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Content Tagged with PCLinuxOS + Tips
PCLinuxOS & What Sets it Apart: Part I
I originally intended this post to be a review of 2007 Final for PCLinuxOS. However, after finishing it up, I realized that posting a review wouldn’t have the desired effect of truly showing off PCLinuxOS to everyone. It would just be a “business as usual” type of post. So, I decided to do a analysis on what I feel sets PCLinuxOS apart from many Linux distributions.
I often see people steer new Linux users to other distros such as OpenSuse,
Ubuntu, and SimplyMEPIS...even Sabayon in a few instances. This is fine...they’re good, solid distros. However, out
of those distros, I’d recommend only one...OpenSuse. Why? Because of YAST. A New user needs to feel comfortable with
system configuration tasks. Not everyone is ready to drop to the shell when coming in from that other operating system.
Not every 65 year old grandmother is ready to crack a Konsole and vi their way to .conf bliss. Ubuntu’s control panel
is continually getting better but YAST still leads the pack in putting new users or even seasoned ones at ease with
system configuration.
I regularly used SimplyMEPIS from 2003 until 2005 and continue to recommend it for new users despite it not having a YAST Like tool. It now has inherited many things from Ubuntu so it has a greatly improved way of doing things. The added tools also make common tasks easier like emptying out logs, installing graphics drivers, and setting up your monitor/resolution. It’s getting there quickly.
That brings me to OpenSuse. YAST is a fantastic and powerful tool. Still, when I use OpenSuse, I often find that I’m not up to date with applications and I find the repositories move much slower than I’d like. I have to rely on third party repos which isn’t a bad thing but often gets me into trouble with dependencies. So I was on a search for a cutting edge distro that was solid, up to date with the latest packages, and had a YAST-like utility for it. Of course, Mandriva (Mandrake at the time) was a good fit but I found PCLinuxOS even better.
So, today I’ll talk about what I feel sets PCLinuxOS apart from other freely available distros.
Continue reading "PCLinuxOS & What Sets it Apart: Part I"
Autostart Apps in PCLinuxOS 2007 (KDE)
There’s a question that is often asked via IRC on freenode #pclinuxos-support. Many people want to know how to get programs to startup immediately upon login.
Now there are two ways to do this...kind of. Actually, there is only one way to get programs to autostart but there is another way you can have programs startup when you login...let’s look at both of them.
The First Way
First, go to the PC Menu (or kmenu) >> Run Command >> konqueror --profile filemanagement
When Konqueror opens, navigate to /home/user/.kde/autostart (replace user with your login name). Now minimize
that window...we’ll come back to it later. Next up, click on the My Computer icon on your desktop (or for other users,
open up Konqueror and put the following in the addressbar: system:/). When that opens, click on applications and
minimize the window and place it side by side with the previously opened window.
Hieronymus has posted a helpful tip that simplifies the process above. After opening up Konqueror, use the Go Menu and click the entry for “autostart” which will take you directly to the correct folder for the current logged in user. Thanks Hieronymus for the tip! Visit their homepage here.
Continue reading "Autostart Apps in PCLinuxOS 2007 (KDE)"
Convert Audio with Ease in KDE
I ripped a couple of CD’s for my son this evening. In the process, I decided to setup Kalarm and Korganizer on his computer so that he could set alarms to remind him to do various chores around the house. While doing all of this, I needed a .wav file so that he could use a song for his alarm. Of course, he wanted one of the songs I had just ripped from his CD. Since I had ripped his songs to .ogg format, I had to investigate which program could convert from .ogg to .wav this the easiest in KDE.
I’ve not used many of the whiz bang functions of KDE and desktop Linux...I’ve been more of a browser, mail, and RSS type of guy for many years. Now that I’ve been using Linux at work and at home, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to figure out how to do things that I’ve never done before. In this case, convert audio to .wav, .ogg, or .mp3 with ease. There is a tool called audiokonverter available in PCLinuxOS 2007 repositories that makes this a snap.
Continue reading "Convert Audio with Ease in KDE"
How-To: PCLinuxOS 2007 and MythTV
For those of you who always thought PCLinuxOS and MythTV would go together...you’re quite right, they do fit well together...though there are a few bumps on the road. Hopefully, this how-to will help you along the way.
First, let’s mention what this guide will not cover:
- Remote Controls
- IR Blasters
- Picture Quality Settings
Why won’t I cover those? Because there are infinite possibilities for each one...and it would be impossible for me to investigate them all...hardware not in my possession besides. So, this will cover installing mythtv and omit the items above. Mythtv has those items covered quite well in their documentation.
Hardware Specifications:
- HP a1520n
- ATI x300 PCIe VPU
- PVR150 and PVR350
- Sharp Aquos 37" LCD TV
- USR MaxG PCI Card
Continue reading "How-To: PCLinuxOS 2007 and MythTV"
Remove Root from PCLinuxOS Login Screen
Just a quick tip on how to remove the root user from the PCLinuxOS login screen. This should work for most if not all KDE based distributions.
Go to the Kmenu >> Run Command >> kdesu kcontrol
Enter your root password when prompted for it. You should now see the KDE Control Center. The difference
here is that you’re running this as the root user so changes will be made at the root (super user) level. Go to System
Administration >> Login Manager. You should have something similar to the screenshot.
Next up, go to the ‘Users’ tab and look in the center. There you
can see all the system users. Check the box for root. This will hide the root user from the front KDM Login Screen.
This won’t prevent you from logging in as root, but it will prevent it from displaying by default.
More PCLinuxOS
tips and tricks coming soon 
Remove Root from PCLinuxOS Login Screen
Just a quick tip on how to remove the root user from the PCLinuxOS login screen. This should work for most if not all KDE based distributions.
Go to the Kmenu >> Run Command >> kdesu kcontrol
Enter your root password when prompted for it. You should now see the KDE Control Center. The difference
here is that you’re running this as the root user so changes will be made at the root (super user) level. Go to System
Administration >> Login Manager. You should have something similar to the screenshot.
Next up, go to the ‘Users’ tab and look in the center. There you
can see all the system users. Check the box for root. This will hide the root user from the front KDM Login Screen.
This won’t prevent you from logging in as root, but it will prevent it from displaying by default.
More PCLinuxOS
tips and tricks coming soon
How-To: PCLinuxOS 2007 and MythTV
For those of you who always thought PCLinuxOS and MythTV would go together...you’re quite right, they do fit well together...though there are a few bumps on the road. Hopefully, this how-to will help you along the way.
First, let’s mention what this guide will not cover:
- Remote Controls
- IR Blasters
- Picture Quality Settings
Why won’t I cover those? Because there are infinite possibilities for each one...and it would be impossible for me to investigate them all...hardware not in my possession besides. So, this will cover installing mythtv and omit the items above. Mythtv has those items covered quite well in their documentation.
Hardware Specifications:
- HP a1520n
- ATI x300 PCIe VPU
- PVR150 and PVR350
- Sharp Aquos 37" LCD TV
- USR MaxG PCI Card
Continue reading "How-To: PCLinuxOS 2007 and MythTV"
Convert Audio with Ease in KDE
I ripped a couple of CD’s for my son this evening. In the process, I decided to setup Kalarm and Korganizer on his computer so that he could set alarms to remind him to do various chores around the house. While doing all of this, I needed a .wav file so that he could use a song for his alarm. Of course, he wanted one of the songs I had just ripped from his CD. Since I had ripped his songs to .ogg format, I had to investigate which program could convert from .ogg to .wav this the easiest in KDE.
I’ve not used many of the whiz bang functions of KDE and desktop Linux...I’ve been more of a browser, mail, and RSS type of guy for many years. Now that I’ve been using Linux at work and at home, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to figure out how to do things that I’ve never done before. In this case, convert audio to .wav, .ogg, or .mp3 with ease. There is a tool called audiokonverter available in PCLinuxOS 2007 repositories that makes this a snap.
Continue reading "Convert Audio with Ease in KDE"
Autostart Apps in PCLinuxOS 2007 (KDE)
There’s a question that is often asked via IRC on freenode #pclinuxos-support. Many people want to know how to get programs to startup immediately upon login.
Now there are two ways to do this...kind of. Actually, there is only one way to get programs to autostart but there is another way you can have programs startup when you login...let’s look at both of them.
The First Way
First, go to the PC Menu (or kmenu) >> Run Command >> konqueror --profile filemanagement
When Konqueror opens, navigate to /home/user/.kde/autostart (replace user with your login name). Now minimize
that window...we’ll come back to it later. Next up, click on the My Computer icon on your desktop (or for other users,
open up Konqueror and put the following in the addressbar: system:/). When that opens, click on applications and
minimize the window and place it side by side with the previously opened window.
Hieronymus has posted a helpful tip that simplifies the process above. After opening up Konqueror, use the Go Menu and click the entry for “autostart” which will take you directly to the correct folder for the current logged in user. Thanks Hieronymus for the tip! Visit their homepage here.
Continue reading "Autostart Apps in PCLinuxOS 2007 (KDE)"
PCLinuxOS & What Sets it Apart: Part I
I originally intended this post to be a review of 2007 Final for PCLinuxOS. However, after finishing it up, I realized that posting a review wouldn’t have the desired effect of truly showing off PCLinuxOS to everyone. It would just be a “business as usual” type of post. So, I decided to do a analysis on what I feel sets PCLinuxOS apart from many Linux distributions.
I often see people steer new Linux users to other distros such as OpenSuse,
Ubuntu, and SimplyMEPIS...even Sabayon in a few instances. This is fine...they’re good, solid distros. However, out
of those distros, I’d recommend only one...OpenSuse. Why? Because of YAST. A New user needs to feel comfortable with
system configuration tasks. Not everyone is ready to drop to the shell when coming in from that other operating system.
Not every 65 year old grandmother is ready to crack a Konsole and vi their way to .conf bliss. Ubuntu’s control panel
is continually getting better but YAST still leads the pack in putting new users or even seasoned ones at ease with
system configuration.
I regularly used SimplyMEPIS from 2003 until 2005 and continue to recommend it for new users despite it not having a YAST Like tool. It now has inherited many things from Ubuntu so it has a greatly improved way of doing things. The added tools also make common tasks easier like emptying out logs, installing graphics drivers, and setting up your monitor/resolution. It’s getting there quickly.
That brings me to OpenSuse. YAST is a fantastic and powerful tool. Still, when I use OpenSuse, I often find that I’m not up to date with applications and I find the repositories move much slower than I’d like. I have to rely on third party repos which isn’t a bad thing but often gets me into trouble with dependencies. So I was on a search for a cutting edge distro that was solid, up to date with the latest packages, and had a YAST-like utility for it. Of course, Mandriva (Mandrake at the time) was a good fit but I found PCLinuxOS even better.
So, today I’ll talk about what I feel sets PCLinuxOS apart from other freely available distros.
Continue reading "PCLinuxOS & What Sets it Apart: Part I"
Dell E521 and PCLinuxOS 2007 Final
It’s been a process of elimination to get my Dell E521 working. Previous workarounds with boot options didn’t work...so I had to use a combination of boot options to get things working nice and stable.
I powered up the PCLinuxOS 2007 Final LiveCD and began the installation to disk. During the bootloader configuration I appended the following text to the end of my linux, failsafe, and framebuffer entry:
From there, I saved, closed all programs and rebooted. Upon first boot I opened Synaptic and installed the PCLinuxOS .a64 Kernel which is optimized for 64 bit processors. I then opened up the PCLinuxOS Control Center yet again, went to the boot section and altered my grub bootloader again with the same information in the code above. I rebooted to make sure my changes worked.
When logging in this time, I opened Synaptic and installed the Nvidia 97xx drivers for my graphics card (Fata1ity 7600GT). After this installs you’re prompted to restart X and upon login...you should be presented with quite a stable and quick desktop.
Hopefully this works well for those of you out there that are using E521’s or E520’s as I believe they have the same mainboard (not sure though).
Speed Tweaking PCLinuxOS 2007 TR3
Using PCLinuxOS 2007 TR3 for the last few weeks, I’ve noticed VAST improvements over the .93a release. The most noticable of these is boot times. My boot time is absolutely amazing on this Dell E521n...it averages 30-40 seconds. That’s right. 30-40 SECONDS. I was floored the first time I booted after install. I thought I had done something wrong. I quickly rebooted and got out the stopwatch and recorded 32 seconds as my official time. I rebooted another 5-6 times and averaged in between 30-40 seconds each time and was closer to 30 on 8 out of 10 boots. Absolutely amazing.
Linux, with projects like upstart which is being considered for the next release of Ubuntu, are getting to the point now where boot times will drop considerably. This is welcome as far as I’m concerned...it allows you to get going right away with your business be it personal or other.
Once you’re logged in though...many people don’t touch the OS itself and instead leave it at the default settings. For most people this is ok...as not having something set to be optimized is ok and most distro rollers setup their distros so that they cause the least amount of problems for the most variety of hardware. For me, I like to mess around. I like to play. "I like the night life...I like to boogie"
So without further silliness and introductional nonsense, I proudly present a bunch of data that I gathered from various sources (cited where possible) and a few tricks of my own that will allow most rpm based distros to tweak their way into improved performance. Since I did this specifically for the PCLinuxOS community though, I’ve titled the article accordingly. As it is, the article should work for most Fedora’s and Mandriva’s and possibly even OpenSuse.
Continue reading "Speed Tweaking PCLinuxOS 2007 TR3"
devnet: Dell E521, Linux, Freezing USB Mouse Problem Resolved
I hit a snag this past week while testing a few beta
releases with the latest kernels. I bought an AMD X2 3800 Dell E521 with a Gig of RAM for US $409 and free shipping
during a dealnews.com dealfest...I feel I got a good deal. So I’ve
been waiting to put my favorite distro, PCLinuxOS on it...waiting
for the release of .94 due out sometime this month. In the meantime, Windows XP has been on that computer and I’ve
been dual booting distros I’d like to try.
The snag I hit came when booting into just about any 2.6.X environment in Linux...the mouse would be fine one minute, and then a few minutes into things the mouse would freeze. This is a USB Logitech mouse...and I found it odd that it would freeze up but the printer (HP PSC 1210v) would work just fine.
After a bit of research when pointed in the right direction of the kernel developer for PCLinuxOS, I came
to realize that I wasn’t alone. Many on Ubuntu’s forums and
also Linuxquestions, and Linuxforums had reported the same problems...most without any
resolution. The good news is that I found a resolution to my problems
Update the BIOS! I did a major forehead smack when it was the last thing I thought of when it should have been the first. After updating the BIOS to the latest and greatest version from dell.com, I was back in business with no freezes of my USB Mouse. Hopefully, if you also run a Dell E521, you won’t bash your head repeatedly against the wall like I did.
Continue reading "devnet: Dell E521, Linux, Freezing USB Mouse Problem Resolved"
Dell E521, Linux, Freezing USB Mouse Problem Resolved
I hit a snag this past week while testing a few beta
releases with the latest kernels. I bought an AMD X2 3800 Dell E521 with a Gig of RAM for US $409 and free shipping
during a dealnews.com dealfest...I feel I got a good deal. So I’ve
been waiting to put my favorite distro, PCLinuxOS on it...waiting
for the release of .94 due out sometime this month. In the meantime, Windows XP has been on that computer and I’ve
been dual booting distros I’d like to try.
The snag I hit came when booting into just about any 2.6.X environment in Linux...the mouse would be fine one minute, and then a few minutes into things the mouse would freeze. This is a USB Logitech mouse...and I found it odd that it would freeze up but the printer (HP PSC 1210v) would work just fine.
After a bit of research when pointed in the right direction of the kernel developer for PCLinuxOS, I came
to realize that I wasn’t alone. Many on Ubuntu’s forums and
also Linuxquestions, and Linuxforums had reported the same problems...most without any
resolution. The good news is that I found a resolution to my problems
Update the BIOS! I did a major forehead smack when it was the last thing I thought of when it should have been the first. After updating the BIOS to the latest and greatest version from dell.com, I was back in business with no freezes of my USB Mouse. Hopefully, if you also run a Dell E521, you won’t bash your head repeatedly against the wall like I did.
Continue reading "Dell E521, Linux, Freezing USB Mouse Problem Resolved"
