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Ubuntu Lucid development testing
Topic Started: Dec 7 2009, 09:09 PM (464 Views)
Gina
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As the title says, I've been testing Lucid. This is where I am at present :-.

When doing an update a couple of days ago, the system crashed mid-way through the process. I rebooted and no display - just a stream of errors in text mode. I tried re-running the update from command line - got a bit further but still no graphics, just X errors. Tried sudo aptitude safe-upgrade bit more installed but still "no cigar". Think there were some other things I tried but no joy. I had no GUI just terminal interface.

I tried installing from the daily ISO - won't install. Others are finding the daily ISOs won't install too. We're coming up to Alpha 1 - due out Thursday - and there's ISO testing in progress.

I will be trying each day until it works. Meanwhile I have no working Lucid on my AMD64. I had to reinstall grub-legacy to the MBR to run UE 2.3 (Karmic).
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Gina
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YIPPEE!! . . . Ubuntu Lucid Alpha 1 is out! :) :)

I'm currently downloading and will try installing later this evening :)
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Phaedrus
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I hope it goes ok.

I`ll wait for beta or even final.
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Gina
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Thank you Trev :) There are two Betas this time to encourage more people to test :)
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Gina
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Still problems with the X server - loads of warnings and errors. No GUI!! :( No joy! :(

I've installed Lucid Alpha 1. It boots but after a minute or so of blank screen, dumps me to a CLI login. Log in and type startx and I get masses of warnings and errors flash up and off the top of the screen finally getting the words "giving up" and dumped back at the CLI. Fortunately, sudo reboot works and I'm back in Jaunty! And writing this.
Edited by Gina, Dec 11 2009, 02:07 PM.
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Phaedrus
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:rolleyes Ah well. Early days I guess.
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Gina
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Yup!
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Phaedrus
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Is it a graphics card driver issue? Like it tries to get the driver it needs for x and can`t?
If you think its that you can try installing the drivers from a command prompt with "apt-get install"

Is it an nvidia card?
Edited by Phaedrus, Dec 11 2009, 06:23 PM.
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Gina
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It's probably a driver problem - that seems to be the consensus on Ubuntu Forums. And yes it is nvidia. Installing drivers has been tried, without success. The devs are working on it - it's a known issue. Seems there are some temporary work-arounds but several of us are going to wait for the fix.

Just to add... Lucid is working on the laptop but I can't apply updates because so many packages are still being held back.
Edited by Gina, Dec 11 2009, 07:13 PM.
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Gina
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Further testing of the 64 bit version of Lucid will have to wait until they get the nvidia graphics display bugs fixed. I've tried various work-arounds but no joy.

Meanwhile, I've installed the 32 bit version on my P4 desktop which has ATI graphics, and run the updates. Seems to be working alright so far. Only tried Firefox as yet so plenty to check out. I'm using it now to type this. Firefox is up and running with all my bookmarks and add-ons installed.
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Gina
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Writing this on my AMD64 which is prone to crashing so I'm writing this post in stages (using Edit).

No real progress to report! Lucid still will not install on my AMD64 with nVidia graphics. The Live CD won't boot either. It IS working on my P4 desktop and laptop both of which use ATI graphics.

My computer usage has three parts :-
1. General reading and posting on the boards, playing music, etc.
2. 24/7 serving my weather station and weathercam
3. Testing the development of Ubuntu Lucid

Software reliability is highly desirable for 1. pretty much essential for 2. and not expected for 3. Hardware reliability is required for all three really. The AMD64 is NOT reliable and I suspect it could be overheating - the most processor hungry app I use seems to be Firefox and that's where the problem arises. I plan to give it a good going over when I have time and space but things are hectic up to Christmas :(

If I can get the AMD64 working reliably I expect to use that for running the WS and webcam. It's the most suitable machine for using VB on as it has 3GB of RAM. The P4 only has 1GB and unless/until RAM gets a lot cheaper I'm not thinking of upgrading it. That is perfectly adequate fort Linux though.

Once I'm not using the P4 for WS I would like to tidy it up. It is rather over endowed with hard drives, having three and also with operating systems - gawd knows how many. Most likely Ubuntu going back to 5.04 :lol Plus XP. It came with two 160GB SATA drives and I added a 250GB IDE drive. I think I would prefer to revert to the 2 SATAs. The case is a bit overcrowded with the extra HD and grub has a tendency to get confused if there are both types of drive. I haven't had any overheating problems though. After tidying up, I might try VB hosted by Ubuntu (probably Karmic) and running XP with Cumulus as guest OS.

The IDE drive can go either into my ancient AMD or (if I find the BIOS won't support it) it can go in an IDE USB box and be used as an external drive.

Finished editing :) Phew. Now it's tea time :lol
Edited by Gina, Dec 20 2009, 04:59 PM.
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Phaedrus
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I would be tempted to wipe the AMD machine and start over. If its crashing under load I guess it could be overheating and I would check the ram.
Have you got a temperature monitor to keep an eye on things? I think there are a few in linux. maybe find one that logs so you can eliminate the over heating.
Pull a stick of ram out and see how it runs on each stick.

Doing costly upgrades and repairs on old machines doesn`t seem worth it these days. You can buy a reasonable laptop for £300 now.
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Gina
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Yes, I might well wipe the AMD drive - a clean slate has advantages :) I did that with the laptop. Running UE was interesting and fun trying out the extra software but I think all those extra apps are just clogging up the menus and taking space. So I think I'll just build up a system with only the apps I use. Probably based on Karmic but with the grub2 final replacing the beta. I think Karmic has Ubuntu One which can save a list of installed apps and allow re-installation of these in a new system as a group rather than one at a time as now.

I do have a temperature monitor but one that take a log would be a good idea :) I'll do RAM checks too, as you suggested :)
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Phaedrus
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You can export your current Synaptic state as a download script.
Fire up Synaptic and go File> Generate Package Download Script
Not done this myself, but you should be able to run that script to install everything that is currently installed in one go.

I thought Ubuntu One was just online storage.
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Phaedrus
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Looking further into "Generate Package Download Script" You first need to mark which packages you want to add to the script. Can`t find a way of adding all installed packages, but I`m sure this can be done....I`ll keep looking.

To install from the script you open Synaptic and go File Add downloaded packages - and point to your script.
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Phaedrus
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And here`s the answer... It seems the "generate script" is just for your selected packages.
To save the whole lot in Synaptic go File>Save Markings - Make sure to tick the "Save Full state, not just changes" box, and save the file to a usb drive or whatever.
To install on the fresh system, fire up Synaptic and go File>Read Markings and point it to your saved markings file and apply.
Synaptic will download and install all the files in the list.
Easy peasy :thumbsup
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Gina
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That's great :) Thank you Trev :) :)
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Gina
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Decided to make some ME time :) Cleared some space on the table and have my AMD64 on it. Currently running memtest. The CPU is running quite cool judging by touching the heat pipes to the cooler. There is plenty of dust in the filter feeding the cooler though the air-flow isn't blocked. I'll clean it. The fins of the cooler are pretty clear. I tried installing Karmic from USB stick but it stops before the end, so something is wrong. The case side is off so the CPU cooler is getting a good air-flow.

I'm not wiping the HD - I realised I did that a little while ago. I have deleted some partitions though and reformatted others. I'm satisfied with the HD layout. I have partitions as follows :-
sda1 for Karmic
sda2 contains UE 2.3
sda5 Karmic home
sda6 swap
sda7 a small Jaunty
sda8 UE Home
sda9 data (OS independent data such as music etc.)
sda10 ISO (where I keep the development daily ISOs)
and right at the top end, sda3 Download

I have plenty of space left for partitions for Lucid.
Edited by Gina, Dec 21 2009, 06:18 PM.
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Phaedrus
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Wow thats some chopping up :lol
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Gina
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:lol

OK... Bench testing AMD64... Ran memtest on 3GB RAM - pulled 2GB and ran on remaining 1GB then pulled the 1GB and put 2GB in 1st DIMM slot and ran memtest. No errors. Left just 2GB stick in.

Gave it a hoovering too.

Started again from scratch with USB stick and Karmic 64 Desktop CD image. Ran Live CD - OK so installed - OK. NOT connected to router. Rebooted and Karmic running fine :) Grabbed a long CAT5E cable and connected router to PC. Ran Firefox and install my two fav add-ons, XMarks and AdBlock Plus. Ran the XMarks wizard to log on and grab my bookmarks and passwords. Now all up and running and using it now.

Still have case side off - machine on dining room table with cable across to router and using 17" TFT monitor, wired KB and trackball. I think maybe I'll leave it like that for the night - or maybe put the side back in case the cat gets curious :lol

Actually, I'll reboot into UE 2.3 and run my webcam (weathercam) and leave it overnight.

Later... Now in UE 2.3 and running weathercam. Now to go back to P4 - which I've been looking at HD partitions etc. and reboot into XP to run weather station.

More playing about tomorrow :lol I'll get AMD64 running VB and both OSs and weatherstation + webcam and start attacking the P4 :lol
Edited by Gina, Dec 21 2009, 10:10 PM.
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