Do you Ubuntu?

[Shagbag]

You have installed Edgy, right?
You have been entering each of the 5 lines individually, haven't you and not just 1 big long line of commands?  
Maybe it's a typo in your post, but "sources.List" should be "sources.list" - Linux is case sensitive.
Also, "armor 52A9C7C" should be "armor 521A9C7C" -  don't forget the "1".
Furthermore "sudoapt-key" should be "sudo apt-key" - make sure there is a space between "sudo" and "apt-key".

[SINGLESPEED]

Elite, thanks for the heads up. I have it figured out on the command line issue as another person on automatix forums let me know about the single line of code and hit the enter key. I was unsure how the command line thing worked. I found out in a hurry that everything has to be just right or I am out of luck. Thanks for your help in this matter, I will be sure to check back in on these forums as they are a wealth of information.

[hydran]

ok, just been through my latest and most probably final attempt to install linux on my Via Epia media centre.

Downloaded and made Ubuntu 6.06 live cd, booted, said "launch / install linux" then the display went off and I saw nothing more (just a flicker that looked like it had switch the output to something that my TV could not display) had to CTRL-ALT-DEL, found the boot settings were hosed, used the "last known good" configuration, and was back to Win XP Home.

Damn linux and damn ubuntu for continually promising "easy install" and other LIES.  Why can't these geeks work out a way to make a simple installer that WORKS?  ESPECIALLY with something as linux-friendly as the Epia M10000?

[JQPublic]

You may well be able to overcome your problem as at first glance http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=163905&highlight=Epia+M10000 looks rather like your woes and way well  

Bottom line: this issue can be solved, either by installing 5.10 and upgrading to 6.06 or by using another install-iso (though I have not tried the last solution).

offer some hope of fixing things.

[hydran]

thanks for trying to help. but i used 6.06, and I need the TV out, so i am not installing if I can't use it.

the Epia M10000 is made for linux, why is this so difficult?

[Shagbag]

Hydran,

I appreciate your frustration with linux.  It took me hours of unsuccessful installs before I became proficient with the X window system.

However, you should direct your frustrations directly at VIA and not at linux.  What you are experiencing is not the fault of the linux community.  It is the fault of VIA.  VIA does not support linux the way it should and this is a direct result of the M$ monopoly.  Linux is not as popular - so VIA gives it little attention.  The more linux becomes popular the more attention it will receive from hardware manufacturers.  

That said, VIA does provide a linux driver.  However, VIA's linux driver is shit.  Period.  It's a binary and you can only run it as root.  What a combo!  One sure fire way to totally fuck your install should there be a bug in the driver.
 
There are two open source video drivers for VIA GPUs: UniChrome and OpenChrome.  It is fair to say that 99.9% of linux users with VIA hardware use one of these drivers.  They're written by unpaid developers in their spare time, so you can thank the linux community for making linux available on VIA hardware.  Both drivers are not perfect but they work for c.90% of the tasks asked of them.  Btw, the linux community are gagging to work with VIA to improve linux support but VIA are simply not interested.  You can read the mailing lists of the OpenChrome project to see for yourself the frustration developers are experiencing with VIA.

To try and fix your problem I'd recommend you connect your M10000 to a VGA or DVI monitor for now and boot from the LiveCD to see if things work.  If they do, then install Ubuntu to your M10000's hard drive and reboot (from the hard drive).  Assuming everything goes well, then - and only then - should you have a go at configuring your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file for TV output.

By now you will probably have realised that the Epia M10000 is NOT made for linux.  And you can thank VIA directly for that.

There is one VIA-specific distro that I know of called EPIOS.  However, it's based on Gentoo and Gentoo is not the best distro for linux newbies.

Good luck with the VGA/DVI install approach, should you give it a go.  Post any problems you experience and I'll try to give you as much help as I can.  Incidentally, I've installed both Dapper (6.06) and Edgy (6.10) on my EPIA N10000 without a hitch.  I haven't yet tried to get the TV-out working, though, as I've been too busy with the Arch install on my new laptop.

[hydran]

i can't find any epios downloads that work, maybe it is my ISP, but I can access "epios.net" but not "www.epios.net" and none of the downloads work on "epios.net", and there are no torrents.  Maybe people gave up on Epios?

I had thought that maybe the TV out would work once it was installed, but I suppose I just can't be bothered with going through all the grief whilst I have a fully working XP install.

I was moved to try again because the XP install that I am using needs to be used on another machine so I am forced into either buying another XP license or trying to get linux working.

At the moment, XP is great on that machine because:

1) Drivers are all installed and it works
2) I can use my wireless keyboard with its eject button to open the tray (I have no button on it!)
3) My DVD player works well and sends the Dolby digital out of the SPDIF output
4) The S-Video out is working well
5) I can use iTunes to play tracks through my lounge set-up that reside on my shuttle in a different room.

Shagbag - do you have an XP license code that I can buy from you?

[Shagbag]

I am forced into either buying another XP license or trying to get linux working.

You're always going to hit this problem until you make the move to linux.

As to EPIOS, I haven't looked at it for around 12 months.  It's up to you if you want to try it, but I'd recommend you stick with a more newbie friendly distro like Ubuntu or PCLinuxOS.

I'm afraid I don't have any spare XP licences.  I gave my last one away to my mother in law when I 'upgraded' her work PC from W98 to XP (she runs some SAGE software for her business that doesn't have a linux port).

Stick with linux.  It does get easier.  You're never going to learn it if you give up on it so early.  Just try the VGA/DVI install I suggested.  Go on, repartition your existing harddrive and give a measly 10GB to Ubuntu.  It'll open up a whole new world of free software for you.  Just imagine running MythTV for all your multimedia needs (video and audio) - downloading last night's TV on to your laptop while you're on holiday in Spain.  You've gotta start sometime.  Why not now?

[hydran]

...because everything works currently

[Shagbag]

I think I may not have made clear with my suggestion.  I'm not suggesting you get rid of your Windoze set-up.  Not at all.  I'm just suggesting you create a 'dual boot' Windoze/Ubuntu system which will give you the option of playing around with Ubuntu to get it to how you want it while, at the same time, allowing you to boot back into Windoze if and when you want to.

[hydran]

thats a plan
I'd have to hose the current HDD though - I'll get back to you when I've done it.  Maybe epios is available for download by then

[Fontaine]

Downloading ubuntu 6.10 now.

[Shagbag]

Maybe epios is available for download by then

I really do counsel against EPIOS as your first distro.  You are much better off with Ubuntu or PCLinuxOS.  As EPIOS is Gentoo based, you'll have to compile any additional software you decide to install.  MythTV took over 2hrs to compile when I last tried.  PLEASE, choose Ubuntu or PCLinuxOS - all the repos are binary, so there's no compiling to be done.  They may not be as fast as Gentoo, but you've got to learn to walk before you run.  

[OldDummy]

Currently using Ubuntu [Dapper] along with Opera. hmmmm....so far whats not to like. Everthing seems to be up and running. A tip of the hat to Shagbag for suggesting the automatix install, the script gnomes ran wild with that one. Did a good job with it I think. hmmmm...SMP is broken with HT in Dapper I guess.

            The problem with linux in general though is that the kids and grandkids don't really know linux and the games that are written for it are few and far between. For me thats not a problem, I kind of like it.

Way off topic: I'm running this in a box with a HT Pentium4 3E on a Mini865 Intel board. If this is a stable kernel with this board it could run forever. That is one of the things I missed when using AMD hardware. The chipsets Intel puts out are world class. Back to topic.

This browser runs fast,  first time I've used opera in a long time. I like it. Don't have good memories of opera from awhile ago, they must have done their homework.

OD

[Shagbag]

Here's another tip:  buy a book on The GNU Image Manipulation Tool (GIMP) and learn how to use it.  It's really handy for when you want to customise the look of your install.

[OldDummy]

Here's another tip:  buy a book on The GNU Image Manipulation Tool (GIMP) and learn how to use it.  It's really handy for when you want to customise the look of your install.

I just might get intimate with this flavor of software . Going to have alot of down time in the near future, god willing.

You seem very knowledgeable about linux, so I know where to go for info/advice....what are your rates?


OD

[hydran]

any ideas about linux compatibility with THIS motherboard:

http://www.intel.com/products/motherboard/d865glc/index.htm

[OldDummy]

any ideas about linux compatibility with THIS motherboard:

http://www.intel.com/products/motherboard/d865glc/index.htm

Way off topic: I’m running this in a box with a HT Pentium4 3E on a Mini865 Intel board. If this is a stable kernel with this board it could run forever. That is one of the things I missed when using AMD hardware. The chipsets Intel puts out are world class. Back to topic.

hehe, what a "co-ink-a-dink", thats it.

OD

[hydran]

er? so its good then?

[DevilsAvocado]

Here's another tip:  buy a book on The GNU Image Manipulation Tool (GIMP) and learn how to use it.  It's really handy for when you want to customise the look of your install.

blargh.  the only thing keeping me from running Linux on my PC is the fact that Photoshop doesn't work on it (people have hit and miss success with it, copying the program directory from Windows and running wine, etc).

The problem I've found is that anytime anyone say

"me want photoshop on linux!"

everyone else replies with

*THWACK!* "silly noob! photoshop costly evil of doom! you use teh GIMP! is free and works just same!"

considering I need Photoshop/all of CS2 for my job(s), and from what I understand the GIMP isn't really there yet in terms of being equal to Photoshop (not that this is me complaining, it's just a statement), it's annoying because everything else I'd use this computer for can be accomplished in Linux.

And yes, I've seen the article about Disney getting the open source community to get their programs to work on Linux, but I never saw the answer regarding how :-p

Trying to get a new version of iTunes to work in Linux seems to get the same response.  "wtf would you use iTunes for? it sucks! use something else! stop wasting our time with these silly noob propositions!"

Granted, it may "suck", but it sure would be nice to have iTunes running on a linux box as a music server, wirelessly accessible by my two roommates, one with a Mac who uses iTunes because it's there and it works with her iPod and one who knows jack shit about computers and would only use her computer for email, LJ, and iTunes.  I haven't found anything else that easily does that, but maybe because I didn't look hard enough after getting frustrated by people harping on the idea of iTunes on linux.

I sometimes just wish the community would stop shooting snot rockets on people who have legitimate reasons for wanting certain programs to work with linux.

/end rant  ;-)

[OldDummy]

hydran
                     er? so its good then?

Intel puts out the best chipsets in the world. It's a new board (for me) so I don't have anything to say about this one by itself. It's not a OC board that's for sure but if I were a betting man I would bet it will be rock solid for a long time. At the right price you can't go wrong (~60 USD, white box). Suse 10.1 installed very well on this board initiallized everything on first boot. I thought Ubuntu did also on first install but when automatrix was finished with it's functions HT wasn't working. Don't have the time to TS this right now and it's not a big deal to me anyway.
 
Just be aware that you won't be buying features/speed  your buying stability with limited options.  IMO a great product.


OD

[Shagbag]

Trying to get a new version of iTunes to work in Linux seems to get the same response.  "wtf would you use iTunes for? it sucks! use something else! stop wasting our time with these silly noob propositions!"

I disagree.  iTunes would be excellent on linux.  Like yourself, there are a lot of users who would move to linux if it had iTunes.  The problem is with Apple.  They want to protect their 'Fairplay' bollocks and are afraid that even a binary version of iTunes for linux would have the DRM hacked out of it.  Your disappointment, my friend, is what is commonly termed 'vendor lock-in'.  Your addiction to .aac is your downfall.  If, however, you only download .mp3 then you can always run iPodlinux or Rockbox on your iPod - which both integrate with linux - to get around Apple's plans to control your multimedia experience.

it sure would be nice to have iTunes running on a linux box as a music server, wirelessly accessible by my two roommates, one with a Mac who uses iTunes because it's there and it works withlo'er iPod and one who knows jack shit about computers and would only use her computer for email, LJ, and iTunes.  I haven't found anything else that easily does that, but maybe because I didn't look hard enough after getting frustrated by people harping on the idea of iTunes on linux.

Take a look at avahi.  It's just like Apple's Bonjour.  Sharing files wirelessly across different platforms with linux is a reality.

I sometimes just wish the community would stop shooting snot rockets on people who have legitimate reasons for wanting certain programs to work with linux.

Agreed.  Linux needs more users.  With more users comes more attention from hardware manufacturers and software developers (incl. iTunes and OpenGL games).

[Shagbag]

You seem very knowledgeable about linux

Not really.  It's more a case of 'in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.'  Get over to the Gentoo and Arch forums.  Those guys really know their shit.

Here's another tip: open up a terminal and run 'top' (press 'q' to quit it when it's running).  It's just like Apple's Activity Monitor - well, to be correct I should really say that Apple's Activity Monitor is just like 'top.'  Activity Monitor is just a glorified GUI of 'top'.  Most Apple users don't realise that.  They don't even realise they've got BSD 'under the hood'.  They just lamely run everything from a GUI.  Now that's okay for the guy who just uses e-mail, browses the web, and plays with his iPod.  But they've paid all that money for the hardware (the high hardware prices subsidise the cost of OS X - that's why Apple won't port OS X to non-Apple Intel x86 machines) and they're not even realising 50% of what that OS is capable of!  Get out of the GUI and into the command line. That's what I say.  You learn very little from reliance on a GUI.

[OldDummy]

That’s what I say.  You learn very little from reliance on a GUI.

HaHa, you sound like an old dos man.

Linux is just now leaving the prompt age and I believe it has to in order to appeal to the masses. How many people are going to put the time, energy and resources into learning the OS from "under the hood"? While I agree that is where you will learn the true nature of the OS the tech savy person will be the one who knows how to push the right "buttons", not what the buttons do. Progress has become how far away from the OS can you get and still have it function. That is the nature of things in IT right now and it will work as long as the hardware continues to become more and more powerful. Moores law abides so to speak. The amount of garbage code out there hidden in the "objects" used by programers today is 20X the amount of code actually being used. But I digress,

If Ubuntu/ linux is to survive it will have to be a GUI OS above anything else. IMO



 OD

[DevilsAvocado]

Your addiction to .aac is your downfall.  If, however, you only download .mp3 then you can always run iPodlinux or Rockbox on your iPod - which both integrate with linux - to get around Apple's plans to control your multimedia experience.

Take a look at avahi.  It's just like Apple's Bonjour.  Sharing files wirelessly across different platforms with linux is a reality.

Never used .aac myself ;-) Even once I realized that my ripped CDs on my PC were done so with .m4a, I re-ripped them so that they would be .mp3.  My friend may put linux on her ipod.  I don't have one, I have an older Creative Zen that I'm considering selling because I don't use it, and it's poor 60gb (I replaced the 30gb) self is somewhere in my drawer, crying.

I wouldn't use iTunes on my PC except that with it I can check out the music of everyone on campus.  That's the same idea I'm going for when I move in January to an apartment- I'd like all three of us to be able to access music stored on one Linux computer, whether we ourselves use XP, OS X, or Linux.  If I could get iTunes to work on Linux, this would be an easy task, as the files would reside on the one computer and they could be accessed through the iTunes "Shared Music" list, and most importantly I wouldn't have to teach my roommates how to do it. :-p

Of course I guess it would be almost as easy to map to that folder, and then configure iTunes to recognize that as your official "Music" folder, that way if anyone rips a CD it is uploaded to the other computer, and our libraries are updated as well.

I'm personally not familiar with Bonjour- my knowledge of Apple Software is limited as currently I have only used them for Adobe and Digital Performer (however it is expanding... slightly)  I'm reading on Avahi and, well, it's confusing to me.  Or maybe not confusing so much as vague.  "Avahi is a system which facilitates service discovery on a local network. This means that you can plug your laptop or computer into a network and instantly be able to view other people who you can chat with, find printers to print to or find files being shared."  That's a good description to start with.  But does that mean I can plug ANY laptop with ANY operating system and be able to view files being shared once again regardless of their operating system?

It's one of those things where I should know what it all means, but college has given me the dumb and sometimes things need to be spelled out for me.  I've got plenty of time to figure this out though, there's a month before I move in and the box that will hopefully be running this software isn't totally configured yet.  Need to find a suitable low-profile PCI 5-port SATA card that does RAID5.  And then, well, get the hard drives, and stuff.



In the meantime I'll keep researching how to get CS2 to work on Linux.  From the little I've read about Studio 8, it seems that Fireworks is the only one of those that work, as well.  Which would do well as an almost substitute for Illustrator and Photoshop, but still, I'd love for Flash Professional to work.  grr...