LinuxQuestions.org
Share your knowledge at the LQ Wiki.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Debian
User Name
Password
Debian This forum is for the discussion of Debian Linux.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 06-21-2004, 09:16 AM   #1
Benjim
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Jun 2004
Location: Newcastle, UK
Distribution: Debian GNU/Linux
Posts: 8

Rep: Reputation: 0
Help: Installing Gnome on Testing / Unstable


I've been using the same process to upgrade & install Gnome on a Debian Woody install for ages, but I'm starting to have problems.

My normal process is:

Install Woody from CD with C / C++ development & libncurses-dev
Build new (2.6.6) kernel and install it

Add stable APT sources to sources.list
apt-get update
apt-get upgrade

Add unstable / testing APT sources to sources.list

create /etc/apt/preferences containing:
Package: *
Pin: release a=testing
Pin-Priority: 600

Package: *
Pin: release a=testing
Pin-Priority: 50

To upgrade, run:
dselect update
dselect select (just accept default & quit straight out)
dselect install

At this stage in the past, the system would be upgraded to testing/unstable, but it seems now that stuff like dhcp3-client is being removed. After dselect install ran, I re-installed dhcp3-client before I rebooted.

I would then normally run:
apt-get install gnome

and that would install all of Gnome from testing/unstable. However, when I run the install apt-get barfs and complains about a bunch of stuff that wont be installed, such as gnome-office etc etc etc.

To resolve this, I tried:
apt-get dist-upgrade

That upgraded a bunch of stuff. But when I go back to running apt-get install gnome, it complains only about gnome-office not being installed etc. I kluged it by running apt-get install gnome-office then apt-get install gnome, and that ran ok.

I then installed gdm, xserver-xfree86, some fonts, gdm etc.

However, the system wont run gdm or I get a weird broken Gnome...

Is there something I'm now doing wrong, or any docs I should read. I've Googled about but can only find old instructions such as in Debian Reference etc.
 
Old 06-22-2004, 08:02 AM   #2
sterrenkijker
Member
 
Registered: Mar 2004
Location: the Netherlands
Distribution: Debian Sarge
Posts: 302

Rep: Reputation: 31
It's very understandable you are having problems you didn't experience before. Gnome is currently being upgraded to 2.6, but there is also a lot of gnome 2.4 stuff in testing. So you're probably not doing anything wrong. My desktop is broken too since the upgrades, why it always worked fine. I really hope it will be over soon.

I don't have a solution for you, sorry. Just wait maybe...
 
Old 06-22-2004, 09:21 AM   #3
Benjim
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Jun 2004
Location: Newcastle, UK
Distribution: Debian GNU/Linux
Posts: 8

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 0
Thanks for your reply. I'd realised about the 2.6 Gnome into testing, so did a bit of digging. As 2.4 is broken in testing, I'm going to try 2.6. In fact the broken Gnome installation was 2.6 pretty much. The instructions I've found are:

edit /etc/apt/sources.list, add: (replace xy with your country)
deb http://ftp.xy.debian.org/debian/ ../project/experimental main

apt-get update
apt-get remove libgtop2 (work around a conflict with the new libgtop2-2 package)
apt-get install -t experimental gnome-desktop-environment
 
Old 06-22-2004, 01:30 PM   #4
sterrenkijker
Member
 
Registered: Mar 2004
Location: the Netherlands
Distribution: Debian Sarge
Posts: 302

Rep: Reputation: 31
Sounds good, think I'm gonna try that. I've already tried updating gnome to unstable, but it didn't work (missing dependencies). But this sounds good.

lol, I thought you were asking the question here ;-).
 
Old 06-24-2004, 04:54 AM   #5
Benjim
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Jun 2004
Location: Newcastle, UK
Distribution: Debian GNU/Linux
Posts: 8

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 0
I've tried those instructions to install Gnome with no luck yet.

I used the Sarge Installer:

http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/

...to install Debian testing/unstable, then tried to install Gnome, but unfortunately there are broken dependancies at the moment.

I'll keep trying!
 
Old 06-24-2004, 05:31 AM   #6
Benjim
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Jun 2004
Location: Newcastle, UK
Distribution: Debian GNU/Linux
Posts: 8

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 0
I've also tried (to install Gnome 2.6)

edit /etc/apt/sources.list, add: (replace xy with your country)
deb http://ftp.xy.debian.org/debian/ ../project/experimental main

apt-get update
apt-get remove libgtop2 (work around a conflict with the new libgtop2-2 package)
apt-get install -t experimental gnome-desktop-environment

Last edited by Benjim; 06-24-2004 at 05:33 AM.
 
Old 06-24-2004, 08:07 AM   #7
sterrenkijker
Member
 
Registered: Mar 2004
Location: the Netherlands
Distribution: Debian Sarge
Posts: 302

Rep: Reputation: 31
I added unstable and experimental to my apt-sources, and upgraded the gnome-packages by hand (synaptic), because I use a stripped down version of gnome (I have stuff like gnome-help deinstalled, I don't have the metapackage gnome-desktop-environment installed). Somehow it worked: most of my desktop works again, including some programs (gnumeric and gedit work again, but gpdf and gxine not anymore). I'm quite happy with the result...

I have removed unstable and experimental from my apt-sources again. I can now find back the upgraded packages by going to "absolete or locally installed", so I can go to the testing-version when it has the gnome 2.6 version.

Not perfect, but at least I can use gnome again...

Maybe this information helps for you. Good luck!

Corien
 
Old 06-24-2004, 08:26 AM   #8
Benjim
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Jun 2004
Location: Newcastle, UK
Distribution: Debian GNU/Linux
Posts: 8

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 0
I've added:

# Debian experimental
deb ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian ../project/experimental main

# GNOME 2.6 pending packages
deb http://pkg-gnome.alioth.debian.org/debian experimental main

to my /etc/apt/sources.list

I only had the:

deb ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian ../project/experimental main

...line in before.

Last edited by Benjim; 06-24-2004 at 08:27 AM.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
debian testing/unstable nistelrooy Debian 2 10-31-2005 09:34 AM
stable vs. testing vs. unstable pestie Debian 4 06-20-2005 04:54 PM
Pinning, Testing and Unstable r3dhatter Debian 1 12-28-2004 07:52 AM
stable? testing? unstable? koyi Debian 17 12-16-2004 08:04 AM
Status of Gnome in Debian testing/unstable Benjim Debian 2 06-24-2004 07:05 AM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Debian

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:27 PM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration