enoch7
03-27-2007, 01:03 PM
Dear whomever it may concern,
or someone up to the task,
I like Knoppix 5.1.1. It is the most attractive package I have seen to date.
But I got trouble right here in River City.
I suppose you get many post like the following. If not, I suppose I am brain dead.
Version 5.1.1 LXF Format DVD
"poor man's installation,� verdict: poor
Preformed step one (below) as advertised. Made hdb1 16.49GB ext 3
Made hdb4 103.22GB ext2
Made hdb3 27.34GB FAT32 (vFAT)
and have reserved hdb2 2GB for swap file if needed.
Note: hda is all Microbloat Windoz XP Pro with NTFS partitions; and it would certainly be nice to easily find a help on how Knoppix can write data files to an NTFS partition, as claimed on the DVD cover from LXF. Sadly, the Linux neophyte is left once again IN THE DARK, searching, searching, searching. Did I mention “searching?�
Anyway...
Performed step two as advertised. Made hdb1, 3 and 4 writable, no problems
Performed step three under GUI, no problems: Created (PH) and it was there!
Reboot CD per step 4, at prompt ran knoppix home=scan tohold=/dev/hdb1
where it appears to have taken, BUT....
no instruction as to verify (bad form)
BTW knoppix26 is not recognized, only knoppix (you need to update your FAQ for 5.1.1)
Then I went on to step 5. And here is where the typical Linux installation guides often falter, as it did in this case.
At the prompt:
knoppix home=scan fromhd=/dev/hdb1
as your guide below instructs. I also tried:
knoppix home=/dev/hdb4 fromhd=/dev/hdb1
In either case: NADA
I get:
“Can't find KNOPPIX filesystem, sorry.� SORRY INDEED!
“Dropping you to a (very limited, there words not mine) shell, Press reset button to quit.
I suppose whomever wrote this assumes we are to hit the reset button on the PC itself, and not some button elsewhere. The linux virgin would assume. But such comment coming from the Linus help file community, that assumption can never be a certainty.
So I assumed and hit the reset button on the computer itself.
With the live distro still in the DVD drive, a boot still required a bunch of reading from that DVD, but perhaps no all because it was a very slight bit faster, it would seem.
So I removed the DVD and rebooted.
I got...
Verifying DMI Pool Data..........
Boot from CD: (I did not respond)
Grub Loadingstage 1.5.
GRUB loading, please wait...
I did not have to wait more than a sneeze when I got:
Error17
Now I have no way of getting anywhere, including my MS windows; which I painstakingly made effort not to the affect the primary HDD. I suppose I was dreaming.
Now I will have to remove that HDD, take it to “we will rip you off� computer service and have them recover the content of the disk.
Was your guide helpful. NOT
Fore the sake of all goodness, why can LINUX ever be simple and hassle free? You would think after 10 years the community would get it right. NOT. And the open source community wonders why Microbloat retains 80% of the OS market.
And why on earth would someone make a Live Distro without the option up front to install?
Live has it limited merits for the troubleshooting geekster. But for the rest of us who would like to save files, configuration, settings, etc. on some harddisk media, well I suppose we just loose.
I one took a servay, one might learn that the simple home user far exceeds in numbers that the mobile troubleshooter. Live Distro that cannot save files, is ridiculous at best. The option should be up front and personal as the complete install option. Otherwise, like all Linux distros, only the “Linux learned� will be served.
In all seriousness... can someone help with specific, succinct guidance?
Sincerely,
Jim Wylder
Lost in Federal Way, WA
jim@endmatrix.info (Spam filtered and reported to US DA)
For reference:
"poor man's installation"
Steps:
* 1. Partition as necessary. My personal recommendation is to partition now, just as you would for a full HD install or dual boot. That way, if or when you decide to make the switch to a HD install, you're halfway there already. Reserve at least a gig for the image partition (I'll call it hdb1), but make it more like 5-10 gig if you eventually want to make it a root partition for a hd install, and if you have room. As long as you are partitioning anyway, reserve 0.5 gig or more for linux swap, and create one or more partitions for data and programs, including the persistent home, however big you need or want (we'll call that hdb5 in the example). You may also want a FAT32 partition for sharing data between linux and Windows. I recommend Qtparted for easy graphical partitioning, which is already on the Knoppix disk. With the more recent versions, you CAN safely repartition an existing NTFS partition. If you want your persistent home (PH) as a partition, the script will format it to ext2 and wipe out everything currently on that partition in the process, so plan for that in advance. You can also save the PH as a file in an existing partition if you prefer.
* 2. Boot the Knoppix CD, using the default configuration, or whatever cheatcodes you're accustomed to using. For example, you might use knoppix26 to load the 2.6 kernel. Find the storage device you want to use (not NTFS), and make it writable (see item #2 in the What You Need to Know section, above).
* 3. Create a persistent home (PH). A persistent home is a location for saving files and programs. Think of it as a combination of "My Documents" and "Program Files" in Windows (in fact, you could create subdirectories with those functions, or even those names, if you want, but let's worry about that later). If you don't want to partition, just save your PH as a file wherever you like. Click the penguin icon on the toolbar, and click Configure. From there, you can see the links to set up a persistent home, and to save your configuration. Do the PH now picking a non-NTFS location if you save it as a file, or picking a partition to be reformatted using ext3 (e.g., I used my whole hdb5 partition, but I could have saved it as a file in that partition if I had existing data, or if I didn't want it reformatted), log off and restart. From now on, you will add a cheatcode to get Knoppix to recognize that home (in my case, home=/dev/hdb5 or home=scan).
* 4. Boot the CD with whatever cheatcodes you used before, but include the following cheatcode as well - I'll use hdb1 as the example for where I want the OS folder located: tohd=/dev/hdb1/. So, if you created your persistent home at the hdb5 partition, your boot might look like this: knoppix26 home=/dev/hdb5 tohd=/dev/hdb1, or if you saved your PH as a file and didn't partition, it might be: knoppix26 home=scan tohd=/dev/hdb1. The boot process will copy the image there and continue booting off the CD. Log off and restart.
* 5. This time, you want to restart and substitute the cheatcode fromhd=/dev/hdb1 for the tohd location you specified in step 3. For example, knoppix26 home=scan fromhd=/dev/hdb1. The boot process should now be a lot faster, and you can remove the CD until the next time you boot. If you haven't already saved your configuration, you can do so now. Save it wherever you like (not NTFS) - if you want to use the same location as your persistent home, go ahead. Following the example above, your cheatcode string might now be: knoppix26 home=/dev/hdb5 myconfig=/dev/hdb5 fromhd=/dev/hdb1, or knoppix26 home=scan myconfig=scan fromhd=/dev/hdb1. Add any other cheatcodes you want or need, as long as each is separated by a space. If you aren't familiar with saving a configuration, basically it allows you to change the default Knoppix configurations that come on the CD, so you can define your printer file, or change the background on your desktop, or add icons, and Knoppix will remember these customizations with each reboot, provided that you add the myconfig cheatcode when you boot.
* 6. Now that you're all set up, you can easily find your saved documents in your home directory. You don't have to remember the details - just click the house icon in Konqueror.
* 7. The easiest way to install programs is by using Klik. Open Konqueror (not Mozilla or any other browser), and type in the following URL: http://klik.berlios.de/ then follow the instructions to install Klik. You will see a number of programs available to you for automatic installation. If you don't see the one you want listed, you can try the following command (still experimental) klik://softwarename into the address block of Konqueror.
-fin-
or someone up to the task,
I like Knoppix 5.1.1. It is the most attractive package I have seen to date.
But I got trouble right here in River City.
I suppose you get many post like the following. If not, I suppose I am brain dead.
Version 5.1.1 LXF Format DVD
"poor man's installation,� verdict: poor
Preformed step one (below) as advertised. Made hdb1 16.49GB ext 3
Made hdb4 103.22GB ext2
Made hdb3 27.34GB FAT32 (vFAT)
and have reserved hdb2 2GB for swap file if needed.
Note: hda is all Microbloat Windoz XP Pro with NTFS partitions; and it would certainly be nice to easily find a help on how Knoppix can write data files to an NTFS partition, as claimed on the DVD cover from LXF. Sadly, the Linux neophyte is left once again IN THE DARK, searching, searching, searching. Did I mention “searching?�
Anyway...
Performed step two as advertised. Made hdb1, 3 and 4 writable, no problems
Performed step three under GUI, no problems: Created (PH) and it was there!
Reboot CD per step 4, at prompt ran knoppix home=scan tohold=/dev/hdb1
where it appears to have taken, BUT....
no instruction as to verify (bad form)
BTW knoppix26 is not recognized, only knoppix (you need to update your FAQ for 5.1.1)
Then I went on to step 5. And here is where the typical Linux installation guides often falter, as it did in this case.
At the prompt:
knoppix home=scan fromhd=/dev/hdb1
as your guide below instructs. I also tried:
knoppix home=/dev/hdb4 fromhd=/dev/hdb1
In either case: NADA
I get:
“Can't find KNOPPIX filesystem, sorry.� SORRY INDEED!
“Dropping you to a (very limited, there words not mine) shell, Press reset button to quit.
I suppose whomever wrote this assumes we are to hit the reset button on the PC itself, and not some button elsewhere. The linux virgin would assume. But such comment coming from the Linus help file community, that assumption can never be a certainty.
So I assumed and hit the reset button on the computer itself.
With the live distro still in the DVD drive, a boot still required a bunch of reading from that DVD, but perhaps no all because it was a very slight bit faster, it would seem.
So I removed the DVD and rebooted.
I got...
Verifying DMI Pool Data..........
Boot from CD: (I did not respond)
Grub Loadingstage 1.5.
GRUB loading, please wait...
I did not have to wait more than a sneeze when I got:
Error17
Now I have no way of getting anywhere, including my MS windows; which I painstakingly made effort not to the affect the primary HDD. I suppose I was dreaming.
Now I will have to remove that HDD, take it to “we will rip you off� computer service and have them recover the content of the disk.
Was your guide helpful. NOT
Fore the sake of all goodness, why can LINUX ever be simple and hassle free? You would think after 10 years the community would get it right. NOT. And the open source community wonders why Microbloat retains 80% of the OS market.
And why on earth would someone make a Live Distro without the option up front to install?
Live has it limited merits for the troubleshooting geekster. But for the rest of us who would like to save files, configuration, settings, etc. on some harddisk media, well I suppose we just loose.
I one took a servay, one might learn that the simple home user far exceeds in numbers that the mobile troubleshooter. Live Distro that cannot save files, is ridiculous at best. The option should be up front and personal as the complete install option. Otherwise, like all Linux distros, only the “Linux learned� will be served.
In all seriousness... can someone help with specific, succinct guidance?
Sincerely,
Jim Wylder
Lost in Federal Way, WA
jim@endmatrix.info (Spam filtered and reported to US DA)
For reference:
"poor man's installation"
Steps:
* 1. Partition as necessary. My personal recommendation is to partition now, just as you would for a full HD install or dual boot. That way, if or when you decide to make the switch to a HD install, you're halfway there already. Reserve at least a gig for the image partition (I'll call it hdb1), but make it more like 5-10 gig if you eventually want to make it a root partition for a hd install, and if you have room. As long as you are partitioning anyway, reserve 0.5 gig or more for linux swap, and create one or more partitions for data and programs, including the persistent home, however big you need or want (we'll call that hdb5 in the example). You may also want a FAT32 partition for sharing data between linux and Windows. I recommend Qtparted for easy graphical partitioning, which is already on the Knoppix disk. With the more recent versions, you CAN safely repartition an existing NTFS partition. If you want your persistent home (PH) as a partition, the script will format it to ext2 and wipe out everything currently on that partition in the process, so plan for that in advance. You can also save the PH as a file in an existing partition if you prefer.
* 2. Boot the Knoppix CD, using the default configuration, or whatever cheatcodes you're accustomed to using. For example, you might use knoppix26 to load the 2.6 kernel. Find the storage device you want to use (not NTFS), and make it writable (see item #2 in the What You Need to Know section, above).
* 3. Create a persistent home (PH). A persistent home is a location for saving files and programs. Think of it as a combination of "My Documents" and "Program Files" in Windows (in fact, you could create subdirectories with those functions, or even those names, if you want, but let's worry about that later). If you don't want to partition, just save your PH as a file wherever you like. Click the penguin icon on the toolbar, and click Configure. From there, you can see the links to set up a persistent home, and to save your configuration. Do the PH now picking a non-NTFS location if you save it as a file, or picking a partition to be reformatted using ext3 (e.g., I used my whole hdb5 partition, but I could have saved it as a file in that partition if I had existing data, or if I didn't want it reformatted), log off and restart. From now on, you will add a cheatcode to get Knoppix to recognize that home (in my case, home=/dev/hdb5 or home=scan).
* 4. Boot the CD with whatever cheatcodes you used before, but include the following cheatcode as well - I'll use hdb1 as the example for where I want the OS folder located: tohd=/dev/hdb1/. So, if you created your persistent home at the hdb5 partition, your boot might look like this: knoppix26 home=/dev/hdb5 tohd=/dev/hdb1, or if you saved your PH as a file and didn't partition, it might be: knoppix26 home=scan tohd=/dev/hdb1. The boot process will copy the image there and continue booting off the CD. Log off and restart.
* 5. This time, you want to restart and substitute the cheatcode fromhd=/dev/hdb1 for the tohd location you specified in step 3. For example, knoppix26 home=scan fromhd=/dev/hdb1. The boot process should now be a lot faster, and you can remove the CD until the next time you boot. If you haven't already saved your configuration, you can do so now. Save it wherever you like (not NTFS) - if you want to use the same location as your persistent home, go ahead. Following the example above, your cheatcode string might now be: knoppix26 home=/dev/hdb5 myconfig=/dev/hdb5 fromhd=/dev/hdb1, or knoppix26 home=scan myconfig=scan fromhd=/dev/hdb1. Add any other cheatcodes you want or need, as long as each is separated by a space. If you aren't familiar with saving a configuration, basically it allows you to change the default Knoppix configurations that come on the CD, so you can define your printer file, or change the background on your desktop, or add icons, and Knoppix will remember these customizations with each reboot, provided that you add the myconfig cheatcode when you boot.
* 6. Now that you're all set up, you can easily find your saved documents in your home directory. You don't have to remember the details - just click the house icon in Konqueror.
* 7. The easiest way to install programs is by using Klik. Open Konqueror (not Mozilla or any other browser), and type in the following URL: http://klik.berlios.de/ then follow the instructions to install Klik. You will see a number of programs available to you for automatic installation. If you don't see the one you want listed, you can try the following command (still experimental) klik://softwarename into the address block of Konqueror.
-fin-