Quirky Xerus 8.6 (Aug. 16), Beaver 8.7.1 (Sept. 21), 2018

[Rodney Byne]

Barry,
are you going to add 8.6 to the 8.5 upgrade manager,
to save having to clean install again to the same usb?
Thanks, regards.

[BarryK]

Barry,
are you going to add 8.6 to the 8.5 upgrade manager,
to save having to clean install again to the same usb?
Thanks, regards.

Crossed my fingers that I could make this post. The forum keeps logging me out.

Billtoo,
Something odd, those "zip" and "trash" icons were supposed to automatically move over to the right side of the screen.

Haven't had that problem for a long time. Will check it out.

Rodney,
There is a 8.5 to 8.6 Service Pack PET, but it is 300MB, as there are so many changes.

I haven't actually tried to use it -- you can be the guinea pig!

[Keef]

I have been running a full install of 8.5 on an internal HDD. Tried an update but it would not fully complete. Left for for maybe 15 - 20 minutes. Looked in htop and the post-install script (not sure of its exact name) was showing but appeared inactive. Decided to reboot, but could not get to a desktop. Xorgwizard did not help. Anyway, decided to download an image an copy to a USB stick. That works fine, and once it was set up the way I wanted I just copied it over to the partition I used previously.
Had problems with the devx via PPM. Again, the installation never seemed to end, and there was nothing after a reboot. Downloaded the pet manually and installed it that way. Working well now.

Dell XPS M1330 laptop - 2g RAM, 2ghz Intel Core Duo, GeForce 8400M GS

[lp-dolittle]

@ Barry,

in view of my recent posts, I'm wondering where q.sfs has gone in Quirky Xerus 8.6.
File finder also shows no result. A potential consequence of major architecture changes?

My inability to find q.sfs makes me feel embarrassed.

[BarryK]

gcmartin sent me an email, reporting that a remastered dvd failed to boot.

Running from cd/dvd, at first shutdown, or by clicking on the "save" icon, there is an offer to either save the session to hard drive, or to remaster the cd.

Most people choose the former. The latter has not been tested for a long time. gcmartin tried it, and the resulting dvd failed with a message that file 'ldlinux.c32' is missing.

Ah. yes. The /usr/sbin/savesession script has not been worked on for a long time. It was developed for syslinux 4.x. However, now using syslinux 5.x, which needs that extra file.

It can be fixed manually, click on the cd icon on the desktop, and copy 'ldlinux.c32' to /boot/iso

I have rebuilt the 8.6 iso with that file included in boot/iso, and reuploaded the iso file to ibiblio. No change in version.

One thing though. As that script was worked on long ago, the remastered iso is for legacy-bios booting only, it is not uefi-aware.

Also, an odd choice perhaps, the remastered cd has q.sfs inside initrd.q, which means a long wait at bootup.

[BarryK]

@ Barry,

in view of my recent posts, I'm wondering where q.sfs has gone in Quirky Xerus 8.6.
File finder also shows no result. A potential consequence of major architecture changes?

My inability to find q.sfs makes me feel embarrassed.

There may not be any q.sfs. Only if you run from cd, or do a frugal install.

Booting from the usb stick, it is a full install on the usb stick and there is no q.sfs.

[Billtoo]

Hi Barry,

I disconnected the HDMI cable from the 32" TV and connected to a much
smaller wide screen monitor that uses vga cable, changed sound settings
etc:

video-info-glx 1.5.3 Fri 17 Aug 2018 on Quirky Xerus64 8.6 Linux 4.14.63 x86_64
2.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Sky Lake Integrated Graphics (rev 06)
oem: Intel(R) SKL Mobile/Desktop Graphics Chipset Accelerated VGA BIOS
Binary file (standard input) matches

X Server: Xorg Driver: evdevpowerbuttonvendor0product0x1
X.Org version: 1.18.4
dimensions: 1600x900 pixels (423x238 millimeters)
depth of root window: 24 planes

direct rendering: Yes
server glx vendor string: SGI
server glx version string: 1.4
OpenGL vendor string: Intel Open Source Technology Center
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa DRI Intel(R) HD Graphics 530 (Skylake GT2)
OpenGL core profile version string: 4.5 (Core Profile) Mesa 18.0.5

Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-6100T CPU @ 3.20GHz
Core 0: @1008 1: @944 2: @891 3: @957 MHz

The trash and zip icons are still in the wrong position.
I added gxine and when I try to go full screen with it about an inch on
the right side of the screen isn't covered which seems odd as well.

Thanks.

[Rodney Byne]

Barry,
the guinea pig is feeling a bit sheepish.

Prior to attempting to run the update pet,
booting usb 8.5 to my horror showed a kernel
panic.
No sync to no init found, in a screenful of
scary technical stuff which locked up the laptop.
Don't think any of this was of my making, as
the last closedown was done correctly.

I had to remove & refit the battery to restore
normal pc operation.
Later, on closer examination of the usb content,
nearly all files had disappeared to mush.
That's all I can say..

Anyway after a gparted cleanup, did an uneventful
easydd install and 8.6 is working as posted by this.
Regards.

[pecha]

This is my first time trying out a Quirky release. I'm really liking it. I didn't do a full install (after all the trouble I had with Xenial I was leery to mess with my system since it's running Win7 and Mint w/ Cinnamon just fine). I used the save feature instead. I ran the video wizard and somehow managed to get my two monitors extended rather than copied. I love Seamonkey, always did since I discovered it using Puppy on and off since 3.something maybe earlier. This is so fast. I love fast. I fished this pc out of a dumpster, cut it out of it's case, added ram and hd a few years ago. It'll never run 2 point hospital but thanks to Puppy I'm sure I'll be able to run it a good long time. Just like all the other old junkers I've had over the years. I couldn't get Chromium to work, says it needs Python3:any. Firefox runs great tho. This Puppy feels more like the original ones. Love PUPPY!!! THANKS!!!!!

[Rodney Byne]

Hello pecha,
I read your post above with interest and achievements so far.

Run here a similar arrangement to yourself;
Advent Modena laptop dual booted with Win7 and
Mint 18.2/w Mate.
Likewise myself, I wouldn't mess further with the hdd,
so test run all linux distros on bootable usb sticks.

Interestingly, I have a 16gig stick with xenialpup 7.5
to boot, after holding down the multiboot key f11
then pressing enter to run.
It is one of my favourite distros, clean lines, works well,
no problems that come to mind.
So I wonder out of curiosity what version and difficulties
you experienced.
BTU
Best regards.

[Sage]

X-Q/Q-x v 6.5 - re-uploaded version: iso>CD-RW.
Opens OK
Loading zram > OK
then
Searching drives: [curious? why?] nothing happens for ~5mins, then sda1 appears on same line.
Follows various lines of garbage terminating in KP, ending on [310.726103].
Even weirder, attempts to reboot fail to detect sr0 (which is entirely kosher in all other uses) at all, which has corrupted whole CD-RW (should've used CD-R?).
Comments?
Later: 3rd d/l, 5th burn, almost same but stops (almost?) completely* at Searching Drives.
Surely it doesn't want to search my drives, trying to use as liveCD.

*about 30mins later, KP with different address.

[roadkill13]

Installed to USB on my Dell 745 USFF:

# inxi -F
System: Host: QUIRKYPC25939 Kernel: 4.14.63 x86_64 (64 bit)
Desktop: JWM git-976 Distro: Quirky 8.6 xerus64
Machine: System: Dell product: OptiPlex 745 serial: JR9TYD1
Mobo: Dell model: 0GW726 serial: ..CN6986179L0353.
Bios: Dell v: 2.6.6 date: 06/26/2011
CPU: Dual core Intel Pentium Dual E2180 (-MCP-) cache: 1024 KB
clock speeds: max: 1287 MHz 1: 1287 MHz 2: 1220 MHz
Graphics: Card: Intel 82Q963/Q965 Integrated Graphics Controller
Display Server: X.org 1.18.4 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
tty size: 80x24 Advanced Data: N/A for root
Audio: Card Intel 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio Controller
driver: snd_hda_intel
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.14.63
Network: Card: Broadcom NetXtreme BCM5754 Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express
driver: tg3
IF: eth0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full
mac: 00:1a:a0:6c:73:4b
Drives: HDD Total Size: 515.8GB (0.5% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD5000AAKX size: 500.1GB
ID-2: USB /dev/sdb model: Cruzer_Blade size: 15.7GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 14G used: 2.2G (16%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdb2
RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors: None detected - is lm-sensors installed and configured?
Info: Processes: 96 Uptime: 5 min Memory: 333.7/3878.8MB
Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 2.2.35

All is well so far.

[Reneetje]

Thank you mr. Kauler for the latest QuirkyXerus 8.6
Most programs work excellent.

Greetings,
Rene

[Sage]

supra Seems there should not be an IDE hard drive present on my iCORE2/2Gb/nV if 6.5 is to start correctly!
There is something in the start-up procedure that prevents booting unless I unhook that drive. Probably BK can fix but not YT.

[BarryK]

I couldn't get Chromium to work, says it needs Python3:any. Firefox runs great tho. This Puppy feels more like the original ones. Love PUPPY!!! THANKS!!!!!

Regarding Chromium, I presume that you got it from the Package Manager?

gcmartin posted about that, informed that need to start it in a terminal:

Code: Select all

# chromium --no-sandbox

...you can probably find some posts about this on the forum. I haven't tested it.

[lp-dolittle]

Hi all,

not really sure whether I simply reinvented the wheel or had a useful idea, I would like to mention a so far little or unregarded (?) installation variant that might be of interest to some users.
Thinking of the advantages (security) as well as of the limitations (no simple save option) of live-CD/DVDs, I tried to create a 'live'-flash stick as follows:

1. I dd-ed the xerus64-8.6.iso file onto a flash stick (64 GB)
2. After successfully booting xerus64-8.6 from the stick, I created a new partition and formatted it to ext4, before shutting down for the first time.
2a. as shown by the screenshot below, it seems to be essential that this partition be placed at the end of the drive, leaving space between the fat32- and the new ext4-partition. Remarkably the names of the fat32 and the ext4 partions appear to be inversed
3. at shutdown, when asked for the remaster/save option, I choose 'save' and selected the additionally created ext4 partition which in my case is sdc1 not sdc2!
4. the next boot up resulted in a so far nicely working xerus64-8.6, the flash stick can be removed if nothing needs to be saved.
When the 'live'-flash stick later is used on a different PC, the keyboard layout may need readjustment.

As compared with the full install-, the remaster- and the live-CD/DVD- options, the 'live'-flash stick can be cosidered an intermediate variant, more versatile in some respects, yet equally save as a live-CD if it is used appropriately (removed after boot up; no saving after safety-critical applications). Furthermore, a CD/DVD drive no longer is required.

See partitioning details from the attached screenshot

kind regards

[roadkill13]

pecha wrote:
I couldn't get Chromium to work, says it needs Python3:any. Firefox runs great tho. This Puppy feels more like the original ones. Love PUPPY!!! THANKS!!!!!


Regarding Chromium, I presume that you got it from the Package Manager?

gcmartin posted about that, informed that need to start it in a terminal:

Code:
# chromium --no-sandbox


...you can probably find some posts about this on the forum. I haven't tested it.

I installed Chromium from the package manager. It runs fine as user SPOT.

[BarryK]

Hi all,

not really sure whether I simply reinvented the wheel or had a useful idea, I would like to mention a so far little or unregarded (?) installation variant that might be of interest for some users.
Thinking of the advantages (security) as well as of the limitations (no simple save option) of live-CD/DVDs, I tried to create a 'live'-flash stick as follows:

1. I dd-ed the xerus64-8.6.iso file onto a flash stick (64 GB)
2. After successfully booting xerus64-8.6 from the stick, I created a new partition and formatted it to ext4, before shutting down for the first time.
2a. as shown by the screenshot below, it seems to be essential that this partition be placed at the end of the drive, leaving space between the fat32- and the new ext4-partition. Remarkably the names of the fat32 and the ext4 partions appear to be inversed
3. at shutdown, when asked for the remaster/save option, I choose 'save' and selected the additionally created ext4 partition which in my case is sdc1 not sdc2!
4. the next boot up resulted in a so far nicely working xerus64-8.6, the flash stick can be removed if nothing needs to be saved.
When the 'live'-flash stick later is used on a different PC, the keyboard layout may need readjustment.

As compared with the full install-, the remaster- and the live-CD/DVD- options, the 'live'-flash stick can be cosidered an intermediate variant, more versatile in some respects, yet equally save as a live-CD if it is used appropriately (removed after boot up; no saving after safety-critical applications). Furthermore, a CD/DVD drive no longer is required.

See partitioning details from the attached screenshot

kind regards

Congratulations on your initiative!

Yes, that is a way that you can do it. And yes, has some advantages, such as remove-after-bootup, and optional saving.

Also, you can wind back to a pristine system just by deleting the contents of that partition.

[Reneetje]

I prefer a single burned live-cd above usb/live stick, because a single burned live-cd can't and will never be infected.
About usb, because it's a bootable usb, it's possible the MBR can be infected.

[lp-dolittle]

Hi Reneetje,

if striving for the utmost security is the main goal, you are right, a live-CD (and no hard disk present) admittedly is first-choice.

In most other respects, the versatility of a live-flash stick offers interesting options. As compared with a flash stick full installation, the live-flash stick variant, not least, also may increase the stick's durability because read/write-operations only occur at boot up and while saving.

The availability of RAM - depending on the currently used PC's hardware configuration - certainly is a limiting factor which may variably affect a live-flash stick's functionality.

kind regards