Full version 2011.06 LXDE Comments & Help Appreciated

[nightcap]

First post here. Please spare me your coders' wrath.

Just installed the full version of PClinuxOS LXDE 2011.06 on a new HP Core i3-370 ProBook (integrated graphics). Thanks to all who contributed.

Plus points:

Orderly installation. Neat with zero mysterious outages.
Possibly the best linux wireless handling I've yet encountered. That beastly Broadcom 4313 card was found and installed quick-smart. No mess, no fuss, and it's speedy!
Sensible mix of apps/packages as basic foundation.
Minimalist, elegant, functional desktop.
Fast. Stable.

Slight issues I hope to resolve:

Having read relevant PClinuxOS LXDE forum how-to's assiduously I still managed to encounter several Synaptic repo download issues with the following errors:

Code: [Select]

E: Transaction set check failed
W: Failed to fetch http://ftp-srv2.kddilabs.jp/Linux/packages/pclinuxos/pclinuxos/apt/pclinuxos/2010/RPMS.main/qt3-common-3.3.8b-1pclos2010.i586.rpm
  Error reading from server - read (104 Connection reset by peer)
(Yes, I had only two recommended repo's enabled, as instructed. And started with proper aptupgrade, as instructed. These errors occurred with a large consolidated package downhaul – maybe 25 apps altogether. Repo seems to have spat the dummy.)

Not easily put-off I then downloaded each package individually with Synaptic, closing down Synaptic after each, then opening again. Each app installed OK, with a few (unimportant) exceptions. Will try those recalcitrants again later.

Followed Libre Office installation instructions to a tee. Used lomanager. All apparently went OK while downloading with no reported errors. However there is currently no sign of Libre Office apps on the menu at all! Nothing. Any clues please?

How do I place a battery charge icon on the taskbar? Also how do I adjust the indicated time on the taskbar clock (four hours slow for some reason)?

BTW drakx configurator got my screen res wrong. Went for a long-outdated 1024 x 768 rather than the actual 1366 x 768. Easily amended in xorg.conf. All good.

I intend to make this install a medium-term project. If you can help sort a few of these minor issues, that'd be much appreciated. TIA.

nightcap 
 

[Archie]

Welcome to the community, nigthcap.

Synaptic. I didn't think you'd need to run aptupgrade on a new installation of LXDE 2011.6 as it had already been upped on that release ... unless I am wrong in my assumption. You probably just need to run # rpmdb --rebuilddb. But wait until someone knowledgeable enough verifies this.

LibreOffice. Have you read Texstar's recent software announcement? There seems to be a lot of users missing on this update ... failing to understand that the previous version is no longer available on LO's repository.

I use KDE so you'd have to wait for an LXDE user to tell you about placing the battery on the LXDE taskbar and adjusting the clock.

Have fun in the forum.

[Neal ManBear]

First post here. Please spare me your coders' wrath.

First things first then. There is no need for such a statement. Don't make assumptions about us.

Just installed the full version of PClinuxOS LXDE 2011.06 on a new HP Core i3-370 ProBook (integrated graphics). Thanks to all who contributed.

What integrated graphics? And while you're at it, please provide the rest of your hardware specs.

Plus points:

Orderly installation. Neat with zero mysterious outages.
Possibly the best linux wireless handling I've yet encountered. That beastly Broadcom 4313 card was found and installed quick-smart. No mess, no fuss, and it's speedy!
Sensible mix of apps/packages as basic foundation.
Minimalist, elegant, functional desktop.
Fast. Stable.

Thank you.

Slight issues I hope to resolve:

Having read relevant PClinuxOS LXDE forum how-to's assiduously I still managed to encounter several Synaptic repo download issues with the following errors:

Code: [Select]

E: Transaction set check failed
W: Failed to fetch http://ftp-srv2.kddilabs.jp/Linux/packages/pclinuxos/pclinuxos/apt/pclinuxos/2010/RPMS.main/qt3-common-3.3.8b-1pclos2010.i586.rpm
  Error reading from server - read (104 Connection reset by peer)
(Yes, I had only two recommended repo's enabled, as instructed.

Where did you find such an instruction?
The instruction is to enable only one repo. All available repos are mirrors of the main repo, but they are independent and sync at different times. Using two repos, you are likely to have problems due to differences in package lists; i.e. one may be behind the other in syncing.
You may also enable one megagames repo. This is separate from the main repos.

And started with proper aptupgrade, as instructed.

The instruction to run aptupgrade is for the 2010.12 release. 2011.06 has no need for it to be run, as everything it does was done prior to the creation of the ISO.

These errors occurred with a large consolidated package downhaul – maybe 25 apps altogether. Repo seems to have spat the dummy.)

Two possible causes:
1 - Using 2 repos that are out of sync with each other.
2 - Updating while a repo is in the sync process.

Not easily put-off I then downloaded each package individually with Synaptic, closing down Synaptic after each, then opening again. Each app installed OK, with a few (unimportant) exceptions. Will try those recalcitrants again later.

All or none. Do not do partial updates.

Followed Libre Office installation instructions to a tee. Used lomanager. All apparently went OK while downloading with no reported errors. However there is currently no sign of Libre Office apps on the menu at all! Nothing. Any clues please?

http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,93602.0.html
http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,59009.0.html

edit: Be sure you have lomanager 3.4.1. Earlier versions will no longer work due to LibreOffice upgrades.

How do I place a battery charge icon on the taskbar?

Right click the panel, choose "Add Remove Panel Items." - I guess you mean the panel. The taskbar is the item on the panel that shows which apps, etc, that you have open.

Also how do I adjust the indicated time on the taskbar clock (four hours slow for some reason)?

Menu > More Applications > Configuration > Configure Your Computer -- System > Manage date and time.

BTW drakx configurator got my screen res wrong. Went for a long-outdated 1024 x 768 rather than the actual 1366 x 768. Easily amended in xorg.conf. All good.

I intend to make this install a medium-term project. If you can help sort a few of these minor issues, that'd be much appreciated. TIA.

nightcap  
 

In future, post one question per thread, please. Doing that will get focused attention on each individual question, rather than on a lump of questions.

[nightcap]

First things first then. There is no need for such a statement. Roll Eyes Don't make assumptions about us.

Humour, Neal.      I see it garnered an unintended response.       BTW are you the coder/author of this distro?

What integrated graphics? And while you're at it, please provide the rest of your hardware specs.

Integrated on the Core i3-370 CPU chip - Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD (GMA HD) clocked to 667 MHz. Intel Mobile HM57 Express Chipset. 4Gb DDR3 RAM. 500GB 7200rpm HDD. Yada yada yada..........

Where did you find such an instruction? Huh

On these forums, including from Texstar. And I quote (June 12 2011)    http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,92661.0.html   :

Please be advised all users of PCLinuxOS will need to install and run aptupgrade when it appears in the software repository. This script will upgrade your PCLinuxOS system to the latest rpm, apt-get and Synaptic Package Manager. This update cannot be performed through the Synaptic Package Manager. Another notice will be posted when the package is available for installation and what is required for successful installation. If you fail to install and run aptupgrade, your Synaptic Packager Manager will eventually fail to run as the new file list created by the updated apt-get is not backward compatible with the old apt-get file list. This is the easiest solution to avoid requiring everyone to do a clean installation.

You may also enable one megagames repo. This is separate from the main repos.

Precisely. One main repo, one megagames repo - as per instructions. I am concerned there might be an issue. It might deter more PClinuxOS users from sticking with it!

The instruction to run aptupgrade is for the 2010.12 release. 2011.06 has no need for it to be run, as everything it does was done prior to the creation of the ISO.

And yet I found a small number of updates were identified by the Synaptic process and installed. Crazy, huh?

Thanks for your help in relation to those other minor LXDE issues. Much appreciated.

In future, post one question per thread, please. Doing that will get focused attention on each individual question, rather than on a lump of questions.

Thanks again for your guidance, Neal.

[Neal ManBear]

First things first then. There is no need for such a statement. Roll Eyes Don't make assumptions about us.

Humour, Neal.      I see it garnered an unintended response.       BTW are you the coder/author of this distro?

There was no indication of humor in what you said.
Yes, I am the creator / maintainer of PCLinuxOS-LXDE. No I am not the author of the distro. His name is Texstar. Each of the versions of PCLinuxOS has a creator / maintainer who is responsible for it. Then we have packagers and those who write and maintain our in-house apps and utilities. Together we are called, "The Bacon Brigade." Thus you have "Texstar and The Bacon Brigade." But take note that we are all members of this community, and it is the members of this community who do the work - our magazine, our wiki, the development and so on.

Integrated on the Core i3-370 CPU chip - Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD (GMA HD) clocked to 667 MHz. Intel Mobile HM57 Express Chipset. 4Gb DDR3 RAM. 500GB 7200rpm HDD. Yada yada yada..........

Is that the Intel 945 video chipset? Other?

Where did you find such an instruction? Huh

On these forums, including from Texstar. And I quote (June 12 2011)    http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,92661.0.html   :

Excuse me but what has that to do with enabling more than one repo? That was what my query was about.
Otherwise, as I said, I ran aptupgrade before the ISO was created. The post by Texstar to which you linked was made when the newest ISO was the 2010.12 release. 2011.06 was not yet created at that time.

You may also enable one megagames repo. This is separate from the main repos.

Precisely. One main repo, one megagames repo - as per instructions. I am concerned there might be an issue. It might deter more PClinuxOS users from sticking with it!

I believe you don't really understand the idea. There is only one repository. It is mirrored by a number of different sites. We refer to these mirrored sites as repos. As each of them is independent of our control, they are administered by their owners. They all sync up to the PCLinuxOS repository (called the main repo) on different schedules; i.e. some may sync 3 or 4 times a day, while others may sync up only once a week or have no particular schedule.
In the case of enabling more than one repo, it is quite likely that you will have more than one version of an app and more than one version of its dependencies. This can lead to installation problems.
Synaptic is set up to give a message when there is a problem with downloading packages. When you are asked do you want to continue, the answer is always no.

Read this:
http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,42874.0.html

The instruction to run aptupgrade is for the 2010.12 release. 2011.06 has no need for it to be run, as everything it does was done prior to the creation of the ISO.

And yet I found a small number of updates were identified by the Synaptic process and installed. Crazy, huh?

Yes, we have had updates since the creation of the newest ISOs. Nothing crazy about it. Nothing to do with how many repos you enable. It is how a rolling release works.
Some of the LXDE packages were updated since the release of the ISO. We do not "hold back" upgrades but rather make them available as soon as is possible. Some days there may be no available updates. Other days there may be a large number of available updates. Others, there will be only a few.

Thanks for your help in relation to those other minor LXDE issues. Much appreciated.

In future, post one question per thread, please. Doing that will get focused attention on each individual question, rather than on a lump of questions.

Thanks again for your guidance, Neal.

===============================
Hey, Archie! Feel free to join in.

[Archie]

I think you got all bases covered, Neal.

Long posts really make me dizzy ... LOL ... I think nightcap got it. especially the "one topic/problem/question, one thread on the appropriate section of the forum" part. So I am guessing that the battery icon/clock adjestment and correct resolution would have to be in another thread.

Also, there are many topics/issues/problems that had already been presented (many with solutions/workarounds), so it is our obligation to use the SEARCH functions, and often we do not need to ask our questions that others before us had already asked.

[Neal ManBear]

Thanks, Archie. Long posts. Not my forte.

[menotu]

I think you got all bases covered, Neal.

+1

[Archie]

Thanks, Archie. Long posts. Not my forte.

I know. So I had to hold my jaw and keep them from opening wider. Dang, gotta stop these long post, Neal. I'm sure you're all hungry and thirsty after that.

[Neal ManBear]

Thanks, Archie. Long posts. Not my forte.

I know. So I had to hold my jaw and keep them from opening wider. Dang, gotta stop these long post, Neal. I'm sure you're all hungry and thirsty after that.

I'm wondering how bad my fingers are going to hurt when feeling returns.
Made another pot of coffee. Maybe I'll eat in a bit.

[utu]

@ nightcap

I'm a newcomer too.  My interest is a LiveUSB adaptation.
Your experience and mine are very similar.
Both concerning your first post and the responses.

My experience with LibreOffice Manager is that it 'fails silently'
when it runs out of space in persistent store. My impression
is that it wants an unreasonable amount of space, but I am
not certain of this. Run lomanager --debug in a terminal
and look at about the last screenful.

I found that lxrandr solves the resolution problem
temporarily.  The setting gets destroyed again at boot.
Using PC/More Apps/Configuration/LXMonitor settings or
lxrandr in a terminal. I've forgotten how to change xorg.conf.

Hang in there.  

[Neal ManBear]

utu,
Setting the resolution is best done in PCLinuxOS Control Center - Menu > More Applications > Configuration > Configure You Computer >>> Hardware > Browse and configure hardware > Video Card.

[utu]

@ Neal

Thanks for your response, but Configure Your Computer goes thru'
the motions but if anything got changed it's destroyed at boot.

[Just17]

@ Neal

Thanks for your response, but Configure Your Computer goes thru'
the motions but if anything got changed it's destroyed at boot.

Try setting the graphics and then rebooting with no hardware detection .....  live sessions are designed to detect  hardware on boot.

[nightcap]

@ nightcap
I'm a newcomer too.  My interest is a LiveUSB adaptation. Your experience and mine are very similar. Both concerning your first post and the responses.
My experience with LibreOffice Manager is that it 'fails silently' when it runs out of space in persistent store. My impression is that it wants an unreasonable amount of space, but I am not certain of this. Run lomanager --debug in a terminal and look at about the last screenful.
I found that lxrandr solves the resolution problem temporarily.  The setting gets destroyed again at boot. Using PC/More Apps/Configuration/LXMonitor settings or lxrandr in a terminal. I've forgotten how to change xorg.conf.
Hang in there.  

@ utu    

Howdy. LiveUSB is on my horizon. LOman debug soon. As notified by texstar a revised LOman will soon be available for download.

lxrandr never "fixes" errant xorg.conf file. One goes in as root and manually inserts required res. Then it stays "fixed".