Repair gnewsense

kidsin · 08-08-2011, 02:59 AM

Is there any way to repair gnewsense?

It was working fine but the desktop has suddenly started showing problems. I am not able to use the desktop, instead i am stuck to use only the terminal

How do i repair gnewsense?

Please help!

Thanks.

MTK358 · 08-08-2011, 12:29 PM

What happens when you run "startx"?

kidsin · 08-08-2011, 12:35 PM

After booting, the login screen comes up. After successful login, nothing comes up, just a mouse.

I thoguth maybe it was due to some interrupted update. But, i updated everything.

Its best if i can repair the OS without destroying the settings. Can this be done?

MTK358 · 08-08-2011, 12:51 PM

So it's an empty screen with mouse pointer, but no panels, icons, or desktop background?

kidsin · 08-08-2011, 12:55 PM

Thats right. The wallpaper used to come, but that has stopped now too.

EDDY1 · 08-08-2011, 01:23 PM

Did you do an update recently?
How long have you had this os?
What make & model of machine?
What does dmesg say?

kidsin · 08-08-2011, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDDY1

Did you do an update recently?
How long have you had this os?
What make & model of machine?
What does dmesg say?

yes, have recently updated it.
using it for about 1 and a half years.
Its a linux compatible machine. 32 bit P4.
Sorry, I cannot get dmesg info.
Now it does not even show me login window.

The screen just keeps shuttling between a orange-brown background & a blank black background. After sometime, i get the message.

The Display server has been shutdown about 6 times in last 90 seconds. It is likely that something bad is going on. Waiting for 2 minutes before trying again on display :0

EDDY1 · 08-08-2011, 03:24 PM

Do you have a seperate /home?
You may have to reinstall & save home directory.

I found this while posting, maybe it's your problem
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...econds-504744/

kidsin · 08-09-2011, 02:37 PM

Yes, this looks similar to what i am experiencing, however, i tried out the modification mentioned on the thread, but it did not work.

I then tried

Code:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

After the interactive configuration, it gave a error

Code:

FATAL: Error inserting battery(/lib/modules/2.6.24-28-generic/kernel /drivers/acpi/battery.ko) No such device.

Then, i ran startx.
It started giving errors:

Code:

(gnome-session:6068): Glib-GObject_CRITICAL ** g-object-get-qdata: assertion 'G_Is_Object(object)' failed.
And then some Pango error

EDDY1 · 08-09-2011, 02:44 PM

What kernel are you using?
Are they still at 2.6.24?
uname -a

kidsin · 08-09-2011, 04:47 PM

yes, its 2.6.24

Also,the Glib-GObject error & Pango error occur repeatedly when i use 'sudo startx'

when i use only 'startx'
i get repeated following error

Code:

nm_applet:10487
nma_dbus_init(): could not acquire its services.
dbus_bus_acquire_service() says: 'Connection ":1.34" is not allowed to own the service "org.freedesktop.NetworkManagerInfo" due to security policies in the configuration file

EDDY1 · 08-09-2011, 06:14 PM

I myself started out with gnewsense, but was really interested in getting debian, which updates quite often, while gnewsense is actually dormant.If gnewsense worked on your machine other os'es will definately work on it & stay upto date with the latest drivers.

How much room do you have on your hard drive?
What make & model?
What I would do is resize existint partitions & make room to reinstall in empty space & copy everything over to new installation.
Or I would resize & make room for another installation & copy everything important to that.

You can go to distrowatch & search for active distro's.
right now most of them are from 2.6.32 all the way upto 2.6.39.
3.0 is already being released to debian Sid(unstable)
Not sure about wheezy

kidsin · 08-10-2011, 01:28 AM

I already have debian installed. Its just that debian sometimes gets hung-up. So, i tried a few more distro, and found gnewsense running pretty smooth.
So, i had many things setup on gnewsense.

I would glady migrate all my stuff to debian. However, i am not sure that just by copy pasting the contents of home would successfully export my settings. Are not some settings of ssh, gpg, browser setings, .. stored in usr or etc or somewhere else?

EDDY1 · 08-10-2011, 11:15 PM

Home I believe only contains documents, I am not sure of setings. I myself have only woried about documents & bookmarks, also I use foxmarks as I have a lot of machines some virtual, that I want bookmarks & contacts saved to, so I don't have to shut machine to go to another. Someone here can tell you what directories to copy but I'm almost sure your boookmarks are in your home directory.

BTW you did well, my gnewsense didn't really get off the ground, I was stuck as it was my first experience with linux!

kidsin · 08-27-2011, 12:13 PM

Guess i cant migrate to Debian, having problems with ssh & it again gets hung unpredictably.