Linux Lite Forums

Software - Support => Installing Linux Lite => Topic started by: bobdeconubuntu on March 28, 2014, 06:26:17 PM

Title: Only scattered letters show in system menus
Post by: bobdeconubuntu on March 28, 2014, 06:26:17 PM
I'm trying out Linux Lite from a live DVD on a Dell Dimension 2350 that previously ran XP.  Only onboard video display.    I see the desktop, and I can see the desktop menus but they are unreadable because most of the letters are missing. Not only in the menus, but also file names in the file manager. But Firefox runs fine.

I suspect the problem is that I didn't see any menus during boot, so I didn't get to choose a language.  Is that plausible? 

What I saw during boot:
Feather, auto boot in 8 secs
A few flashes.
Black screen w patterned rectangle top L, stayed on screen 2-3 secs.
Grey screen with Buddha profile and progress bar.
Black screen for 50 secs.
Cursor appeared on black screen, 3 secs.
Desktop, with feather , 3 icons at top L with garbled labels,and toolbar at bottom.

I have a little experience with Linux: I run Ubuntu Studio on my (much newer) laptop. But this font problem is new to me. Any suggestions? LX terminal is working, so can I fix language with some commands (if that's the problem)? Would I have the same problem if I were to install Linux Lite as dual-boot? (not sure how, since I can't understand the menus).
Title: Re: Only scattered letters show in system menus
Post by: Jerry on March 29, 2014, 12:44:43 AM
Sounds like a graphics issue. Could you please post a screenshot of your desktop, this would help greatly thank you.
Full specs of your pc to, cpu, ram, graphics card, etc etc.
Title: Re: Only scattered letters show in system menus
Post by: gold_finger on March 29, 2014, 11:49:40 AM
As Valtam said -- sounds like it could be a graphics driver issue.

Try running the "Install Drivers" tool to see if it finds any proprietary drivers that can be used on your system.  If it finds any, it will list them.  Pick the one marked "Recommended".  To run the tool go to:  Menu -> Settings -> Install Drivers.  I believe you will have to reboot computer to have the newly installed driver take effect.  Try that and let us know how it worked out.
Title: Re: Only scattered letters show in system menus
Post by: XpRefugee on May 03, 2014, 11:23:25 AM
I'm trying out Linux Lite from a live DVD on a Dell Dimension 2350 that previously ran XP.  Only onboard video display.    I see the desktop, and I can see the desktop menus but they are unreadable because most of the letters are missing. Not only in the menus, but also file names in the file manager. But Firefox runs fine.

I suspect the problem is that I didn't see any menus during boot, so I didn't get to choose a language.  Is that plausible? 

What I saw during boot:
Feather, auto boot in 8 secs
A few flashes.
Black screen w patterned rectangle top L, stayed on screen 2-3 secs.
Grey screen with Buddha profile and progress bar.
Black screen for 50 secs.
Cursor appeared on black screen, 3 secs.
Desktop, with feather , 3 icons at top L with garbled labels,and toolbar at bottom.

I have a little experience with Linux: I run Ubuntu Studio on my (much newer) laptop. But this font problem is new to me. Any suggestions? LX terminal is working, so can I fix language with some commands (if that's the problem)? Would I have the same problem if I were to install Linux Lite as dual-boot? (not sure how, since I can't understand the menus).

I have put linux lite on several of these machines i have found that the 1.0.6 version does not have this issue I do not know why???? PAE???
anyway You will have to connect a dvd drive to install it since these machines come with only CDROM Drives
read post
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2200144


Title: Re: Only scattered letters show in system menus
Post by: N4RPS on May 04, 2014, 12:20:31 AM
Hello!

Either the i386 or amd64 Linux Lite 1.0.6 / 1.0.8 ISOs will fit on a 700MB CD. I burn a CD-RW every time I install. Less issues that way...

73 DE N4RPS
Rob
Title: Re: Only scattered letters show in system menus
Post by: XpRefugee on May 05, 2014, 09:51:42 AM
N4RPS
Where did you find a 1.0.6 Iso that will fit on a cd rom??

bobdeconubuntu,
This
https://bbs.linuxdistrocommunity.com/showthread.php?tid=1867&page=2

will help if you go the 1.0.6 route
Title: Re: Only scattered letters show in system menus
Post by: XpRefugee on May 05, 2014, 10:13:55 AM
I am just going to post  it here since linux lite has moved to its own forum.

Here is what I did becase to me it was not crystal clear so to make it super easy for any one else reading the post
I openeded Term and found out what I was running
Code:
cat /etc/*-release

My output
DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=12.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=precise
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 12.04.4 LTS"
NAME="Ubuntu"
VERSION="12.04.4 LTS, Precise Pangolin"
ID=ubuntu
ID_LIKE=debian
PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu precise (12.04.4 LTS)"
VERSION_ID="12.04"

So I am running 12.04.4 LTS, Precise Pangolin

I opened my web browser and went here

http://ppa.launchpad.net/noobslab/linuxlite/ubuntu/pool/main/l/
from there I clicked
lite-software-center/
picked the package that I needed output above sugessted precise
lite-software-center_1.0-013~precise~Noobslab.com_all
downloaded it after it finished
I double clicked the file (it is in /home/susie/Downloads by defalt where susie is your login name)
that opened the package installer and I selected intstall Package
and now it is there.

I went ahead and unistalled the lite user manger (JIC there was some difference)
liteusermanager_1.0-01062014.deb (it is in /home/susie/Downloads by defalt where susie is your login name)
double clicked slected Remove Package

then repeated the steps above but for lite user manger instead of lite software center.

Title: Re: Only scattered letters show in system menus
Post by: N4RPS on May 05, 2014, 10:10:12 PM
N4RPS
Where did you find a 1.0.6 Iso that will fit on a cd rom??

Hello!

Doggone it if you didn't get me on that one! The only way for me to be right on this one would be if I removed something and created < CD-sized ISOs.

Actually, I'm currently working with someone else to create a MATE-based version of Ubuntu 12.04.4, and, ultimately, one based on 14.04. Of course, I'll do all I can to make 'em fit onto a 700MB CD.

I COULD go back and fix the post, I suppose, but I prefer to stand corrected. You've just earned your first reputation point...

73 DE N4RPS
Rob
Title: Re: Only scattered letters show in system menus
Post by: XpRefugee on May 06, 2014, 12:37:44 PM
N4RPS,
I would have rather been wrong LOL
It would save me some time in most cases since I have to open the computer to hook up a IDE DVD drive.  1.0.6 is working great on these old dells  that I have (Dimension 2350's).
Title: Re: Only scattered letters show in system menus
Post by: N4RPS on May 06, 2014, 10:23:40 PM
Hello!

Until I picked up an external USB CD/DVD burner of my own, I used to have to do that, also. I'm glad I did - both DVD drives on my PC don't want to work, even though I fixed the stretched drive belts on them.

Sometimes, for some reason, USB flash drive-installed LiveCDs seem to have issues - issues that make it easier to break out the external than to try and figure out why a flash drive install won't work properly.

As I continue to play around with creating my own LiveCDs, I just might trim some stuff from the 1.0.6 ISOs to get them down to below a too-big-for-CD size, and put them into cloud storage for you. When one really thinks about it, many things that come on them can be installed later, after the ISO is installed to hard disk...

73 DE N4RPS
Rob