[SOLVED] Slackware Live USB NOOB needs to learn more

Drakeo · 01-26-2018, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wade Patton

I don't know. I've never seen one.

But I wouldn't expect it to have all the GUI software ready to go-out of the box. Maybe it does-it's a big ISO.

I was going to find out today (install Slackware), but have spent most all of my computing time this morning trying to get rid of the old kernels that have packed my /boot to the rim* and dysfunctionality.

*How dumb is that setup? (Mint) where the automatic upgrades must fail when the /boot fills up, because there is no automatic purge?

I do see _now_ how to set up automatic purges and take care of it. BUT AM STUCK because apparently I cannot get the name of the packages into a form that the OS understands.

I'm listing 'em and copying names into the commands and getting nothing but "unable to locate package..." and "couldn't find package..." results.

From all my research this morning each individual person who has ever touched a keyboard has his own personally slightly different way of addressing this common issue. I never saw this in my previous years of Linuxing because I simply kept running the original kernel. More recent installs I started doing all updates (since about 8 kernels back by the listing). I thought I was being "smart" by updating to the latest kernels. Now I'm miffed because the structure is designed to cause a failure.

So I cannot download any easy maintenance solutions. There's no room left. I tried.

I have to do this manually and I've got to go find some "linear" reading instead of the shotgun approach of 100 solutions that I find on the wild wild web.

But first I have to figure out why the machine cannot see what it is showing me.

What we have here is a failure to communicate.

[/mini rant]

more coffee I say! And I'll work on Slackware tomorrow. Thanks for your supportive replies.

Also, regarding partitioning- I do have Gparted Live and have partitioned before--but I wasn't satisfied with the results because, get this, different partition tools can be confusing because different terms and options and they just didn't work like I thought it should have (had been led to believe they would). But that's a whole 'nother monkey to throw peanuts at. java me.

Slackware gets tomorrow. no time today.

Thousands of people have used Eric's work. Gui out of the box. last week you had had no clue what that meant. so ban me Jeremy tired of people. Dude it works out of the box . your computer is built for bill gates buy a real computer. ASIC standard . stop sking bl gates dk.

Wade Patton · 01-27-2018, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skaendo

There is an install option from Alien's live DVD's somewhere. I don't remember where though. You might be able to find it on his blog: https://alien.slackbook.org/blog/tag/liveslak/

Yeah, from what I was able to digest last night (there) you need to create your own bootable media gizmo from the ISO using optional parameters to set it all up. Liveslak and stuff.

So I pulled another ISO whilst I began digging in to text and learning stuff.

First thing I did this morning was spend 20 minutes messing with shortcuts in terminal. And recently before that, I saw the manual for apt-get. Never knew about all that. Now I do. It'll take a minute, but I'm intense when learning things I'm interested in.

Slackware has made learning Linux interesting (learning rather than "using").

as you were and thanks again,

WP

also I'm reading at tldp.org for others like me needing basic basics.

Wade Patton · 01-27-2018, 09:56 AM

And of course my Live Slackware still locks up on the included Firefox. I did notice a recent Firefox fix for slack in a list somewhere, but that's not for me. yet.

So in my conclusion. Live version Slackware ISO is good for looking at, but not installing from-unless you already know enough Linux to put your own bootable and parameters together. ALSO this is where you dial in the "persistence" option and as far as I can figure it has to mostly with grand parameters of the OS and not much else (but I'm likely wrong).

Advice to noobs like me. Don't waste your time with the live version if you have an extra machine to play on, just dive in. Use the install ISO for your installation needs.

Then work out the issues with browsers and such, if necessary.

Solved

Wade Patton · 01-27-2018, 10:00 AM

holy moly there's a man man! whoot

Wade Patton · 01-27-2018, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skaendo

There is an install option from Alien's live DVD's somewhere. I don't remember where though. You might be able to find it on his blog: https://alien.slackbook.org/blog/tag/liveslak/

No there is not, unless you put one together yourself. I have most recently poured through all of that documentation and even though I am a ZERO level expert, I'm about certain of what I speak. I posted this above.

It's beyond me just yet to fool around making a specific install tool from the LiveISO. The ISO you download for USB Live, does NOT give a "install" option without some more work using arguments and liveslack programming thingie, however that works.

Matters not, but for us NOOBS it's a damn bit faster to download an INSTALL ISO than to try to make one.

Which I did. Now I have it up for the first time and it's bogging all to hell. EVERY time I try to start something it's just down for 2 minutes and eventually recovers. Holding breath I'm going to clikck again...no nevermind, something is tripping a button or it's slowly working through all my previous clicks. total cluster eff trainwreck. (CFTW)

And that is why it's on the auxillary system.

I have rather enjoyed learning Linux, once I found a place to start and quit looking at stuff from the top-down. I'm going to HATE (but benefit) from figuring out what in hell is going on now.

Maybe it stopped...now.

I partitioned (re-tweaked previous settings) with Gparted live, but had to use an alternative video mode there. Then the install partition setting up was as easy as any.

The big stumbling block for me was trying to learn partitioning with gparted and then having to deal with different partition apps for different distros. But have a handle on it now.

I must have screwed up something with the mouse. I cannot get KDE to open so I fix my fonts. And I'm rather puzzled by the mouse question on setup as I've PS/2 and USB mouses attached and they both work(ed) before.

Nothing works now. Can see the pointer, but the second I ask it to activate something, the interface becomes non-responsive.

So I'll go learn some more.

Wade Patton · 01-27-2018, 04:13 PM

next I have to figure out how to configure my network so that I can communicate. That's always been automated for me, but then is why I could never sort out how to make these two network. Bubba did it once with Filezilla. But then I couldn't make it happen again two days later. You know how damn foolish it feels to shuffle files from one to the other via mini flash? Or send emails to myself...hope that's all over with.

and sort out why KDE won't work. I found KDE to be lovely in the demo. Turdcity right now.
And figure out how to make fonts bigger all the time everywhere.
Now I have a black screen with a mouse pointer... jump in the deep end. Swim or crawl back to the light.

another HappNIN Saturday night in Woods. Cheers y'all.

Alien Bob · 01-27-2018, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wade Patton

No there is not, unless you put one together yourself. I have most recently poured through all of that documentation and even though I am a ZERO level expert, I'm about certain of what I speak. I posted this above.

It's beyond me just yet to fool around making a specific install tool from the LiveISO. The ISO you download for USB Live, does NOT give a "install" option without some more work using arguments and liveslack programming thingie, however that works.

Wrong. You have to boot the Live OS, login, open a terminal (or work from the console if you booted Runlevel 3) and then type "setup2hd".
The "setup2hd" is a slightly modified Slackware installer (akin to the "setup" program in the Slackware Install ISO). It is modified in the sense that there is no choice in installation source or package subsets. The "setup2hd" program installs everything that's on the ISO onto your harddrive. But again: first you need to boot off that Live OS.

Wade Patton · 01-27-2018, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alien Bob

Wrong. You have to boot the Live OS, login, open a terminal (or work from the console if you booted Runlevel 3) and then type "setup2hd".
The "setup2hd" is a slightly modified Slackware installer (akin to the "setup" program in the Slackware Install ISO). It is modified in the sense that there is no choice in installation source or package subsets. The "setup2hd" program installs everything that's on the ISO onto your harddrive. But again: first you need to boot off that Live OS.

Well I'm glad I got corrected, untimely for me, but should be easy enough for others to find now. Thanks. that is the first time I've seen it spelled out at all, and from a good source.

I'm so damned frustrated with the full install now, that I'm about to re-install it. I have to set up the networking and cannot figure how to get "back" to the post install "pre-run" configuration type settings. ALSO, BIG PROBLEM, I found how to tweak the terminal to be visible (meh--ruined the tabs and other contrasts--gotta fix that but I know how) BUT I cannot sort out how to fix the size of the text on the tabs. I can make all the "middle part" BIG and EASY, but nothing I can find to change the tabs and window titles.

If I can get the network connected, then I can use the dang thing without the Application Launcher, for a while. Also I can get updates and hope that a bug or two is fixed.

Otherwise I can boot a demo of some other OS on that box, and use that for entertainments tonight. I'll keep studying on this one.

I knew I should have waited. Weekend is shot now.

If I don't get it sorted tonight I will reinstall the whole mess. Why? because that's the non-technical approach that I've not "outgrown" yet --and is much easier on equipment than a ball peen hammer.

OH, lookie an App Launcher window opened. That's a miracle-first time all night I've been able to select "system settings" where I know well from repeating 8 times last night, once after each crash.

cheers. ooooh ADJUST ALL FONTS, come here Honey!

been missing YOU!

Lysander666 · 01-27-2018, 05:36 PM

I'm a bit confused. You're trying to connect to your network, this was a big issue for me when I first installed 14.2 on my netbook because I selected the wrong option when using netconfig, I selected DHCP. Selecting Network Manager and rebooting solved the problem. Don't know if that's any help.

Wade Patton · 01-27-2018, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lysander666

I'm a bit confused. You're trying to connect to your network, this was a big issue for me when I first installed 14.2 on my netbook because I selected the wrong option when using netconfig, I selected DHCP. Selecting Network Manager and rebooting solved the problem. Don't know if that's any help.

Here's the dealio. I was asking questions about the LiveBoot version, and it was all settled that I should do a full install and that's what I've done. The live version worked GREAT for every little thing except it'd crash any time i ran Firefox.

FFWD to now, I've got my install going, but since I didn't know all the answers to all the networking questions during initial setup and was anxious to finish, I skipped Network setup. Thought I could fix it later.

Now I'm in the full install and the Kickoff Application Launcher takes about three minutes to load up*. Eventually it did. And things began to function more like the Live version did. But that, I don't have any networking setup. I've managed to get the KAL to start again and found the settings for Networks under system settings, but have to research each tick of the selections because this has been automated for me for so long. Well since I was flipping jumpers for IRQ's to operate modems, back in those days.

I'm lost and this crowd is going to give me shell answers, and that's great. But I still have to figure out why the application launcher is so extremely sluggish. AND I figure a re-install might not be a bad idea. The install makes things quite easy to follow and do. I just skipped over one, and need to go back. But I've not found the "back" key for that sort of thing.

And I type faster than I think often. Thanks for the info, it might help.

*Sorry I did exaggerate. The app launcher just took 52 seconds to start, not three minutes (that was the time I hit six more switches before I realized there was a problem.) Something must be awry.

Hard learnin' is good learnin'. I've done plenty of that, it'll stick with you.

Mill J · 01-27-2018, 06:10 PM

Unless I missed it, exactly what hardware are you running this on? KDE is very heavy, you might want to get a version with mate or xfce.
Just a thought.....

Darth Vader · 01-27-2018, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wade Patton

The live version worked GREAT for every little thing except it'd crash any time i ran Firefox.

Look, man...

WHAT LIVE you downloaded? Tell us precisely because Eric has the habit to ship around 6 or 7 variants.

Secondly, Slackware is not for fancy hearts. It is infamous for being the OS of choice for real Gurus, with a reason. And may be shocking to you, BUT those guys despise the automated tools. So, not keep your breath before finding them.

In other hand, a LIVE is a prepared and already configured operating system, because it should work (at least theoretically) in almost any computer.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
BUT, I for one I believe that a LIVE system is already an 10 years old and obsolete technology. It was something TEN years ago, now that concept is really laughable.

WHY? Because it struggle with the need to install an operation system in a 5MB/s device and prone for wearing.

Today are plenty of external hard drives, USB2, USB3, or even eSATA, and ANY OF THEM offer dramatic superior performances and abilities to use a real installed operating system with real Linux filesystems.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
No offense, Eric! BUT, what was made by DARKSTAR and BlueWhite64 in AD 2008 you present as breaking news in AD 2018!

It is late, man! Very late! Do a favor to that community and do not confuse it, so abandon those obsolete things!

Now is the external hard drives era! Invent something which install Slackware with UUIDs by default, and no one ever will need LIVEs !!!

Wake up! You are late with 10 years, man!

--------------------------------------------------------------------
$50 Kingston USB3 32GB Flash Drive (on an USB2 port)

Code:

bash-4.4# hdparm -tT /dev/sdd

/dev/sdd:
 Timing cached reads:   2004 MB in  2.00 seconds = 1002.28 MB/sec
 Timing buffered disk reads:  58 MB in  3.06 seconds =  18.95 MB/sec

$5 USB2 to SATA enclosure, hosting a whatever WD 160GB laptop hard drive (recovered from an upgrade)

Code:

bash-4.4# hdparm -tT /dev/sdd

/dev/sdd:
 Timing cached reads:   1932 MB in  2.00 seconds = 966.56 MB/sec
 Timing buffered disk reads:  86 MB in  3.01 seconds =  28.60 MB/sec

$25 USB3/eSATA to SATA enclosure, hosting a Samsung 500GB laptop hard drive (on an eSATA port)

Code:

root@darkstar:~# hdparm -tT /dev/sdb

/dev/sdb:
 Timing cached reads:   2934 MB in  2.00 seconds = 1467.17 MB/sec
 Timing buffered disk reads: 336 MB in  3.00 seconds = 111.88 MB/sec

I hope those numbers tell everything.

Wade Patton · 01-27-2018, 09:04 PM

I gave the URL a few posts back. I have the MD5 checksum handy if that'd help. Otherwise I'm re-re-installing the OS.

Took a nice slow run at it and read through the manual and every procedure in there and all went great until it failed to re-boot. Bunch of 9's or 99's filled the screen.

So going through round two. I reformatted on the first one, not this time. Nothing else will be changed.

As far as hardware goes, this same getup ran Mint with Mate and Elementary with Cinnamon and three or four others streaming video and browsing at the same time without a hitch (save for Mate). Manjaro was another one. So I don't expect it's a power/space/speed issue.

+++
so I got through that again. Yes there were other changes, I didn't go back to partitioning after choosing 1 (the safest) option for boot files. I used MBR the first time then "write to linux super drive" and didn't re-recofig the partitions.

now I've apparently forgotten my username because i certainly know my password(s). It booted to this point just fine.

So my brains are numbing and I'm done for a while. I figure it takes a reinstall to get around this...

thanks for puttin' up with me. I had a pic of a spec readout for that machine but lost it. I forget where I posted it.

Wade Patton · 01-28-2018, 12:01 PM

I'm going through the installation for the second time this day (#'s 5 and 6). I saw zero opportunity to set a password. I'm not complaining. I'm learning-isn't this what it's about?

The documentation tells me that there will be an opportunity to set the password. This did not happen. This documentation: https://docs.slackware.com/it:slackware:install?s

The last configuration step is setting a root password. The root user is the “super user” on Slackware and all other UNIX-like operating systems. Think of root as the Administrator user. root knows all, sees all, and can do all, so setting a strong root password is just common sense.

I'm rather certain this didn't happen, and is why I did re-install5. Now is 6 and I'd like to get it right this time.

I have three windows open reading posts about passwords and installations...no satisfaction yet.

Could someone here point me to the right combination of keystrokes necessary to affect my root user password on installation? I'm getting really good at poking all the buttons for the install process. I'm not mad, just weary of installing without any way to access the installation.

I tried the "reconfigure" menu item when I restarted the installer this time, but it would not let me select that option, so I've gone through the partition designations and and all those other selections again. I stopped and started researching password at the point when the installer finishes--so I could access a console if necessary, AND will do that again this time until I get some idea of how -exactly- I can set a new root password.

I know my old root password, but this system will not take it. It won't take it with any login name I've ever used and it won't take a blank, or a "/" or "root". So I need to find that place where root password is actually setup in the installation.

Thanks

And then I'll shaddup for a few days. I'm sure.

Mill J · 01-28-2018, 12:21 PM

I think live booting and mounting your installed partition, then chrooting in should solve your password problem. Look in the home folder for a username folder and run passwd username, you can also run passwd root and change that too.