Red Hat Configuration - Used APT to update KDE 3.1 to 3.2

Author

Used APT to update KDE 3.1 to 3.2 - now stuck in Xterm

Bill Mudd

2004-04-06, 1:35 am

I have RH 9.

I used APT to update from KDE 3.1 to 3.2 according to
the instructions on, I think but not sure,
the "KDE for Red Hat Linux" website.
Some website anyway.

I added the repositories to "/etc/apt/sources.list".
It also required updating XFree86.

It took a long time to download all the packages.
There were 3 warnings but no errors during install
but otherwise it went fine. I then logout
and rebooted.

But now it only boots into Xterm.
I did a 'switchdesk' and it only
showed TWM as being available.
I tried 'switchdesk kde' and it said kde was
not installed.

Is there a problem I need to solve 1st before
KDE will start? Or is it trashed and I have to
start over ? ... because KDE 3.2 won't run
on RH9 ?

I'm getting mixed messages about RH9 & KDE 3.2.
I was sure this webiste said it was possible.

Thanks for any help. I'm fairly new to Linux and
not very knowledgable about how to get things
done in XFree86 - Xterm.

Bill Mudd

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Lenard

2004-04-06, 9:35 am

On Tue, 06 Apr 2004 05:15:00 +0000, Bill Mudd wrote:

> I have RH 9.
>
> I used APT to update from KDE 3.1 to 3.2 according to the instructions
> on, I think but not sure, the "KDE for Red Hat Linux" website. Some
> website anyway.
>
> I added the repositories to "/etc/apt/sources.list". It also required
> updating XFree86.
>
> It took a long time to download all the packages. There were 3 warnings
> but no errors during install but otherwise it went fine. I then logout
> and rebooted.
>
> But now it only boots into Xterm.
> I did a 'switchdesk' and it only
> showed TWM as being available.
> I tried 'switchdesk kde' and it said kde was not installed.
>
> Is there a problem I need to solve 1st before KDE will start? Or is it
> trashed and I have to start over ? ... because KDE 3.2 won't run on RH9
> ?
>
> I'm getting mixed messages about RH9 & KDE 3.2. I was sure this webiste
> said it was possible.
>
> Thanks for any help. I'm fairly new to Linux and not very knowledgable
> about how to get things done in XFree86 - Xterm.

Just boot into runlevel 3 (init 3) and use the console (command line).

When the grub boot screen is displayed select the Linux boot option and
press the 'e' key. Select the line that begins with 'kernel /vmlinux' and
press the 'e' key again. At the end of the line add a space followed by
the number three. Then press the 'Enter' key followed by the 'b' key. Log
on as root and show the output of the commands 'rpm -qa "*kde*"' and 'X
-version' without the quotes. What were the three errors? Which
repositories did you add?

It is possible to install use KDE-3.2.1 on Red Hat Linux 9, I was before I
finally switched over to FC1 (better community support) in mid-March. See
the newsgroup redhat.general (Subject:KDE 3.2.1 - APT) for some additional
help with this.

--
Posted under the XFree86 v.1.0 license
Copyright remains with the author

Pip

2004-04-06, 4:40 pm

Lenard wrote:

> Just boot into runlevel 3 (init 3) and use the console (command line).
>
> When the grub boot screen is displayed select the Linux boot option and
> press the 'e' key. Select the line that begins with 'kernel /vmlinux' and
> press the 'e' key again. At the end of the line add a space followed by
> the number three. Then press the 'Enter' key followed by the 'b' key. Log
> on as root and show the output of the commands 'rpm -qa "*kde*"' and 'X
> -version' without the quotes. What were the three errors? Which
> repositories did you add?
>
> It is possible to install use KDE-3.2.1 on Red Hat Linux 9, I was before I
> finally switched over to FC1 (better community support) in mid-March. See
> the newsgroup redhat.general (Subject:KDE 3.2.1 - APT) for some additional
> help with this.

After following this advice and making sure the KDE is in place, you could
also try editing your .Xclients-default file so that it reads:

exec startkde

then type "startx". See if it responds.

Pip

Bill Mudd

2004-04-06, 6:37 pm

Hi Lenard. Thanks for the reply.

> Just boot into runlevel 3 (init 3) and use the console (command line).
>
> When the grub boot screen is displayed select the Linux boot option and
> press the 'e' key. Select the line that begins with 'kernel /vmlinux' and
> press the 'e' key again. At the end of the line add a space followed by
> the number three. Then press the 'Enter' key followed by the 'b' key. Log
> on as root and show the output of the commands 'rpm -qa "*kde*"' and 'X
> -version' without the quotes.

Here are the results:

[root ...]# rpm -qa *kde*
lockdev-devel-1.0.0-23
switchdesk-kde-3.9.8-15
lockdev-1.0.0-23

===========

[root ...]# X -version
XFree86 Version 4.3.0 (Red Hat Linux 9 release 4.3.0-2.90.55)
Release date: 15 August 2003
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0, release 6.6

... there is a long paragraph about reporting errors & then ...

Build Operating System: Linux 2.4.21-Elsmp i686
Build Date: 12 Fegruary 2004
Build Host: porky.devel.redhat.com

Module Loader Present
OS kernel: Linux version 2.4.20-6
(gcc version 3.2.2 20030222 (Red Hat Linux 3.2.2-5))
#1 Feb 27 2003

===========
I do not really know what all that means.
Will I be able to fix this ? How ?

>What were the three errors? Which
> repositories did you add?

I used the "apt" gui Synaptic ?
There were "warnings" - no errors - it all went by so fast
and there did not seem to be anything I could do about it
except click OK on the warning windows that popped up.
Maybe the warnings are listed in a log somewhere ?

I have a Windows program that allows me to view ( not change )
files on the Linux partition. Where should I look to find logs
or other information that might explain what happened and
how to fix it ?

The repositories I have listed in /etc/apt/sources.list are:
# Red Hat Linux 9
rpm http://ayo.freshrpms.net/ redhat/9/i386 os updates freshrpms
rpm-src http://ayo.freshrpms.net/ redhat/9/i386 os updates freshrpms

rpm http://rpms.xcyb.org/redhat/9 i686 stable bleeding
rpm-src http://rpms.xcyb.org/redhat/9 i686 stable bleeding

rpm ftp://apt.kde-redhat.org/apt kde-redhat/9 stable
rpm ftp://apt.kde-redhat.org/apt kde-redhat/all stable

During the long download period I could see that all of these
sites were used.

> It is possible to install use KDE-3.2.1 on Red Hat Linux 9, I was before I
> finally switched over to FC1 (better community support) in mid-March.

That is a relief. At least it is possible that this problem can be fixed
without re-installing and starting all over. I do not think I want to do
that.

>See the newsgroup redhat.general (Subject:KDE 3.2.1 - APT) for some
additional
> help with this.

OK. Thanks for the tip. I will check it out.

If you can think of anything else I can do to get KDE
up and running - please let me know.

Bill Mudd

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Bill Mudd

2004-04-06, 8:38 pm

I'm not absolutely sure yet but I may have just
downloaded the RPMs for KDE 3.1 instead of
3.2 -- my apt sources.list is wrong.

I used "apt.kde-redhat.org/apt kde-redhat/9"
It should be "apt.kde-redhat.org/apt fedora/9"

Somehow I did not understand the instructions and thought
there were KDE 3.2 RPMs for RH9 available using the
standard path for rh9. The "fedora" in the path mixed me
up.

Oh well. If I can get my kde 3.1 back up then I will
try again ... maybe next year : )

Bill Mudd

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Lenard

2004-04-06, 10:36 pm

On Tue, 06 Apr 2004 22:35:46 +0000, Bill Mudd wrote:

> Hi Lenard. Thanks for the reply.
>
>
> Here are the results:
>
> [root ...]# rpm -qa *kde*
> lockdev-devel-1.0.0-23
> switchdesk-kde-3.9.8-15
> lockdev-1.0.0-23

I hate to tell you this, but you somehow/someway no longer have KDE (any
version) installed. Check the /var/cache/apt/archives location and see if
you have any of the KDE RPM's, if yes then you should be able to install
them as root from the console; rpm -Uvh kde*.rpm

If you need the KDE-3.2.1 RPM's look for them here; KDE-3.2.1;
http://kde-redhat.sourceforge.net/

You want to get at least;
arts-1.2.1
kdeaddons-3.2.1
kdeadmin-3.2.1
kdeartwork-3.2.1
kdeartwork-icons-3.2.1 (maybe not needed pulled list from my system)
kdebase-3.2.1
kdebindings-3.2.1
kdegames-3.2.1 (optional)
kdegraphics-3.2.1
kdelibs-3.2.1
kdemultimedia-3.2.1
kdenetwork-3.2.1
kdepim-3.2.1
kdetoys-3.2.0
kdeutils-3.2.1

--
Posted under the XFree86 v.1.0 license
Copyright remains with the author

Bill Mudd

2004-04-06, 11:36 pm

> I hate to tell you this, but you somehow/someway no longer have KDE (any
> version) installed. Check the /var/cache/apt/archives location and see if
> you have any of the KDE RPM's, if yes then you should be able to install
> them as root from the console; rpm -Uvh kde*.rpm

Yes ... I can only guess that apt deleted the current KDE then realized
it did not have the necessary rpms to install the new version and ...
whatever.

There are a few KDE rpms in the apt archive but they do not appear
to be complete. They have names like "kdegraphics_7%3a3.1-5_i386.rpm".
Also they are KDE 3.1 rpms not 3.2.

To recover from this, I would have to know how to run apt from the console
commandline but 1st I would have to know how to connect to the
internet. If it is relatively easy I will give it a try. Otherwise I will
re-visit Linux in a few years when it is a bit more user friendly.

Thank you for your help.
Regards,

Bill Mudd

>
> If you need the KDE-3.2.1 RPM's look for them here; KDE-3.2.1;
> http://kde-redhat.sourceforge.net/
>
> You want to get at least;
> arts-1.2.1
> kdeaddons-3.2.1
> kdeadmin-3.2.1
> kdeartwork-3.2.1
> kdeartwork-icons-3.2.1 (maybe not needed pulled list from my system)
> kdebase-3.2.1
> kdebindings-3.2.1
> kdegames-3.2.1 (optional)
> kdegraphics-3.2.1
> kdelibs-3.2.1
> kdemultimedia-3.2.1
> kdenetwork-3.2.1
> kdepim-3.2.1
> kdetoys-3.2.0
> kdeutils-3.2.1

Pip

2004-04-07, 5:35 am

Lenard wrote:

> You want to get at least;
> arts-1.2.1
> kdeaddons-3.2.1
> kdeadmin-3.2.1
> kdeartwork-3.2.1
> kdeartwork-icons-3.2.1 (maybe not needed pulled list from my system)
> kdebase-3.2.1
> kdebindings-3.2.1
> kdegames-3.2.1 (optional)
> kdegraphics-3.2.1
> kdelibs-3.2.1
> kdemultimedia-3.2.1
> kdenetwork-3.2.1
> kdepim-3.2.1
> kdetoys-3.2.0
> kdeutils-3.2.1

Actually, just arts, kdelibs, kdebase will do, as long as you have qt 3.3 in
place. Then definitely kdenetwork and kdepim for getting on to the net and
having kmail available, kdemultimedia to get sound and kdeadmin to make
adjustments. Add what you think benefits your use of the system.

Pip

Lenard

2004-04-07, 7:39 am

On Wed, 07 Apr 2004 03:29:12 +0000, Bill Mudd wrote:

>
> Yes ... I can only guess that apt deleted the current KDE then realized
> it did not have the necessary rpms to install the new version and ...
> whatever.
>
> There are a few KDE rpms in the apt archive but they do not appear to be
> complete. They have names like "kdegraphics_7%3a3.1-5_i386.rpm". Also
> they are KDE 3.1 rpms not 3.2.

They can be installed from the console, just use the rpm command. Apt
normally renames the files like you describe, it's not a big deal, they
still work afterall it's just a filename.

You can install KDE via apt from the console, after making sure that you
have the KDE-3.2.1 repository setup (from the link in my last post);

$ apt-get install kdebase

> To recover from this, I would have to know how to run apt from the
> console commandline but 1st I would have to know how to connect to the
> internet. If it is relatively easy I will give it a try. Otherwise I
> will re-visit Linux in a few years when it is a bit more user friendly.

Do you use dial-up or do you have some type of ethernet connection? If
it's the ethernet type then you should already be connected. try something
simple to verify; ping www.yahoo.com (for example)

If it does not work, try; ifup eth0 (or ifup pppd -- for dial-up)

--
Posted under the XFree86 v.1.0 license
Copyright remains with the author

Bill Mudd

2004-04-07, 4:37 pm

Hi Pip. Thank you for your previous tips & advice.
I finally just used the RH9 installation CDs - in
upgrade mode - to re-install KDE 3.1.

It all worked great because I got back my desktop
just as it was before all this mess.

I'm not very enthusiastic about trying to update to
KDE 3.2 again but maybe it was just the mistake
I made in /apt/sources.list

Bill Mudd

"Pip" <Pip@cwci.TheKinkyUnderwear.com> wrote in message
news:LNPcc.30$3U.17@newsfe1-win...
> Lenard wrote:
>
>
> Actually, just arts, kdelibs, kdebase will do, as long as you have qt 3.3
in
> place. Then definitely kdenetwork and kdepim for getting on to the net and
> having kmail available, kdemultimedia to get sound and kdeadmin to make
> adjustments. Add what you think benefits your use of the system.
>
>
>
> Pip

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Bill Mudd

2004-04-07, 4:37 pm

I used the RH9 installation CDs to re-install KDE 3.1.
Worked perfectly and all is back to how it was before
the crash.

Bill Mudd

"Lenard" <lenard@127.0.0.1> wrote in message
news:pan.2004.04.07.11.00.30.841820@127.0.0.1...
> On Wed, 07 Apr 2004 03:29:12 +0000, Bill Mudd wrote:
>
>
> They can be installed from the console, just use the rpm command. Apt
> normally renames the files like you describe, it's not a big deal, they
> still work afterall it's just a filename.
>
> You can install KDE via apt from the console, after making sure that you
> have the KDE-3.2.1 repository setup (from the link in my last post);
>
> $ apt-get install kdebase
>
>
> Do you use dial-up or do you have some type of ethernet connection? If
> it's the ethernet type then you should already be connected. try something
> simple to verify; ping www.yahoo.com (for example)
>
> If it does not work, try; ifup eth0 (or ifup pppd -- for dial-up)
>
>
> --
> Posted under the XFree86 v.1.0 license
> Copyright remains with the author

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billum

2004-04-07, 5:40 pm

I corrected the /ect/apt/sources.list -
got online & ran apt/synaptic to updated it.

The only thing that worries me is that many of the
suggested upgrade versions now have ".fdr." in the
name ... "xxx.fdr.0.rh9" and some have just
"xxx.fdr.0" with no indication that they may
also be for RH9.

Bill

Are they going to work on my RH9

>
> They can be installed from the console, just use the rpm command. Apt
> normally renames the files like you describe, it's not a big deal, they
> still work afterall it's just a filename.
>
> You can install KDE via apt from the console, after making sure that you
> have the KDE-3.2.1 repository setup (from the link in my last post);
>
> $ apt-get install kdebase
>
>
> Do you use dial-up or do you have some type of ethernet connection? If
> it's the ethernet type then you should already be connected. try something
> simple to verify; ping www.yahoo.com (for example)
>
> If it does not work, try; ifup eth0 (or ifup pppd -- for dial-up)

Lenard

2004-04-07, 10:36 pm

On Wed, 07 Apr 2004 21:26:15 +0000, billum wrote:

> I corrected the /ect/apt/sources.list - got online & ran apt/synaptic to
> updated it.
>
> The only thing that worries me is that many of the suggested upgrade
> versions now have ".fdr." in the name ... "xxx.fdr.0.rh9" and some have
> just "xxx.fdr.0" with no indication that they may also be for RH9.
>
> Bill
>
> Are they going to work on my RH9

If the apt repository is correctly configured then yes, fdr stands for
Fedora, not the OS/Web site supported by Red Hat, but the Fedora Project;

http://www.fedora.us/

--
Posted under the XFree86 v.1.0 license
Copyright remains with the author

Bill Mudd

2004-04-08, 1:46 am

I need to educate myself on what Fedora is and how it relates to RH9.

I was referring to http://kde-redhat.sourceforge.net/ where there is
this: "To use the kde-redhat repositories with apt, download to
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/kde-redhat.list, substituting your version
of Red Hat Linux (1) for RHREL: (download). "

I changed all the RHRELs to "9" and added it to my /etc/apt/sources.list

## kde-redhat repository(s) for Red Hat 9 (yes, *4* lines)
rpm ftp://apt.kde-redhat.org/apt fedora/9 stable
rpm ftp://apt.kde-redhat.org/apt fedora/all stable
rpm ftp://apt.kde-redhat.org/apt kde-redhat/9 stable
rpm ftp://apt.kde-redhat.org/apt kde-redhat/all stable

I have not tried it yet and may just wait another month
and replace my RH9 with the fc2 if I can keep all my apps
i.e. if there is a fedora version for all of them.

Bill

"Lenard" <lenard@127.0.0.1> wrote in message
news:pan.2004.04.08.02.36.36.157252@127.0.0.1...
> On Wed, 07 Apr 2004 21:26:15 +0000, billum wrote:
>
>
>
> If the apt repository is correctly configured then yes, fdr stands for
> Fedora, not the OS/Web site supported by Red Hat, but the Fedora Project;
>
> http://www.fedora.us/
>
> --
> Posted under the XFree86 v.1.0 license
> Copyright remains with the author

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Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
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Pip

2004-04-08, 6:35 am

Bill Mudd wrote:

> Hi Pip. Thank you for your previous tips & advice.
> I finally just used the RH9 installation CDs - in
> upgrade mode - to re-install KDE 3.1.
>
> It all worked great because I got back my desktop
> just as it was before all this mess.
>
> I'm not very enthusiastic about trying to update to
> KDE 3.2 again but maybe it was just the mistake
> I made in /apt/sources.list

I strongly advise that you upgrade to 3.2.1: it's so much better. You should
be able to do it fairly easily if the sources.list is properly configured
now. You could even use synaptic if you would prefer a graphical interface
for apt.

Pip