Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

I have a question, if I delete the directory .config, not interfere with other applications or damaged?
Another question with the previous image, when I opened a file in OpenOffice or any other program could access to the directories (all folders with point i /home/user/Mydocs).documents, .sounds, now I can not access these just the other folders. As I can give permissions to access these from LXDE, or is an error in the image. I have debian-m5-estel.img.ext3.lzma.:confused::confused:

Thanks in advance.

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Someone can help me with my questions, thanks

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

I will, but please do *not* double post like that without good reason, or Your posts will get ignored in future.

As for .config, it depends. If You have /home/ shared with Maemo, deleting .config *will* hurt for sure. If You have independent Maemo and ED /home/, deleting .config will not hurt Maemo, but will hurt Your ED :) unless You really know what You're doing and that it is what You need to achieve <something>.

/Estel

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

i i just realized i wrote "erase the .config folder" - i meant the .config/chromium of course :)

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

If I did so for chromium and LibreOffice, thank you very much for the help. Problem solved.

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

I had the same problem with this file and wrong md5sums. I got around it by disabling some lines in img-install/debian-installer.sh with a "#"
I disabled the line
up to the line
I then put the right md5sums in the file before starting the installer. Then it worked

But still the question remains: are the md5sums in the file up to date or aren't they?

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Thanks, berny, I fixed the md5sums.

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Got ED working now using Estel's image file....(thanks, Estel!)....

Few questions please....

1. ED Wiki page says to initialize sound to do in terminal:

I get 'debbie: command not found....

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

debbie works only from within Maemo (to go into chroot). If You're already inside ED chroot, don't use it.

/Estel

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Thanks for input....

So, I assume you mean that I use terminal in Maemo and issue the commands that way....

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

i just started to use a fresh image "debian-m5-estel.img" and without installing anything, just wanted to update all packages, so i used the following:

apt-get update
apt-get upgrade -f
apt-get upgrade --fix-missing (was suggested to run this in output of previous command)

now when i run "apt-get update" -> no errors - finishes with no suggested updates
running apt-get upgrade generates the following:
---
You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these.
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
file : Depends: libmagic1 (= 5.04-5+squeeze2) but 5.04-5 is installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try using -f.
----

running "apt-get upgrade -f" generates the following:

----
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Correcting dependencies... Done
The following packages have been kept back:
debian-multimedia-keyring libsmbclient pulseaudio samba-common smbclient ttf-opensymbol
The following packages will be upgraded:
libmagic1 libssl0.9.8
2 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 6 not upgraded.
70 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0 B/1,121 kB of archives.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
E: read, still have 12 to read but none left
E: Error reading archive member header
E: Prior errors apply to /var/cache/apt/archives/libmagic1_5.04-5+squeeze2_armel.deb
debconf: apt-extracttemplates failed: Bad file descriptor
Preconfiguring packages ...
(Reading database ... 65036 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace libssl0.9.8 0.9.8o-4squeeze7 (using .../libssl0.9.8_0.9.8o-4squeeze12_armel.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement libssl0.9.8 ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libssl0.9.8_0.9.8o-4squeeze12_armel.deb (--unpack):
corrupted filesystem tarfile - corrupted package archive
configured to not write apport reports
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Preparing to replace libtiff4 3.9.4-5+squeeze4 (using .../libmagic1_5.04-5+squeeze2_armel.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement libtiff4 ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
/var/cache/apt/archives/libssl0.9.8_0.9.8o-4squeeze12_armel.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
----

Am i doing something wrong?

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

It seems like apt thinks that you've already downloaded libmagic1 but it can't find the package.
Please runand try to upgrade again!

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

I got little different question. One of Easy Debian dependencies is Murina Orange theme (for Maemo). It's great for many purposes - i.e. running Debian programs from within Maemo, via debbie - but it got big drawback. Somehow, it replaces "default" theme in situations, where Hildon GTK2 theme is unset - so, murina orange is seen in Truecrypt, or any other application with hildon theme unset before execution.

As Murina actually makes interface elements bigger, the result is, that many times important elements are "hidden", overlapped etc.

Any idea how to disable it for such situations, or at least, easily disable/enable it when needed?

/Estel

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Thanks - problem solved.

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Started from a fresh image, installed all updates first and then installed my wanted packages.

No problems with the updates anymore.

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Two more ED questions please....using Estel's image file....

1. Tried watching a youtube video, first by using Epiphany browser....browser crashed, ie, window disappeared as it tried loading webpage with video....then tried Chromium browser, page loads, but don't see video, just black window with the little spinning circle thingie.....left window for long time (about 15-20 minutes...), but it never loads video....

Is this problem a function of limited functionality of ED and N900?

Anyway to get this working?


2. In order to log in to some webpages, I need to be able to type in my email address. However, when I try typing the '@' symbol, nothing happens....

How do I get this fixed?

Thanks!

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

There are reports of bringing it to working state, but it's still too much memory hog. For watching flash videos, microB is still recommended.

copy Your (Maemo's) [b]/usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/nokia_vndr/rx-51 file into Your *debian's* /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/nokia_vndr. From within Maemo, when Debian is mounted and .chrooted, it's /.debian//usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/nokia_vndr, where You should copy file to. This way, you'll have exactly same hardware keyboard mapping, as in Maemo - of course, if You setxkbmap <your language> inside ED, or via Ed autostart script.

In layout that is found default in ED (before You copy rx-51), @ is just blue arrow + shift + space. Blue arrow + space is TAB. Default config is actually very useful, and contain many symbols assigned to blue arrow + shift + key, but I think that everyone will like own mapping's most.

/Estel

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

OK, thanks for explaining....



OK, done....

By 'ED autostart script', do you refer to
'/etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE/autostart' or ?

If you meant in '/etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE/autostart', then would I enter a line like this:

Or ?



Thanks for the info...it worked, but as you say, would prefer US keyboard mapping as I'm used to it now...

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Yes, I mean file You've mentioned. It isn't working for You, or You've asked just in case?

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Thanks for confirming file....

I just wanted to make sure that I am doing the right thing....trying to avoid making more mistakes and screw-ups than I already do..... :rolleyes:

So, I edited that file as I noted in my previous post and keyboard mapping is good no, ie, same as in Maemo....

Thanks!

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Got another issue now...hope someone can please advise....

ED (Estel's image file...) was running OK....until I did 'apt-get upgrade'....seemed to go OK, but while it was in process of unpacking and installing some items, I left the room for a few minutes...and when I returned N900 had rebooted into backupmenu....so, I assume that ED crashed and N900 reboot or ?

:confused:

In any event, when I rebooted, it booted up to Maemo OK....everything seems OK....

However, now when I click on 'Debian LXDE' it looks like it's going to open....ie, display goes black, I see 'Debian LXDE' at top of display with little spinning wheel thingie next to it....does that for about 15 seconds and black window disappears and I'm back at Maemo desktop.....

Any suggestions as to how to get Debian working again???

Thanks!

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

try reinstalling debian choot this may help .i hope

i think maybe you did something wrong to the image if reinstalling DC didnt solve the problem then you may need a new image or wait for Estel's reply he may got a solution for you

./sifo

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Thanks for your help.....tried reinstalling Debian chroot, but still no go.....

???

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

It doewsn't have anything to do with chroot, neither any package was broken. It's jsut that, due to bad (Maemo, not Debian - on last few pages of this thread You've listed swap settings You should use, both Maemo and ED benefit from it) swap-related settings, + swap on eMMC instead of microSD.

This made device unresponsive for too long during Debian's apt-get upgrade, and rebooted device. In turn, this FCKD Your ED image. You may try to fix it with fsck.ext* /dev/mmcblk*p* (put number instead of *, corresponding to ext type You've used for Debian image, and provide proper storage/partition numbers) - remember, to try it on *unmounted* debian image.

In case fsck doesn't help, You must start with new image from scratch. Unfortunately, it's common thing to happen - although, after unexpected reboot, I perform fsck from backupmenu before booting (I got ED started at every boot, via event.d script), thus I've never had image corruption that would destroy my ED image.

Generally, if - after crash - You fsck image before running Ed again, 99% of times You'll be fine. ho ever, if You mounted it already and tried to proceed, it may be screwed beyond repair. Just try, and report back.

/Estel

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Thanks for your detail reply...

Decided to be safe, so, I deleted current image file....then copied over the file again from my microSD card....however, it started copying file and since it's such a large file, I stepped away from my N900 for a few minutes...came back and I saw the backupmenu again!

So, something happened and N900 rebooted again....

I choose backupmenu option to do fsck, it found some errors, did it again, and this time no errors......then rebooted...

N900 booted up OK to Maemo...I see that 108.3MB of image file was copied over before N900 had crashed...

Copied over estel image file again from microSD to N900...tried ED and voila! it is working again....

Regarding swap, you are saying that I should use eMMC for swap space, not microSD, correct?

What settings would you recommend for this? (you mention that I had stated my swap settings on recent previous post, but I think that was probably someone else....)

If I have swap set up OK, then it should be OK to do 'apt-get upgrade'? (upgrade was downloading about 220MB....)

Thanks!

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Nope, I recommend You to use microSD for swap, and absolutely *no* swap on eMMC.

As for recommended settings, impeham asked for them just few pages ago, please search in this very thread.

/Estel

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

OK, got it now....somehow I thought you meant the opposite.... :o

Yes, saw that and this too:

http://wiki.maemo.org/Swap_on_microSD

Thanks again for all your great help!

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

I tried to run gCompris via Easy Debian - my Son loves to play it, and Maemo version is quite outdated. It works ok (although, loads quite slow initially), but sound isn't working.

Here is error message, as seen in console:

Any ideas, how to fix it? I would really, really be grateful for any advices. Other than sound problems, it's really comfortable to play.

/Estel

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

The main problem is that ED has no HW acceleration for video decoding (and never will have). Therefore video in ED will never actually work because the Cortex A8 is just too slow to decode videos in real time (maybe except for some 240p videos).

Just a suggestion for the next image:
Having an ext3 file system is not optimal. Use ext2 if you want to reduce flash write cycles caused by journaling or use ext4 if you want journaling. fsck.ext4 is way faster than fsck.ext3.
I don't know if the stock Maemo kernel fully supports ext4, but I guess most - if not all - ED users use KP anyway.

I think I can clear this up. Do you remember that I had to macgyver a fake Squeeze pulseaudio package that actually contained the Lenny version to stay compatible to Maemo's pulseaudio protocol version?
So what you have now is a Lenny pulseaudio with a Squeeze gcompris that thinks it can rely on a Squeeze pulseaudio, which in this case causes trouble.

I believe I have a better idea for a new pulseaudio package which actually contains the correct pulseaudio version and is compatible to Maemo. But in order to do that I have to recompile pulseaudio, which I can't do on the N900 due to the watchdog. I already have an armel qemu VM set up but that comes with huge performance penalties (8-10% of the x86 host CPU seems to be reasonable), so I intend to wait with any actual work until Wheezy is frozen, which is scheduled for June.
I will then try to create a minimalistic Wheezy image containing the proper (but recompiled) pulseaudio which will be able to run iceweasel 10 too btw. (I already tried to backport iceweasel 10 to Squeeze by reproducing what the people at mozilla.debian.net are doing for i386 and amd64 but gcc4.4 for armel is too buggy for that and I didn't succeed in compiling gcc4.6 on Squeeze armel either, so I finally gave up on that.)

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Just curious as to what programs people are using besides the ones that come with the ED image file?

Hope it's OK to ask here, if not. I can start a new topic....

FWIW, I installed gcc/g++, make, cmake in ED.

Then I was able to compile the CLI ToDo program 'Task' <taskwarrior.org> on my N900, very cool!

So, what programs do you use in ED?

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

AFAIK leetnoob was able to enable EasyDebian's totemplayer to play HW accelerated videos, by copying some files from Maemo to ED (possibly replacing some ED's ones). It's buried "somewhere" in this thread, and I'm perfectly sure it was really working, not just a hoax.

Stock kernel doesn't support ext4 at all. BTW, I totally agree with You - IMO, ext4 is only sensible choice, but, some people may prefer ext2 due to lack of journal.

BTW, it's perfectly possible to mount ext3 image without journal support, which makes it, practically, ext2 (but, maybe, just maybe, allow to benefit from some ext3 optimizations, if any present). also, I'm perfectly sure, that You can set ext4 to lack journal, thus - this time for sure - benefit from ext4 optimizations, even if You prefer journal-less filesystem.

Yea, though about this as possible case. I'm glad that You got idea, how to actually make it work (even more) properly - it's much beyond my skill, so I can just hold my thumbs (or help in testing, if You need any).

Of course I understand that You may like to wait for Wheezy becoming stable, but as for compiling on-device, as different problem - why You can't do it because of watchdog? Your device becomes uresponsive and watchdog triggers reboot, or what?

If the latter is true, remember, that by using swap on microSD + correct swap-related settings (to be found in last few pages here, 2 different settings, suggested by freemangordon and by me), You could probably do it on device without bad surprises. At least, it works for me even during heavy compressing (lzma) operations, both memory and CPU requiring.

/Estel

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Another weird thing happening.....

Had ED running and was running OK....then minimized ED window...

In Maemo, I clicked power button and selected offline mode...then lock screen and keys....left AC power cord plugged in...

Went out for about 1.5 hours, came back and tried to get N900 display to light up, but no go....stayed black after tapping on it and extending out keyboard and tapping on a key....tried pressing on power key slightly, nothing happened, no response....

So, finally took battery out and reinserted...pressed power key and nothing happened...shouldn't be low batter charge issue as I left N900 plugged in today while using to avoid this happening....

Besides using ED today, I did install and configure swappolube. Used suggestions from wiki page.

Also, I have installed CSSU Stable version a few days ago.

Any ideas as to whether this is related to ED, CSSU, swappolube, or ? If more appropriate, I can post this separately....

Thanks!

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Few days ago, I've gone through full process of installing ED on 2nd device I'm preparing for a family member - I decided to install my image from qole's site instead of copying one I've on device, for testing purposes. Of course, using proper swap-related setting (even despite fact, that 2nd device wasn't having microSD card, so no swap on microSD) I was able to finish process without any problem, from downloading image, unpacking it via LZMA, mounting as loop, to copying everything into dedicated partition (without need to swaponoff).

Overall, qole did awesome job of making it usable for everyone out-of-the-box - separation from Maemo's home/user works flawlessly, setting locales and tzdata took only a minute or so. Ho ever, I've noticed three small regressions, compared to image sitting on my 1st device:

1. /home/user/xbindkeysrc doesn't exist at all. You need to create it from scratch. It makes "Set Debian HW Keys" button desktop shortcut unusable, and of course, doesn't allow to use right-click and similar features inside LXDE. No big deal - everyone can create own .xbindkeysrc file, or use one from this thread/wiki article/whatever.

2. Panels, when hidden, are 10 pixels wide, instead of 2 (minimum). It makes desktop looking little ugly + eats precious space. It's a very minor issue - everyone can customize it via right click on panel -> configure panel -> advanced

3. Icon for orientation switch isn't working (showing standard system icon). This one keeps buggying me - I've FCKN no idea why it doesn't want to work. I've compared orientation.desktop which one from my system, and it's exactly the same. Icon is sitting where it should. I tried messing with xdg-icon-resource, updating it etc, I've tried adding it manually from scratch - no matter what I've tried, this bugger just doesn't show icon. Ho ever, orientation switching itself does work.

If anyone got an idea how to fix it, it will be greatly appreciated. It's just impossible, that it works on 1st device, and doesn't want to work on 2nd.

/Estel

// Edit

@ArchiMark
It doesn't sound like ED related. I hope that Your device is working well, now?

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Well, I should have said that I was referring to ED running the LXDE desktop. It runs on top of Xephyr, and Xephyr doesn't support HW acceleration. That might be totally different for running programs via debbie, but since I hardly use debbie I didn't consider that.

Yes, you can. But you'll have to do that via tune2fs. So it sort of requires advanced knowledge compared to ext3 which you can simply mount as ext2 to disable journaling.

Exactly. I did some pulseaudio compilations on device during my attempt to dist-upgrade from Lenny to Squeeze and it took about 12 hours to complete (if it completed).

Thanks! I will look into it. I played with swappolube about a year ago or so. My impression was that it was only making things worse, but I may just have used wrong parameters since I'm pretty much of a kernel noob.

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Thanks, Estel.....

Well, good news is device is working again....best I can tell it seems that battery got too low and thus would not boot...I charged it in the external battery charger overnight and now N900 boots up OK....

So, the strange thing is why this is happening to me, when I had N900 plugged into AC power all day yesterday???? I do get the message on the display when I plug in AC power charger that it is charging....but given what is happening, it seems like it isn't charging or maybe battery is not holding charge properly or ?

One setting I use that I know uses more battery power, is that I turned off the wifi power saving function in network connections, as it seemed to impact my ability to download large files...

Any suggestions?.......... :confused:

Now, for a ED/Estel image file question.... :)

After using ED/Estel for awhile yesterday, I noticed that when I clicked on the side panel it opened up wider, but....the program icons were not completely shown, it only showed the a narrow vertical sliver (ie, tall and narrow...) of the left edge of the icon. When I tried to tap on the narrow icon shown, it would not open up the program like it usually does.....

Is there any way to fix that if it happens again or just shutdown ED and restart it?

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Even with power saving turned off, AC charger is giving more juice, than device uses. Strange, indeed. BTW, I always have power saving @ max, and I don't have problems with downloading large files nor downloading them @ large speeds (up to 12 MB/s).

:eek: Never encountered such problem, so no idea. IF restarting LXDE helps You, it's probably best solution.

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Yes, very odd....

So, I assume that you also have 10W selected instead of 100W, besides selecting the maximum power saving option.....

Also, what is your setting for Search Interval? 5, 10, 60 minutes, etc?

Meanwhile, new problem with wifi....:(

Neither my home or work network connects now....when I click on one of the connections I've setup (and was working OK until today...), within a second or two, I get the error message pop up on the display; "Internet connection failed. Try again?" I tried multiple times, but no go.....

Very strange.....

UPDATE: Got wifi working again!....searched on this in forums and found a post where someone shutdown N900, removed battery, and rebooted and it worked again....I just rebooted N900 and it worked!....go figure!.....

Agree.....but think I'm having too many strange problems lately!......

:confused:

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

Nope, i use 100 mW, as using 10 doesn't bring any real power saving benefits, yet it cripples range much.

BTW, I'm glad You got Your wifi working back, but it's not good thread to discuss that ;) As a last note - don't worry, it happens sometimes. Reloading drivers (via advanced interface switcher, etc) works most of the time - cycling device (power off, removing battery, etc) too. It's probably nothing to be worried about.

In case of further non-Ed problems, lets move discussion to appropriate thread, please :)

/Estel

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

@Estel
I am interested in applying the SDCArd swap settings and tweaks
Since this thread is not the best place to discuss swap settings, I have created a separate thread for everyone to discuss the best methods

http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php...34#post1207234

Re: Easy Debian Fremantle Beta Testing
 

I actually try Easy Debian because I am interested in using blender on N900.
I have installed it (I am using sulu image) on my N900.
Before install blender, I run apt-get update to ensure that I will have the latest version.
But after installing it, I can't open blender. It show nothing when I run it from the menu, but when I run blender from the terminal it give me this:
I have try reinstalling python, but it still show the same problem.
So have anyone encounter this problem?
Can we actually run blender on N900? How is the performance, is it slow as h*ll?