Deb 31 Mandrake 10 upgrade - easy?
 

I am running MDK10CE on a piece of test equipment.
Xfree is loaded but I don't use a window manager, instead a GUI which is Flash driven through Mozilla and PHP. (There is a touch screen). So, of course, Apache is also running.
MDK is something of a thorn in my side - the printer driver is unstable.
Sometimes I can plug/unplug/plug the USB printer and everything is OK.
Next time I try, (Or printer not powered up), I lose the printer and have to (re)find it before all works OK again.
The question, (at last), if I upgrade to Deb31, do I get pain or will it do so seamlessly? I have a DVD release.

So the problem is that the printer doens't work on Mandrake, and you wish to switch to Debian to see if it works? It depends what printer it is.

Have to tried the LQ Hardware Compability list? Try a debian-based livecd like Knoppix, that way you can see how well your printer is supported.

Hi,
If you do "upgrade" from mandriva to Debian, and your printer is an HP, there are quite useful
packages that provide the drivers for quite the latest HP printers.
One package is named hpijs.
I did not find it very difficult to set up my printers('both HP) Of course you have to have CUPS installed and
other stuff,, apt-get makes it so easy it's a dream. Don't miss the post-install
config thread by macondo if you go for Debian. Very useful.

cheers

Thanks.
Printer(s) == HP.
Problem is with all HPs I have tried.
hpijs, CUPS, etc., installed.

What I would like is some comment from "upgraders" like "do I trash the MDK installation when overwriting with Deb31?"

The reason I buy HP printers is they work so well with Debian, local and networked.

If you're not happy with MDK, dump it. I doubt they will get better. You only have to Install Debian once; upgrades are easy and perpetual.

However, Sarge will respect the MDK install and setup a dual boot, if you wish.

Yes. I like HPs too - they have also worked well with Windozebut not, it seems, MDK.

OK. Treat me like a real doozie - if I ever tried to 'upgrade' Windoze, (and I ignore all the B* driver problems), it does so keeping the original setup intact. Can I do the same with Sarge? i.e. over write MDK and keep the setup I have?



"You step in the stream, but the water has moved on. This page is not here"

No, that will just mess thing up even more. The file structure of Mandrake and Debian are very different, hence a "WIndows upgrade" is no possible.

Ty saman. At least that's definitive.
It's going to be a sh*tload of work setting up Sarge the way I want it unless......
any suggestions how to move thing across then remove MDK?





"A crash reduces your expensive computer to a simple stone"

I hardly see how going to Debian will change anything to your printer, but anyway... In your case, the best way to proceed probably is to install Debian with a dual boot setup, and to mount Mandrake's root drive under Debian.
As long as you're not happy with your Debian config, you've got your Mandrake files mounted to pick and choose the appropriate files.
When that is done, and you're happy with the result, delete the Mandrake partition.

Yves.

Depends what you want to do.

Just copying your homefolder to the sarge system will move a large amount of your GNOME preferences over. However, it can be different for system configurations ... it depends what it is ...

First, I'm surprised you have problems using a HP printer with Linux because HP printers are some of the most Linux friendly.
Have a look here

So if your HP printer ( by the way, I don't see any mention of the model number you have ) doesn't work with Mandrake I doubt it'll work with Debian or any other distribution because they all use Cups for printing.

"Upgrading" from Mandrake 10 to Debian Sarge ? Hell, some people have problems updating from Fedora 3 to 4 so your quantum leap might not be very successfull. I personally wouldn't do it. Kids, don't try this at home :)

Last year I tried one "simple" experience: to double boot ( Mandrake and fedora ) but having my /home partition common. Even if Fedora and Mandrake are closely related ( both based on the RPM packages ) I encountered some problem.

Not using a window manager so GNOME, et al, not an issue.
The HP printer type doesn't seem to make any difference, sometimes it's found, sometimes not. The problem also occurs across different mainboards.
I have done a LOT of digging and not seen this problem with anyone else. 'upgrading' from MDK93 to MDK10CE didn't make any difference.
That's why I am (was) thinking Sarge might clear it up, but if you say it won't .........




"Windows NT crashed. I am the Blue Screen of Death. No one hears your screams."

Are you sure it's not a hardware related problem ?
The 1st thing I would do is to swap the printer cable.
Did you try the printer with windows ?

USB cable OK. Printers OK.
This problem has occurred with (at least) HPdeskjet 5550 & HP Photosmart. Both work fine with Windoze.