About DebEX-Mint 12 Xmas with KDE 4.7.3 and kernel 3.1.4

[exton]

I wish you the same Cariboo!

[exton]

It has come to my attention that some people wonder if it is safe to run a "Exton distribution". Because of that, I want to say this:

I have been remastering different Linux systems for many years. Linux Mint 12 and DebEX-Mint 12 Xmas KDE is different in principle to the terms of program content. A general truth: If an original system can run on a particular computer a "Exton remaster" of the same original system can run on the same computer. I never change a Linux system for the worse in terms of auto configuration and hardware detection, etc. It happens that I replace the original kernel, but always to a "better" one with even more native support for various hardware etc.

The number of Exton distributions has decreased from 66 (all time high in June 2011) to 33. See a complete LIST. It was a bit too much for me to keep 66 distributions up to date.

All Exton distributions on the Swedish Linux Society's FTP Server can be reached HERE. Ten (10) Exton distributions in English (English locale) can also be dowloaded from SourceForge.net.

[sector]

I've tested DebEX-Mint 12 Xmas KDE via a live USB. I believe it's a very good choise for everyone who wants to use the ubuntu based mint 12 with KDE. Everything works fine out of the box at my laptop. I do not use wifi so I havent noticed any problem with wicd. My graphics card is ATI HD 4650 and it worked as expected with the 3.1.4 kernel.

[exton]

sector,

I'm very glad to hear that. Thanks!

[versys650]

Hi,greetings from Greece
I have tested KDE DE from DebEX-Mint 12 LiveDVD and i am very satisfied.
I tried it on two computer systems:
The one has the following hardware parts-->Intel Pentium Dual-Core Mobile T3200 (2.00 GHz),3GB Ram,Intel (GMA) 4500M
and the other-->Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600(2,66 GHz),4GB Ram, NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250(1GB)

In both cases it works fast and the systems responded very well.
I think that it is a good addition that the new kernel 3.1.4 is installed.
The only problem I came across was that I wasn't able to connect wirelessly with wicd but I read a previous post suggesting this :

Wicd: I forgot to mention it, but Wicd doesn't work so well in KDE, when you are running from a dvd. (Don't know why). Login to Gnome and use Network Manager to configure your wireless network. Works perfect.

I recommend DebEX-Mint 12 since the new Mint with KDE has delayed.

[exton]

Thanks for your recommendation! I hope many other members will try my remaster (and write something about it).

[sanda]

exton, I've been actively distro-hopping these past few weeks (primarily Debian, non-Ubuntu distros)
and passed over ExTiX due to 2 concerns:
a) The navigation link text at the dot .se website raised worry over whether English lanaguage would be well-supported
b) coping with "sid" is beyond my reach, for now (I'm still dual-booting b/t my rock-solid WinXP and *nix)

For the record, among the dozen live distros I've tested, your debex-mint-12-special-kde-gnome-1460mb-111207.iso is a real standout. Thank you!
For my system, it's one of the few "everything just works" distros.
The professional quality of your production really shines & having the ability to choose different desktop environments from the live CD is a real treat! I'm also impressed by how quickly it boots up (and stumped as to how/why). Is the fast boot because your distro avoids the need to unpack squashfs files during boot?

So thanks again, sir, and Happy Holidays!

[ej64]

hello,

I appreciate your work and I think it's always good to have one more choice but one less

Just two remarks:

1. Using a vanilla kernel isn't always the best choice. Ubuntu has a sophisticated set of patches they apply to the vanilla kernel to fight some glitches concerning audio, wireless and a lot more. Some are backports of patches that have been applied to newer (vanilla) kernels. Anyway it's safer to use an Ubuntu kernel in the first place unless you want to exclude certain (perhaps uncommon or newest) hardware. If you like to use a brand-new kernel use linux-image-3.2.0-6-generic from the precise repos (you'll need crda as well).

2. 32bit vs. 64bit

Please read this post: http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/linux- ... linux.html A good simple explanation. (I think).

That's old news and not true anymore (of 2006 and 2008). There aren't any compatibility issues anymore. Almost every SW in the repos is 32 AND 64 bit (is there still anything ONLY 32bit?). Flash is 64bit, too. And if you actually find something 32bit only, it will run under 64bit as well. Ubuntu is finally going to recommend 64bit for the 12.04 release. And apart from some small exceptions 64bit IS faster (link on the previous reading), esp. if you deal with number crunching like encryption (full disk encryption!), graphics or video manipulations, audio conversion (who doesn't?) or something bizarre like me (chess) ...

Apart from that, I'll probably look into your distro having some joy

[exton]

Hi ej64,

I just want to say that "my" kernel 3.1.4-xmas is compiled the "Ubuntu way". It has all the necessary patches.

About 32bit/64bit I can not argue. I never use 64bit myself though. I've just heard that there still is hardware issues.

Edit
I forgot to mention that you can't use kernel 3.2.0-6-generic live (yet).

[exton]

Hi sanda,

Thank you for your kind words and Happy Hollidays!

[andrew5859]

It's a great distro, but you can't connect to a wireless network using wicd....I tried on my laptop and my new machine which sports a linksys dual antenna wireless card.....sorry buddy it don't work....Merry Christmas & cheers.


Andrew

[exton]

Andrew,

Please see my previous post above from Sat Dec 10, 2011 3:03 pm:

Wicd: I forgot to mention it, but Wicd doesn't work so well in KDE, when you are running from a dvd. (Don't know why). Login to Gnome and use Network Manager to configure your wireless network. Works perfect.

Since this matter seems quite big I have added a note about it in my main post.

[exton]

For people who install DebEX-Mint 12 Xmas KDE to hard disk
I forgot to mention that you always will get the latest KDE version if you run the command sudo apt-get upgrade. This means that you currently will get version 4.7.4, released on 7 December 2011.

Edit later
You must of course first update your package sources. Run command sudo apt-get update then sudo apt-get upgrade.

[Daboo]

If you run "sudo apt-get upgrade", will that not try to upgrade the kernel if there's a newer version?

Chris

[exton]

If you run "sudo apt-get upgrade", will that not try to upgrade the kernel if there's a newer version?

Chris

No, but when a newer Ubuntu kernel is available, you will see it including in Synaptic. Then choose to replace my kernel with the newer Ubuntu kernel. It will probably be some time before it becomes necessary though...

[IslandWolf]

For people who install DebEX-Mint 12 Xmas KDE to hard disk
I forgot to mention that you always will get the latest KDE version if you run the command sudo apt-get upgrade. This means that you currently will get version 4.7.4, released on 7 December 2011.

That is not true in my case. I have issued that command, as well as sudo apt-get dist-upgrade, and yet I still only have KDE 4.7.3 installed. And it crashes or misbehaves frequently. So how do I really upgrade my KDE installation?

Thanks in advance!

Richard

[exton]

I never learn. One can never be too clear. You must of course first update your package sources. Run command sudo apt-get update then sudo apt-get upgrade.

Do not run command sudo apt-apt-get dist-upgrade. (It is not about a distribution upgrade now).

Screenshot 1: apt-get upgrade

Screenshot 2: Synaptic after apt-get update.

And it crashes or misbehaves frequently you say. Can you be a little more specific? (What is crashing etc?). Are you sure you have a correct ISO-file? No burning issues?

Merry Xmas Everybody!

[IslandWolf]

I opened another thread. Please see my reply to this post at http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=161&t=89751#p516735. Thanks.

[exton]

Ok, I see. You must have (accidently) removed some necessary programs when uninstalling Gnome etc. Why did you remove Gnome? (Just don't use it if you don't like it). Many Gnome-files are necessary in any Ubuntu-system.

What you could do now: Reinstall. Then upgrade KDE the way I stated before.

You could also (first) try to copy sources.list (/etc/apt/sources.list) while running DebEX-Mint 12 Xmas live to the same place in your installed system. (Then start up DebEX-Mint from hard disk and upgrade KDE).

Good luck!

Edit
I forgot to answer your question: Why have you assumed that I did not issue those exact commands in that exact order?
Answer: Because if you do that (without messing up the system before) KDE 4.7.4 will be installed.

[BubbaBlues]

For people who install DebEX-Mint 12 Xmas KDE to hard disk
I forgot to mention that you always will get the latest KDE version if you run the command sudo apt-get upgrade. This means that you currently will get version 4.7.4, released on 7 December 2011.

How are you supposed to do that when there is no installer on the disk?
A live disk with no installer is completely useless to me.