Is there any way to create a log of all boot-up messages?

[scruffyeagle]

When I boot my system, the messages being output from the booting process go past too quickly for really latching onto. It there any way to set up an automatic logging of the messages being printed to screen into a text file for later review? This would be a BIG help for trouble-shooting the installation.

Thanks in advance, for any help with this.

Scruffy
http://scruffyeagle.com

[Markus]

All logs are in /var/log/. Have a look at kern.log and syslog.

[scruffyeagle]

All logs are in /var/log/. Have a look at kern.log and syslog.

Thank you for your quick response! I'll check those out as soon as I can.

However, unfortunately, I've developed a bit of an obstacle between me & normal operations,... I ran "kxconfig", and immediately (very next boot) found that I don't get the desktop any more when I boot Linux. Both kernels from the Debian SID bitmap menu, same problem. I suspect that the changes I made in "kxconfig" created a settings conflict.

I changed the video chipset to be the chipset that's actually on the motherboard. (SIS 5597/5598 VGA, for the SIS 5598 chipset.) I changed the monitor type from the generic to become specific as per what I have connected. (ACER 34T). Next time I use my little experimental (learning) installation, I'll try running kxconfig again, and changing things back to the generic - and, see if that fixes it.

In the meantime, the only editor I know of in Linux is the emacs editor. And, I have a bit of a problem with that, too. I can get it to start up & load a file for inspection, and change the contents of the file - even, get it to tell me that it saved the file, but I can't get emacs to do a normal exit back to the command prompt. Use of Ctrl key and/or Alt key in combination with letters doesn't seem to do the trick. If there's a function key that'll do it, I haven't found it yet. Using the mouse for accessing the menu items across the top of the screen isn't an option, because nothing happens when I move (or click) the mouse. I've tried using emacs twice now, and both times I ended up turning off power to the machine as my only remaining means of exiting the program. (That I could come up with, anyway.)

To proceed with inspecting &/or editing, sans access to the GUI's utilities & programs, I need 2 questions answered:

1) Is there any other text editor available to me from the command prompt?

and,

2) How does one exit emacs?

Thanks for your help!

Scruffy
http://scruffyeagle.com

[Markus]

First have a look in /etc/X11 if you have a backup of XF86Config-4 which could be named XF86Config-4~. Just look at the dates, if you find if do:
mv /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 /etc/X11/XF86Config-4_TEST
mv /etc/X11/XF86Config-4~ /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

Another solution would be to boot Knoppix CD with the right screen etc.. cheatcodes and copy over the file to your hd-install with:
mv /mnt/hd??/etc/X11/XF86Config-4 /mnt/hd??/etc/X11/XF86Config-4_TEST
mv /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 /mnt/hd??/etc/X11/XF86Config-4
?? means your hd installs device/partition.

To exit emacs: Ctrl-x Ctrl-c http://rgrjr.dyndns.org/emacs/emacs_cheat.html
Another editor would be vi but it's not that much easier, you could also use mc or do apt-get install nano

[user unknown]

A very easy to learn editor is the embedded editor in 'mc' - the midnight-commander (F4 to edit a file). It might be run from commandline with 'mcedit'.

bootmessages might be easily viewed with dmesg:

dmesg | less

shows them pagewise, with possibility to scroll back.

[scruffyeagle]

First have a look in /etc/X11 if you have a backup of XF86Config-4 which could be named XF86Config-4~. Just look at the dates, if you find if do:
mv /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 /etc/X11/XF86Config-4_TEST
mv /etc/X11/XF86Config-4~ /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

Another solution would be to boot Knoppix CD with the right screen etc.. cheatcodes and copy over the file to your hd-install with:
mv /mnt/hd??/etc/X11/XF86Config-4 /mnt/hd??/etc/X11/XF86Config-4_TEST
mv /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 /mnt/hd??/etc/X11/XF86Config-4
?? means your hd installs device/partition.

To exit emacs: Ctrl-x Ctrl-c http://rgrjr.dyndns.org/emacs/emacs_cheat.html
Another editor would be vi but it's not that much easier, you could also use mc or do apt-get install nano

Thank you for your response! It's possible I've entirely lost the original config file, because I tried resetting the video stuff back to generic - and, if it doesn't make multiple backup copies as per date, then the previous backup copy has been overwritten. Regardless, I'll be attempting what you're advising, during my next session!

Thanks!

Scruffy
http://scruffyeagle.com

[scruffyeagle]

A very easy to learn editor is the embedded editor in 'mc' - the midnight-commander (F4 to edit a file). It might be run from commandline with 'mcedit'.

bootmessages might be easily viewed with dmesg:

dmesg | less

shows them pagewise, with possibility to scroll back.

Thanks for the advice! I've saved this info, and will try what you recommend during my next session at the machine!

Scruffy
http://scruffyeagle.com