GID. That way you get a new /home/Markz directory that you log into, and user Markz still owns the mark directory also.

Again, to illustrate, I've been old-polack, polack, the-polack, polack1, and a few others on various installations, but always with UID:GID 1000:1000. It doesn't matter which data partition, or home directory I mount and bring up in Dolphin or Konqueror, I show as the owner, by the current login name, because all the data or /home/<whatever> directories are actually owned by 1000:1000, no matter the current user name.

I once did a test install, and forgot to do the UID:GID check, when I created a few new users in the wrong order. After using it a few days, I deleted that installation. Now, I still find files, here and there on my data partitions, that I downloaded from that installation, and I know this because they all have the UID:GID 1003:1003. I have to change that, as root, to 1000:1000 to have access as my current normal user.

Just so I understand.... the home directory of mark is /home/mark.  It has a file at /home/mark/documents called, "Old-Polack is a Linux Genius.txt."  The UID:GID is 1000:1000.

Okay, I do the upgrade install and reformat root, etc.  And now on first boot, I'm creating a new user called markz. The home directory is /home/markz.  the UID:GID is 1000:1000.

Now, when I'm logging in, if I go to /home/markz/documents, am I going to see the file  "Old-Polack is a Linux Genius.txt?"

OR, if I navigate to /home/mark/documents, I'll see the document there, but will simply have access to it without needing to jump into root due to having ownership?  I won't be locked out.

I'm thinking the latter.

[Old-Polack]

Just so I understand.... the home directory of mark is /home/mark.  It has a file at /home/mark/documents called, "Old-Polack is a Linux Genius.txt."  The UID:GID is 1000:1000.

Okay, I do the upgrade install and reformat root, etc.  And now on first boot, I'm creating a new user called markz. The home directory is /home/markz.  the UID:GID is 1000:1000.

Now, when I'm logging in, if I go to /home/markz/documents, am I going to see the file  "Old-Polack is a Linux Genius.txt?"

OR, if I navigate to /home/mark/documents, I'll see the document there, but will simply have access to it without needing to jump into root due to having ownership?  I won't be locked out.

I'm thinking the latter.

Exactly the latter. You can then right click --> Cut "Old-Polack is a Linux Genius.txt." then navigate to /home/markz/documents and right click --> Paste to move the file to the new home directory, and have it in the same relative place as before. Doing the same with /home/mark/.mozilla before opening your new Firefox installation for the first time will have all your preferences, extensions, and bookmarks waiting for you when you do open Firefox. If you use pidgin, /home/mark/.purple can be moved to /home/markz/.purple, and all your buddies and accounts will then be present the first time you open pidgin.

[Georgetoon]

Just so I understand.... the home directory of mark is /home/mark.  It has a file at /home/mark/documents called, "Old-Polack is a Linux Genius.txt."  The UID:GID is 1000:1000.

Okay, I do the upgrade install and reformat root, etc.  And now on first boot, I'm creating a new user called markz. The home directory is /home/markz.  the UID:GID is 1000:1000.

Now, when I'm logging in, if I go to /home/markz/documents, am I going to see the file  "Old-Polack is a Linux Genius.txt?"

OR, if I navigate to /home/mark/documents, I'll see the document there, but will simply have access to it without needing to jump into root due to having ownership?  I won't be locked out.

I'm thinking the latter.

Exactly the latter. You can then right click --> Cut "Old-Polack is a Linux Genius.txt." then navigate to /home/markz/documents and right click --> Paste to move the file to the new home directory, and have it in the same relative place as before. Doing the same with /home/mark/.mozilla before opening your new Firefox installation for the first time will have all your preferences, extensions, and bookmarks waiting for you when you do open Firefox. If you use pidgin, /home/mark/.purple can be moved to /home/markz/.purple, and all your buddies and accounts will then be present the first time you open pidgin.

Okay, this is really cool! Weric gavde me a suggestion todayand your tips fit in perfectly.Weric suggested I create a new user account and seeif Amarok launches. Iit does. I have full music intro sound,exit music sound, amarok launches, etc.

so, all I have to do is rename this new account and givde it the same UID.then,customize the desktop to what I'm accutomed. It's a bit of work, but at least I can still get my cartoons posted and blogs written, without too much downtime. In fact, this wil probably work into a bog post.

I'll mark this SOLVED after I get that account up and running and tweaked. Then, when I get a good block of time ahead of me, I'll do the upgrade.

[Georgetoon]

Whoops! In case I failed to mention...thank you very much!

[Georgetoon]

Oooo! One more thing. Is there a wy tomovemy desktop toolbars and wallpapers over to the new user account. Unless of course, this is the source of the trouble I'm haivng.

[Old-Polack]

Oooo! One more thing. Is there a wy tomovemy desktop toolbars and wallpapers over to the new user account. Unless of course, this is the source of the trouble I'm haivng.

I doubt they are, but they are controlled by files in ~/.kde4, as is your amerok installation, so if you move/copy it to the new user, you could lose amerok again.

[Georgetoon]

Oooo! One more thing. Is there a wy tomovemy desktop toolbars and wallpapers over to the new user account. Unless of course, this is the source of the trouble I'm haivng.

I doubt they are, but they are controlled by files in ~/.kde4, as is your amerok installation, so if you move/copy it to the new user, you could lose amerok again.

if I delete the amarok folder there ,will it be re-created when I log back in? I've been looking for a .amarok folder for such a purose.Nosuch animal, AFAICS

[Old-Polack]

Oooo! One more thing. Is there a wy tomovemy desktop toolbars and wallpapers over to the new user account. Unless of course, this is the source of the trouble I'm haivng.

I doubt they are, but they are controlled by files in ~/.kde4, as is your amerok installation, so if you move/copy it to the new user, you could lose amerok again.

if I delete the amarok folder there ,will it be re-created when I log back in? I've been looking for a .amarok folder for such a purose.Nosuch animal, AFAICS

You get /home/<user>/.kde4/share/apps/amarok, and in /home/<user>/.kde4/share/config;

amarok-appletsrc
amarok_homerc
amarokrc

If these are renamed to something different, I would think you could safely copy paste the old users .kde4 directory to the new user directory, gain your personal settings, and not lose amerok. On the other hand, if you did that, and copied the amerok versions from the new user to the old, that might just fix the original problem in your normal users directory. Could work both ways. 

[Georgetoon]

Oooo! One more thing. Is there a wy tomovemy desktop toolbars and wallpapers over to the new user account. Unless of course, this is the source of the trouble I'm haivng.

I doubt they are, but they are controlled by files in ~/.kde4, as is your amerok installation, so if you move/copy it to the new user, you could lose amerok again.

if I delete the amarok folder there ,will it be re-created when I log back in? I've been looking for a .amarok folder for such a purose.Nosuch animal, AFAICS

You get /home/<user>/.kde4/share/apps/amarok, and in /home/<user>/.kde4/share/config;

amarok-appletsrc
amarok_homerc
amarokrc

If these are renamed to something different, I would think you could safely copy paste the old users .kde4 directory to the new user directory, gain your personal settings, and not lose amerok. On the other hand, if you did that, and copied the amerok versions from the new user to the old, that might just fix the original problem in your normal users directory. Could work both ways. 

This makes sense, moving Amarok settings/directories from the new user to the old user.  But I don't quite follow.  are you saying take the follwwing files:

amarok-appletsrc
amarok_homerc
amarokrc

out of  /home/newuser/.kde4/share/apps/amarok

and move them into /home/olduser/.kde4/share/config??

I might have this mixed up.  I understand the logic.  I'm just not clear on what to move from where.

However, I created a new user account, gave it the same UID as the old user account and everything came right up!:)  All programs work!  And what's really nice is having full access to all these files.  I'm moving things over and simply using files that I haven't been moved just yet.  I'm debating on what to move and what should stay in place.  I'm not sure how corrupted things are on that old user account.   

Regardless, this is pretty freak'in amazing!!  Linux just blows my socks off!

So, it'll be pretty interesting to see if moving a few files from new user to old user will repair things.  although, I think it's much more than that. I can't access the sound utility in the control panel.  it just gives me the little time icon and locks up.  So, something is happening in KDE or Sound or..well...I'm not sure. 

Again, the good news is, a new user account cleared everything and I'm saving time and effort due to your help. 

I friend just walked into the office and he's a big Apple user.  We're discussing computers and I'm telling him the advantages of Linux. Sure, you have to invest some time in learning the system, but you have to invest time in learning Mac or Windows, as well!  Before he left, I handed him a copy of PCLinuxOS 2010.7. He has an older Windows box that he can try it out on.  I'm not sure how old, but we'll see.