Is There Anybody Out There ....?

Stigura · 17-01-2020 7:27am

Definitely geeing up for this, so! Just spent upward of the last hour in a chat room, extolling to a lad in US about what I'm doing. Reassuring Him that it's nothing like the dreaded, Command Prompt / Coding world we'd always imagined it to be. Maybe twenty odd years ago ....? He's enthused now. Already talking about showing his brother! See what you people are doing here? Lead the blind that we may see! (Then we'll show every bugger else!)

Right; Insane o'clock here, now. I'm retired, so now tumble through time as the wind takes me. Long as I feed my creatures at their customary time. Then, I sleep more daylight hours than most people see!

Anyway, I'll bloody well make sure I'm available when You people are most comfortable, when I actually get the other machine in here. Don't expect it'll take an hour. Just want someone to hold my metaphorical hand. In case.

Last questions I can think of?

1. Having loaded Linux on the new machine? (I have it on a stick) Would it not be better to wipe 7 (Saving 'space') and then physically load Linux in its place? To:

A/ Save strain on the HDD / CPU?

B/ Allow me to just press the button and fire up. No need to F what ever and choose.

2. I'd like further input on Which, exact 'Linux' to go with. I realise that may seem a bit like asking, " Who should I vote for? ". I'm really just trying to narrow down between which '7 clones' to look at. " Lite " or ....? Just a flash pointer at what to expect? What is " Lite "

Sorry. I'm old and thick. So are my mates! Christ; I hope I'm not leading us all off a cliff!

Johnboy1951 · 17-01-2020 10:37am

Regarding wiping Win 7 or not .......

If you have a car in your two car (or bigger) garage, why would you scrap one car before putting another in there?

Yes it would make sense if space was tight ...... but first do the measurements.

First thing you need to be certain about is that your chosen Linux variant 'sees' all the new hardware and that hardware is usable.

'Light' generally refers to how old/slow/limited on resources/etc a PC can be and still run a particular version.
There are specific version releases for very old hardware, but hopefully you will not require those. Old hardware of course limits what can be done with it.

Stigura · 17-01-2020 1:22pm

Thanks, Johnboy. And 'morning! :eek: Wow! WTF?! Yes; I'm somewhat of a nightowl; Even by owls standards. Very fast asleep just now when a young lady turned up to bring me the good news about some new broadband .....

Anyway, I'm up. Dressed. Have made a mugga. Will this be the Day that I start ripping wires apart? Dunno. Might crash and burn within the hour! Only had half a sleep yet.

Seeing my hardware? That'd be my scanner, camera and trail cam, and my mike. 7 sees all them. 10 said buy a new scanner. That's when I dumped That s**t!

Regards my new machines resources? I'd put them up, earlier in this thread. No one said I must be joking. But, yeah; Nothing, in my life, is spoken of in terms of Terrabites.

Young lady who just woke me up was selling " Fast Broadband "? I don't even know what she was talking about. What I have is fine by me. Flix can be a PITA, now and then. But, I well remember dial up!

Okay. Well, I'm self confessedly notorious for liking to 'sleep on' anything. Just considered forging ahead and fetching that other machine in here. Then wondered what I was thinking.

Ye mentioned one that was most compatible with refugees from 7? And, I think, a lite version of it? Suspect I might have got them both to my stick.

Dunno. 'Logic' suggests I'd might as well go straight in with the full version. I'm running 7 fine, on This baccy tin. New machine must be better.

I think we'll call that todays big decision. I'll go with the Full '7 Replacement' one

Right; Bit more snoozing to be done, here! Barely made four hours!

Thanks again.

Stigura · 18-01-2020 5:40am

MAYDAY! MAYDAY! HUSTON ....?!

F***k Windoze!!!

Yesterday (?) They cut off 7. Last day or two. Tonight? All hell's let loose! I'm getting more side bars and boxes popping up since I discovered pron sites, back in the day!

1. I'm in total melt down here.

2. I can't find all the stuff I loaded onto my stick(s)?!

3. I'm hoping to go with the Mate " distro "? It seemed friendliest to me ~ having read back. I'm sure my fellow converts and I will get used to that, as well as 10.

4. I'm freaking out completely, because I've no idea what checking in 'tomorrow' might bring. But, this is it! I NEED TO get the hell away from Doze, Today, if poss'?

5. Sod this. I'm off to search my sticks. The ISO's (?) Must be there, somewhere? Failing that? I dunno. I'll just try to find my way to Mate.

Stigura · 18-01-2020 7:59pm

Okay. This is It. Tonight, I jump!

I don't know What the hell happened there. But, I see it as the gypsys warning.

7 announced, a couple of days ago, that was it. Goodbye. Then, a day or so later? Updates! I take it That was the self destruct button installing! They can now frig us around like that at will. Forcing us to move over to 10.

Nope! But, here's the thing: I got my stick and found the distro files I'd DL'd? " Mate " somehow fell apart, so I f'd that off. Found I have KDE5. But, I can't find an exe file in there, or any way of firing it up

I have Rufus open, as I type. But, despite re reading the above, I can't figure out how to influence that folder with it.

So; I'm starting over. I'm DLing KD, right now. From the last link. Very latest model. Full one. Not 'Darkstar'. I intend to leave this tab open and, further schit storms notwithstanding, I fully intend to sort out and Install KDE5 Tonight and start getting used to using it :cool:

Having managed that on This machine? I can then ~ hopefully! ~ do it again on the big machine next. Only, I'll figure out how to turn off Automatic Updates, on that one, before I let it near the internet!

Wish me luck!

Stigura · 18-01-2020 8:39pm

Right; Horses and Dogs fed. KD whats it now on my desk top. I'm now loading that onto a completely empty stick. That'll take an hour (2 Gigs) Then, as I remember, I must hit restart / F12. Boot from usb. Hit to DL from within what ever we call this distro

I'm aware that that'll involve something else. " Konsole " or " Terminal ". I have that post copied to my desk top and shall move it to my usual stick before I blast off.

Feeling amazingly calm about it. But, then; I understand more stupid people are calmer under fire. They're too thick to recognise the gravity of their own predicament!

Let's see if I'm still smiling tomorrow!

Johnboy1951 · 18-01-2020 9:05pm

Good luck ...... and have Fun!!!!!

Stigura · 18-01-2020 9:08pm

Five minutes and thirty seconds, distro's gonna be on that stick!

It Would be very fair too to now say I'm becoming somewhat of a brick layer too!!!

Stigura · 18-01-2020 10:00pm

Ohh Kayyyyy ..... I'm following the plan 28064212 gives me, on post 5.

Got as far as step 6. " Write the ISO ". But, I tried " opening " the iso on my stick and it wouldn't have it. However, I now see Rufus appears to be DLing something? I think we're back at post 16.

So; This should take about half an hour. Only, I can't find anything Saying it's actually DLing

I'd hit Start, in Rufus. Loathe to touch it again, lest I Restart the whole thing, or corrupt what I have. Just wish that green bar would grow a bit.

Johnboy1951 · 18-01-2020 10:01pm

oops ....... posted just as your last post appeared

Stigura · 18-01-2020 10:03pm

Stigura · 18-01-2020 10:25pm

Nope. This just ain't happening. I can't work out what I'm doing wrong.

I have kde5 on a usb stick (ALT Regular E). But, Rufus is only picking That up. It can't seem to see inside?

When I click " Start ", on Rufus? A box comes up, telling me everything on Alt E will be obliterated if I continue

The hell am I missing here, please?

At least I'm still calm!

Johnboy1951 · 18-01-2020 10:57pm

Stigura wrote: »

Nope. This just ain't happening. I can't work out what I'm doing wrong.

I have kde5 on a usb stick (ALT Regular E). But, Rufus is only picking That up. It can't seem to see inside?

When I click " Start ", on Rufus? A box comes up, telling me everything on Alt E will be obliterated if I continue

The hell am I missing here, please?

At least I'm still calm!

I am unsure what you are trying to do

Rufus is ONLY used to put the operating system on the USB stick.
Once that is done you are finished with Rufus.

You boot from the USB stick, into the operating system that Rufus put on the stick, and from there you install to the HDD of the PC it is running on.

Stigura · 18-01-2020 11:05pm

Hmmm. Okay. Well; My stick has the ISO on it. But, when I tried to boot from it, earlier, it came up with:

" No default or UI configuration found! "

As we speak, I'm dling the ISO onto my desk top ~ now, clearly, a forlorn hope :rolleyes: I was thinking that might help. Seems not.

Any idea what that message mean't, please?

Thanks. (Still sanguine

)

Johnboy1951 · 18-01-2020 11:16pm

Did you confirm you had a good d/load by checking the ISO against the md5sum or sha number provided for the purpose?
The problem could be a bad download.

I really am unsure why you are meeting this now ....... by your p[revious posts you had already d/loaded the ISO of choice, so it should still be present on the PC, and had also booted with that ISO, so there was nothing wrong with it.

Now you cannot boot it?

Stigura · 18-01-2020 11:27pm

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Did you confirm you had a good d/load by checking the ISO against the md5sum or sha number provided for the purpose?

:eek: What on earth's That???

Dunno. I just couldn't get any of the stuff I'd previously DLd to do anything. The " Mate " I'd previously been actually on now came up as just a couple of icons, in that folder! (WTF?!)

So, nothing left to lose, I went back over this thread, today, and saw that ye were suggesting this KDE5 might suit me even better than MATE. So, I figured to start over again, going with that.

There. It's on my desk top now.

Johnboy1951 · 18-01-2020 11:35pm

Stigura wrote: »

:eek: What on earth's That???

Dunno. I just couldn't get any of the stuff I'd previously DLd to do anything. The " Mate " I'd previously been actually on now came up as just a couple of icons, in that folder! (WTF?!)

So, nothing left to lose, I went back over this thread, today, and saw that ye were suggesting this KDE5 might suit me even better than MATE. So, I figured to start over again, going with that.

There. It's on my desk top now.

Post the name of exact file you downloaded and also the URL of where you got it.
Without those it is impossible to know what you have.

What size is the USB stick you are using to put the ISO on the stick?

Which PC are you using? As much detail as possible please ..... CPU; RAM size; HDD size.

Stigura · 19-01-2020 12:10am

File name: pclinuxos64-kde5-2020.01.iso

Sorss: http://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/os/Linux/distr/pclinuxos/pclinuxos/live-cd/64bit/

As provided by yeself, post 12.

USB Stick is 16GB

Machine?

Johnboy1951 · 19-01-2020 12:35am

Stigura wrote: »

File name: pclinuxos64-kde5-2020.01.iso

Sorss: http://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/os/Linux/distr/pclinuxos/pclinuxos/live-cd/64bit/

As provided by yeself, post 12.

USB Stick is 16GB

Machine?

OK, you are using the Acer .... I thought you intended to use the HP(?) for these tests.

Check that the KDE ISO boots and runs reasonably well on the Acer before committing to an install.

You will have choices during install ....... using the whole drive will automatically wipe Windows off the Acer, so be sure of your decision before proceeding.

Stigura · 19-01-2020 12:40am

:(z

Stigura · 19-01-2020 1:02am

Melt down, again!

Stigura · 19-01-2020 1:10am

While I seem to have a moments grace on this thing: I'll very soon end up ripping this Acer out. I first need to find out how to disable updates, on the big machine, before it gets on line (Else doze will ram the updates on it, including this self destruct one they're tormenting me with now)

" Check that the KDE ISO boots and runs reasonably well on the Acer before committing to an install. " How, please?

" You will have choices during install ....... using the whole drive will automatically wipe Windows off the Acer, so be sure of your decision before proceeding. "

Errrmm ..... Given a choice between This hell and Anything ....? KDE will do nicely, Thank You!

Stigura · 19-01-2020 1:15am

Forgive me, if ye say something and I'm gone. It'll just mean doze has thrown another wobbler!

I honestly can't tell what's gonna happen next. I'd give ye my phone number, quite happily. But, who'd want to sit there, listening to me saying; " Okay. Pressed that .......... Nope. "

See? I'm not letting the bastards grind me down!

Johnboy1951 · 19-01-2020 12:43pm

If you intend to install PCLinuxOS MATE version, then before you start I strongly suggest you go to their forum - maybe register so you can post your questions there - as that forum has a huge amount of PCLinuxOS specific How-To's and help threads which will help a lot.
https://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/

I also suggest you watch a couple of videos from Youtube that go through the install procedure - below is one example where the installation begins at 4:15 minutes in.
You have the previous part of the video done, as far as I am aware, but if you have time you should watch it anyway.
This video uses Etcher instead of Rufus, to put the ISO on the USB stick. That is just another application which has the same function, so no need to bother about it.

https://youtu.be/xR6ty3cSekg?t=257

I would be more comfortable if you installed your chosen Linux distro on a machine you are not dependent on to get on line - in case you need assistance with something.

Stigura · 19-01-2020 12:51pm

Morning, Johnboy

It's KDE5 I'm going with. I'll look for any chubes regarding that though. Or, would it not be exactly the same as for MATE?

Machine I rely on? LOL! I can barely rely on This bloody thing, now, can I? It might go tits up again at any moment!

As I saw, when I managed to access MATE that time; I'm perfectly comfortable with its sort of thing ~ I'll be much happier to finish today on KDE5 than this broken 7, that's for sure!

Get this wreck sorted out. Then, having sussed it, I can drag out the HP and do the same on there. That's my goal, anyway.

Stigura · 19-01-2020 1:14pm

Ahh! So, that Was KDE? Cool

Now, I've just checked and found I have KDE5 on my stick. By rights then, should I not be able to plug that in. Reboot, hitting F12. And get the option of what to boot to?

I've cleared all else from this machine now. I'll just give that a go now. My head's much clearer now, obviously. Not had a whole day of absolute torment, just yet!

I'll report back on exactly what goes wrong this time :rolleyes:

Johnboy1951 · 19-01-2020 1:18pm

Seems you are good to go!

Stigura · 19-01-2020 1:28pm

Wish I was. Thought I should be. But; See my post at 22:05, last night. We're at That stage again

I've written it All down, look:

" Error: No configuration File found. No default or UI configuration directive found!
Boot:_ "

Johnboy1951 · 19-01-2020 1:33pm

Stigura wrote: »

Morning, Johnboy

It's KDE5 I'm going with. I'll look for any chubes regarding that though. Or, would it not be exactly the same as for MATE?

....

Yes, the installation procedure is the same for all PCLinuxOS versions.

Other distros use somewhat different install procedures, which is why I pointed you to the PCLinuxOS specific one. No point in confusing the issue

I also noticed quite a number of videos on yourtube made by people who normally use different distros who seem incapable of grasping that other distros do things differently to theirs (often the only one they have any experience with).

So with all things internet based you need to select what to pay attention to and what to discard.

For best information, a question in the PCLinuxOS forum would provide good answers.
It is likely that some users have made videos on different aspects that they could link to.

Stigura · 19-01-2020 1:47pm

Gmailed admin, at the Linux forum. Now waiting to hear from them eith my registration details.

Stigura · 19-01-2020 4:24pm

While twiddling my thumbs, I thought to run a search, on there, without being able to log in yet. Happily, it allows that!

Searched: " error no configuration file found ".

Got this: https://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,145554.msg1242984.html#msg1242984

Unfortunately, it means jack, to me. And, I haven't even got a DVD drive.

The iso is the only thing on that entire stick too

Johnboy1951 · 19-01-2020 4:48pm

I have only just noticed your post with the error message - sorry.

Did you get a list of options to select to boot from?
If yes which did you select?

Stigura · 19-01-2020 4:59pm

Being perfectly honest? I don't even remember the exact sequence now

I have a pad and pencil here. I write stuff down that I think may be relevant.

When I just plain hit for a reboot? I get a box saying; " ACH1:PO-WDC " etc. And it tells me to click this or that. But, nothing I click effects anything in any way. So, I have to hit the machines power button.

The stuff about No Default is what I get when I try a reboot with the iso loaded stick in.

Really freaky bit was last night! At some reboot, I got the option to " Use Huawei mass storage "?! That's mental! My isp is 3. Only Huawei round here is my phone! It's got nothing what so ever to do with this machine. Never been near it! :eek:

Johnboy1951 · 19-01-2020 5:06pm

Did you get a screen up when booting from the USB stick, similar to the one shown in the video I linked to, which lists the various boot options you have?

Stigura · 19-01-2020 5:11pm

Nope. Nothing what so ever like that. That's Linux. All I'm ever seeing is pure doze.

To elaborate on that? It's not letting me get to the iso.

Johnboy1951 · 19-01-2020 5:13pm

Stigura wrote: »

Nope. Nothing what so ever like that. That's Linux. All I'm ever seeing is pure doze.

So the USB stick is not being booted at all it appears.

Have you done anything different this time (except different ISO) to the last time when you had the USB stick successfully boot?

Maybe used a different USB port on the PC?

Stigura · 19-01-2020 5:20pm

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

So the USB stick is not being booted at all it appears.

Have you done anything different this time (except different ISO) to the last time when you had the USB stick successfully boot?
Maybe used a different USB port on the PC?

That gets my eye! Yeppers. I'm most likely trying a new hole now. I have two, connected usb hubs. Quite possible that I was using the other hub before

Aha! There's a free hole on the other hub! I'll try sticking the stick in there and go for a reboot. I'll be sure to watch carefully and write down anything new that happens

Well spotted, sir! :cool:

Johnboy1951 · 19-01-2020 5:29pm

You should disconnect any/all devices not necessary for booting the USB stick as they can sometimes confuse things, depending on what is attached.
Just USB stick and keyboard would be normal ..... and maybe mouse if a USB port is available.

Stigura · 19-01-2020 5:43pm

Exact same bloody result! (At least it's being consistent).

Choice between AHC etc. or " Data Traveler " (My stick).

Choose the stick and get the " Error: No Config... " screen. Reach for the machines power button

Stigura · 19-01-2020 5:47pm

Question: Could the Stick be in the wood pile???

I'm thinking how it all worked like a charm, with MATE, that time. But, I'd bet that was from another of my sticks.

Wonder if it'd be worth trying to load KDE onto one of the other sticks and booting from that? I have the iso left on this desk top. Only that and the recyc bin left there now.

What ye reckon?

Johnboy1951 · 19-01-2020 5:50pm

Stigura wrote: »

Question: Could the Stick be in the wood pile???

I'm thinking how it all worked like a charm, with MATE, that time. But, I'd bet that was from another of my sticks.

Wonder if it'd be worth trying to load KDE onto one of the other sticks and booting from that? I have the iso left on this desk top. Only that and the recyc bin left there now.

What ye reckon?

Yes, that could well be the problem.

Try another USB stick ........ but if the Mate one is still there you could try booting that first to confirm all is OK.

Stigura · 19-01-2020 5:54pm

:cool: I'll have a look.

Have a long, tall cool one, or what ever. As we all know now; Transferring the iso to a stick alone will take about forty minutes or so.

Johnboy1951 · 19-01-2020 5:57pm

Stigura wrote: »

:cool: I'll have a look.

Have a long, tall cool one, or what ever. As we all know now; Transferring the iso to a stick alone will take about forty minutes or so.

That is very slow working indeed.

Takes no more than 4 minutes here.

Stigura · 19-01-2020 6:04pm

:eek: WOW!!! No Way! I've just set to load. Said 50 minutes.

And MATE? Weird! As I think I might have said before, at some point in all this; All I have in its folder are two icons

Crazy! I don't know what happened to it! <Cue; Twilight Zone music>

Johnboy1951 · 19-01-2020 6:11pm

Stigura wrote: »

:eek: WOW!!! No Way! I've just set to load. Said 50 minutes.

And MATE? Weird! As I think I might have said before, at some point in all this; All I have in its folder are two icons Crazy! I don't know what happened to it! <Cue; Twilight Zone music>

As you are using that very strange Windows operating system to look at things I have no ideas

Stigura · 19-01-2020 6:13pm

You're really impressed, aren't ye? I can tell! :cool:

Johnboy1951 · 19-01-2020 6:30pm

If you have the ISO on your desktop is that what Rufus is using to put it on the USB stick ...... or is it downloading it again for its own use?
That would explain the time taken.

It should be using the ISO you already downloaded.

Stigura · 19-01-2020 6:33pm

Dunno. Not using Rufus. Just copying it direct to a new folder on the stick.

Haven't just ballsed half an hour, have I?!

Stigura · 19-01-2020 6:47pm

Right; I now have This in a folder, on my other stick:

Look any good, to man or beast

Johnboy1951 · 19-01-2020 6:54pm

Yes, that is the file to use.

Is There Anybody Out There ....?

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