In order to fix this, we need a working connection. The urpmi is failing because of missing files, probably lost during the failed update.

You didn't tell me if this is a wired or wireless connection. Which is it?

Hi Cliff
Sorry to have missed that, yes its wired
Thanks Nick

What I would like you to do, is bring up eth0 with a 'ifconfig eth0 up', then run 'ifconfig eth0'. I want to make sure you get an IP address from the router.

If you do, then run the command 'netstat -r' This will show us the routing info. There should be a default route set.

It should look like this :

Could you also post what is in the /etc/resolv.conf file. It should have the IP addresses of the name servers you use.

Post that, and we'll see where we go from there.

Any secuity risks in posting details?

netstat -r
Kernel IP routing table
Destination Gateway Genmask Flags MSS Window irtt Iface
192.168.x.0 * 255.255.255.0 U 0 0 0 eth0
link-local * 255.255.0.0 U 0 0 0 eth0
default 192.168.x.y 0.0.0.0 UG 0 0 0 eth0

No loopback line
Do I give the .x.y details?

cat /etc/resolv.conf

nameserver 192.168.x.y (same)

ifconfig eth0

inet addr 192.168.x.z (last number different)

However running ‘urpmi –auto-update’ I managed to install 8 out of 16 updates before getting error messages, so I assume the connection is working
What do I do about the elusive libxml2.so.2 file?

dont know if its too late but any way.
Does XFdrake fix the xserver so you can use the package manager.
can kde4 start from the promt?
i sometimes start kde4 as root su -

If you can install some packages, your link must be working.

Security risks. It is not a good practise to post real IP address on a public forum. At some point I read the posting guide lines, and it is not recommended. When you run NAT, the IP's I would post are used thousands of times by thousands of users. There is little real risk, why take any? The real IP's are not needed to solve most issues. We don't post any personal data either. Enough said.

O.K. libxml2.so.2 is installed by a package named libxml2_2 ( for 32 bit systems ) and lib64xml2_2 for 64 bit systems.

If you can get online again, try this,

My system is 64 bit. If your is 32 bit, just take the 64 out. If the package got deleted, it should install it. Give it a go, and see what happens.

Hi Cliff,

urpmi libxml2_2

returns
unable to access synthesis file of “Restricted i586 65624”, medium ignored
unable to access synthesis file of “Restricted Updates i586 70355”, medium ignored
Package libxml2_2-2.7.3-2.1mdv2009.1.i586 is already installed

managed to install some more packages (8/13) with
'urpmi --auto-update'
Installation then failed with libdecore

thanks
Nick

I'm going to suggest you re-build the rpm data base. Here are the instructions. You will need to be root to do so.

After the data base is rebuilt, try to install libxml2_2 again. See what happens. You can also try another auto-update.

I have never see the medium ignored messages. I'll see if I can find an answer there.

Hi Cliff

rm -rf /var/lib/rpm/__db*

returned to the prompt apparently immediately

rpm –rebuilddb

took a while before returning to the prompt, so presumably ran successfully.

urpmi libxml2_2

then gave the identical output as yesterday

'urpmi --auto-update'

Resulted in the same output as yesterdays second try, failing to install the remaining 5 packages

Last error message:
Installation failed:
libdecore4 = 30000000:3.5.10-4.4mdv2009.0 is needed by kdelibs-common-30000000:3.5.10-4.4mdv2009.0.586
(as in post 13)

then after restarting, next morning:

urpmi libxml2_2
gives same result

'urpmi --auto-update'
succeeded in installing 24/28 packages failing again with libdecore

thanks
Nick

Well, I'm out of ideas, sorry about that. At this point I think you have two choices.

First, you could see help, here -->http://mandrivausers.org/index.php?act=Login&CODE=00

You would be best off joining the board. Open a problem, and point back to this thread. It may save someone with more knowledge some time.

Second, you could do a clean install. I do not recommend upgrading, especially on a system that is not running correctly.

There is still a possibility you have hardware problems communicating. ( Just a guess on my part ).

Sorry I can not help more.

Hi Cliff,
Thanks for all your help.
Not quite sure which course to take yet. Tempted to do both using a third partition but I guess that might just exacerbate hardware communication problems.
I learnt a lot anyway.
Thanks again
Nick