Optional directory

Forum: Other Help Topics
Topic: Optional directory
started by: gaba

Posted by gaba on Mar. 18 2006,10:01

I have downloaded a number of apps from the MyDSL page. I have searched this site for help to get them working in the optional directory, I have also searched on the web. How do I make these apps available?

Regards Gaba

Posted by larkl on Mar. 18 2006,13:05

You might want to provide more information, ie- what kind of install is this and what does your bootcode line look like?

Posted by mikshaw on Mar. 18 2006,14:27

It doesn't matter what the bootcode looks like (unless it includes "base")...if you have an "optional" directory in the root of the same partition as a frugal/poorman's installation, or in the root of a partition specified with "mydsl=xxx" it will be found. If you use both, two submenus will be created. I couldn't say if this is still the case, but DSL up to and including 2.1 works this way.

1) Choose a partition (example: /mnt/hda1) and create a directory in the root of that partition called "optional".
2) Place myDSL packages in the directory.
3) Add "mydsl=hda1" to your bootloader's kernel options, or "dsl mydsl=hda1" if "dsl" is not already present. If hda1 also contains your KNOPPIX and kernel, you can skip this step.
4) After booting, look in your myDSL submenu to find "Install optional extensions" submenu.

If you have a traditional debian-style install of DSL, i have no idea how or if it works. I assume you don't, though, since it would be virtually pointless to use optional extensions in this type of installation.

Posted by larkl on Mar. 18 2006,21:06

Good clarification, mikshaw. I guess I didn't help much.

Posted by gaba on Mar. 21 2006,17:57

Thanks Mikshaw it works now thanks to your info.

Regards Gaba

Posted by NeoDSL on April 02 2006,18:40

Hmmm. I updated to DSL 2.3 and now no mydsl menu.

I've checked and double checked. mydsl=hda2 is in the grub menu and "optional" is the directory containing my extentions on hda2. I even made a symlink on /optional on hda1(frugal install.)

Is there something diferent about DSL 2.3?

Addendum: Only some of the extentions work via selecting the mydsl button in emefm. Those that put an icon on the desktop. Still my mydsl menu is gone, nowhere to be found.

Also, mplayer no longer works. I downloaded the mplayer extension again and it still just will not come up (when I click the Icon).

I tried to load xine and I'm getting "non-dsl user error" What's up with that? I just downloaded the mplayer extension.