My Mandrake 8.1 Experiences so far

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10-01-2001, 06:17 PM
SpookyEddy

My Mandrake 8.1 Experiences so far

Hi all,

Just downloaded "Mdk 8.1 final" from work & installed it on my home box, so here are my first impressions (I am posting from Konqueror now :)):

My system:

Abit Kt-7
Duron 600 Mhz
320 Meg of PC-100 RAM
Fujitsu 10 Gig 5400 rpm UDMA 66 hard-disk
Creative Labs 8x4x32 CD-Rw
ISA Soundblaster
Hercules 32 Meg GeForce2 mx
Accton-C network Card
External Modem
15" TFT monitor @ 1024*768

Installation:

Died first time with package errors :(, tried again with more selective choice including not installing gnome & all went OK. Could be that I have a stuffed CD.

Hard-disk partitioning is very similar to 8.0 but with some extra journaling file systems available, personnally I stuck with Reiser FS.

Can now configure both NIC & dialup during installation :)

Rest of installer is very similar, just a bit slicker.

First boot:

Everything started OK and worked as expected.

"A first time user wizard" now appears on first boot, but I cancelled it because it didn't seem to offer much more than registering the software & choosing your KDE theme.

My hard-disk controler still caused problems at UDMA66, so back to UDMA33 :rolleyes:

Applications:

KDE ran VERY slowly the first time but was back to normal after a re-boot :confused:

Configured Internet with no problems as per normal.

"InteractiveBastille" firewall ran as normal but with a few minor extra options.

Konqueror started up for the first time without crashing on me, which is a first :p

Strangely when I open an application it now appears on all 4 KDE desktops :confused:

Well these are my first experiences & ramblings :D

Will keep you posted with any new stuff.

Regards

Eddy
10-01-2001, 06:54 PM
SpookyEddy

Discovered a few more things :D

Sorted out KDE desktop thing, just a different default setting.

xcdroast is installed by default :)

KDE has a refined taskbar with some extra options.

Anti-aliasing fonts are configured as standard.

Regards

Eddy
10-01-2001, 08:07 PM
t048

Re: My Mandrake 8.1 Experiences so far

Quote:

Originally posted by SpookyEddy
KDE ran VERY slowly the first time but was back to normal after a re-boot :confused:

This happened to me the second time I installed MDK 8.0. I don't know why, but it cleared itself up after a reboot and it doesn't happen every time. Weird.
10-02-2001, 04:22 AM
CMonster

Keep them coming SpookyEddy -in particular if you are using an nVidia graphics card have you installed the nVidia drivers and do they work well?
10-02-2001, 08:51 AM
SpookyEddy

Hi Cmonster,

I am using an NVIDIA GeForce2 mx, but haven't had the courage to install the 3D drivers yet :D

I guess I can't use the rpm's i've got from my old setup as they are compiled for the 2.4.3 kernel, so I'll grab the source at work.

KDE now fades text that runs towards the edge of an application title on the task bar.

When you open multiple konqueror windows they only appear once on the taskbar, you then click on the taskbar and get a list of sites you have open.

Very pleased with stability so far :)

Will report back

Eddy
10-02-2001, 10:46 AM
S.D.Willie

yeah ive notice with gaim as well you will have one box minimized for whatever conversations you have going on. kinda cool i guess. i have a geforce 256(asus v6600 pure) and i couldnt get the resolution to 1024x768 at all. it keep telling me incorrect parameters, try again. well after i rebooted i got the screen size i wanted. strange. i too have to attempt the nvidia drivers as well.
especially since i bought quake 3 arena for linux and it was 10 bux new and came with a copy of suse. :)

SD

the install however went smooth as a baby's ****.
but...........setting the size of partitions with a slider bar is a total pain in the ***. you just cant get the exact size you want. :mad:
10-02-2001, 10:57 AM
SpookyEddy

I agree about the partition sizing bar, just forgot to mention it :o
10-02-2001, 01:55 PM
CMonster

I will have to look into 8.1. I had problems with getting the nVidia drivers to continue working in Mandrake 8.0 after a reboot.. they work great when I install them and restart X , but if I do a complete reboot something comes in conflict.

The nVidia drivers work great, however, in SuSE 7.2 and Redhat 7.1.... only my beloved Drake gives me a headache.
10-02-2001, 05:49 PM
SpookyEddy

Hmm, seems like my CDROM drives are no longer mounted at boot :(

Not a problem with data CD's but does anyone know how to mount Audio discs?

Also when I attempt to compile the NVIDIA kernel driver tarballs I get the following error:

"[root@Slacker NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-1541]# make
rm -f nv.o os-interface.o os-registry.o Module-linux NVdriver
cc -c -Wall -Wno-unknown-pragmas -Wno-multichar -O -D__KERNEL__ -DMODULE -D_LOOSE_KERNEL_NAMES -D_X86_=1 -Di386=1 -DUNIX -DLINUX -DNV4_HW -DNTRM -DRM20 -D_GNU_SOURCE -DRM_HEAPMGR -D_LOOSE_KERNEL_NAMES -DNV_MAJOR_VERSION=1 -DNV_MINOR_VERSION=0 -DNV_PATCHLEVEL=1541 -I. -I/usr/src/linux/include nv.c
In file included from nv.c:50:
/usr/include/linux/modversions.h:1:2: #error Modules should never use kernel-headers system headers,
/usr/include/linux/modversions.h:2:2: #error but headers from an appropriate kernel-source
make: *** [nv.o] Error 1"

Any suggestions?

TIA

Eddy
10-02-2001, 07:16 PM
SpookyEddy

ooops, just rebooted and X is completely borked :(

Get the error message:

"X windows is respawning to fast" and the screen flashes frantically between the CLI and X.

Any suggestions or am I looking at a reinstall?

TIA

Eddy
10-02-2001, 08:35 PM
pbharris

hi Eddy,

audio CDs have no filesystems and do not get mounted at all, although you should be able to play them of course.

On the NVidia drivers, did you install the kernel source and is it located at /usr/src/linux ?
I always use custom kernels and use the nvidia tarballs. And are kernel-headers installed?

What version of X is shipping? I using xfree86 4.03 and it ahs been very good for me. Here is my XF86Config-4 file:

http://members.telocity.com/~cph013/XF86Config-4

The option Option "IgnoreEDID" "1 should only be used if you are sure of your moniter trefresh rates, which i am guessing you are. This is also for a TNT2 but should work for gforce2 because its a unifed drivers, although the amount of memory may be different.
10-02-2001, 08:44 PM
SpookyEddy

Thanks for the help,

I have installed kernel headers but it looks like I need to download the kernel source, I ll give it a try tomorrow.

I still can't get X to start properly :(

However before I restarted the machine & it went wrong I did install a new firewall app (firestarter) that installed some Gnome stuff. Could this be the problem?

Thanks for the help.

Eddy
10-02-2001, 08:52 PM
pbharris

No, iptables and gnome would not mess with X at all.

Is X not booting even after going back to the original XF86Config-4 file ?

Have you treid to re-run Xconfigurator or whatever tool mandrake uses?
RedHat and debain both include teh kernel source on the CDs, so I would think you should not need to download it...
10-02-2001, 10:51 PM
brunux

Please excuse this post but I am here in TX at 9:42PM 10-2-1 and I see post from IL made tomarrow. I am just checking on Waasup

edit:rolleyes: duaaa I see it GMT, foot in mouth again
10-03-2001, 06:20 PM
SpookyEddy

Up and running again, had to re-install, thank god I made an automatic install disc :D

Thanks for the help pbharris but X was completely messed up, I tried you XF86config file & several backups & running Xconfig but with no luck :(

Regards

Eddy
10-03-2001, 08:02 PM
ngc457

I don't know why everyone puts up with linux ****. Win2k is just as stable if not more plus you can run high quality productive programs such as PhotoShop, Dreamweaver, Freehand, Director, Quarkexpress, Illistrator, Flash and the list goes on and on and on and on and on and on.
With linux all you have is config problems, crashing and a bunch of worthless freeware.
You pay nothing for Linux and you get nothing just pure garbage.
10-03-2001, 08:15 PM
SpookyEddy

ngc457 can you please post your opinions in a new thread.

This is not about Windows Vs Linux, but a report on my experiences with Mandrake 8.1 - aiming to provide a bit of useful info to existing linux users who may want to upgrade.

However I work as a Win2k admin so would be more than happy to debate the Win2k Vs Linux issue with you, I just don't think this thread is the appropriate place.

Look forward to discussing this issue & hope I didn't cause offense.

Regards

Eddy
10-03-2001, 09:08 PM
pbharris

Bummer you had to reinstall Spooky.

ngc457 - I could easily pook around in the threads for people looking for help with windows and tell them to swtich to linux and there are lots of threads like that here at sysopt. I am not sure if you ever used linux but crash is the only it does not do. I would be more than happy to help you if you decided you woul would like to try. But I will now respect SpookyEddy's opinion and and wiaty for a new thread to start.

Like Eddy said - I hope I did not cause offense.
10-03-2001, 09:18 PM
SpookyEddy

Thanks for the the support pbharris.

I know this thread has wandered a bit but I feel it doesn't need to turn into a "I hate windows" Vs "Ihate linux" thread :D

I have also private messaged ngc457, suggesting a new thread covering the Windows Vs Linux issue, where we can all flame & troll away ;) . I have not yet received a reply, but I may just start the thread myself for fun :)

I was very impressed with the ease at which I re-installed my setup, took less than 30 mins to get everything working properly using automatic install & not formating "/home".

I have also been playing with the latest release of Mozilla included with Mdk 8.1, as suggested by lots of Sysopt users. So far I am very impressed with the quality of html rendering, unfortunately I still find the interface to be very ugly :(

Got Staroffice 6.0 beta working with no problems.

Just a few more of my ramblings.

Regards

Eddy
10-03-2001, 09:33 PM
linux_guru

Got hold of my copy of 8.1, at last. :D Made the mistake of going for JFS first time around. I work with JFS (AIX) all day, and know what a great filesystem it is. Too bad it's still in beta for Linux. :mad: Nothing but problems and crashes.

O.K., re-installed this time going for Ext3. Very stable, no problems, slick new interface, installer, etc, etc.

Likes: My USB Xerox laser printer now works. (Wouldn't work under 8.0). Now accesses NTFS ro/rw. AND boots NTFS. Slick fonts. X-CDroast installed by default. My AMD chipset is now fully supported. Choice of Journaling filesystems that are bootable, right from install time. Slick new applets & KOffice.

Dislikes: My PCI Sm56 modem (h/w) doesn't work anymore. :( Parallel scanners still not supported. Seriously dumbed down for newbies and Windoze types - it even complains if you login to X as root ! How dare they ! I only ever login as root. It then proceeds to give you no desktop icons (KDE). It didn't even give me a clock on the taskbar, or the other usual applets. Had to add these manually. Don't know if this is a KDE 2.2.1 issue, or just the way Mandrake hs "customised" it.

Will continue to evaluate .........
10-03-2001, 10:25 PM
pbharris

Oh boy - a linux vs windows flamewar!!!
have not had one of those since the 11'th.

Still waiting for star office....
10-03-2001, 10:27 PM
pbharris

hey Linux_guru - how is ext3? is it as good as reiserFS?
10-03-2001, 10:54 PM
linux_guru

pb: Very Slick and stable. I think it's even quicker than Reiser. I'll have to run some benchmarks and test it out to be sure.
10-03-2001, 10:56 PM
linux_guru

BTW - these ignorant windoze zealots, who haven't even tried Linux, are not even worth acknowledging. :o
10-06-2001, 11:33 AM
daveleau

ngc457
He is asking for an opinion basing people's experiences with Mandrake 8.1 versus other distros. Not what you think of Linux in general. While I respect and welcome your opinion of Linux, please keep it in threads based ion its topic.
Thanks for your anticipated compliance.
Dave
10-06-2001, 12:57 PM
SpookyEddy

Thanks dave,

Just for the record I now have my GeForce2 mx up & running on 'drake 8.1.

I installed the 2.4.8 kernel source using:

"urpmi kernel-source"

Then I untarred both the Nvidia kernel & GLX package using:

"tar -xzvf tarball.tar.gz"

Then compiled both packages (kernel first):

"make install"

Then edit X setup, (adding load "glx" & replacing nv with nvidia)

Works great and no longer get NVIDIA splash screen at KDE startup, must be part of the rpm's I guess. Quake3 runs excellently.

Unfortunately I am still having web browser problems. Mozilla is great but occassionally locks up in Sysopt & I have to kill it :(. Netscape is rock solid but to get the forum to be readable I have to increase the font size which messes up the text formatting on parts of the Sysopt homepage.

All the best.

Eddy
10-06-2001, 01:59 PM
t048

My Mandrake 8.1 experiences

I installed Mandrake 8.1 several days ago. I was very impressed. I had no install problems. It was very easy and very smooth.

I fired it up and I've had no problems yet. I haven't be able to do much stress testing, but it was a seamless transition from 8.0 to 8.1. I'm using ReiserFS for both root and home partitions.

In a few days, I'll get around to installing the nVidia drivers for my vid card and recompile the kernel.

Quote:

posted by pbharris
ngc457 - I could easily pook around in the threads for people looking for help with windows and tell them to swtich to linux...

"pook"? That cracks me up! :D
10-06-2001, 04:41 PM
SpookyEddy

I've now got my USB webcam working (well sort of), using "xawtv". Unforunately half the image is interlaced with green lines :( Takes stills OK though :)

Regards

Eddy
10-06-2001, 06:21 PM
CMonster

Well, after 15 hours of downloading on my DSnaiL connection I finally got all 3 of the Drake 8.1 CDs - Installed on my daughter's system just fine and after compiling the nVidia drivers from source the 3d/opengl is working great.

Very slick!

BTW- my 7-year old dual boots, loves to play Linux games, and is also able to compose documents in Word or Star Office.