Recent Posts

1

Installing Linux Lite / Re: LL 3.8 Win-XP Dual-Boot

« Last post by stevef on Today at 04:45:15 PM »

@W-Exit

Gunter

sorry to bother you again mate.

No problem, happy to try to help provided it is understood that this can only be general advice about process and not a discussion of unsupported OS etc..

First, ensure any important data has been saved somewhere safe before proceeding.
Then you need to decide what you want to do.  Here are some choices, one of them may be right for you.
If not, let us know exactly what you want.

1) Simplest - Do Nothing.
Your system boots ok from the SSD and there is plenty of disk space to not worry about the partitioning.
Changing the BIOS boot order to promote the SSD to the top of the list would improve the boot time.

2) Still simple - wipe the disk and start again with no special partitioning.
Normally this will be the 'Erase Disk and Install Linux' choice.  Many people do it this way without a problem, but because you have untidy partitioning in place, it is possible the installer may struggle and it will be more predictable if the partitions are cleared before invoking the installer. To do this, it is necessary to boot from the Live media and use Gparted to delete any partitions you find and then install a fresh system onto the blank disk.
This will allow the OS installer of the distro you select to use the whole disk for the OS and your data.

3) Complex - wipe the disk as option 2 but re-partition it before installing the OS.
This allows the OS and your data to exist on different partitions of the same disk.
Keeping OS and data separate may have some advantages.  This would require the 'Something Else' choice.  It is easy to make an error here.

4) Most complex - Try to tidy up the partitioning without re-installing.
I can't see any benefit in trying this unless options 1,2 or 3 are impractical.

If I understand correct I can “delete“sda7 and sda6 (both ext4) ??
 which should leave sda2 (extended) intact ??
 Or do I need to format sda2 as ext4 (??)
 here it comes, my I don't know what to do.
 will sda2 still be available (for data storage) after deleting sda6 and sda7 ??
 in other words: Deleting sda6 and ada7 will create free, unused space ??
 Which i can assign to sda2 ??
 I would imagine the actual LL-Sys (booting with no USB) resides on sda1 (ext4) ??

I think these questions are relevant with option 4 which is not recommended unless you can really justify the time and effort required.

Or was it better to do a complete re-install (trying to recollect the complete SSD) ??
 Meaning: Delete sda1 as well ??

Yes, this would be option 2 (or maybe option 3)

If so YES, how would I force this after the USB - boot ??

 I am asking, because I tried this before and ended with the mess I am currently facing.

Boot from the Live USB, use gparted to clean the disk up and then install the supported OS to the clean disk.
If all goes well, it will install the OS correctly.  It is hard to guess how you have ended up with the partition set up you have, maybe you did it via the 'Something Else' option

Please note: The grandpa never stored his data on the Sys-Boot device (even so it was partitions on the same HD only)
 which saved my life more than once !!

I think this would be option 3 if I understand correctly.

steve

2

Installing Linux Lite / Re: LL 3.8 Win-XP Dual-Boot

« Last post by W-Exit on Today at 12:24:15 PM »

@stevef

Hi Sir,

 sorry to bother you again mate.

 If I understand correct I can “delete“sda7 and sda6 (both ext4) ??

 which should leave sda2 (extended) intact ??
 Or do I need to format sda2 as ext4 (??)

 here it comes, my I don't know what to do. 

 will sda2 still be available (for data storage) after deleting sda6 and sda7 ??

 in other words: Deleting sda6 and ada7 will create free, unused space ??
 Which i can assign to sda2 ??

 I would imagine the actual LL-Sys (booting with no USB) resides on sda1 (ext4) ??

 Or was it better to do a complete re-install (trying to recollect the complete SSD) ??
 Meaning: Delete sda1 as well ??
 If so YES, how would I force this after the USB - boot ??

 I am asking, because I tried this before and ended with the mess I am currently facing.

 Please note: The grandpa never stored his data on the Sys-Boot device (even so it was partitions on the same HD only)
 which saved my life more than once !!

best regards, many thanks and all the best
Gunter

 

3

Installing Linux Lite / Re: LL 3.8 Win-XP Dual-Boot

« Last post by stevef on Today at 04:12:12 AM »

UEFI was started in 2006 but I think your machine will be BIOS only so any advice about UEFI won't apply.

I guess there was something wrong with the CD.

Now you can boot off USB Live media, you can tidy up the partitioning as described in earlier posts 7 and 10

Basically right click on each partition's pictogram in turn and select 'delete'
Once all the partitions are queued for delete click 'apply' and gparted will remove them to blank the disk.

Once you have blanked the disk, please install a supported OS.

4

Installing Linux Lite / Re: LL 3.8 Win-XP Dual-Boot

« Last post by W-Exit on Today at 02:16:00 AM »

@stevef

 hi again.
 Will try to write a brand new Boot-CD (or even try a USB).
 To the other question of a SSD in the ancient sys ??
 Me I am a civil engineer (with main focus on POWER, online since CPU type 8086) and I had an electrical engineer colleague (unfortunately not with us any more) who saw this SSD lying around my table when the HD in the LT was broken.
 So he mounted it (I guess he altered the BIOS, I have more boot options than original). I would not know the details how he achieved this, but he did.

 It was flawlessly working for many years, astonishingly fast (for it's HW) and served me well with few old Win-XP programs not working fine under more actual Win versions - or a VM.

 I am emotionally very attached to this piece of Hardware, otherwise I was not here on my crusade to rescue it.

 It will take some time for the next reply / question
 However, my-CD's  are spinning, the LED are flashing and I can hear the read attempts.
 I can manually adjust the boot-order in BIOS and set the internal CD-drive first.

 It takes ages to get anywhere, but in the end it will always boot from the SSD.
 (Hence I have no chance to manipulate anything with gparted)

 Just today I read somewhere that UEFI might have something to do with not booting the life-media.
 I read quote: 'disable Secure Boot' and set UEFI enabled, however I can't find these options.
 I still have the iso and would want to try making an bootable life USB to try ....
 (need to go out and get some HW first !!)

 Also I will try to furnish a ScreenShot of my Bios Setup Boot Order (but this is little difficult to achieve)
 

many thanks again and all the best
Gunter

p.s.: I managed to create a boot-able USB (??)
Had to go with RUFUS (old version) since Balena-Etcher won't work on my system (don't know why)
managed to boot from usb
and to start gparted from terminal
I am enclosing another ScreenShot (SS) at this point ...

This means I have reached the point where I need advice on how to straighten out my SSD partitioning mess - and how to do so !!

Maybe someone can step in at this point ??

Any guidance appreciated !!
best regards
Gunter

5

Installing Linux Lite / Re: LL 3.8 Win-XP Dual-Boot

« Last post by stevef on May 02, 2024, 12:24:09 PM »

@W-Exit
Gunter

As you have had the live media CD working before and the system BIOS has been set to allow booting from the CD (above booting from the SSD) then the CD should boot.

Do you hear any sounds when booting as the CD drive gets up to speed or perhaps the sound of the head seeking across the disk ?
Are there any activity LEDs on the CD drive ?  They should flash as the drive is accessed.

If the CD appears to be accessed (sound and LED) and the system later boots off the SSD then it suggests the system couldn't find boot code on the CD.  It could be scratched, dirty or even upside down in the drive.  The only thing I can suggest is trying the live media CD on another system if you have one available.

If the CD isn't being accessed during boot up (no sounds or LED) it suggests something wrong with the BIOS settings.

It would be good to resolve what is happening, but as mentioned before, if the system boots ok from the SSD the untidy partitioning is not a worry.

Out of interest, how did an XP machine dating back to the mid 2000s get fitted with a 500GB SSD ?  If I had a 500GB SSD I wouldn't  even think to be using it on a 20 year old system.

As always - please use a supported OS.

steve

6

Updates / Re: update error after install - locking problem

« Last post by stevef on May 02, 2024, 11:58:22 AM »

Any software update process (like a manual update, a background update or running a package manager) requires exclusive access to update resources and will lock them while running to prevent another update process starting.  If one update process has locked the resources and a second one tries to start, the second will not be able to get the resource and will generate a message like this.

Usually all that is needed is to wait until the first process completes and releases the resource.  If the second attempt to update/upgrade worked then all is well.

If the problem did not self-resolve it is possible that something (like an interrupted update) may have broken the mechanism and more investigation would have been required to clear the lock.

7

Installing Linux Lite / Re: LL 3.8 Win-XP Dual-Boot

« Last post by W-Exit on May 02, 2024, 09:07:34 AM »

@stevef

 Hi there

 and many thanks again.
 I think I sorted notifications, and SreenShot Uploads 

 I have been trying to “boot“ from same CD I used for initial install ....
 .... in order such to eventually sort my SSD defrag-mess.

Actually it is the same media which put me where I am (a loss of understanding)

since I am not getting anywhere. In the end it always boots from SSD.

Please: I went into BIOS boot sequence and put boot_from CD first, to no avail.

kindly excuse the retired Grandpa for his blindness / alzheimer
best regards
Gunter
 
P.s: Sorry, only now I noted that there is a new message ....

8

Updates / [ SOLVED ] update error after install - locking problem

« Last post by FrankP on May 02, 2024, 08:45:46 AM »

E: Kon vergrendeling /var/lib/dpkg/lock-frontend niet verkrijgen. Proces 3917 houdt deze grendel vast (apt-get)
E: Kan de vergrendeling voor het dpkg-frontend (/var/lib/dpkg/lock-frontend) niet verkrijgen. Gebruikt een ander proces dit?

Any solution?
Thanks,

Frank

PS Later, after trying the update gain, it said update was complete. But I do not know if that is true...

9

Installing Linux Lite / Re: LL 3.8 Win-XP Dual-Boot

« Last post by Şerban S. on May 02, 2024, 08:16:26 AM »

@W-Exit

Hi, Gunther!

[...] LL is installed on the SSD, I am not booting from a live-media.
There is no data of any value on this SSD, other than the OS. So a complete "re-format" would not do any harm. [...]

This is very important to know!
From your posts, I learned at least three things:
1. You are a LEARNER!
2. You are a fast learner! This is one of the  most valuable assets  a human being can have and develop!
3. You are a diligent person and a persistent one!

With those being said:
Stop worrying! You already have all you need INSIDE of you!

What you need now, is practice!

First thing and the most important now:
You need to practice using the following distros:
1. GPartEd Live. This is the key tool in storage management, either for running any OS or for managing mass storage media, even small storage like USB sticks and SD cards (or whatever card). Used to create, delete, and manage partition tables, and logical drives on various media.

2.CloneZilla Live.. This is the key tool for managing low-level backups. Low-level backups, means bit-by-bit copies of a certain portion of a drive ("disk" or "partition") or even entire drives (I never used that, except for test & learn purposes). Copies of an entire drive are usually called "clones", hence the name of the toolkit.

Now, let's see what we have here:

[...] With “gparted“ I am not really getting anywhere, other than I manage to start it.
It will show exact the a.m. partitions, but does not allow me to do anything with them. [...]

Using GPartEd on an active drive.

I guess @stevef explained clearly enough why you had trouble.
In order to do anything with a drive, you need to access it via GPartEd Live..
That means you have to boot a bootable USB stick, with the GPartEd Live. ISO written on it.
After booting GPartEd Live, you will be presented the same screen, except for the options available.
In this case, you can delete any partition, even the entire drive.
Since you have a very old computer (2005), it has a BIOS firmware and the only partition type available, is MSDOS.
You can skip the step "Create New Partition Table".

Now, let's look at the disk structure:


1. /dev/sda1, ext4, 117 GB;
2. /dev/sda2, extended, 348 GB;
3. /dev/sda6, ext4, 230 GB;
4. /dev/sda5, SWAP, 2 GB;

What you need to do now for a fresh install, is (A) Delete all partitions (logical drives).
The exact order, is as follows:

1. /dev/sda5, SWAP, 2 GB;
2. /dev/sda6, ext4, 230 GB;
3. /dev/sda2, extended, 348 GB;
4. /dev/sda1, ext4, 117 GB;

After scheduling the operations, click the "Apply" button, confirm the operations and wait for completion.
Being a slow computer, might take a bit longer.
After completion, your drive will be empty. This shows as "Unallocated" (se the screen capture, last entry).
Now, we need to create the partitions.
I will layout here three scenarios:

A. The Partitions

The entire drive, has 488,281 MB.

1. /dev/sda1, ext4, primary, / (Root), 30720 MB  Flag = boot;
1. /dev/sda2, SWAP, primary,  4096 MB;

488,281 - 30,720 - 4,096 = 453,915 MB left.

3. /dev/sda3, primary, extended, 453,915 MB;
4. /dev/sda5, ext4, primary, /home, 453,915 MB;



B: "Quick install" 

This scenario, means that you will use the default Install Scenario, which is "Erase entire disk and install Linux Lite".
In case you want a slightly different setup, here it is:

From the Installer menu, instead of choosing the default scenario, choose "Something different".
You will be presented the Partition Manager window.

Choose from within Partition Manager "/dev/sda1", than "Change", use the drive as ext4, mountpoint /.
Check "Format partition".
Choose  /dev/sda2 , than "Change", use partition as LINUX-SWAP.
Choose  /dev/sda5 , than "Change", use partition as ext4, mountpoint  /home..

Proceed with the installation.
Default GRUB installation should be "/dev/sda".
The downside of this setup is that your personal data will be in the /home partition, along with many other system things.
It is very much like the Windows "My Documents".
Also, when you perform a low-level backup (CloneZilla) the amount of data will be huge.

C: "Pro Install" 

I use this kind of partition layout, regardless the BIOS/UEFI type of firmware. That is, regardless the partition type: MSDOS or GPT (Global Partitioning Table).
The exception is on the type of the first partition, because GPT requires a boot partition, which is FAT32, and is flagged "boot, esp".
The rest of the partitioning scheme, is the same.

1. /dev/sda1, ext4, primary, / (Root), 30720 MB  Flag = boot;
1. /dev/sda2, SWAP, primary,  4096 MB;

488,281 - 30,720 - 4,096 = 453,915 MB left.

4. /dev/sda3, ext4, primary, /home, 61,440 MB;
453,915 - 61,440 = 392,475 MB
4. /dev/sda4, ext4, primary, /mydata, 392,475 MB;

As you can see, I skipped the "extended" partition since I planned to use only four partitions, which is the maximum amount of partitions allowed by the MSDOS partition table.

During the install procedure, I need to set the mountpoints, accordingly to the new scheme.
This allows me to have mounted all the listed drives (/, /home and /mydata).
Besides that, my data is stored in a different location, that I can backup using LuckyBackup, which is a frontend (GUI) for the rsync tool.
This can be done from within the current session, without the need to boot any external tool such as CloneZilla Live, for one.
The advantage of CloneZilla over TimeShift, is the small size of the backup. But this is a matter of taste/habits...

Best regards, Șerban.

10

Installing Linux Lite / Re: LL 3.8 Win-XP Dual-Boot

« Last post by stevef on May 02, 2024, 03:38:55 AM »

@W-Exit
Gunter

so LL is installed on the SSD, I am not booting from a live-media.

If the system boots from the SSD to Linux Lite (without live media) - yes, you have a working system.

With “gparted“ I am not really getting anywhere, other than I manage to start it.
It will show exact the a.m. partitions, but does not allow me to do anything with them.

Gparted won't let you change partitions if they are 'mounted' and because the system booted from the SSD, some partitions are in use.

I suggested booting the live media and running gparted (if you wish to tidy the disk up) because in that case none of the partition would be mounted.
The partitioning you have is untidy but if the system functions as you want it to and you have given up on dual booting I'd suggest not to worry.

Apparently I found out how to receive a notification - message

I think an email is generated if the poster puts your username in their reply.

Please don't run unsupported OS.  As there is no support the system and applications will be unpatched against any vulnerabilities.

Steve