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Old 12-29-2008, 07:27 AM   #1
patsyking
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Question Delete history does not work


I have just got an Acer Aspire 1 netbook running Linux Lite. I can bring up the boxes to delete history and to bookmark a site but when I click on the button to do the actions neither will work. I hope someone can help me.
Thank you.
 
Old 12-29-2008, 08:21 AM   #2
camorri
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What application are you trying to delete the history from? Are you logged in as a user, as root?
 
Old 12-29-2008, 12:00 PM   #3
patsyking
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Oh dear, I don't know what you mean by user or root sorry. I am trying to delete cache and browser history. My newphew bookmarked some sites for me earlier but when I just switched on again they had disappeared. It was a display one so had been used before.
 
Old 12-29-2008, 01:47 PM   #4
camorri
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The application will most probably be Firefox, or Ice Weasel or Konqueror; or some other browser.

When you turn the machine on, do you log in? If you do, you need to supply a user name, and password. Root user is a special user for controlling and configuring the system; that use has special privileges. If you are not logging in, there has to be a user, that is the way linux is.

Linux Lite? Have a look at this link, is this what you have?

http://www.linuxhaxor.net/2008/09/15...x-lite-review/

Just click the link, it should take you to the information.
 
Old 12-29-2008, 04:11 PM   #5
patsyking
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Yes,the picture of the desktop is exactly what I have when it has booted up.I don,t have to log in. The very first time I turned it on it looked like that because it was a display one in the shop. It is Firefox I'm trying to delete the history from. I,m worried that with it only having 8GB (almost half taken up with th OS) that if the cache gets too full I'm going to come unstuck eventually.

Last edited by patsyking; 12-29-2008 at 04:12 PM.
 
Old 12-29-2008, 07:08 PM   #6
camorri
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To clear Firefox cache, etc, every time you close the program, open Firefox. On the top line, click Edit-->Preferences-->Privacy There is a box that says "Always clear my private data when I close Firefox. Check that box. Go to the Settings button. Put a check mark on each item you want to delete on closing. I clear the first four. Cookies are generally not harmful, you can clear them if you wish, but some sites may be a problem without their cookies. ( Banking sites ). Close out, restart Firefox. There is a box there that will cause Firefox to ask you before you delete the files. I found it irritating, I un-checked it. Then firefox deletes the files you specify without asking first.
 
Old 12-30-2008, 04:54 AM   #7
patsyking
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Hi Cliff
I have just done what you said but the history is still there when I drop down the arrow by the address box and the ticks I removed in the boxes in the delete cache etc have come back. It also won,t remember my homepage. Its as though it won,t remember anything I do on it. My nephew bookmarked two sites for me but later in the day when I put the netbook back on again they had disappeared. Sorry to be a pain but its really getting to me now.
Thanks
Patsy
 
Old 12-30-2008, 05:38 AM   #8
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Hi again Cliff

I have found a way to delete the search history one by one but now I need to know if there is another way to clear the cache or will a box come up when its full asking me if I want to make more space for it?
Thanks Patsy
 
Old 12-30-2008, 05:48 AM   #9
camorri
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I understand the frustration. This has to have something to do with permissions, and ownership.

Just about everything in linux has an owner. There are groups, and other. Each user, when defined, can own their own files. Usually programs, like Firefox are owned by the root user. Firefox creates a hidden directory in the users home directory to store the configuration data for that user.

Each directory has permissions, they can be displayed and changed. Even the ownership of a file can be changed. If the user does not have access, it is not possible to delete files. File permissions consist of read, write, and execute. You can be given read, without the rest. In the case of cache files, the root user is writing them, otherwise the browser would not work.

This may seem like a problem, but it is not. This is much of the reason a linux system is secure, and much more difficult to become corrupted by a virus, or some other malware.

What we need is a command prompt to investigate a little. ( like a dos prompt ). Do you know how to open a command prompt on that system? I'm have never used Linux Lite, it may be stripped down. A full distro would have an icon, or you can access a command prompt with the key combination of Ctrl + Alt + F1 together. Most systems respond to F1 to F6 plus the other keys. Try that, and let me know. I'm going to look for some Linux Lite doc...
 
Old 12-30-2008, 06:04 AM   #10
patsyking
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Hi Cliff

I tried Ctrl+Alt+F1 but nothing happens.Is the cache likely to fill up if I'm using the same sites all the time? I do believe that my OS is a stripped down version.Ijust tried more keys and I think it was F5 and the screen went black but did nothing. To be honest, I'm nervous about going into areas like that in case I mess up.
Patsy

Last edited by patsyking; 12-30-2008 at 06:09 AM.
 
Old 12-30-2008, 07:40 AM   #11
camorri
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Quote:
Ctrl+Alt+F1 but nothing happens.
Pressing that key combination will not hurt anything. It is difficult to do any damage unless you are the root user.

Quote:
I do believe that my OS is a stripped down version.
Couldn't agree more.

I'm going to have a look to see if there is any online documentation for this distro. I'll post back what I can find.
 
Old 12-30-2008, 08:00 AM   #12
camorri
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Quote:
The Acer Aspire One comes with 512 MBs of RAM, a bright 8.9" 1024x600 screen, 1.6 Ghz Intel Atom N270 CPU, 0.99 kg, 802.11b/g, LAN, 8 GB NAND Flash, a Fedora-derivitive distro called Linpus, a 3-cell battery, a 0.3 MP webcam,integrated mic and speakers, a VGA output, 3 USB 2.0 ports, two SDHC/MS slots, 3.5mm audio out, mic-in, and a Kensington lock.
It looks like the version of Linux you have is Linpus. They have a web site at www.linpus.com.

There is supposed to be an icon for switching the desktop environment from icons only to a more standard KDE desktop. It is located at the bottom of the screen. See this link -->http://www.linpus.com/products_2.php

They call them 'Simple mode' and 'PC mode'. Try it, see if you can find a way to open a command prompt.

I tried to download their 'Manual', the site says "Coming soon".

Do you have an external drive of any kind to plug in? There seems to be some 'options'. Or do you have the internal flash drive only?

Last edited by camorri; 12-30-2008 at 08:06 AM.
 
Old 12-30-2008, 08:41 AM   #13
camorri
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Well, it took some searching, here is how to get a terminal you can enter commands in.

Quote:
Admin note - special thx to dbs on the forums for orginally posting this.

If you want a kind of Advance mode simply open a Terminal.

To do this go to Files > My Documents to open the File Manager. Then go to File > Terminal.
This comes from this site --> http://www.aspireoneuser.com/forum/

There is a lot of information on linux ( Linpus Lite ) on this site.
 
Old 12-30-2008, 10:46 AM   #14
patsyking
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I don,t have an external drive or memory stick,just the built in drive. I went to documents and files and found a Terminal option that had an S in a square in front of it. My desktop is divided into four sections and does,nt look like the ones on the linpus link and no option at the bottom of the screen to switch from one desktop to another.
PATSY.
 
Old 12-30-2008, 01:36 PM   #15
camorri
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O.K. I would like to find out how to get a command prompt. Looks like that won't be so easy.

Here is something I think will help. Open up Firefox. In the bar where you type the URL's in, type in 'about:cache' ( just type what is between the quotes ). You should get a list of the locations on your system where cache data is stored. It works on the Firefox's I have tried it on.

I think one of the locations will be memory cache. This is not on your disk, but in memory. I get 3 locations, memory, disk, and offline cache (also disk storage). I get a summary of how much space is being used.

Here is what it looks like on my system.
Quote:
Memory cache device

Number of entries: 64
Maximum storage size: 18432 KiB
Storage in use: 290 KiB
Inactive storage: 10 KiB

List Cache Entries
Disk cache device

Number of entries: 110
Maximum storage size: 50000 KiB
Storage in use: 561 KiB
Cache Directory: /home/cliff/.mozilla/firefox/0mmso04v.Cliff/Cache

List Cache Entries
Offline cache device

Number of entries: 0
Maximum storage size: 512000 KiB
Storage in use: 0 KiB
Cache Directory: /home/cliff/.mozilla/firefox/0mmso04v.Cliff/OfflineCache
For you, the concern is what is stored on disk and not removed. If you could post what is on your system, it will tell us if any disk space is being consumed, and not released. It also shows where the cache file are.
 
  


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