[Solved]T weaking KDe for Less Powerful Computers

[ms_meme]

meme ....  do I recall that you installed a task package for one of the other DEs in your main KDE install?

If so I cannot recall what the results were when you logged in using an alternate DE in your main install .... 

I have a couple installed here, and sometimes log in using LXDE or another.
The response on the Desktop is very noticeable.

It may be a solution for you .....  your apps will be available but less memory used for the DE.

Yes, I have the task-XFCE.  I think it was tested for something.  I know I played with the settings until they are $%^ and I can't get them back.  I think I will reinstall and get a fresh start.

Today I installed the task-LXDE and have played with it ALL DAY.  I did notice at least one thing that was faster.  That was opening up the LibreOffice files.   I couldn't make somethings work but probably due to couldn't find them and not that they didn't work. 

I will continue to bring that up for a few days and see how I like it.
Thanks.

[Just17]

Let us know if it has any effect on the working of your optical drive 

[ms_meme]

... retry when the machine is cold, may be tomorrow ... or if possible try to boot your DVD on a friend's PC ...

Here is an update.

In the latter part of this topic a DVD was created with a copy of the OS I have.  When I booted with the DVD, I was only able to reach a certain place on the boot. The desktop never did come up.  One conclusion was that I probably did not have enough memory to get past a certain point.

I have finally tried it on several friend's computers.  They both have more than enough memory.

With the first friend, the DVD never did boot. Later it was suggested to me that perhaps tapping F12 at a certain point in the boot would have triggered the DVD.  I have not had opportunity to test that.

With the second friend, the DVD booted and went through the different stages.  But again it stopped at exactly the same spot that my trial did.

[AS]

Hi ms_meme,

... retry when the machine is cold, may be tomorrow ... or if possible try to boot your DVD on a friend's PC ...

Here is an update.

In the latter part of this topic a DVD was created with a copy of the OS I have.  When I booted with the DVD, I was only able to reach a certain place on the boot. The desktop never did come up.  One conclusion was that I probably did not have enough memory to get past a certain point.

Yes, I remember about 

I have finally tried it on several friend's computers.  They both have more than enough memory.

With the first friend, the DVD never did boot. Later it was suggested to me that perhaps tapping F12 at a certain point in the boot would have triggered the DVD.  I have not had opportunity to test that.

That means that your friend computer's BIOS is set up to boot directly from hard disk, without look at CD/DVD... unless you press F12 and there you should select the CD/DVD device to boot from ...

With the second friend, the DVD booted and went through the different stages.  But again it stopped at exactly the same spot that my trial did.

may be the same spot ... may be not ... That DVD was done specifically using an old kernel, 2.6.33.7, that one that it's actually working on your KDE installation. It's entirely possible that your friend computer, supposedly newer, require a more recent kernel
or it's also possible that is requiring some other specific video driver, not installed on your system.

I must admit that I have overlooked at these possible collateral problems 

Isn't possible that one of this friends can help you to expand your RAM ? 

AS

[ms_meme]

Hi ms_meme,

Isn't possible that one of this friends can help you to expand your RAM ? 

AS

Short answer: NO
Long answer: Blind leading the Blind. 

[ms_meme]

Update #2

I have another friend (that makes 3  ) who tried the DVD.  First we changed the bios settings on her computer. 

(It is not a small thing for a friend to let you change the bios settings on her computer.  That kind of friend is either a rare find or really stupid.     But with help from afar and a little glass of red wine and a 'what the heck' attitude, we did the deed. )

The DVD then booted and it only reached the point that I reached.  It stops short of reaching the desk top.    As reported earlier, this happened to another friend.

It was suggested that my friend try another live OS.  I had the disk I made to install PCLinuxOS 2010.1.  It did boot on my friend's computer. We had fun looking at it and I was a bit homesick for that version.  It worked so well.     I almost installed it on my friend's computer and she would not even realized what hit here....but I didn't. 

Update #3

With the change of bios settings, my friend was also able to use my USB.  We booted to the 2 live OS I have on it to her computer.  Since I have backups there, we were able to exchange some files.
I report this here as I was concerned in another topic about being able to transfer my files to a different computer.  I understand it is a matter of the bios.....which is NO small matter. 

It does raise the question as to why 2 others cannot boot my DVD either.  I know it was just a test or trial.

[Just17]

It does raise the question as to why 2 others cannot boot my DVD either.  I know it was just a test or trial.

It does indeed indicate that the problem lays with the remaster and not with your PC, for the failure of the DVD to boot