Can't get at my settings >_<

IzayoiAki

Sun May 06, 2012 10:15:24 pm

I've just done a fresh install on a desktop PC (previously running Ubuntu, but that shouldn't matter, since I wiped it and installed Zorin from scratch)

I've done the install, update and installed a few extras - vim, bleachbit, bitdefender, clamav, etc.

But now, I can't get at my settings. I can click on "System Settings", and get the menu of options, but when I click on any of them, I can't get anything to pop up.

Does anyone have any ideas why? I did tinker a few settings during the install, so maybe I tweaked something I shouldn't have.

Wolfman

Mon May 07, 2012 5:53:28 am

Hi,

it sounds like a permissions issue but that depends on what you may have tweaked, could you give us a few more details!!.

Try running in recovery mode and run "dpkg", that may be a simple fix for you!!.

Regards Wolfman

IzayoiAki

Mon May 07, 2012 8:37:49 am

Apart from the installation of the packages, all I did in addition was install bitdefender, citadel, tweak the user ids in passwd, then remove and reinstall bitdefender, because it was coming up with errors. Maybe by doing the passwd tweak I messed up something else.

EDIT: Did the dpkg in recovery mode. Had three packages to install, but nothing else.

IzayoiAki

Mon May 07, 2012 11:57:45 am

swarfendor437 wrote:Have you tried from a terminal

Code:

sudo dpkg --configure -a

?

Just tried. Nothing happened. I guess all my packages are okay.

IzayoiAki

Mon May 07, 2012 2:36:15 pm

swarfendor437 wrote:You know what I'm going to say don't you?

I would do a fresh install, leave tweaks and bit-defender alone, create a remastersys dvd once you have all the accounts set up then if you need to do a reinstall, all your desktop/s personalize settings will be the same before anything bad happens should you need to reinstall.

:bleh: I was hoping it wouldn't have to come down to that. Guess I'll spend the next couple of days backing up my files and making a backup image.

EDIT: The remastersys tool, does it allow me to reinstall from the live dvd?

Wolfman

Mon May 07, 2012 6:12:10 pm

Hi,

if you can access the settings for the users, make sure that YOU are the system administrator and create a guest account, delete all other accounts!!.

Regards Wolfman

IzayoiAki

Mon May 07, 2012 6:27:57 pm

Just did a fresh install (full disk, opted not to keep any settings). Then logged in as me, and tried to get at my settings..... some problem. No updates, no new packages installed, nothing. Stock off the Zorin Ultimate DVD.

So, stock install doesn't work. -_-

Wolfman

Mon May 07, 2012 8:01:58 pm

Possible corrupted ISO???????????.

Try re-downloading and another install, sorry that I don't have another suggestion at the mo!!. (Did you burn the ISO at the slowest possible speed!!?????)

Regards Wolfman

IzayoiAki

Mon May 07, 2012 8:10:28 pm

Not likely, I'm using the physical Zorin Ultimate DVD I purchased. The same disc I used to install to my laptop. But, I do have the ISO somewhere,so I'll burn that and try that. Computers, sometimes you love em, sometimes you hate em.

IzayoiAki

Tue May 08, 2012 6:06:57 pm

@swarfendor437 -- Nope, hehe, that was my laptop. And I have cleaned both drives, before you ask

*checks announcement*

Oh, the post installation customisation script? *scratches head* Still doesn't explain why the stock install doesn't allow me to get at the settings (i.e. before I've even tweaked or run anything)

I'm going to try doing a unetbootin with the Ultimate ISO first, and see if that works re the settings (doing unetbootin will eliminate corrupted burn or dodgy reading issues) and I know the ISO is good because I've checked the MD5. Then I'll try the script.

As for remastersys, I'll stick with Clonezilla images instead. They don't take too long to generate, and snapshot the entire drive, data, settings, and all.

IzayoiAki

Tue May 08, 2012 8:01:47 pm

swarfendor437 wrote:
IzayoiAki wrote:@swarfendor437 -- Nope, hehe, that was my laptop. And I have cleaned both drives, before you ask

*checks announcement*

Oh, the post installation customisation script? *scratches head* Still doesn't explain why the stock install doesn't allow me to get at the settings (i.e. before I've even tweaked or run anything)

I'm going to try doing a unetbootin with the Ultimate ISO first, and see if that works re the settings (doing unetbootin will eliminate corrupted burn or dodgy reading issues) and I know the ISO is good because I've checked the MD5. Then I'll try the script.

As for remastersys, I'll stick with Clonezilla images instead. They don't take too long to generate, and snapshot the entire drive, data, settings, and all.

Should have been more clear - Installation section! Not this one!

The "DOWNLOAD, CHECK, BURN, INSTALL" announcment? Well, I've done all four steps. As mentioned, I didn't need to worry about downloading, checking, or burning, since I bought (donated) the DVD premade. I did buy (donate) the Ultimate ISO, which was verified correctly, so I'm going to use that one with a bootable USB to bypass any possible burning/reading issues with my drive (it does seem to have some trouble reading the Zorin DVD, even after cleaning)

Wolfman

Wed May 09, 2012 7:50:29 am

Hi,

I think we have had this topic before but I will ask you anyway, have you tried the burnt disk(s) on a different PC and did it work??.

Regards Wolfman

IzayoiAki

Wed May 09, 2012 11:33:44 am

Wolfman wrote:Hi,

I think we have had this topic before but I will ask you anyway, have you tried the burnt disk(s) on a different PC and did it work??.

Regards Wolfman

Yes, the same disc (the pre-burned one) was used to install to my laptop, and I can get at my settings from there.

IzayoiAki

Thu May 10, 2012 4:06:33 am

swarfendor437 wrote:Has there been any other GNU/Linux on the machine you are trying to install, in the past, or has it always had Windows? Also, how old is the drive? Have you run Chkdsk on the drive to check for errors (even if it is new - worth checking - read a lengthy article in a PC maagazine on Hard Drives and that stated that they can ship with errors.

I used to have Ubuntu on the drive, and many moons before that I used to have Windows, but the who drive was wiped during install (full disk used for install, upgrade not chosen.)

I did make some progress in finding out the cause. One of the settings I was trying to get at -- the date-time preferences, consist of two applications: indicator-datetime-service and indicator-datetime-preferences. When I "can't get at my settings", the preferences app is running, but nothing is displayed. If I kill indicator-datetime-preferences and try to get into the date-time preferences again, it invokes the preferences app again. Sometimes, doing this works. Sometimes, I need to try multiple times, but it does work.

IzayoiAki

Fri May 11, 2012 4:15:15 am

It's a Dell Dimension 2400. Full spec below (lshw listing)

I wanted to attach as a separately file, but for some reason, the board wouldn't let me. So apologies for making this post massive:roll:

Code:: dimension-2400 description: Space-saving Computer width: 32 bits capabilities: smbios-2.3 dmi-2.3 smp-1.4 smp configuration: administrator_password=enabled boot=normal chassis=space-saving cpus=1 power-on_password=enabled uuid=44454C4C-5000-105A-8039-B7C04F53304A *-core description: Motherboard product: 0G1548 vendor: Winbond Electronics physical id: 0 version: A00 serial: ..CN7082135RK026. *-firmware description: BIOS vendor: Winbond Electronics physical id: 0 version: A05 date: 12/02/2003 size: 64KiB capacity: 448KiB capabilities: pci pnp apm upgrade shadowing escd cdboot bootselect edd int13floppytoshiba int5printscreen int9keyboard int14serial int17printer acpi usb ls120boot biosbootspecification netboot *-cpu description: CPU product: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.66GHz vendor: Intel Corp. physical id: 400 bus info: cpu@0 version: 15.2.7 slot: Microprocessor size: 2666MHz capacity: 3600MHz width: 32 bits clock: 533MHz capabilities: boot fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe up pebs bts cid xtpr configuration: id=0 *-cache:0 description: L1 cache physical id: 700 size: 8KiB capacity: 8KiB capabilities: internal write-back data *-cache:1 description: L2 cache physical id: 701 size: 512KiB capacity: 512KiB capabilities: internal varies unified *-memory description: System Memory physical id: 1000 slot: System board or motherboard size: 512MiB capacity: 1GiB *-bank:0 description: DIMM SDRAM Synchronous 333 MHz (3.0 ns) physical id: 0 slot: DIMM_1 size: 512MiB width: 64 bits clock: 333MHz (3.0ns) *-bank:1 description: DIMM SDRAM Synchronous 333 MHz (3.0 ns) [empty] physical id: 1 slot: DIMM_2 width: 64 bits clock: 333MHz (3.0ns) *-pci description: Host bridge product: 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE/PE DRAM Controller/Host-Hub Interface vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 100 bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0 version: 01 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz configuration: driver=agpgart-intel resources: irq:0 memory:f0000000-f7ffffff *-display description: VGA compatible controller product: 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE Chipset Integrated Graphics Device vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 2 bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0 version: 01 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom configuration: driver=i915 latency=0 resources: irq:16 memory:e8000000-efffffff memory:feb80000-febfffff *-usb:0 description: USB Controller product: 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) USB UHCI Controller #1 vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 1d bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.0 version: 01 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: uhci bus_master configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 resources: irq:16 ioport:ff80(size=32) *-usb:1 description: USB Controller product: 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) USB UHCI Controller #2 vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 1d.1 bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.1 version: 01 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: uhci bus_master configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 resources: irq:19 ioport:ff60(size=32) *-usb:2 description: USB Controller product: 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) USB UHCI Controller #3 vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 1d.2 bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.2 version: 01 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: uhci bus_master configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 resources: irq:18 ioport:ff40(size=32) *-usb:3 description: USB Controller product: 82801DB/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-M) USB2 EHCI Controller vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 1d.7 bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.7 version: 01 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pm debug ehci bus_master cap_list configuration: driver=ehci_hcd latency=0 resources: irq:23 memory:ffa80800-ffa80bff *-pci description: PCI bridge product: 82801 PCI Bridge vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 1e bus info: pci@0000:00:1e.0 version: 81 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pci normal_decode bus_master resources: ioport:d000(size=4096) memory:fe900000-feafffff *-communication UNCLAIMED description: Communication controller product: Conexant Systems, Inc. vendor: Conexant Systems, Inc. physical id: 5 bus info: pci@0000:01:05.0 version: 01 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list configuration: latency=64 resources: memory:fe9f0000-fe9fffff ioport:dff8(size=8) *-network description: Ethernet interface product: BCM4401 100Base-T vendor: Broadcom Corporation physical id: 9 bus info: pci@0000:01:09.0 logical name: eth0 version: 01 serial: 00:0b:db:b2:9b:4b size: 100Mbit/s capacity: 100Mbit/s width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list rom ethernet physical mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd autonegotiation configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=b44 driverversion=2.0 duplex=full ip=192.168.0.10 latency=64 link=yes multicast=yes port=twisted pair speed=100Mbit/s resources: irq:17 memory:fe9ee000-fe9effff memory:fea00000-fea03fff *-isa description: ISA bridge product: 82801DB/DBL (ICH4/ICH4-L) LPC Interface Bridge vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 1f bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.0 version: 01 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: isa bus_master configuration: latency=0 *-ide description: IDE interface product: 82801DB (ICH4) IDE Controller vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 1f.1 bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.1 logical name: scsi0 logical name: scsi1 version: 01 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: ide bus_master emulated configuration: driver=ata_piix latency=0 resources: irq:18 ioport:1f0(size=8) ioport:3f6 ioport:170(size=8) ioport:376 ioport:ffa0(size=16) memory:feb7fc00-feb7ffff *-disk description: ATA Disk product: ST380011A vendor: Seagate physical id: 0 bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0 logical name: /dev/sda version: 3.16 serial: 3JV35MZE size: 74GiB (80GB) capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos configuration: ansiversion=5 signature=00080438 *-volume:0 description: EXT4 volume vendor: Linux physical id: 1 bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,1 logical name: /dev/sda1 logical name: / version: 1.0 serial: de2e365c-2bfe-40a8-b6e0-d69647f9d882 size: 74GiB capacity: 74GiB capabilities: primary bootable journaled extended_attributes large_files huge_files dir_nlink recover extents ext4 ext2 initialized configuration: created=2012-05-05 13:43:27 filesystem=ext4 lastmountpoint=/ modified=2012-05-07 19:27:33 mount.fstype=ext4 mount.options=rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro,barrier=1,data=ordered mounted=2012-05-11 05:02:40 state=mounted *-volume:1 description: Extended partition physical id: 2 bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,2 logical name: /dev/sda2 size: 508MiB capacity: 508MiB capabilities: primary extended partitioned partitioned:extended *-logicalvolume description: Linux swap / Solaris partition physical id: 5 logical name: /dev/sda5 capacity: 508MiB capabilities: nofs *-cdrom:0 description: DVD reader physical id: 1 bus info: scsi@1:0.0.0 logical name: /dev/cdrom logical name: /dev/dvd logical name: /dev/scd0 logical name: /dev/sr0 capabilities: audio dvd configuration: status=nodisc *-cdrom:1 description: DVD reader product: DVD+RW ND-1100A vendor: _NEC physical id: 0.1.0 bus info: scsi@1:0.1.0 logical name: /dev/cdrom1 logical name: /dev/cdrw1 logical name: /dev/dvd1 logical name: /dev/scd1 logical name: /dev/sr1 version: 10FD serial: [ capabilities: removable audio cd-r cd-rw dvd configuration: ansiversion=5 status=nodisc *-serial UNCLAIMED description: SMBus product: 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) SMBus Controller vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 1f.3 bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.3 version: 01 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz configuration: latency=0 resources: ioport:eda0(size=32) *-multimedia description: Multimedia audio controller product: 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC'97 Audio Controller vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 1f.5 bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.5 version: 01 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list configuration: driver=Intel ICH latency=0 resources: irq:17 ioport:ee00(size=256) ioport:edc0(size=64) memory:feb7fa00-feb7fbff memory:feb7f900-feb7f9ff *-scsi physical id: 1 bus info: usb@1:1 logical name: scsi2 capabilities: emulated scsi-host configuration: driver=usb-storage *-disk description: SCSI Disk physical id: 0.0.0 bus info: scsi@2:0.0.0 logical name: /dev/sdb size: 111GiB (120GB) capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos configuration: signature=9b8e83be *-volume description: EXT4 volume vendor: Linux physical id: 1 bus info: scsi@2:0.0.0,1 logical name: /dev/sdb1 version: 1.0 serial: fa639259-8eab-4efc-a5fa-ff44f8a3f519 size: 111GiB capacity: 111GiB capabilities: primary bootable journaled extended_attributes large_files huge_files dir_nlink extents ext4 ext2 initialized configuration: created=2011-12-09 13:31:30 filesystem=ext4 label=IOMEGA lastmountpoint=/media/IOMEGA modified=2012-05-10 21:47:23 mounted=2012-05-10 17:27:37 state=clean

Wolfman

Fri May 11, 2012 8:39:35 am

Hi,

looking through your list quickly; I noticed that one of the partitions is on 500 MB in size, how do you have your drive partitioned??.

You should have 1 swap of roughly double your RAM, root of about 15 -20 GB and home of nothing less than 25GB.

Did you format both root and home partitions??, if you didn't, this may also be a cause for your problem(s).

Regards Wolfman

IzayoiAki

Fri May 11, 2012 9:41:56 am

Wolfman wrote:Hi,

looking through your list quickly; I noticed that one of the partitions is on 500 MB in size, how do you have your drive partitioned??.

You should have 1 swap of roughly double your RAM, root of about 15 -20 GB and home of nothing less than 25GB.

Did you format both root and home partitions??, if you didn't, this may also be a cause for your problem(s).

Regards Wolfman

The partitioning was done by the installer, not by me.

But, I guess I could resize it.

Wolfman

Fri May 11, 2012 9:47:24 am

Hi,

well if you are satisfied that your partitions are okay; I won't go down that road, what you can also try is to run "fsck" (file system check which is the same as "chdk" in Windows) from the recovery menu as I really don't have a clue why things are going wrong for you!.

Regards Wolfman

IzayoiAki

Fri May 11, 2012 10:56:46 am

I think it's a glitch, similar to the gnome-panel glitch, since it's random, and not reproducable at will. It's something I guess we need to live with, and just be aware of in case it happens again. Similar to the gnome-panel glitch, the workaround would be to run

Code:: killall indicator-datetime-preferences

then attempt to go into the settings again.

IzayoiAki

Fri May 11, 2012 5:50:14 pm

swarfendor437 wrote:Do you ever get graphics issues as listed here?:

http://www.linuxine.com/story/screen-resolution-problem

Also, did you run chkdsk and defrag before installing? I always use my Acronis disk to securely wipe the hard drive with 3 passes - to make sure nothing is left behnd. Guess the 'Nukem' tool would work just as well.

Nope, didn't have any graphics problems. As for defrag and chkdsk. There was no need, I was going to wipe the entire drive for the Zorin install anyway. I would only worry about wiping the multipass wiping if I was selling on the desktop. If I do need to wipe, I have a tool that wipes up to 10 times (3 is the default, 10 is "paranoid" setting.

)

I might run a fsck with bad cluster check and see if that picks up anything.

IzayoiAki

Fri May 11, 2012 7:46:25 pm

swarfendor437 wrote:
IzayoiAki wrote:
Nope, didn't have any graphics problems. As for defrag and chkdsk. There was no need, I was going to wipe the entire drive for the Zorin install anyway. I would only worry about wiping the multipass wiping if I was selling on the desktop. If I do need to wipe, I have a tool that wipes up to 10 times (3 is the default, 10 is "paranoid" setting. )

I might run a fsck with bad cluster check and see if that picks up anything.

I only suggested 'secure wipe' to ensure it is gone without a hitch as I reinstalled Windows once, files associated with my previous install were reappearing!

I rarely use secure wipe because it just takes too long

Only use it when I absolutely have to.

This is a static archive of the old Zorin Forum.