November 2006 - wlug - list.wlug.org.nz

Re: [wlug] [SPAM] Re: Two flavour install partioning?
by GJB 06 Nov '06

06 Nov '06

Wanker here again. Okay, thanks a lot Chris, that's really helpful. I admit I was suprised no one suggested I do a e2fsk before disk partioning since this used to be standard practice back in the day when I last fuzzily recall doing this kind of thing. So everything seems to be set-up for the disk partioning exercise now and I've got the go ahead on disabling the DMA but the question I now have is there seems to be two options; Do I i) merely make some free space available for Xubu (i.e. just shrink current root (/) and let the Xubu installation decided how to do the actual pationing and naming or ii) set up some partions for Xubu and a boot sector for it (actually will I even need two boot sectors for two linux flavours?) and tell it where to go? If/when a new root directory is made for Xubu will it named root (/) also? Can you have two sector named root(/) on the same hard drive? Thanx for any and all suggestions, Greg > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [SPAM] Re: [wlug] Two flavour install partioning? > From: "Chris O'Halloran" <cmoman(a)gmail.com> > Date: Sun, November 05, 2006 8:48 pm > To: "Waikato Linux Users Group" <wlug(a)list.waikato.ac.nz> > > On 05/11/06, GJB <balle(a)auspira.com> wrote: > > > > Okay, it seems I should apologise, I expect whoever called me a wanker to do > > the same of course. > > > > There seems to be a huge misunderstanding here, my apologies for that. My > > comment to Matt wasn't intended as a "bite" (what does that mean?). > > I merely said in a somewhat rural vernacular that it was a "bum stare" (we > > are in waikato right?), i.e. the advice didn't work for me, not any > > reflection on Matt. > > And yes I know all about the "free advice is worth what you pay for it" > > thingy, I have picked up a few useful tips lurking here and that is > > appreciated. > > Messing with disk partions is hair raising stuff for the DIYer, once in a > > decade partitioner, linux user who values his data for his livelihood, it > > was late, etc. > > Anyway no-one, except Matt, has actually offered any useful suggestions on > > what the problem maybe or even queried what my hardware maybe really be as > > to where to go from here so I'm not expecting anybody to come up with > > anything. I cannot for the life of me see how armchair sysadmin types can > > diagnose harddisk partioning problems without knowing the hardware of the > > drive they are advising towards. If I have any criticism of anybody, this > > would be it. No malice intended, just a technical point and that perhaps > > there should be some more caution on that side of it. > > > > Back to the technical issue at hand. So yes Matt I did check the md5sum of > > the CD image before the burn but had become skeptical of the burn itself, is > > there anyway of checking the md5sum of the iso image once it is on the CD? > > From > http://www.g-loaded.eu/2006/10/07/verify-a-burned-cddvd-image-on-linux/ > > The method below assumes the iso image is called sep2006.iso > > <quote> > So, getting back to the md5 sum calculations, you can get the on-disk > image's md5 sum with the following: > $ cat sep2006.iso | md5sum > cc363de222ba6fe7455258e72b6c26ca - > > The final step is to calculate the md5 sum of the burned data. The dd > command can be used to read the DVD, but the crucial part is that dd > must read as much data as the size of the ISO image. Otherwise, it is > almost certain that you'll get a false negative about the quality of > the copy. > Data is written on a CD/DVD in blocks of size: 2048 bytes. The number > of the written blocks is the number of extents mkisofs had printed to > the stdout when creating the ISO image. The following command > instructs dd to read 169383 blocks, 2048 bytes each, and pipe it to > md5sum: > $ dd if=/dev/hdc bs=2048 count=169383 | md5sum > 169383+0 records in > 169383+0 records out > cc363de222ba6fe7455258e72b6c26ca - > > </quote> > > Similary the method above assumes the CD/DVD drive is /dev/hdc. > > > > > > > > Regardless of that, I found the problem with sysrescdd was I had to disable > > the DMA for the sysresccd to boot up cleanly. Others may want to note this, > > maybe not. This raises the further questions now: > > > > i) Is disabling the DMA before doing hard disk partitioning a safe thing to > > do? Qtparted seems to give me a GUI and recognises my current partion so > > that's encouraging. > > Disabling DMA is generally safer, it's just slower and in the case of > partitioning I can't see it making the slightest bit of difference. > It's a technology that allows disk data to be loaded directly into the > RAM bypassing the CPU. If DMA is causing problems, then disabling DMA > won't make them worse. The CPU will just have to manage the transfer > of the data. > > > > ii) Oh yeah, shouldn't I be doing an e2fsck before doing any disk > > partioning? > > I can't advise if is necessary but its probably a sensible precaution. > > But, have you made backup of your critical data? If you aren't > prepared to do that it might be better looking to install Xubuntu on a > separate harddrive. > > > > > > > > For now I'm getting up the gumption to screw around with the partions and > > make room for Xubu. > > Thnx for any help so far, particularly Matt. > > > > Greg > > > > > > > -------- Original Message -------- > > > Subject: Re: [wlug] Two flavour install partioning? > > > From: "Chris O'Halloran" <cmoman(a)gmail.com> > > > Date: Sun, November 05, 2006 2:50 pm > > > To: "Waikato Linux Users Group" <wlug(a)list.waikato.ac.nz> > > > > > > Similarly, > > > > > > Greg, LUG's are voluntary associations of people with a common > > > interest in Linux and more generally open source software. Technical > > > questions to the list are welcome because we all share a general > > > interest in promoting and enjoying the use of open source software. > > > There are no commerical interests or obligations within the WLUG. > > > > > > You volunteered a question. Matt, a well established and knowledgeable > > > member of the WLUG (possibly a founder?) tried to assist you. Your > > > criticism of his advice is unwarranted. I would encourage you to > > > reconsider your criticism and offer an apology if you would like > > > anyone to consider responding to your questions in future. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On 05/11/06, jaytee(a)clear.net.nz <jaytee(a)clear.net.nz> wrote: > > > > I Agree, > > > > It serves no purpose biting people who are trying to > > > > be helpful. > > > > Regards John > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message Follows ----- > > > > > I think you owe Matt an apology, your reply was rude and I > > > > > honestly don't think you will be getting better free > > > > > support from anywhere else.. > > > > > > > > > > Matts suggestion was completely on par with what you would > > > > > get from anyone else.. id suggest an apology and no longer > > > > > being such a wanker to people who are trying their best to > > > > > help you. > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > wlug mailing list | wlug(a)list.waikato.ac.nz > > > > Unsubscribe: http://list.waikato.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > wlug mailing list | wlug(a)list.waikato.ac.nz > > > Unsubscribe: http://list.waikato.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > _______________________________________________ > > wlug mailing list | wlug(a)list.waikato.ac.nz > > Unsubscribe: http://list.waikato.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > _______________________________________________ > wlug mailing list | wlug(a)list.waikato.ac.nz > Unsubscribe: http://list.waikato.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/wlug

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Re: [wlug] Two flavour install partioning?
by GJB 05 Nov '06

05 Nov '06

Okay, it seems I should apologise, I expect whoever called me a wanker to do the same of course. There seems to be a huge misunderstanding here, my apologies for that. My comment to Matt wasn't intended as a "bite" (what does that mean?). I merely said in a somewhat rural vernacular that it was a "bum stare" (we are in waikato right?), i.e. the advice didn't work for me, not any reflection on Matt. And yes I know all about the "free advice is worth what you pay for it" thingy, I have picked up a few useful tips lurking here and that is appreciated. Messing with disk partions is hair raising stuff for the DIYer, once in a decade partitioner, linux user who values his data for his livelihood, it was late, etc. Anyway no-one, except Matt, has actually offered any useful suggestions on what the problem maybe or even queried what my hardware maybe really be as to where to go from here so I'm not expecting anybody to come up with anything. I cannot for the life of me see how armchair sysadmin types can diagnose harddisk partioning problems without knowing the hardware of the drive they are advising towards. If I have any criticism of anybody, this would be it. No malice intended, just a technical point and that perhaps there should be some more caution on that side of it. Back to the technical issue at hand. So yes Matt I did check the md5sum of the CD image before the burn but had become skeptical of the burn itself, is there anyway of checking the md5sum of the iso image once it is on the CD? Regardless of that, I found the problem with sysrescdd was I had to disable the DMA for the sysresccd to boot up cleanly. Others may want to note this, maybe not. This raises the further questions now: i) Is disabling the DMA before doing hard disk partitioning a safe thing to do? Qtparted seems to give me a GUI and recognises my current partion so that's encouraging. ii) Oh yeah, shouldn't I be doing an e2fsck before doing any disk partioning? For now I'm getting up the gumption to screw around with the partions and make room for Xubu. Thnx for any help so far, particularly Matt. Greg > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: Re: [wlug] Two flavour install partioning? > From: "Chris O'Halloran" <cmoman(a)gmail.com> > Date: Sun, November 05, 2006 2:50 pm > To: "Waikato Linux Users Group" <wlug(a)list.waikato.ac.nz> > > Similarly, > > Greg, LUG's are voluntary associations of people with a common > interest in Linux and more generally open source software. Technical > questions to the list are welcome because we all share a general > interest in promoting and enjoying the use of open source software. > There are no commerical interests or obligations within the WLUG. > > You volunteered a question. Matt, a well established and knowledgeable > member of the WLUG (possibly a founder?) tried to assist you. Your > criticism of his advice is unwarranted. I would encourage you to > reconsider your criticism and offer an apology if you would like > anyone to consider responding to your questions in future. > > > > > > On 05/11/06, jaytee(a)clear.net.nz <jaytee(a)clear.net.nz> wrote: > > I Agree, > > It serves no purpose biting people who are trying to > > be helpful. > > Regards John > > > > ----- Original Message Follows ----- > > > I think you owe Matt an apology, your reply was rude and I > > > honestly don't think you will be getting better free > > > support from anywhere else.. > > > > > > Matts suggestion was completely on par with what you would > > > get from anyone else.. id suggest an apology and no longer > > > being such a wanker to people who are trying their best to > > > help you. > > > > _______________________________________________ > > wlug mailing list | wlug(a)list.waikato.ac.nz > > Unsubscribe: http://list.waikato.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > _______________________________________________ > wlug mailing list | wlug(a)list.waikato.ac.nz > Unsubscribe: http://list.waikato.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/wlug

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Re: [wlug] Two flavour install partioning?
by GJB 05 Nov '06

05 Nov '06

actually, now I think about it, the correct turn of phrase is spelt "bum steer" ... as in a bad animal that one might buy at the sales from time to time. which it wasn't thus far ... so no harm done, yet.

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Re: [wlug] Two flavour install partioning?
by jaytee＠clear.net.nz 05 Nov '06

05 Nov '06

I Agree, It serves no purpose biting people who are trying to be helpful. Regards John ----- Original Message Follows ----- > I think you owe Matt an apology, your reply was rude and I > honestly don't think you will be getting better free > support from anywhere else.. > > Matts suggestion was completely on par with what you would > get from anyone else.. id suggest an apology and no longer > being such a wanker to people who are trying their best to > help you.

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(no subject)
by Leslie Katz 05 Nov '06

05 Nov '06

What about a Knoppix live cd as a way into repartitioning? It may work even if sysrecord doesn't.

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Two flavour install partioning?
by GJB 04 Nov '06

04 Nov '06

Well Matt, the sysresccd was a bum stare. How many times have you actually used this utility on pre-Millenial Dell laptops? Segmentation Fault untarring the hotplug firmware and unceremoniously hung. Perhaps some more caution before bandying advice about third party disk tools? I was expecting at least a hardware question or two but your misplaced confidence spurred me on. Anybody else got ideas for disk partioning utilities for a Dell '99 era laptop, only ever had linux redhat on it? See previous discussion for what I'm wanting to do. Greg

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Two flavour install partitioning?
by GJB 04 Nov '06

04 Nov '06

Hello all, a longtime lurker here, I have an old Dell Laptop that has faithfully run various versions of Redhat over the years. The current hardrive in it has Rh7.3 that I'd like to keep on there for a while yet but I'd also like to put Xubuntu on the same hard drive, tried out the CD test and like it. The drive is currently partitioned with a separate boot, swap space and rest on root (/), all ext3 and no other system has ever been near it ;). Several questions arise: i) can I adjust the partitions of the hardrive to shrink the current root (/), create a new partion to install the Xubunutu on and set-up GRUB bootloader to give me a choice of which system to boot from? Is the best tool to do this fdisk or is there something else out now? ii) will I risk losing any of the current data in "/"? (As always will do a full system back-up first but what's the chances?) iii) will the systems need separate swap drive partitions or will Xubunutu recognise the current swap partition set-up? (No idea if or where config for this would be) iv) can i also partition a new section for to mount the current /home that both systems will then recognise as the new /home? (Just mount table config here I'm picking) Thanx for any help, Greg

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Ubuntu 6.10 login problem
by John Torrance 03 Nov '06

03 Nov '06

Thanks for the advice I tried alt control F1 which gave me a command line - and allowed me to log in to a console, however, as I was typing the commands, it then automatically went back to the graphical interface. I then loggin in using the recovery mode which allowed me to run the sudo aptitude update sudo aptitude dist-upgrade this seemed to run until it listed a syntax error with "freemed" which might be an application I tried to install in the past - it then exited back to the command line. When I rebooted, it gave me the same screen - however, it tried to go past it, the screen would flash blank then white and then back to the cream blank screen. Eventually it popped up a box with: "The greeter application appears to be crashing - attempting to use a different one" After I clicked OK, the same thing happened - eventually sticking on the blank cream screen again. Any ideas?

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Microsoft and Novell sign agreement
by Ian McDonald 03 Nov '06

03 Nov '06

Seems to be about patent protection etc. Haven't had a good read but this shows Linux is moving to next level in my opinion! (i.e. proprietary vendors have to co-operate) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&ObjectID=10409018 -- Ian McDonald Web: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4 Blog: http://imcdnzl.blogspot.com WAND Network Research Group Department of Computer Science University of Waikato New Zealand

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ubuntu 6.10 login problem
by John Torrance 03 Nov '06

03 Nov '06

John Torrance wrote: > > I have upgraded my ubuntu to 6.10. The problem is that after the logo, > > the login freezes with a blank cream coloured screen prior to the login > > stage. Does anyone know how to remedy this? > > > Does it eventually get to the login screen or not? It's not obvious from your post. Sorry, I should have been more specific - no, it just hangs - I am unable to log on hence my concern. I could do a fresh install but then I would loose everything on the computer. Thanks for the advice John, but I am an illiterate and the logs, even if I could work out how to boot into safe mode, would be meaningless. With regard to the Graphics card however, the computer has always run fine with all the previous Ubuntu releases that I have used Cheers John

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Fwd: Looking for prospective contacts within Hamilton IT
by Chris O'Halloran 02 Nov '06

02 Nov '06

Greetings. I have a flatmate who is becoming rather disallusioned with his present job. He is from the UK and came here to work in transport planning. The job hasn't materialised quite the way it was sold to him when he first applied for the position. So he's looking to move on and so he's looking for contacts within the IT sector/transport planning Waikato realm. Briefly he lists his skills as: Software testing - Manual and automated Developing user and process guides training prototyping code in Delphi 6 basic Delphi 6 Extensive MS Excel Spreadsheet development Extensive VBA Macro Code in MS Excel VBA Macros in Powerpoint Visual Basis 6 MAP Info GIS software IT support for MS office IT support for MS Windows various manipulations using text editors Database development in MS Access custom pedestrian simulation software EMME2 Transport modelling software Consultancy Proposal writing to win work I am really looking for potential contacts in various organisations that could use his skills. Thoughts appreciated. Chris

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Comparing GIMP and Krita
by Ian McDonald 01 Nov '06

01 Nov '06

Krita (KDE graphics editor) has had a bit of publicity recently so this is worth having a look at comparing the features. http://www.linux.com/article.pl?sid=06/10/25/1950242 I'm starting to like KOffice a bit now as the different applications in it start to mature. Ian -- Ian McDonald Web: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4 Blog: http://imcdnzl.blogspot.com WAND Network Research Group Department of Computer Science University of Waikato New Zealand

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