Gentoo Question

[Collins]

On Sat, 01 May 2004 15:01:19 -0400
Matthew Carpenter <matt at eisgr.com> wrote:


> So far I've installed the base Stage3 system as described in the 
> Handbook.  Then I installed XFree86 and a couple graphics things and I 
> somehow ended up with Gnome installed from the packages on the cd.  Then 
> I emerged KDE but something interrupted it and I've had to start over.   
> I have had some difficulties because the laptop in use doesn't like the 
> acpi drivers and when I shut the lid I never get the screen to come 
> back.  I can ctrl-alt-del and have it soft boot, but that interrupts 
> whatever is emerging.  I can type init 6 and it will reboot when done 
> with the emerge, but I never know the results from the emerge. 

OK, what model laptop do you have? I've read that 2.6 kernels do a better job with laptops, expecially with acpi. I'm writing this from an hp ze4630us with everything ~x86 (i.e. testing, not stable) and 2.6 kernels, and I've nevery had a bit of trouble. 

 
> I have a message that continually is printed as I emerge new packages, 
> complaining about "Service 'syslog-ng' already provide 'logger'! Not 
> adding service "sysklogd'...  

It sounds like you have both loggers engaged. Issue 'rc-update del xxxxx default' (xxxxx = either syslog-ng or sysklogd) to remove the one you don't need from the automated startup. 

I have had issues installing KDE, mostly 
> with a package not being available   And I've had issues with 
> "coreutils" being found as well.  

Post specific messages. 

It's been quite frustrating.  I've 
> emerge sync-ed several  times over the past  week to make sure I'm 
> working with the latest package/dep info.  So I am trying the emerge 
> world/emerge --emptytree world in hopes that whatever versions are not 
> available will no longer be necessary.  
> I've also had issues with Signatures not matching.  That has me quit 
> perturbed.

Like any system with mirrors, occasionally the mirrors get out of sync, or a corrupt package appears on oe of the mirrors. Usually wait a day and 'emerge sync' will fix the problem. You've managed to win the "unlucky" lotto <g>.

> 
> I know I am not a guru and that I've not done things correctly, but I'm 
> afraid I'm a bit lost as to the correction.  Reinstalling can't be the 
> way to go... that's just so.... Microsoft.  So what do I do?
> My USE variable is set in make.conf as "X gtk2 kde gnome imap alsa ldap 
> java"
> Is this a problem?
> 

The USE variables look pretty normal.

Yes, reinstalling is a bummer; it just depends on what you've gimped. In either case, you're possibly looking at a long recovery. On my laptop an 'emerge -e world' with your numberof packages (I have a lot more) would take about 30 hours. If you have a slower laptop, it could take several days, longer than a reinstall.

I've helped a Gentoo newbie with my local LUG, and he liked the reinstall process when he got totally hung up. He did learn a great deal from the process.

Whatever you decide, you need to make a habit of keeping a detailed log of everything you do. Then I or others can help you.

When I do a Gentoo install (or most others as well), I always start with a simple WM like XFCE and leave the big ones like KDE or GNOME for later. Also, unless you have a very fast machine with beaucoup gigs work space, don't try to emerge openoffice; get the binary package. I also use the binaries for Mozilla or Firefox.

You might try putting up a 2.6 kernel first to see if that solves your acpi problem. Maybe that would give you a more stable base.

Sorry I can't solve your problem from afar, but there are just too many variables. Gentoo becomes problematic if you aren't anal about following the recommended procedures and documenting what you have done.

HTH,

-- 
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( CR ) Collins Richey
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