[chris:b]

Lower the configured resolution to get 3D desktop effects

On some boxes MCNLive will start automatically with a pretty high resolution, which is fine without 3D desktop. But prevents Beryl or Metisse to work properly.
Example. An IBM Thinkpad T30. Radeon 9250 (or something like that) video card. Starts into 1400x xxx resolution, looks great :-)
Before yor enable 3D effects, please click on 'Configure Video' (menu--> MCNLive), set your monitor to 1024x768 Flat panel *and* the resolution to 1024x768. Now enable in the same menu 3D desktop. Logout, login back, as user guest, password: guest

Beryl and Metisse and Compiz - still experimental

Please keep in mind when using the 3D desktop effects that it is still experimental. In some cases you might run into stability issues (read: it will crash, which is not critical on a live system but annoying). Depends on your video card, the available video RAM, a screensaver popping in, too much open embedded flash contents on websites ...

It seems for some bluetooth services we missed the package kdebluetooth-pin
Open a terminal, type:

su
urpmi kdebluetooth-pin

I am sorry for that. We had no bluetooth tester.

Installing Delft to hard disk

Though not recommended it seems that people wish to use Delft for a permanent system on HD.
* When it comes to the step of installing the bootloader, please don't try to manually add another OS. (MS Windows is added by default if discovered.) It will most likely fail. You can do this after you re-booted the first time.
* Please consider after an installation the following tasks. Change the passwords of the user guest and root, create you own user, un-install the package 'draklive-install', check the default services you want to start at boot time (MCC), don't use the wizards in the menu 'MCNLive', they are made for a live system only, check if the security level (standard) fits your needs, add a firewall if you are not in an already secured network ...
* I would like to repeat it here. Consider installing the real Mandriva. The Mandriva free dvd download edition is just wonderful. And if you want to support the distribution, you may want to buy the commercial edition, Mandriva Powerpack.

Enabling the non-free software sources

Delft does not include any closed source drivers on kernel level. In the Mandriva Control Center you can enable the already configured source which contains all non-free drivers, for example for nvidia and ati video cards, and install the (pre-compiled) drivers. 'Delft' comes with the default Mandriva 2007.1 Spring kernel!

What is the wizard ' Create persistent loop' for?

This wizard creates a (big) file on a chosen partition to prepare the feature: make all changes persistent.
* It will ask you where to create this file and how big it should be.
* If you go for an ext3 partition, this partition will get the label MCNLIVE.
* The wizard does not create or erase any partitions.

The bootcode: vesa

* Very few graphical cards might refuse to boot into graphical mode. 'Delft' introduces a cheatcode for this issue. At the initial boot screen hit F1, at the poot prompt type: vesa (not livecd vesa, just: vesa !)
The boot process will write a standard config file for a vesa card and a screen resolution of 1024x768, configure a standard mouse etc.
* This boot code is also meant when booting from the iso file or a real CD with VirtualBox or VMWare.

Hot plugging removable devices - dubbel-click the Devices icon on the desktop

Plug in the device. Wait two seconds. Dubbel-click the icon 'Devices' on the desktop. You'll find them ;-)
I disabled the annoying pop-up windows ...

Available bootcodes for 'Delft'

http://www.mcnlive.o...odes-delft.html

This post has been edited by anna: 24 May 2007 - 09:20 PM

[chris:b]

I am hesitating to post the following. I guess some won't appcreciate it. :lol2:

I am known as an opponent to install any Live CD /Live system as your main system on a hard disk.
No matter which one, Mandriva One, MCNLive, Knoppix or any of the click-populars on distrowatch.

Read on here for the reasons:

http://www.mandrivac...?showtopic=8003

You'll never get a clean system after installing a live cd. The differences in the live distros is only: the amount of uncleanliness.
The major distributions all offer a quick-and-dirty live install, because of popular demand.

That does not make things better.

[chris:b]

Remaster-on-the-fly

* When you are running the 'Remaster Live' wizard, and it comes to the step where you see terminal messages, there is an error-message when the boot splash is being built. You can ignore it. It is non-critical, and won't lead to any problems.

* If you want to build your own version by remastering, please don't run an automated 'update' (--auto-select or auto-update). It will pull in some packages that could prevent a proper working Live CD, for example the package 'initscripts' and a (wrongly) packed rpm mille-xterm-busybox. Don't install them.

* Basically you can install an updated kernel, even on a Live CD. But because you can't reboot a live cd you need to create two remster.iso, in two steps. Install the additional kernel.
Build a remaster (NOT with graphical too), but in a terminal with the additional argument:
--kernel 2.6.17-XXX
(the new kernel !!)

Boot the new live system. Uninstall the old kernel, and build a second remaster - you don't need a kernel argument, it will pick the running kernel.

* On Toronto only

You can easily replace the graphical isolinux bootsplash - the first screen when booting.
Create a 640x480 picture, save it as splash.jpg and copy it over to: /usr/lib/syslinux replacing our file.

This post has been edited by anna: 24 May 2007 - 09:37 PM

[chris:b]

Problems to boot from USB
In most cases booting from USB is not a problem. Plug in the usb device. Run the 'Create Live USB' graphicak wizard. Reboot. Set your BIOS to boot from 'USB-HDD' or use a function key (depends on your Notebook or computer).

If you have problems to boot.

1. Follow these steps: http://www.mcnlive.org/usblive.htm

2. Still no go? Your computer is able to boot from 'USB-HDD'. You are sure that the usb stick or pendrive or usb hdd is not physically damaged?

Then most likely you have a messed up partition table and/or missing boot flag on the first partition and/or wrong formatting of the partition.
All usb sticks are bootable, at least those with at least 512 MB.

I don't know one case where we did not get a usb key to boot.

Look at these topics, they have the same problem and the solution:
http://www.mandrivac...?showtopic=8443
http://www.mandrivac...?showtopic=8472

The steps are.
A. Control the partition with:

su
fdisk -l /dev/sdX

where X can be a or b or c or ... depends on your device

B. If you see a strange output here or a missing bootflag, then delete the partition, recreate it, format it, all done with the MCC.
Control it again with the fdisk command.

C. In some cases you need to overwrite a completely messed up partition table. Even and in particular on factory preformatted usb sticks.
An example is the SanDisk Cruzer 2 GB. It has a sort hidden partition (?) which prevents the BIOS to recognize the stick as a boot device.
When you try to boot you'll see a message like: 'no operating system found'.
The fix is easy, tested and it works. Read on ...

Example, your device is /dev/sdb:

su
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=1M count=2

Be very carefully, that you don't specify an internal or external hard disk. You will erase the MBR, incl. the bootloader and the partition table.
Now you can create a new partition.

D. Run the 'Create Live USB' wizard.


ATI RADEON X600 Hypermemory in a Dell box
(This is only an issue with MCNLive 'Toronto' which uses a new special isolinux boot splash.With 'Delft' you would simply hit F1, type vesa and <enter>)

This must be a very (DELL) special video adapter that needs a special trick to get started.

Insert the CD. Reboot. At the very beginning, before you even see the first isolinux boot screen, hold down the SHIFT key, and keep holding it.
You'll get a 'black screen' and get asked to type a boot option. Type: vesa
(and enter)

This post has been edited by chris:b: 04 August 2007 - 04:19 PM

[chris:b]

Make more Google services work with Opera

Opera is the preferred browser in MCNLive, it is small, fast and fits better in a live system. Unfortunately some Google services - eg Google Docs, Spreadsheets, Picasa web, Calendar - don't work or only partially work.

So, we make it work:
http://my.opera.com/xErath/blog/2007/01/02...hrough-a-google

The steps.
1. Create a new directory in /home/guest, we call it userjs:
mkdir /home/guest/userjs
2. Download this javascript file:
http://files.myopera...gle-services.js
Right-click, -> save target as, save it in the new created /home/guest/userjs folder.
3. Close opera. Start kwrite and open the (hidden) file:
/home/guest/.opera/opera6.ini
In the section [User Prefs], add this line:
Always Load User JavaScript=1
Save the file. Close kwrite.
4. Start Opera, -> Tools -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Content -> Java Script options -> User Javascipt files --> Choose ...
Add the directory: /home/guest/userjs/

Test it by going to http://docs.google.com/
Sign in with your gmail account. Create a document.

[chris:b]

At boot time USB keyboard not responsive on some newer DELL systems

On some newer DELL systems which comes with an USB keyboard only, for example the E520N, the keyboard is not functional at the first boot screen. Just wait 55 seconds and it will boot with the default settings.
You can also try to hold the SHIFT key before this boot screen comes up, keep holding it, a boot: prompt will appear, here you can type a bootcode. 'livecd' is the default.

This post has been edited by chris:b: 02 July 2007 - 08:00 AM