Jeff D wrote:
On Sat, 1 Sep 2007, Martin Waller wrote:
Hi,
No idea whats gone wrong - I did a get updates thing using dselect
whilst installing some other software and find loads of my
configurations have changed.
I guess its a result of this: http://www.debian.org/News/2007/20070817
First, my /boot/grub/menu.lst has been dicked around with:
- originally I had two options - multi and single user mode (Debian
GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.18-4-686)
now I have four with kernel 2.6.18-5-86 options higher up the
list...this stopped my network from working unless I select the now
not default option I wanted originally. I remember some operating
system called Windows that dicked around with configuration files
without asking - I avoid it wherever possible.. Don't tell me Debian
has gone this way? *rolls eyes*.
Does this mean my kernel has been updated automatically? Please no.
Secondly, OK so I can delete that crap from my menu.lst or select the
other oirignal options - but now my X sessions all start up in
640x480 (gnome) and I can't change the resolution!
I'd got all this set up nicely, and a simple update dicks around with
stuff and screws up my system - how can this be possible?
I guess I need 'educating' in how Debian operates now, and how to
'undo' the bad side effects I'm suffering, but if I can't resolve
this stuff I'll switch distros. I've only just updated from
Debian3.1 where I never had such issues - I'm upset and confused.
Thanks for any help,
Martin
First thing, take a deep breath. It will be fine. Second, read this:
http://catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html. As 'help I just
updated my kernel and now stuff is broke', really doesn't help anyone,
epseicially you. How are we to advise you on that?
Anyway, did this happen in the transition from sarge to etch? or after
the etch upgrade? What kind of network card do you have? Any reason
you were doing this through dselect rather than apt-get or aptitude?
Maybe even a 'aptitude update && aptitude upgrade' may solve some of
these issues for you as well..
For your video problem, you can try :
dpkg-reconfigure xorg-xserver
that might clear that up.
But, in order for anyone to help you, you're going to have to give us
some more info.
Thx
Jeff
OK - understood the problem now.
The problem was I _didn't_ upgrade the kernel - a did an update (via
dselect with apt sources) and 'automatically' got a latest kernel image
installed, _prepending_ it to my grub\menu.lst so it became the
default. I am a bit behind the times - my kernel only ever got
'updated' when _I_ chose it and built it from scratch using kpkg (or was
it kernel_pkg?). You know what I mean...
This prevented my network card from working as its an acx100 thing
('specially compiled' (as a module I think from befuddled recollection)
with acx100 package).
The X resolution problem was booting up without having the monitor
connected - X appears more 'windoze' like now and seems to 'auto detect'
monitor capability - none attached, lowest res used. When monitor
attached (have switch between different boxes) it brings up expected
resolution. I'm happy with that as I remember configuring X in the old
days with bizarre crappo video cards and cheap monitors with little
documentation on their horiz/vertical refresh rates...that was fun :) >:(
With regards to your response, for which I am grateful:
"First thing, take a deep breath. It will be fine. Second, read this:
http://catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html. As 'help I just updated
my kernel and now stuff is broke', really doesn't help anyone,
epseicially you. How are we to advise you on that? "
Sorry - i said 'update' as it thats what I did, not _upgrade_. Yes, I am
aware everything will be fine (and it kind of is now)- with more time
investment since the goalposts have moved since earlier versions of
Debian which I cut my teeth on.
"Any reason you were doing this through dselect rather than apt-get or
aptitude?"
How do I get a list of packages installed/availbale through the apt
interface? If I can I will happily move on from dselect which I know and
is easy to use and anyway uses uses apt sources. Again, down to cutting
teeth on older verisons of debian...
I accept a a little knowledge is a dangerous thing and sincerely thank
you for your response which was of use and informative.
I am merely surprised that doing an 'update available packages' in
dselect automatically installed a new kernel image and made it the
default boot option in my grub menu.lst.
Now fixed.
Best wishes, a friendly interaction is always a pleasant one,
Martin
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