Just installed R8

[Dan]

While waiting for the new R10 release, I thought I'd have some fun and install this Debian version. 

At boot, it wouldn't connect via wifi for some reason...it just kept asking me to re-enter the wifi password. So I just plugged in the ethernet cable.

Install was great...at first I thought something was wrong when I clicked on the installer. I clicked it, and nothing happened. After about 45 seconds to a minute, it finally appeared. I really like that type of installer by the way.

After the install, it took quite a while to update the system...first, I changed the sources list from Wheezy to Jessie.

Had to go through a series of apt-get dist-upgrade and apt-get -f install commands, but after about an hour to an hour and 1/2, the system was updated to the current Debian version. There were a couple of packages that wouldn't upgrade no matter what, so I just removed them. I haven't noticed any problems from doing so.

After the update/upgrade, the wifi connected with no problem. 

The only problem that I have encountered is that I can't install any .deb packages. When I try to enter my password, it's denied. Haven't figured that one out yet...but I like a challenge. I might try removing Gdebi and reinstalling it to see if that helps. I don't think the couple of packages that I removed had anything to do with it...

[Dan]

Removing and reinstalling Gdebi didn't help. However, I found that if I open the file manager as root, then try to install a .deb package with Gdebi, it works fine that way. 

[leenie]

Hi Dan, that's fun stuff. We may have to revisit Debian based systems some day. Have you read this:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/3089509/linux/end-of-an-era-linux-distributions-will-soon-stop-supporting-32-bit-pcs.html

[Dan]

Yes, I read a similar article. From what little further investigating I did, and if I remember correctly...Debian will continue support for 32bit but only for i686. I'll try to double check that, so don't quote me on it. 

[Dan]

I'll try to double check that, so don't quote me on it. 

From Debian...

Last year it was decided to increase the minimum CPU features for the
i386 architecture to 686-class in the stretch release cycle.  This
means dropping support for 586-class and hybrid 586/686
processors[1].(Support for 486-class processors was dropped, somewhat
accidentally, in squeeze.)

This was implemented in the Linux kernel packages starting with Linux
4.3, which was uploaded to unstable in December last year.

In case you missed that change, gcc for i386 has recently been changed
to target 686-class processors and is generating code that will crash
on other processors.  Any such systems still running testing or
unstable will need to be switched to run stable (jessie).

The older processors will continue to be supported in jessie until at
least 2018, and until 2020 if i386 is included in jessie LTS.

[1] The following processors, supported in jessie, are now unspported:

* AMD K5, K6, K6-2 (aka K6 3D), K6-3
* DM&P/SiS Vortex86, Vortex86SX
* Cyrix III, MediaGX, MediaGXm
* IDT Winchip C6, Winchip 2
* Intel Pentium, Pentium with MMX
* Rise mP6
* VIA C3 'Samuel 2', C3 'Ezra'

SOURCE

[leenie]

I guess all support will be gone in 5 years or so for those old processors. My poor old Gateway Solo 3100 with 160 mb ram and 233 mhz processor will only run antiX or Puppy using JWM and Netsurf. Amazingly, it still runs.

Still waiting for a new video.

[blaze]

This means that it is time to buy some new not so new newer  hardware. 

[Dan]

I guess all support will be gone in 5 years or so for those old processors. My poor old Gateway Solo 3100 with 160 mb ram and 233 mhz processor will only run antiX or Puppy using JWM and Netsurf. Amazingly, it still runs.

Still waiting for a new video.

Yeah...I hate to see it happen. That's always been a selling-point for Linux...to bring old machines back to life. Oh well...I guess even the old machines will die out one day. I've never been able to install antiX...everytime I've tried, it tells me some message that my disk shows that it will soon fail (or something like that). I've tried Puppy, but I think I prefer SliTaz.

I did a video several weeks ago on how to customize the LightDM login screen, but that's been the last one in quite some time. Just can't muster up any ideas for videos. 

I've been on a GIMP kick lately though...after finally figuring out how to half-way use it.    Made a few wallpapers for people to use if they want. People seem to like the abstract/non-logo wallpapers more...I'm that way myself. My personal favorites are "Confetti" and "Cubes".  I also have a few Openbox themes and Xfwm themes if anyone is interested. They can be viewed on my profile...

https://www.box-look.org/member/441212/

This means that it is time to buy some new not so new newer  hardware. 

 

[leenie]

This means that it is time to buy some new not so new newer  hardware. 

My daily pc came from the landfill, so did my husband's.

[blaze]

^That is so 

[Maroman]

I'm still using (a bit modified) wheezy based wattos on my laptop. installed two (?) years ago works perfect. hope to use it for next years (debian wheezy is supported for almost two next years).
moreover I compared power consumption of different distros and wheezy/watt is really very economic.

I've noticed there is no R8 at download section. sabotage  ?

cheer

[Dan]

I've noticed there is no R8 at download section. sabotage  ?

I don't know how long biff will keep the old downloads site active, but if you do a web search for wattos R8, you can still find it and download it from the old site. 

[blaze]

Dan, are you still running R8? If yes, is it working out well for you?

[Dan]

Dan, are you still running R8? If yes, is it working out well for you?

No...that was just something I did for fun. I did use it until R10 came out though, and it worked great during that time. 

However, I see no reason why it wouldn't continue working after upgrading it from Wheezy to Jessie. If I remember correctly, Wheezy is supported until 2018, but it seems like I remember reading that part of the Wheezy updates ended in February of this year and were passed onto "somebody" else to maintain...so that required changing the sources.list to reflect that. Sorry, I know that's vague. 

If anyone wanted to try it, I think the proper way to upgrade from Wheezy to Jessie would be to do all of the Wheezy updates first...then do an apt-get dist-upgrade on Wheezy.

After that's finished, go to your sources.list and change every instance of "wheezy" to "jessie". Then do apt-get update and apt-get dist-upgrade.

Should work fine. 

[blaze]

No I were just curious. And I am sure that with the proper attention and care R8 will run for many years yet. I am a bit doubtful about upgrading it to Jessie though, because of the whole systemd thing. Not that systemd in itself worries me, I just would go for a fresh one if it had been the case.

In fact I run straight Debian for my daily use, so that is also the explanation if not the excuse why I  myself sometimes here.

wattOS is extra because I like it, simple as that. It also means that I still have to pay some attention of what is going on in the Ubuntu camp. Though I confess that I find it a little bit confusing at times.