[SOLVED] Three Post Slackware12 Install Questions

NightSky · 09-21-2007, 01:41 PM

Default Desktop is Xfce:

1. How do you reload /etc/rc.d/rc.messagebus after editing /etc/group?

2. I ran startx as 'root' by mistake and now have a desktop in root directory. Can I safely delete it? What is the cleanest way to remove it?

3. Where do I find PyGTK in my file system if I did a full install? I did not install Kde or Gnome but I read PyGTK is required for system to run properly. Maybe this is why i do not have sound and at startx get funky artifacts on LCD Monitor?

pwc101 · 09-21-2007, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightSky

Default Desktop is Xfce:

1. How do you reload /etc/rc.d/rc.messagebus after editing /etc/group?

as root:

Code:

/etc/rc.d/rc.messagebus restart

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightSky

2. I ran startx as 'root' by mistake and now have a desktop in root directory. Can I safely delete it? What is the cleanest way to remove it?

I should think there's no harm in deleting it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightSky

3. Where do I find PyGTK in my file system if I did a full install? I did not install Kde or Gnome but I read PyGTK is required for system to run properly. Maybe this is why i do not have sound and at startx get funky artifacts on LCD Monitor?

Not sure about finding PyGTK, but your sound can probably be fixed by running "alsaconf" as root, and then setting up the mixer levels with "alsamixer", and finally saving the settings with "alsactl store". Also, the LCD monitor effects sound like you xorg.conf file horizontal and vertical sync values are out. Find out what these values are for your monitor (either from the manufacturer's website or the manual, if you have it), and then run xorgsetup as root, and follow the instructions on-screen. Make a backup of your current xorg.conf first though. Hopefully that should get you on your way.

Happy Slacking!

MS3FGX · 09-21-2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

1. How do you reload /etc/rc.d/rc.messagebus after editing /etc/group?

Logging in and out is generally the best way to get the system to recognize you have changed/added groups to your account, but for the purposes of just DBUS, you would do:

Code:

/etc/rc.d/rc.messagebus reload

Which will force it to re-read it's configuration.

Quote:

2. I ran startx as 'root' by mistake and now have a desktop in root directory. Can I safely delete it? What is the cleanest way to remove it?

There is absolutely nothing of importance in ~/Desktop, you can remove it completely with:

Code:

rm -rf ~/Desktop

Be careful when removing files as root, as you can inadvertently remove the wrong directory. Always double check a line like that before you hit Enter.

Quote:

3. Where do I find PyGTK in my file system if I did a full install? I did not install Kde or Gnome but I read PyGTK is required for system to run properly. Maybe this is why i do not have sound and at startx get funky artifacts on LCD Monitor?

PyGTK contains the Python bindings for GTK, it would have nothing to do with issues related to sound or video corruption. Further more, it is not even included in Slackware.

If you need it, you can get a binary package from LinuxPackages.net, or build it from source using slackbuilds.

NightSky · 09-21-2007, 03:45 PM

Thanks
1.I did logout and shutdown and then rebooted but was not sure if it would work.

2.Did run alsaconf, set levels and saved, they show in Xfce panel. Just can't open music cd.

3. Tried # rm Desktop/ and message I got was: "Desktop/ can not be removed because its a directory"
but I will try with your command line... One reason I want to remove it is because I am trying to
preserve root dir.

secondly, since I did startx in root, everything for user's console is owned by root,
/usr/share/xscreensaver

4.?? Re:PyGTK I read in: -- HAL READ THIS! "One more thing -- I meant to note this in CHANGES_AND_HINTS.TXT, but I forgot... :/
/usr/bin/hal-device-manager needs PyGTK and a few things from gnome in order to work. Pat elected to leave the binary in the package due to the fact that some users will elect to install one of the third-party gnome builds, and any of those should provide the necessary dependencies for hal-device-manager to work."

5.LCD Monitor is 1600x1200 composite LCD and I did run Xorgconf w/ correct hsync & vsync, minimum and maximum sync ranges ...but I was unable to correctly add "Composite", "DPMS" and some other tech specs that have to be calculated because they are not in my manual.. My monitors runs well after I startx... its the startup that scares me. Let me see how its running after I get rid of root desktop... Thank you

creativename · 09-21-2007, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightSky

Thanks
3. Tried # rm Desktop/ and message I got was: "Desktop/ can not be removed because its a directory"
but I will try with your command line... One reason I want to remove it is because I am trying to
preserve root dir.

Yeah, you need to use the "rm -rf Desktop/" command (or maybe "rm -rf ~/Desktop/" if your pwd [present working directory] is not /root). rm without any options does not delete directories.

adriv · 09-21-2007, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightSky

4.?? Re:PyGTK I read in: -- HAL READ THIS! "One more thing -- I meant to note this in CHANGES_AND_HINTS.TXT, but I forgot... :/
/usr/bin/hal-device-manager needs PyGTK and a few things from gnome in order to work. Pat elected to leave the binary in the package due to the fact that some users will elect to install one of the third-party gnome builds, and any of those should provide the necessary dependencies for hal-device-manager to work."

I don't have PyGTK installed and did a full install. So I guess it can't be that important for a 'normal' system.

From their website:

Quote:

PyGTK lets you to easily create programs with a graphical user interface using the Python programming language. The underlaying GTK+ library provides all kind of visual elements and utilities for it and, if needed, you can develop full featured applications for the GNOME Desktop.

So if your not a Gnome-programmer...

Bruce Hill · 09-21-2007, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightSky

2.Did run alsaconf, set levels and saved, they show in Xfce panel. Just can't open music cd.

You do not "open" or "mount" music CDs in Linux. You can play the CD with XMMS, Amarok, KsCD, Xine, or JuK -- which are included with a full Slackware install. Put the music CD in the CD-ROM and then open one of those apps. In Slackware-12.0, running the KDE desktop, when I insert a music CD a dialog box with choices pops up. It offers Amarok and KsCD to play the music.

NB: You should add your normal user to the plugdev, cdrom, audio, and video groups (you don't need all of those for this but will later) and reload messagebus before this will happen automatically.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightSky

3. Tried # rm Desktop/ and message I got was: "Desktop/ can not be removed because its a directory"
but I will try with your command line... One reason I want to remove it is because I am trying to
preserve root dir.

secondly, since I did startx in root, everything for user's console is owned by root,
/usr/share/xscreensaver

I'm not really sure what you mean by this, but that's normal. Here's a Slackware-12.0 system which never had X started as root:

Code:

mingdao@james:~$ ls -lh /usr/share/xscreensaver
total 6.5K
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 6.7K 2007-04-22 04:01 config/
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root  344 2007-04-22 04:01 glade/

mingdao@james:~$ ls -alh
total 15M
drwx--x--x 21 mingdao users 1.2K 2007-09-22 06:12 ./
drwxr-xr-x  6 root    root   128 2007-07-24 19:27 ../
lrwxrwxrwx  1 mingdao users   34 2007-09-22 05:31 .DCOPserver_james_:0 -> /home/mingdao/.DCOPserver_james__0
-rw-r--r--  1 mingdao users   52 2007-09-22 05:31 .DCOPserver_james__0
-rw-------  1 mingdao users  187 2007-09-22 05:31 .ICEauthority
-rw-------  1 mingdao users   99 2007-09-22 05:31 .Xauthority
-rw-------  1 mingdao users 2.2K 2007-09-22 05:25 .bash_history
drwx------  2 mingdao users   48 2007-07-24 19:49 .cache/
drwx------  2 mingdao users   48 2007-07-24 19:49 .config/
drwx------  3 mingdao users   80 2007-07-24 19:49 .dbus/
drwxr-xr-x  3 mingdao users   96 2007-07-25 10:11 .firefox/
drwxr-xr-x  3 mingdao users  104 2007-07-25 10:11 .fullcircle/
drwxr-xr-x  5 mingdao users  152 2007-08-08 11:09 .gkrellm2/
drwx------  2 mingdao users  216 2007-08-10 07:26 .gxine/
drwx------  4 mingdao users  200 2007-07-24 19:37 .kde/
-rw-------  1 mingdao users  160 2007-07-24 19:37 .kderc
-rw-------  1 mingdao users   65 2007-08-21 18:12 .lesshst
drwx------  3 mingdao users   72 2007-07-24 19:37 .local/
-rw-r--r--  1 mingdao users 2.0K 2007-07-24 21:18 .mailcap
drwxr-xr-x  3 mingdao users  112 2007-07-24 19:37 .mcop/
-rw-------  1 mingdao users   31 2007-09-22 05:31 .mcoprc
drwxr-xr-x  4 mingdao users   96 2007-07-24 21:18 .mozilla/
drwxr-xr-x  2 mingdao users  176 2007-08-10 07:41 .mplayer/
-rw-r--r--  1 mingdao users 1.2K 2007-09-22 05:25 .nvidia-settings-rc
drwxr-xr-x  2 mingdao users  176 2007-09-22 05:31 .qt/
-rw-r--r--  1 mingdao users 3.7K 2007-07-24 19:27 .screenrc
-rw-------  1 mingdao users   50 2007-09-22 05:31 .serverauth.3115
drwx------  2 mingdao users   80 2007-07-24 19:51 .ssh/
drwx------  4 mingdao users   96 2007-07-24 19:57 .thumbnails/
-rw-------  1 mingdao users  808 2007-08-21 17:58 .viminfo
drwxr-xr-x  2 mingdao users  168 2007-07-24 21:33 .xine/
-rw-r--r--  1 mingdao users  779 2007-07-24 19:27 .xsession

just to show you what you should be seeing in your system. Most files outside the normal user's HOME directory are owned by root. That's part of the security built into Slackware that you don't get with that high-priced, poorly coded OS from Micro$oft.

Something no one has said that might be important to keep you from removing the normal user's Desktop directory.

In Slackware you have a login prompt which looks like one of these:

Code:

mingdao@silas:~$
root@silas:~#

This tells you the user name and the machine name. For the normal user you'll have a $ at the end of the prompt; for root you'll have a # at the end.

If you are in your normal user's default home directory and issue "su" (switch user) and then enter the root password, you will be here:

Code:

root@silas:/home/mingdao#

That is still the normal user's home directory, and if you issue "rm -rf Desktop/" there, you will remove the normal user's Desktop directory.

The command "pwd" will print the full filename of the current working directory. So before you remove anything, make sure you're in the correct directory. If you issue "cd" you will change the current working directory to dirName, or to the home directory (as specified in the HOME environment variable) if dirName is not given. So in the above example if you "su" to root from the user's home directory, then issue "cd" that will change you to root's home directory (in a default Slackware setup).

Once you are in root's home directory:

Code:

root@silas:~# pwd
/root

you are probably going to see more than just that Desktop directory.

Here's a listing on a Slackware-11.0 system where root started the X server:

Code:

root@silas:~# ls -alh
total 149K
drwx--x--- 10 root root  600 2007-09-17 23:12 ./
drwxr-xr-x 32 root root  760 2007-09-21 07:32 ../
-rw-------  1 root root    0 2007-09-15 20:11 .ICEauthority
-rw-------  1 root root    0 2007-09-15 20:11 .Xauthority
-rw-------  1 root root  11K 2007-09-21 07:44 .bash_history
drwx------  4 root root  200 2007-09-12 06:40 .kde/
-rw-------  1 root root  154 2007-09-12 06:40 .kderc
-rw-------  1 root root  108 2007-09-17 23:15 .lesshst
drwx------  3 root root   72 2007-09-12 06:40 .local/
drwxr-xr-x  3 root root  112 2006-11-08 21:37 .mcop/
-rw-------  1 root root   31 2007-09-15 20:08 .mcoprc
drwxr-xr-x  2 root root   72 2007-08-14 07:30 .mplayer/
-rw-r--r--  1 root root 1.1K 2007-09-15 20:10 .nvidia-settings-rc
drwxr-xr-x  2 root root  176 2007-09-15 20:08 .qt/
drwxr-xr-x  2 root root  112 2007-08-12 06:27 .ssh/
-rw-------  1 root root 8.2K 2007-09-17 23:12 .viminfo
drwxr-xr-x  2 root root   80 2006-11-08 21:37 .xine/
-rw-r--r--  1 root root  536 2006-11-04 22:08 .xinitrc
drwx------  2 root root  176 2007-09-12 06:40 Desktop/
-rw-r--r--  1 root root 1.8K 2002-04-17 12:21 loadlin16c.txt
-rw-r--r--  1 root root  96K 2002-04-17 12:20 loadlin16c.zip

And this is a Slackware-12.0 system where root never started the X server:

Code:

root@james:~# ls -alh
total 117K
drwx--x---  2 root root  216 2007-09-21 15:05 ./
drwxr-xr-x 27 root root  672 2007-07-25 10:17 ../
-rw-------  1 root root 2.0K 2007-09-22 06:09 .bash_history
-rw-------  1 root root   35 2007-09-21 15:02 .lesshst
-rw-------  1 root root 2.5K 2007-09-21 15:05 .viminfo
-rw-r--r--  1 root root  516 2007-07-24 03:24 .xinitrc
-rw-r--r--  1 root root 1.8K 2002-04-17 12:21 loadlin16c.txt
-rw-r--r--  1 root root  96K 2002-04-17 12:20 loadlin16c.zip

It is safe to remove all but those files from root's HOME directory.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightSky

4.?? Re:PyGTK I read in: -- HAL READ THIS! "One more thing -- I meant to note this in CHANGES_AND_HINTS.TXT, but I forgot... :/
/usr/bin/hal-device-manager needs PyGTK and a few things from gnome in order to work. Pat elected to leave the binary in the package due to the fact that some users will elect to install one of the third-party gnome builds, and any of those should provide the necessary dependencies for hal-device-manager to work."

I assume this came from this thread. That's a post by a Slackware user who helped with some docs in the Slackware-12.0 release. Read the full text of the official Slackware-12.0 RELEASE_NOTES -- it has to do with Gnome, which is not in the official Slackware release. You are using XFCE, apparently, so this is no concern unless you install Gnome.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightSky

5.LCD Monitor is 1600x1200 composite LCD and I did run Xorgconf w/ correct hsync & vsync, minimum and maximum sync ranges ...but I was unable to correctly add "Composite", "DPMS" and some other tech specs that have to be calculated because they are not in my manual.. My monitors runs well after I startx... its the startup that scares me. Let me see how its running after I get rid of root desktop... Thank you

Post back, as the X server and it's setup are a different issue.

NightSky · 09-24-2007, 10:36 PM

Thanks Bruce Hill, for the detailed explanation on how to rm desktop from root, will print it out good to learn. Enclosed is all the information regarding the monitor artifacts that I thought you might need to help get me on track since I am concerned about
messing up my new LCD Monitor.

Did remove Desktop/ successfully but it did not affect the junk error messages about starting and logging out of Xfce. Its my understanding Xscreensavers startup as root temporarily and then switch to anybody user... So it will always report an authorization error regarding startup.

Sound: Alsa is all installed and if I $ alsamixer and turn up level I can hear the music beneath static??? In Alsa settings I put my card name in default line. But Audacious does not popup when I insert music cd although it shows up on desktop. The popup say request media be inserted and queries whether Audacious Plug-ins are present.

Monitor Artifacts are startupissue: ATI Rage 128 Pro Ultra 32m, AGP x2 is the card I put in xorgcong with 32000k for 32m? Monitor is a Synaps 20.1" TFT Active Matrix LCD sxga+ non-interlaced,I use at 1600x1200@ H75, V60 and works great in win98se and XP, the monitor is PC & Mac compatible, it does not use software driver and adjust automatically via ABT sensor and manual function button, I never mess with. Pixel pitch is 0.258mmH x 0.258mmV, Response time 25ms (I don't play games) Aspect ratio 4:3, this I don't know what it means Frequency FH:31.469~79.976KHz FV:59.940~75.024Hz Power Activ<50 Watt Max Stand <3 Watt, VESA DPMS. Input Signals RGB Analog, Video Level: 0.7Vp-p(75 Omega) Sync TTL with 75Omega, 2Stero speakers and 24 pin DVI-D.
Here are my 'Display Modes' per manual:
800x600 @ H37.879 V60.317, 800x600 @ 46.875 V75.000, 1024x768 @ 48.363 V60.004, 1024x768 @ 60.023 V75.029,
1280x1024 @ 63.981 V60.020, 1280x1024 @ 79.976 V75.024, 1600x1200 @ 75.00 V60.000 non interlaced.

Here are settings I was able to put in xorgconf:
horizontal frequency 31-79 range (actual 31.469~79.916. Vertical frequency 59-75 actual is 59.940~75.024Hz
I enabled what I could for the monitor and card that I could just comment out: GLX, DRI Mode.

Was not able to set: DPMS requires a modeline and I do not know how to figure out the information require per '(X5) xorg.conf- Configuration File manual', un-able to settup Xcomposite Extensions and Composite Manager when I tried to reproduce the format for xconf file I had parsing problems. I wasn't sure whether just to add a single lines before the EndSection or create another section below EndSection Line. I did not add FPS because I do not know what that is or how to come up with the relavent numbers.. as I tried to follow Perry's Slackware Manual, his equipment is different from mine. I did not uncomment ram 258, my card is 32m I did not install xf86-video-ati-6.6.3-i486-3.tgz, I don't understand difference between xfg86 and X11/xorg nor their relationship to one another.

/etc/X11/xorgconf shows as: Driver "vga" it is r128. Further down the xorg file video card is dectected. It is also detected with greater detail in /var/log/xorg.0.log -- but i can't get the printer going either so I can print out that info to pass onto you. Would take me a while to write it in my notebook so i can get it in here. I am running the hugesmp.s kernel w/no thought of compiling at this time. Do u think I shouldn't be using slackware12? Hope this is all not too much. Thanks

Bruce Hill · 09-25-2007, 12:28 AM

I trust you got your original question #1 answered. If not, say so and we'll answer it.

For your sound: what is the output as root of "lspci | grep -i audio" ? Please post your output using VBCode tags. If you don't see how to do that, use [_code] without the underscore before your output, and [_/code] without the underscore after your output.

For your monitor: I quit buying ATI cards when I switched to Linux, because they didn't supply drivers for Linux. Nvidia does, so I've bought them. I do have an ATI card built into my laptop, but that's probably not applicable to yours. Please check this Guide for Enabling 3D Acceleration in X11 that my friend Carl wrote. He's becoming an expert with ATI.

You can issue a modeline for your monitor from The XFree86 Modeline Generator or the GTF Timing Standard.

I've got a new 20" LCD digital monitor. My card (GeForce FX 5200) was not capable of running it at the maximum resolution of 1680x1050@60Hz with a DVI cable without me adding a line to have it ignore the pixel clock. I was concerned that might damage the monitor, so I bought a new video card (GeForce 7300 GT). If that is the case for you, then you might be limited to using a VGA cable or buying a new video card, also.

For information on the troubles with your card, you can also check "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for details. Post it here if you'd like others to check it.

Daedra · 09-25-2007, 12:54 AM

I got a slackware 12 package of pygtk, I actually used the build script from alien bob to make it http://www.slackware.com/~alien/slac...s/pygtk/build/

you can just use that, of if you want I can upload my packages and you can just use that, let us know

NightSky · 09-25-2007, 02:33 AM

BruceHill, yes i was able to reload and restart '/rc.messagebus' after updating '/etc/group'.

Code:

 #lspci | grep -i audio

- Multimedi audio controller: Yamaha Corporation YMF-724F [DS-1 Audio Controller] (rev03)...
I was looking in (/usr/include/audaciou)GVIM @ the input.h file and it looks like I may have to uncomment the
'Include Plugin' line and some other stuff in other files to get 'Audacious' to work. Maybe I have to install it all???

Code:

#/sbin/lspci | grep -i vga

- ATI Technologies Inc Rage 128 Pro Ultr TF
The card is in the xserver supported list and has driver r128 for it... 1600x1200 @h75 V60 works well in win98se. So I don't think its the card as much as it is software configuration. Thanks for the links this ought to work along with: http://www.linux.com/feature/118108 Thanks

Daedra, pygtk is in the installed directory somewhere, I think. Been looking through all the directories. How did you install yours? I would like to learn how to do it and learn howto install software.

Daedra · 09-26-2007, 01:55 AM

there are different ways to make slackware .tgz packages. The most common way is to use a slackware build script. It's basically a script that compiles and installs and creates the package for you; very convenient. you can get a slackbuild for almost anything at www.slackbuilds.org or www.slackware.com/~alien or of course the source directory of your slackware CD or ftp. Another common way is to use a a program called checkinstall which in a nutshell instead of the typical

./configure
make
make install

you replace "make install" with "checkinstall" and it creates a slackware package for you. Be warned though there is a incompatibility with slackware and checkinstall-1.6.1, there is supposed to be a fix soon.

You can also get more details on package making at www.linuxpackages.net

Bruce Hill · 09-26-2007, 06:10 AM

I know nothing about Audacious -- haven't even heard of it until now -- so can't help you there. As for your soundcard, there's a post in the LQ HCL bot no one even listed what module it uses. (Don't know how that product post got by us, but it will get fixed.) A Linux Kernel thread I Googled up said it uses "ymf_pci" as it's module. What is the output of "lsmod" on your box? NB: When you use code tags, put ALL the output in the code tags, like this:

Code:

mingdao@silas:~$ /sbin/lspci | grep -i audio
00:0c.0 Multimedia audio controller: Creative Labs SB Audigy (rev 03)
00:11.5 Multimedia audio controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8233/A/8235/8237 AC97 Audio Controller (rev 60)

I almost hate to say this, but IMO a warning is necessary. LinuxPackages.net Slackware packages don't have a real reliable track record. They are known to break Slackware systems. Unfortunately, I found this out through the rough experiences of the school of hard knocks. So, as with everything, use them at your own risk.

To install software in Linux, you can always compile programs from source. Jeremy's Compiling Programs from Source tutorial here at LQ is a good place to learn about that.

Slackware uses pkgtool as it's software package maintenance tool. You can read it's man page by issuing "man pkgtool" in a terminal. Also read the other man pages it references. Slackware packages have a .tgz extension, but not all files with a .tgz extension are Slackware packages.

As did Daedra, I recommend Eric Hameleer's packages as well as his Wiki pages. I've been using his build scripts and Slackware packages for a couple of years now, and never had one single problem with them. He is a contributor to Slackware, and trusted in the community for sound advice and packages.

Daedra linked you to, and said he used, Eric's build script for PyGTK; because that repository only has packages for Slackware-10.2 and 11.0. This could be your first venture in building a package using someone else's SlackBuild script. In this Using SlackBuild Scripts tutorial you can learn how to build your own package using someone else's build script.

Another resource offered was SlackBuilds.org. There is a tutorial linked from there called Writing A SlackBuild Script. I can't give a recommendation, as I've not actually tried it. Should be okay to teach you how to write a SlackBuild script; at least to get your feet wet.

Checkinstall does work to create a minimalist Slackware package, but SlackBuild scripts are much better.

NightSky · 10-04-2007, 10:38 PM

Thanks eveyone, I haven't finished with the video... got side tracked.
1. I don't know what my LCD Monitor Dot Frequency Clock is and there is no mention of it in its manual.

2. What is the refresh rate? Is it the same as monitor's response time, ie.25ms?

My monitor self adjusts. When I tried to generate a modeline this is what I got:

your active modes in the Screen section. Use this modeline at your own risk.
Modeline "1600x1200@59" 174.01 1600 1632 2288 2320 1200 1224 1236 1261
Horizontal sync frequency: 75 kHz

Warning!
# Horizontal sync frequency below minimum of 79.976kHz!
# Horizontal sync frequency above maximum of 31.475kHz!
# Refresh rate below minimum of 75.024Hz!

I don't understand the Waring Lines? They don't make sense because the manual states Frequency range is: FH:31.469~79.97Khz
FV:59.9~75.0240Hz

What is more important to have the most accurate the Horizontal or Veritical refresh rates?