VICTORY!

[masa36]

I've done it!! I'm currently surfing with Linux, after three months of struggeling! :)

Only two more problems to solve and I can say bye bye to windows. These should be easy to you; Netscape's text is so tiny that I can hardly see what I'm writing right now. The view-menu has options's increase font and decrease font, but they're gray, and can't be used! And the other one, - not so important - how can I increase the refresh rate of my monitor? Now I'm using 75hz, but with windows I used 85hz, and it would be nice to get it here too.

BTW; thanks for your help everyone. I've got very much help to my struggle from here. Thank you very much! :) :)

[rod]

First... congrats on your success. You can change the font size in Netscape by going to Edit--> Preferences--> Fonts. After changing font size you may want to select the option Use my Default Fonts.

Regards,
Rod

[rod]

After reading your post again, I forgot to address the resolution question. You may want to run XF86Setup and reconfigure X.


Regards,
Rod

[ 16 February 2001: Message edited by: rod ]

[freaker]

another good way to get the fonts right, is to use xfstt (there is a NHF on it) to get truetype fonts, that will work better than fudging with fonts within Netscape's preferences IMHO..


freaker

[HuggyBear]

One word: Mozilla!

Huggy

[masa36]

Originally posted by rod:
You may want to run XF86Setup and reconfigure X.

Well I did that, and now my Linux won't even start up. I'm not blaming you, but you knew the way to do it, do you know the way to undo it? When I try to start X the following error appears:
"execve failed for /etc/X11/X (errno 2)
_X11TransSocketUNIXConnect: Can't connect: errno = 111
giving up.
xinit: Connection refused (errno 111): Unable to connecto to X server
xinit: No such process (errno 3): Server error."

After a good fight I managed to start Gnome succesfully, but I really don't have any use for it. I wan't KDE back in business.

I'm using RedHat 6.0.

[masa36]

My problems just get worse and worse. :(
Here is the most possible detailed picture of it;

When I type "startx", only Gnome will start, not the menu that started before I ran the XF86Setup. When I type "kde" or "exec kde", the following appears:

kcontrol: cannot connect to X server
kaudioserver: Can't connect to the X server.
kaudioserver: Audio system might not terminate at the end of session.
krootwm: cannot connect to X server
kwmsound: cannot connect to X server
kpanel: cannot connect to X server
kwm: cannot connect to X server
kfm: cannot connect to X server
kbgndwm: cannot connect to X server

When I try to reconfigure XF86Setup, and the grey block on the screen says: "Attempting to start server...", it crashes with this error:

Couldn't execute "/usr/X11R6/bin/XF86_SVGA": no such file or directory.
bla bla bla...

And with my amazing brain capacity I concluded that this could mean that the file XF86_SVGA is missing from /usr/X11R6/bin/. And so it was. I aren't totally sure that it is the reason for ALL this, but can anyone tell me where can I get that file, and if it can be found from the RH6.0 CD, can someone tell me how to mount a cdrom in the terminal, I've lost my notes. :)


Briefly; how can I mount a cdrom in terminal, or where can I find XF86_SVGA -file. Or if you have a better idea how to solve this mess, I would be delighted to here it!! :)

[rod]

Sorry you're having problems. XF86Seup has always worked well for me.

What distro are you using?

Never mind, I see in the above post it is Redhat 6.0

Regards,
Rod

[ 18 February 2001: Message edited by: rod ]

[rod]

What happens if you try to login into X using the command kdm or xdm?

[X_console]

When you reconfigured your X settings with XF86Setup, your old configuration was saved as /etc/XF86Config.bak So you may want to try to restore your old configuration (mv /etc/XF86Config.bak /etc/XF86Config) and see if that helps.

If GNOME is started when you type startx, then that means your ~/.xinitrc file has been modified. Open it up in your text editor and look for the line that starts GNOME. Change it to "startkde" then try again.

[StanLin]

Me too, I am now saying goodbye to windows mainly thanks to Opera 5 beta for my browsing needs. Really cool software. Now if only someone will write a good GPL download manager with resume support.

[masa36]

Originally posted by rod:
What happens if you try to login into X using the command kdm or xdm?


Nothing.

[rod]

I would try what X_console has suggested.

Regards,
Rod

[masa36]

Originally posted by X_console:
When you reconfigured your X settings with XF86Setup, your old configuration was saved as /etc/XF86Config.bak So you may want to try to restore your old configuration (mv /etc/XF86Config.bak /etc/XF86Config) and see if that helps.

The wierdest thing; when I type dir X* in /etc I can see that XF86Config and the .bak is there, but when I try to move or copy them; "file not found". What is the substitute for "attrib" in linux, or what is the reason I can't move or copy those files. There is no X-directory in /etc. Gnome - the last working program - doesn't find the file XF86Config at all.

BTW; almost all the XF86_*** -files are missing from my /etc/X11R6/bin, where could I get 'em.

[masa36]

This subject seems to be frozen so I'm resurrecting it by asking again; what is Linux's "attrib"-command, or why can I only look at those files, but not move or copy them? And where can I find those XF86_* files which are missing from my /etc/X11R6/bin? Can I find them from the RedHat 6.0 CD, or from the net, somewhere?

Help!

[ClearNinja]

it seems like when you reran xf86config you are now using a different X server and that it isnt installed. Were you using the SVGA server before or were you using the VGA16 or whatever?... this kinda sounds like the problem to me.

Let me know.

[masa36]

Originally posted by crohozen:
Were you using the SVGA server before or were you using the VGA16 or whatever?... this kinda sounds like the problem to me.


I was using the XF86_SVGA before, in the setup I tried to set it use Mach32, but as I can see now it tries to use SVGA or Mach64, which I never told it to do. After the setup, all the XF86_*.* files disappeared from the /etc/X11R6/bin. Assuming that they were there before. Anyway, when I run XF86Setup it complains about the missing SVGA file, but when I run the Xconfigurator the Mach64 file is missing!

Personally I think that everything is pretty F***ED up right now, any kind of help will be appreciated.

[ClearNinja]

I dont see how you would have lost any files or anything so I think things arent all that bad. I would run xf86config and reset everything, but reset everything lower than what you can actually run 640x480 and 16 colors and everything just to see if you can get X to run. i wouldnt try to run the mach servers unless your video card runs better with them..(What type of Video Card do you have?)i would stick with SVGA, Then after we get X running again we will do a search on your setup and see what the best possible configuration for your setup is.

[masa36]

Originally posted by crohozen:
I would run xf86config and reset everything, but reset everything lower than what you can actually run 640x480 and 16 colors and everything just to see if you can get X to run. i wouldnt try to run the mach servers unless your video card runs better with them..(What type of Video Card do you have?)

My video card is ATI RAGE II+, and in windowws it uses Mach32 drivers.

Gnome and AnotherLevel works perfectly, I think I've forgot to tell this earlier. I don't know if that means anything. I've set the XF86Setup to use VGA16, but with no success. Gnome and AL still worked but anything else didn't.

[ClearNinja]

What version of X are you running?

[masa36]

Originally posted by crohozen:
What version...

ÖÖÖÖ, I haven't got a clue... How can I check?

[chimaybleue]

I know there's a way to make X configure himself with the minimals settings (I guess it is something like XF86Config -configure or something like that ... Maybe a grasshopper could confirm (or not ))

If it's a problem of deleted files, you should reinstall X (XFree 4 is on every CD that comes with a mag)

If XF86Setup didn't work, maybe you could want to try in text mode : XF86Config (or RH has its tools, I guess)

If you can recover your X, I think you can set the refresh rate by trying expert mode in XF86Setup and modifying the lower value ...

[ClearNinja]

What distro are you running and version of it?

[mohair]

I'm running an ATI rage 11 + also. It uses the MAch 64 drivers on my setup. Why not just do a desk switch from gnome to kde using the GUI in gnome. Works for me all the time. The tool is ususally under bigfoot/system/deskswitch. Then go back and configure your resolution settings etc.

[ClearNinja]

Okay... Back to the beginning.. What happens when you startx?

[bdg1983]

'X -version' will tell you what version you are using.

[masa36]

Originally posted by crohozen:
What distro are you running and version of it?

ÖÖ...

All I really know is that I'm running RedHat 6.0...

[masa36]

Originally posted by crohozen:
Okay... Back to the beginning.. What happens when you startx?

Gnome starts.

[masa36]

Originally posted by mohair:
I'm running an ATI rage 11 + also. It uses the MAch 64 drivers on my setup. Why not just do a desk switch from gnome to kde using the GUI in gnome. Works for me all the time. The tool is ususally under bigfoot/system/deskswitch. Then go back and configure your resolution settings etc.


I don't have the tool. Where can I get it?

[masa36]

I'm pretty sure now that something has destroyed all the XF86_*.* files from /etc/X11R6/bin, and that is the main reason for every problem I have.

Where can I get those files back? What is the name of the file in RedHat 6.0 CD?


Help!!

[masa36]

I'm pretty sure now that something has destroyed all the XF86_*.* files from /etc/X11R6/bin, and that is the main reason for every problem I have.

Where can I get those files back? What is the name of the file in RedHat 6.0 CD?


Help!!

[masa36]

Originally posted by mdwatts:
'X -version' will tell you what version you are using.

I guess my X version is: "Command not found."

[masa36]

When I type ls -l in /etc/X11, the listing shows: X -> ../../usr/X11R6/bin/XF86_SVGA, but the file XF86_SVGA doesn't exist in there.

Someone replied that I should reinstall X free 4. That woth a shot, but under what filename can it be found in the RedHat 6.0 CD?

[bdg1983]

I believe X is a symlink to the actual Xserver your video cards uses. X -version should work unless the symlink is missing.

Xfree 4 will not be on your RH6 CD as it was just released within the last few months and RH6 is getting a little old now. I would suggest you reinstall the version of X that is on your RH CD and then reconfigure. Upgrading to X4 would also be an option for you.

[ClearNinja]

Or you could upgrade your whole system..I think rh 6.0 was a little buggy anyway.. I bet if you switched to the newest version of mandrake you wouldnt have to reconfigure much and then you could play with it for awhile until you decide to upgrade to a more powerful distro like :cool: debian :cool:

[rod]

OK masa... Since I was the one that got you into this, let me try and get you out one more time.

Run XF86Setup again. Select the svga driver instead of the mach driver. Maybe this will get you back into X.

Regards,
Rod

[masa36]

Originally posted by rod:
Run XF86Setup again. Select the svga driver instead of the mach driver. Maybe this will get you back into X.

I tried it and also setting it to VGA16. Nothing.

I'm really sure now that I should install X again, but the question is where can I find it? From the RH6.0 CD (where)? Or from the Net? And if it can be downloaded (Xfree4) from the web, how big is it?

[masa36]

Originally posted by crohozen:
Or you could upgrade your whole system..I think rh 6.0 was a little buggy anyway.. I bet if you switched to the newest version of mandrake you wouldnt have to reconfigure much and then you could play with it for awhile until you decide to upgrade to a more powerful distro like :cool: debian :cool:


I'm now really considering this an option. Could you just tell me what are the real differences between Mandrake, Debian and the old buggy RedHat. Which one should I buy? My computer isn't really the fastest one dso I don't want too heavy system, and I'm going to use it mainly to surf in the net.

[masa36]

Here are a few Linux version that I found in one software store, which on would be worth buying:

Suse 7 Personal $70
suse 7 professional $120
Mandrake Deluxe $130
Best Linux 2000 $60
It Linux 2000 Professional $50

I couldn't even find debian, but I found a link where I can download it. Or of course I can just download any of them, but with 56K modem it would take decades.

For now, the best option would be downloading the XFree4. But where?!?

[RedEyes]

GOOD LORD man!
First of all, I run RedHat 6.2 on a P166 w/ only 48 megs of ram, and it's very good :-) Not as cool as my desktop machine, but I digress...

You can get Mandrake 7 or RedHat for under $40 at any WalMart or good (read Barnes & Noble) bookstore!

I used to use Mandrake, but like RedHat better. Anyway -- I got mine for the price of a blank CD: Went to a local college, downloaded the RH 6.2 disc image off their T3 and burned a RH CD.

Granted, most of the time you can't find a college that has CD burning facilities available at a number of workstations, but they are out there! :o) Good luck.

[masa36]

Originally posted by RedEyes:
You can get Mandrake 7 or RedHat for under $40 at any WalMart or good (read Barnes & Noble) bookstore!


If I would by it from "any WalMart", the price would go up to thousands. Look at the little "From" thigny in the bottom of my replies, and you'll find out why.


I used to use Mandrake, but like RedHat better. Anyway -- I got mine for the price of a blank CD: Went to a local college, downloaded the RH 6.2 disc image off their T3 and burned a RH CD.


That's exactly how I got RH6, it just wasn't a college. :)

I think I'm stil goind to buy Debian (now that I found it, $20), because with RedHat I've got nothing but problems. I've had it for a year now, and it has worked fine about 3 hours. RedHat with all its buggies seem a little old anyway...

[RedEyes]

LOL LOL -- Sorry about that! I didn't even see the "From" at the bottom of your message... Hehehe -- Yeah, I guess it could get a little expensive to fly to the US just to buy Linux, eh?

Anyway -- Someone earlier posted that RH 6 was unstable anyway, but RH 6.2 is the stable version. I'd have to agree with that, because I've had virtually no problems (other than newbie-type problems, that is...)

[masa36]

I don't like waiting, and I don't like non-operating systems either.

I ordered Debian Linux 2.2 for $15. Tell me; should I cancel the order? I could change it to Mandrake, but it costs three times more. Someone said that Debian is a kind of "heavy" system, can it be ran smoothly in P166? Would Mandrake be better for "slow" computers?

Please answer quickly, the package will be here tomorrow unless I cancel it.

[chimaybleue]

Debian should work fine, even on your P166 ... The installation is just a bit tricky ! But if you manage to configure it OK, that's the best ... I didn't have courrage enough to try it, I'll wait to have a little more experience (to know every packages I want to install and the deps ...)

[masa36]

Originally posted by chimaybleue:
The installation is just a bit tricky ! But if you manage to configure it OK, that's the best ...

Is the installation really SO difficult, is if more difficult that RedHat 6.0-installation? I was very very lucky when I managed to install RH6 succesfully.

[Lend273]

The Debian install is a bit more tricky than
say SuSe or Redhat...... but I installed both
Storm and Libranet with no problems.
You just need to know what's inside your
computer. The support at Libranet is great.
The plain Debian you ordered should install
as easily as Libranet. If you have any problems just log in back here and we'll try to help you out.

Len

[ClearNinja]

Hey masa... go to cheapbytes.com and see if you can order lots of distros from there really cheap like $5.00. ;)


I ordered lots of distros from there for the same price as buying 1 from walmart.

[ 20 February 2001: Message edited by: crohozen ]

[masa36]

How can I remove the old Linux installation?

Should I just go to fdisk and remove the Linux-section?

And if there's anything very important I should remember when installing Debian, could you please tell me now? I will start installing (or try to install) it in a few hours.

[masa36]

OK, I got Debian today, and I've already got plenty of errors and other problems to solve. First the installing seemed a bit too easy, afterwards I noticed that it was easy, but after that, all hell break lose. Regrets already...

Question number 1:
How can I make the mouse working? I've set everything up just as I did in RedHat 6, but...

Q2:
There's no linuxconf or Xconfigurator in Debian, how can I set anything up? XF86Setup isn't too helpful.

Q3:
Lilo was FUC**D up from the beginning! I had to remove Debian just to get back to Windows looking for help! How can I set up LILO / use the lilo-command?

Q4:
Do you have recommendations about how to partition my disk? I've 2.1GB disk from which 1.1GB has been reserved for windoze (I hope this is temporary).

Q5:
Did I make the mistake of my life by buying Debian?!?

Back at the starting point...


HELP, QUICKLY!!

[Blackknight]

1. Make the mouse work where? In X or in console? For console you'll need to install gpm.

2. To setup X, you should be able to run xf86config. Just enter your settings and it should work.

3. man lilo. You'll need to edit /etc/lilo.conf. Also, you need to learn how to use a text editor, vi, emacs, pico, whatever. Once you do that you can configure any linux box.

5. Nah, Debian is great. You just have to learn. Read the Howtos, all the docs that come with your distro, and any books you can find.

[masa36]

I got everything working, but thanks to everyone who helped me here. My opinion about Debian changed in two hours; after I got the mouse working, everything works! :)

I've moved to real-time newbie help at: irc.debian.org #debian.

Bye. :)