Re: Fedora core 2 upgrade problems: x.org and kernel

From: Lenard (lenard_at_127.0.0.1)
Date: 05/26/04 

Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 13:37:55 GMT

On Wed, 26 May 2004 11:35:52 +0200, Mats Löfdahl wrote:

> I'm trying to get FC2 working on my Acer Ferrari 3000 laptop (see
> http://shorl.com/bemysybrobryjo).
>
> I finally (after many failed attempts) managed to do the upgrade. My
> problem right now is that I still have the 2.4 kernel and I also have
> problems with the X server. Would be grateful for any insights and
> advice.
>
> Here is a more detailed description of what I've done and why:
>
> I've been running FC1 for several months and it's been working OK,
> although I've understood that the 2.6 kernel in FC2 will support the
> hardware better (e.g. the 802.11g wireless lan).
>
> I downloaded the ISOs, checked the checksums, burned the CDs, and
> mediachecked them. No problem.
>
> I tried to do a fresh install from the CDs, but that hanged in different
> ways halfway through the process. I then installed FC1 again and tried
> to upgrade it from the FC2 CDs. No luck.
>
> I then decided to try the yum upgrade process described here:
> http://www.brandonhutchinson.com/Upgrading_Red_Hat_Linux_with_yum.html
> So I installed FC1 again and then followed the steps suggested under
> "Upgrading to Fedora Core 2" on that web page. The process appeared to
> work fine.
>
> However, after rebooting, when I log in I get several pop-up windows
> with error messages. The mouse freezes and I have not found any key
> presses that respond, except for Ctrl-Alt-BS (or is it Ctrl-Alt-DEL? I
> always try both...), which gives me the login screen back. The message
> in the top window says there is a problem with x.org and that I should
> provide the output of two command calls, if I decide to report the
> error.
>
> I login as root in a "safe terminal" and execute the commands. I give
> them here along with their outputs for completeness (copied by hand, so
> there may be typos):
>
> xprop -root | grep XKB
>
> _XKB_RULES_NAMES(STRING) = "xfree86", "pc105", "se", "", ""
>
> gconftool-2 -R /desktop/gnome/peripherals/keyboard/xkb
>
> layouts = [se]
> model = pc105
> overrrideSettings = false
> options = []
>
> I don't really know what to expect, but I'm surprised to see "xfree86",
> since it should maybe now be x.org.

It really does not matter, FC2 will work just fine with either. But if you
do want to use x.org you need to remove the XFree86 RPM's, remove the
/etc/X11/XF86Config and install the equivalent xorg RPM's then configure
the new xorg using system-config-display. It's takes a bit work and time,
to get you started with this use rpm -qa "*XFree86*" and download the
equivalent xorg RPM's and install them after removing the old XFree86
ones. You need to also delete/rename the /etc/X11/XF86Config file and use
system-config-display to configure (more work then it's worth)

> I also noticed that the kernel is still a 2.4 version, so the yum
> upgrade did not upgrade to the 2.6 kernel that's supposed to be in FC2.

This might be a blessing, depending on your motherboard, BIOS settings and
hardware the FC2 kernel might not load, review this NG and others before
trying the new 2.6.5-1.358 kernel for FC2. But to install it (if you
want);

First figure which one to install;

rpm -qa --queryformat '%{NAME}-%{VERSION}-%{RELEASE}.%{ARCH}.rpm\n' kernel

then as root something like (to install it);

rpm -i
ftp://mirror.eas.muohio.edu/pub/fedora/linux/core/2/i386/os/Fedora/RPMS/kernel-2.6.5-1.358.i686.rpm

(watch out for word wrap, the command is one line; rpm -i<space>the_rest ) 

-- 
"In short, without this exclusive franchise, called the Windows API,
we would have been dead a long time ago." M$ Senior VP Bob Muglia '96

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