[6.2.1] Screen + keyboard issues

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04-17-2010, 11:01 AM
yetanotherlogin

[6.2.1] Screen + keyboard issues

Hello

I've downloaded the ISO file for 6.2.1 (KNOPPIX_V6.2.1CD-2010-01-31-EN.iso), and successfully booted up an Acer desktop with it, with Knoppix running entirely in RAM using the line "knoppix screen=1024x768 toram nopcmcia".

I do have a couple of issues, though:
1. How can I change the keyboard layout from EN to FR? I didn't find what switch to use when booting up, and there's no trace of the "Control Center" or "Regional and Accessibility" group as specified here.

2. It's not visible in the screenshot, but the screen output is a bit off the left, so that I don't actually see the equivalent of Windows' Start menu and had to click blindly. How can I tell Knoppix to shift a bit to the right?

3. Although I used the "screen=1024x768" switch when booting up, Knoppix only displays in 800x600/60Hz, while a bare Windows without any specific driver is able to use 1024x768/75Hz with no problem. How can improve the screen definition?

4. I'll use this opportunity to ask a general question: Every GUI Linux distribution that I've tried over the years show fonts that aren't as "crisp" as under Windows, like they're a bit fuzzy: Is this due to the use of X instead of writing directly to the video card, the lack of good fonts, or yet another cause?

Thank you for any help.
04-20-2010, 05:13 PM
krishna.murphy

Try Preferences-System Settings

Cheers!
Krishna
05-10-2010, 03:56 PM
mimosa

@krishna.murphy

I have Adriane 6.2 and there is no option System Settings under Preferences ... also my keyboard is a bit unusual (Brazilian Portuguese with deadkey accents), an option that doesn`t seem to be available as a cheatcode on boot so maybe not under regional settings either, even if I could find it. Ideally, I would rather keep my German-language knoppix, but Portuguese would be ok if necessary. Grateful for any suggestions!
05-10-2010, 08:28 PM
krishna.murphy

Quote:

Originally Posted by yetanotherlogin

Hello

I've downloaded the ISO file for 6.2.1 (KNOPPIX_V6.2.1CD-2010-01-31-EN.iso), and

That is an English, non-Adriane iso, FWIW

Quote:

successfully booted up an Acer desktop with it, with Knoppix running entirely in RAM using the line "knoppix screen=1024x768 toram nopcmcia".

I do have a couple of issues, though:
1. How can I change the keyboard layout from EN to FR? I didn't find what switch to use when

Try using

Code:

knoppix lang=fr

- there are numerous options in the "cheatcodes.txt" file (in the KNOPPIX folder)

Quote:

booting up, and there's no trace

You're missing about 5 entries on this image, starting with "System Settings" (which is where "Regional and Accessibility" is located)

Quote:

of the "Control Center" or "Regional and Accessibility" group as specified here.

2. It's not visible in the screenshot, but the screen output is a bit off the left, so that I don't actually see the equivalent of Windows' Start menu and had to click blindly. How can I tell Knoppix to shift a bit to the right?

3. Although I used the "screen=1024x768" switch when booting up, Knoppix only displays in 800x600/60Hz, while a bare Windows without any specific driver is able to use 1024x768/75Hz with no problem. How can improve the screen definition?

I think you may have a bad disk. Have you tried running the self-test built in? (try it as follows)

Code:

knoppix testcd

Quote:

4. I'll use this opportunity to ask a general question: Every GUI Linux distribution that I've tried over the years show fonts that aren't as "crisp" as under Windows, like they're a bit fuzzy: Is this due to the use of X instead of writing directly to the video card, the lack of good fonts, or yet another cause?

Thank you for any help.

M$oft claims they have great anti-aliased fonts; I can't see much difference on my system, but it may be hardware-dependent. I'd start with that CD test - you would find it hard to believe (I did) how often that's the problem on these forums.

Cheers!
Krishna :mrgreen:
06-01-2010, 03:17 PM
GizmoPlushie

Quote:

Originally Posted by krishna.murphy

That is an English, non-Adriane iso, FWIWTry using

Code:

knoppix lang=fr

- there are numerous options in the "cheatcodes.txt" file (in the KNOPPIX folder)You're missing about 5 entries on this image, starting with "System Settings" (which is where "Regional and Accessibility" is located)
I think you may have a bad disk. Have you tried running the self-test built in? (try it as follows)

Code:

knoppix testcd

M$oft claims they have great anti-aliased fonts; I can't see much difference on my system, but it may be hardware-dependent. I'd start with that CD test - you would find it hard to believe (I did) how often that's the problem on these forums.

Cheers!
Krishna :mrgreen:

I would try to test the CD, but it isn't possible. The data on my laptop are too important to check the CD and install it again.

Anyway. I did change something via keyboard. That's the reason I'm here :) What keystrokes? I don't know. Too less knowledge.
06-01-2010, 05:07 PM
krishna.murphy

Quote:

Originally Posted by GizmoPlushie

I would try to test the CD, but it isn't possible. The data on my laptop are too important to check the CD and install it again.

Anyway. I did change something via keyboard. That's the reason I'm here :) What keystrokes? I don't know. Too less knowledge.

When you boot the Knoppix CD or DVD, it creates an environment that is completely independent of your normal (disk) OS; the CD test doesn't use the disk at all. You can also make the system work with a copy on the disk, and create a separate file that allows for customized operation, still independent of other valuable files on the disk.

Cheers!
Krishna :mrgreen:
06-02-2010, 09:27 AM
GizmoPlushie

Quote:

Originally Posted by krishna.murphy

When you boot the Knoppix CD or DVD, it creates an environment that is completely independent of your normal (disk) OS; the CD test doesn't use the disk at all. You can also make the system work with a copy on the disk, and create a separate file that allows for customized operation, still independent of other valuable files on the disk.

Cheers!
Krishna :mrgreen:

So as I understand it correctly, I could reinstall the CD on the HDD without worrying about my data on it (music, movies, pdf's etc.)? Correct me if I'm wrong, cause that would be nice :)
06-02-2010, 03:47 PM
krishna.murphy

Quote:

Originally Posted by GizmoPlushie

So as I understand it correctly, I could reinstall the CD on the HDD without worrying about my data on it (music, movies, pdf's etc.)? Correct me if I'm wrong, cause that would be nice :)

With Knoppix, there are many ways to proceed.:) "Install" in this context usually means to create linux-specific partitions on the hard drive, e.g. swapfs, ext2/3/4 or reiserfs, etc. Knoppix does have the built-in ability to utilize many file-systems natively, so it could in fact be done with other fs-types, though not Windows types (FATx and NTFS - those M$oft fs-types are incompatible with the system requirements in Linux.) This is usually only done in order to re-master, meaning to make your own version of Knoppix with exactly what you need and nothing else - and this is supported.

Knoppix was the first widely-popular LiveCD, meaning that there was no need to install, and in fact today it usually doesn't use even the Windows swapfile on the hard drive, because the NTFS-formatted partition it resides on is not mounted, by default. HD "install" of Knoppix as defined here is mostly discouraged in this forum, because the collective wisdom says "Knoppix is a heavily-customized version of the Debian distribution of Linux, expressly fitted for LiveCD usage" - and if one wants HD "install," it's considered better to just download that (Debian) instead.

In my own case, I've not re-partitioned my hard drive (yet) and my main Knoppix setup runs with what's called "the poor-mans' install." That means that Knoppix itself (linux-fs and all) resides under the NTFS filesystem, as one massive file thereon, with my customizations (Chrome and flash-video, etc.) in a sub-file called knoppix-data.aes. So far I've just booted into it using the CD and the command

Code:

knoppix fromhd=/dev/sda1 or (first time, to get things rolling) knoppix tohd=/dev/sda1

This approach might fulfill your requirements, but there are some (perhaps many) who object because the NTFS filesystem that Knoppix resides on/under uses ntfs-3g, a relatively new fs-handler that might conceivably damage the Windows filesystem (though it's pretty good IMHO, much better than the old handler.) That can be traded-off against the small-but-measurable chance of damage caused by a re-partitioning that would eliminate the need for NTFS-handling altogether.

Another popular choice is to utilize a flash-drive or SD-card - those usually have a FAT-flavored-fs natively, which is both Windows-compatible for data-sharing and has mature drivers for safe, efficient support of the Knoppix files. I use this as well, as it's nice to be so portable, but my usual PC is a laptop that doesn't properly support booting from flash. So, I have to CD-boot (again!) with this command:

Code:

knoppix fromhd=/dev/sdb1

I was pleasantly surprised when I inserted it in my step-sons' PC and was able to boot without a CD (when his HD boot capacity disappeared due to hardware malfunction) as I had never done that previously. Nice! It is a bit slower than HD, but the portability is a good trade-off. To do this, just boot the CD and go to the first menu item up from the bottom and chose the "install to flash" option. If your system doesn't support flash-boot properly, you can still use the fromhd option outlined before to boot it with a CD.

In conclusion, as I said, you have a lot of choices. Backing up your data before any installation (poor mans' or otherwise) and/or re-formatting is strongly encouraged, of course.

Hope that helps!
Krishna :mrgreen:
06-02-2010, 07:03 PM
Harry Kuhman

Quote:

Originally Posted by GizmoPlushie

So as I understand it correctly, I could reinstall the CD on the HDD without worrying about my data on it (music, movies, pdf's etc.)? Correct me if I'm wrong, cause that would be nice :)

I take exception with a few things here:

1) IF you manage to install it, Knoppix needs some space on the hard disk for its partition. Unless there is unallocated space that is not in another partition (unlikely), then partitions need to be modified or deleted and recreated, not a simple and easy task for a novice.

2) If the disk contains a NTFS partition taking all of the available space (likely for a Windows user, even if the partition is nearly empty ) then writing to it at all with Knoppix is considered dangerous and may corrupt all of your data.

3) Knoppix is a live CD or DVD, and isn't really intended to be installed to hard disk or suitable for it. There are a few hacks for doing this, but they are for special cases such as class room use. If you want a knoppix like Linux installed to a hard disk, you are much better off installing Debian rather than Knoppix, this is what Debian is intended for. (Same space issues still apply).
06-02-2010, 08:11 PM
krishna.murphy

Harry - thanks for your energy! I think that "how to get more out of your PC" discussions are the kind of thing that makes for real development, in the broader view, so I appreciate your contribution. I thought it worthwhile to point out some options that would be meaningful in this case, along with cautionary notes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Kuhman

I take exception with a few things here:

1) IF you manage to install it, Knoppix needs some space on the hard disk for its partition. Unless there is unallocated space that is not in another partition (unlikely), then partitions need to be modified or deleted and recreated, not a simple and easy task for a novice.

True - I never said it was easy.

Quote:

2) If the disk contains a NTFS partition taking all of the available space (likely for a Windows user, even if the partition is nearly empty ) then writing to it at all with Knoppix is considered dangerous and may corrupt all of your data.

I get your position on NTFS. However, there is some reason to believe (my anecdotal experience, for example) that the ntfs-3g driver is substantially better than older NTFS drivers and can be used with some degree of confidence. I did mention that there were opinions like yours, regarding how safe it is (not), too. And backing up data before proceeding with disk modifications like an install or a repartitioning was recommended.

Quote:

3) Knoppix is a live CD or DVD, and isn't really intended to be installed to hard disk or suitable for it.

I thought I said that, in my own inimitable fashion. It is possible to use a hard drive, even without "install" - and using a flash drive makes sense for a LOT of people.

Quote:

There are a few hacks for doing this, but they are for special cases such as class room use. If you want a knoppix like Linux installed to a hard disk, you are much better off installing Debian rather than Knoppix, this is what Debian is intended for. (Same space issues still apply).

I tend to agree, and I did refer him to Debian, as well.

Cheers!
Krishna :mrgreen:
06-03-2010, 11:10 PM
kl522

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Kuhman

I take exception with a few things here:

1) IF you manage to install it, Knoppix needs some space on the hard disk for its partition. Unless there is unallocated space that is not in another partition (unlikely), then partitions need to be modified or deleted and recreated, not a simple and easy task for a novice.

True but not that bad if you use a Gparted LiveCD.

Quote:

2) If the disk contains a NTFS partition taking all of the available space (likely for a Windows user, even if the partition is nearly empty ) then writing to it at all with Knoppix is considered dangerous and may corrupt all of your data.

I won't recommend this but I am using this myself. I discovered that Knoppix 6.2 will not umount cleanly but ever since I fixed that, and plus I am using a newer ntfs-3g driver, I am pretty comfortable with this. Knoppix appears only as a few files to the host file system, most of them readonly, the only writable one is knoppix-data.img. My Usb is just too slow.

Quote:

3) Knoppix is a live CD or DVD, and isn't really intended to be installed to hard disk or suitable for it. There are a few hacks for doing this, but they are for special cases such as class room use. If you want a knoppix like Linux installed to a hard disk, you are much better off installing Debian rather than Knoppix, this is what Debian is intended for. (Same space issues still apply).

I prefer ubuntu as Desktop because they always put out new things on it.

Cheers
06-07-2010, 08:56 PM
Capricorny

I used Windows' own resizing tool with Vista to make room for Linux and FAT32 partitions. So it is not always so difficult any longer to make room on the harddisk. And there are a number of OK tools for doing it. My main issue is not the repartitioning thing, but why on earth install a brain-damaged Debian on that hard-earned space? Much better to install GRUB, and copy Knoppix to a suitable place, and have GRUB boot it.

NTFS writing is, in a sense, unsafe at any speed, but the question is how unsafe? And updating the fixed-size knoppix-data.img is a good candidate for relatively safe NTFS writing operations, it seems. So, if it's impossible to resize the NTFS partition, writing to it IS an alternative. But, it seems to me, in practice, it's almost never impossible to resize. So, the writing project is not a chance you are forced to take.

Whether Ubuntu, Debian, Suse, Fedora etc... The basic principle is, for permanent installs, use a Linux version that is made for permanent installs. Knoppix isn't, but in my experience it can be extremely good at simulating a permanent install.