boot customization


Forum: User Feedback
Topic: boot customization
started by: onfast

Posted by onfast on Sep. 05 2004,21:57
This is my first time here. Thanks for DSL. It has the potential to show the world the pleasure of using Linux (instead of the pain of configuring buggy software and  cheap hardware). I'm enjoying it more and using it more than any other Linux.

I boot from cd and have an ext2 partition on hda3 formatted for DSL.

1) I'd like to keep my Firefox settings, but they disappear between boots. I'm only marginally aware of what's going on(!), but have looked at the forum posts. I installed Firefox with myDSL.  I boot with dsl dma toram mydsl=hda3

2) maybe related to 1. I also installed the Xmahjongg and it disappears between boots.

I've used the DSLpanel tools to backup and restore.

3) the mouse response (ps2 wheelmouse) is pretty good but needs a bit more acceleration. where can I adjust that?

Anybody got a tip to help point me towards a solution?
Thanks,
Tom

Posted by vk4jef on Sep. 05 2004,23:37
Subject: No control panel!
thanks for DSL I have just installed it on an old Quantum Maverick  270 MB HD and it looks fine and fun. Ufortunately I have no control panel as shown on the disc box cover (Linux format mag) and there fore the ppp dial doesn't work, i assume because I need the control panel to configure it. Suggestions please,maybe the mag one was decapitated or my drive is too small but then the DSLControl panel doesn't show on DC boot up.:D

Posted by ke4nt1 on Sep. 06 2004,00:10
Tom,

I can be general in helping you with your settings.
You'll need to tell us what version of DSL you are running ..
myDSL has been in DSL since 0.7.2 ,
but the new 0.8.0 does things a little different ..

In your hda3 , you should make an " /optional " directory.
This is where you will keep copies of your extensions,
so you don't have to download them everytime you bootup.

Any extensions you place in /mnt/hda3 , outside of the " /optional " directory,
should autoload when you use "mydsl=hda3" in your bootup.
So, this would be the place to put your copy of xmahjongg.tar.gz

Your Firefox.uci  or firefox.tar.gz should go here too ,
if you want it to be loaded up when you boot.
To save your firefox settings, add this line to your /home/dsl/filetool.lst ..
/home/dsl/.phoenix

This saves your mail .. add these lines to your filetool.lst ..
/home/dsl/.sylpheed
/home/dsl/Mail

Then run your backup...
First choose your backup location . - In your case, it should be "hda3"
The backup utility is under system>file restoration
Add the line "hda3"  to select this as a backup location ..

After setting your backup location, just run the backup..
system>file restoration>backup

Now, when you reboot, use "dsl dma toram mydsl=hda3 restore=hda3

You should have both firefox and xmahjongg on your desktop.
When using firefox, you should see your tabs and bookmarks.

Remember to set your cache in Firefox way down ( I use 1k cache only )
This keeps your backup file size way down..  It gets REALLY big if you don't..

73
ke4nt

Posted by ke4nt1 on Sep. 06 2004,00:14
vk4jef ,

Try using the menu to get there..
right click to get to the menu
select " System > Net Setup > Dial-up PPP
This is the same utility that the control panel offers.

What version are you running?
DSL has been in several " Linux Format "  issues ..

73 de Kent
ke4nt

Posted by onfast on Sep. 07 2004,01:32
Hi ke4nt
Thanks for the reply re mydsl and customizing desktop. It all worked fine.

You asked about platform--
I'm using 0.80 on a Athlon XP1800 box with 1 gig ram, win32 on hdb, and linuxes on hda, and a memorex dvd+/-rw burner on hdc.

Some of my confusion arose because of my lack of knowledge of the Knoppix ancestry here. I've read a little now on busybox and will look into fluxbox soon.

My bkground history runs DOS 2.x-6, Netware 286 & 386, and different Linux distros including RedHat, SuSE (probably longer than most), and most recently Gentoo.

My goals are to figure this out enough to create my own bootdisk with everything just like I want it. Also I'm planning to build a home tv/entertainment system box, maybe with the itx boards someone here suggested, and use DSL or Gentoo.

Tom

Posted by ke4nt1 on Sep. 07 2004,02:51
Try using the " /usr/sbin/mkmydsl " script to make your own custom DSL cdrom ..

73
ke4nt

Posted by roberts on Sep. 07 2004,06:51
Becareful with the mkmydsl script. If you only have one cdrom and it is the cdwriter then take a look here:
< http://damnsmalllinux.org/cgi-bin....;t=2484 >

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