Typical newbie doubts...
Forum: Other Help Topics
Topic: Typical newbie doubts...
started by: Ethaniel
Posted by Ethaniel on April 10 2007,23:08
Hi everyone,This is my first post in the forums, and I have decided to write because I prefer to have answers from people who really know DSL, instead of yelling and cursing about "how do I do this" or "how can I change that", without making the effort of being involved with this excellent OS.
First of all, this is my second experience with a Linux system. The first one was Ubuntu, but it's heavily dependant on an Internet connection, and that's a problem for me, because I don't have an Internet connection at home (I work with public terminals). Then I've found DSL, and after a few days, I think I'm gonna keep it.
But, like any other newbie, I have a doubt or two (well... several, actually):
1) I know how to edit a text file with Midnight Commander, but I don't know the key or command to save the changes. Also, it seems I can't modify a text file using Beaver or Ted. I can't change a thing in Beaver, and Ted insists with "You cannot write the text file" messages. I think this has something to do with permissions. Do I have to start those programs as a super-user, or there's a way to save a file with root privileges? The only solution I have found so far is starting Midnight Commander as a super-user, and running the programs from there.
2) After installing DSL in my hard drive, I have installed AbiWord, and runs perfectly but it looks outdated. Do I have to ask for a newer version in the AbiWord support, or start learning some programming code to build my own? I have seen a 2.2.7 version, but sincerely, I have no idea of how to install a UNC file. I guess it must be the same with DSL files, but the "GTK" in the module's name gives me a bad feeling.
3) I understand that the concept of "fragmentation" doesn't exist in Linux-based systems. Is this true for DSL too? If it's not, how can I defrag my hard drive?
4) I know this is a question from a Windows-tainted mind, but is in DSL some kind of "temp" directory which I have to purge from time to time or not?
5) Looks like I have a problem with XMMS. I have to put the preamp in the equalizer all the way down, because it distorts my mp3 files even with a zero value. The distortion remains even if I disable the equalizer. Is there any way to make the sound clearer and louder? Maybe it's something about my sound card, but DSL detected it correctly as an Intel 82801AA AC'97 audio board. Downloading the ALSA module (ver. 1.0.11 in MyDSL) and using the "modprobe" command didn't helped. And the mp3 files I'm playing have no clipping.
6) This may sound crazy, but can the embeeded applications be uninstalled? Some are for Internet use (like the FTP client), and I don't have any use for them right now. Of course, they don't bother much, but it's one of my doubts. I've been reading about "remastering" (that thread is eternal, about 70 pages!), but I haven't reached the part of removing applications yet.
7) The last one: I'm having problems with my keyboard. It's an old, standard "us" keyboard, but I need some special characters, like the "ñ" and vocals with accents. In the times of DOS, choosing the brazilian keymap solved my needs, but it seems DSL doesn't apply my selection. I have tried adding "lang=br" at boot, and choosing the "br-latin1" option, but the keyboard remains in the "us" mode. What can I do?
I will stop here for the moment, but I think I'll have more questions in the future. Thanks for your attention and your patience.
Lysander, from Buenos Aires,
Argentina.
Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on April 11 2007,06:09
1.MC Save: F2
You should work as a regular user, and not root - unless this is a system file you need to edit. What are you trying to edit?
2.
DSL by default only contains GTK+ (v1). You could use some themes or whatever, if you don't like the default grey. You can use `mydsl-load <file>` in terminal or the mydsl tool on desktop to load extensions. The gtk2 versions will require you to install the gtk2 extension first.
3.
Afaik it does exist, but to a very minimal degree - but this topic depends on the filesystem you are using. DSL by default uses ext2... and defragmentation tools are probably not necessary (I've only used them on FAT/NTFS drives) but I'm not too sure about this.
4.
Depends on how you installed DSL. Are you using a frugal...? And the default temp directory is /tmp
5.
Turn down the volume/bass controls?
About ALSA: are you sure you installed it correctly?
6.
Yes, you're on the right track - but this depends on how you installed/using DSL again. There's been scripts floating around that could help automate it though.
7.
Change your keyboard layout (check DSLPanel, or xsetup). Make sure you restart your X session.
Posted by Ethaniel on April 12 2007,00:41
Excellent, excellent, it seems I have a lot of things to try. Yes, the files I was trying to edit were system files, that's why Ted kicked me out every time. I downloaded the GTK package, I'll install it and see if I can make AbiWord work correctly.I'm using the ext2 file system, so I guess there's no need for defrag tools. My DSL installation was done using the "dsl-hdinstall" command, and I can see the tmp directory, but it doesn't look too full, so I'll just keep an eye over those files.
About the sound, well, I believe it has something to do with the difference between master and PCM wave volume controls. For now, I just installed another sound board, and it works much better. About ALSA, I followed the instructions in the info file, and the modprobe command seems to work correctly.
I have interest in those "scripts" you are mentioning. Can you recommend one? I'll keep reading the remaster thread, just in case. And the keyboard, well, I think that will be the final challenge. I'll check Xsetup and see if I can make it work, or at least, if I can use the ASCII codes to bring up those characters.
Thank you very much for your answers. I'll try everything you said, just hoping not to break anything in the process.
Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on April 12 2007,01:22
The dsl-hdinstall script does a traditional, full debian-style hd-install...since remastering implies frugal installations, there's only some parts that you could use (unless you plan on re-installing every time)
As for the remastering scripts, you probably could edit them to fit your type of installation (there's a preliminary version by mikshaw).
Posted by setecio on April 14 2007,09:05
1) Well I'm a DSL newbie, so I might be wrong, but I understand it to work (in a frugal install) via:Mount the partition that dsl is on using the mount tool, bottom right of desktop, then right click on emelfm - emelfm as super user, click the H button to display hidden files (left of file location bar), highlight the file, click edit, edit it and then save.
Posted by Ethaniel on April 14 2007,22:47
Okay, I have tried what you said in your answer, but I haven't had much success. Let's see:1) When I press F2, instead of saving, Midnight Commander inserts a "F2" legend in the text file I'm editing. The same happens when I press other function keys. The only thing I have discovered is when you press "Insert", you can rotate between Insert and Replace.
2) The keyboard defeated me once again. I have tried to use the brazilian keymap through DSL Panel, but when I restart, I have two error messages: "findkeymap: no such file or directory" and "can't find the file br". Tried to add manually the route to the keymap file and DSL seems to load it correctly, but still doesn't work. I even tried to use the "es" keymap, and the "ñ" key returned, but the accents are not working. They appear before the vocal, instead of remain suspended, waiting for the vocal. That means they appear as "´a" instead of "á". Any other ideas?
3) If the module required to install GTK2 is the one called "GTK2-0705.unc", then I can't make it work. I tried using the "mydsl-load", but showed an error like "can't show display" or something similar. Without GTK, of course, I haven't been able to install the new AbiWord.
Anyway, I try to keep my mind open. Maybe installing DSL to the hard drive using the "dsl-hdinstall" was incorrect, and I should install it differently. Probably it's my fault, I had to throw to the trash can my last fifteen years of experience with computers to understand a Linux system, and I still have a long way to go. But I won't give up on DSL. It's fast, small, and very functional, and the sound card I added was detected perfectly, even when it's using a cheap, generic Crystal sound chip. I wasn't so convinced by DSL-N, and quickly returned to DSL. With DSL-N had some video problems (the image got a "negative" effect every time I opened an application, especially AbiWord), and hardware detection looks more precise in DSL than DSL-N.
Sorry to bother you with all of this. Once again, thanks for your patience.
Lysander.
Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on April 15 2007,01:53
These numbers are new, right?B1
I've never used MC personally, so I just picked that up from a quick search.
B2
You could try just "loadkeys <locale>" in some startup script. Does it work properly in the console (i.e. when you kill X)? Is the "´a" actually one character (If so, you might need to change your font)? Which editor/program are you testing this in?
B3
UNC's are only for systems using unionfs (i.e. DSL 3.x+ frugal setups). Maybe a notification should be used to warn the user... since some others also did what you did but didn't know where to look.
| Quote |
| With DSL-N had some video problems (the image got a "negative" effect every time I opened an application, especially AbiWord), and hardware detection looks more precise in DSL than DSL-N. |
Posted by Ethaniel on April 17 2007,23:26
Well. I have had no luck so far, and things are getting harder to understand. I haven´t been able to make the accents work the way they should. I tried using Ted, GTKEdit, the terminal, and the result is the same. Maybe the keymaps work perfectly using the Live CD mode, or a Frugal install, but with my kind of install, the keyboard doesn´t want to know anything about it. BTW, the "´a" are two characters, while "á", is just one. There´s no need of Unicode, vocals with accents are present in the standard ASCII code.After a few searches in Google, a lot of forum diving, and a necessary dose of pain, I have found the GTK2 package in DSL format, and installed perfectly. But I wasn´t that surprised when I saw that UNC files still refuse to be installed. This is my dilemma: I want the newest version available of AbiWord in my DSL installation. I think the last is 2.2.7, and there´s another one which is older. According to the AbiWord page, the latest is something like 2.4.6 or 2.4.5, depending on the OS used.
If the latest version must be compiled, I could do it, with the right instructions, because I have no idea about programming or package building. The same goes for other things, like XMMS. I have noticed that the latest version is 1.2.10, when the one installed in DSL is 1.2.8. It would be great if I could update XMMS, but if I can´t even manage to install the latest AbiWord, then hitting my head against the wall will be the least I will do.
Which would be the right procedure? Getting the code, and then compile it? And after it is compiled, how can it be converted to DSL format? If this can save others of hitting their heads like I´m doing right now, and put on-line the latest AbiWord so everyone can download it, I´m willing to try. UNC files are becoming my mortal enemy, and DSL files look much more manageable, if not obedient.
Once again, thank you all for your patience.
Lysander.