MX 16 unofficial remaster marries KDE to xfce; marital bliss ensues

[Stevo]

MX installs a "cron job" which performs a trim operation on SSD drives once a week to keep them healthy. I have to say I don't know much in depth about SSDs; is there something more in those tools you need to keep yours running well?

Maybe we can come up with a list of "5 tweaks for the KDE respin after installation" that would make a good MX Blog entry. I kept the xrender desktop effects backend as default to work in as many situations as possible, but they can be a lot better with openGL available.

[Adrian]

I fixed mx-tools, it should not display Xfce-only items if not running in Xfce (Tim will have to upload the new mx-tools in the repo).

[richb]

MX installs a "cron job" which performs a trim operation on SSD drives once a week to keep them healthy. I have to say I don't know much in depth about SSDs; is there something more in those tools you need to keep yours running well?

Maybe we can come up with a list of " 5 tweaks for the KDE respin after installation" that would make a good MX Blog entry. I kept the xrender desktop effects backend as default to work in as many situations as possible, but they can be a lot better with openGL available.

Trim options are also beyond my knowledge. Aa far as the indexing after first run I believe it is only incremental.

Xrender is compatible with most systems and is probably the correct default setting.

[Stevo]

Thanks for doing that update for MX Tools! I have heard some murmuring about a MATE respin, too. I don't know much about setting a good MATE desktop at all, though I could port over MATE 1.16.1 from my OBS repo to ours, if some MATE maven can set up the desktop.

[joejac]

Hello and thanks,

I lost hours trying to install Win7 with no luck, I used Gparted and gave it a 300BG partition, Win7 see it but it do not want to install, it gives the error: "Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition", the solution requires no other OS in the HD, and I have already restored my 400GB laptop information in the desktop, and I do not want to ruin my MX-16 installation in the hard disk.

The Intel SSD Tools are very good, but runs only on Win, in fact I miss 11GB of the SSD drive, that was the old root partition it had in 2012 but, I do not know how to recover those 11GB, despite I formatted de ssd drive and I installed MX-16 official in a single partition with no swap. I used a Win 7 in Virtualbox, it sees the SSD, shared resource, but Intel SSD Tools only sees Virtualbox disk, not the SSD.

I had many years without having to install Windows, today I realized more, how crappy is Windows compared with Linux.

I will try now with the KDE respin. Any idea is very welcomed.

By the way, Open Office Calc loaded in one second with the SSD with MX-16.

Best regards
joejac

[KoO]

@ joejac

I always use this Diskpart for a fresh install.

Booting and partitioning of GPT for Windows 8:
1.Boot from the Windows 8 install media (You must initiate this boot from a device labeled as a UEFI device, or the installation of Windows 8 will produce an error that the OS cannot be installed to a GPT partition) These UEFI boot devices will have a prefix UEFI: "name of your device", and show as a boot option in your UEFI.
2.After booting to the UEFI device you see the Install Windows 8 screen, press Shift + F10 to open a command prompt.
3.Type Diskpart, press Enter
4.Type List Disk , press Enter
5.Type Select Disk # (where # is the number your drive shows up as), press Enter
6.Type Clean, press Enter
7.Type Convert GPT, press Enter
8.Type Exit, press Enter.
9.Close the Command Prompt window.
10.Click the "Next" button.
11.Click the "Install now" button.
12.Put in your product key and click the "Next" button.
13.Accept the terms and click the "Next" button.
14.Choose "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)."
15.Select the partition and click "Drive options (advanced)"
16.Click "New" and then click the "Apply" button. Four partitions should appear. Click the bottom partition.
17.Click the "OK" button and then click the "Next" button.
18.From then on follow the on screen instructions till you get to the desktop.
Note: If you can't boot after the install you need to make sure the boot is set to "Windows Boot Manager" in the UEFI. Also, important info

After using Diskpart http://i68.tinypic.com/2rbzcs2.jpg
From Linux install screen http://i68.tinypic.com/ekqecx.jpg
After Linux installed http://i66.tinypic.com/s4uj9w.jpg

This from my laptop with HDD dual boot win 8.1 & MX-16
Also used the same for my Desktop with SSD M2 dual boot win 8.1 & MX-16
Hope this is of some help...

[joejac]

Hello KoO

Thanks alot for your information, I am seeing your information right now, early this morning my son came with an unofficial Win7 copy :) and it installed perfectly with the standar installation, It did not accepted my valid Windows licence, but I still have 30 evaluation days just enough time to test my SSD with Intel Tools. I am fine know that I know everything is fine with my SSD after almost 4 year stored in a deposit with my desktop.

My SSD still have 100% usefull life, (with MX-16 KDE respin) I used only for one year. I did also a full diagnostic, and everything is fine. Grub was damaged but I will use Rescatux CD to recober my Grub.

I will take note of your complete Window installation proceedure, I hope not have to install Windows again.

Just for reference, I attached the Intel SSD Tool screen captures, they are in spanish.

Best regards
Joejac

[Shay2]

I like it so far.

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System:    Host: mx16KDE Kernel: 4.7.0-0.bpo.1-amd64 x86_64 (64 bit)
           Desktop: KDE Plasma 4.14.2 Distro: MX-16 amd64 Migrated
Machine:   Device: laptop System: Dell product: Latitude E6430 v: 01
           Mobo: Dell model: 0H3MT5 v: A00 BIOS: Dell v: A17 date: 08/19/2015
Battery    BAT0: charge: 50.7 Wh 69.7% condition: 72.8/90.0 Wh (81%)
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i5-3320M (-HT-MCP-) cache: 3072 KB 
           clock speeds: max: 3300 MHz 1: 1313 MHz 2: 1476 MHz 3: 1264 MHz
           4: 1334 MHz
Graphics:  Card-1: Intel 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller
           Card-2: NVIDIA GF108GLM [NVS 5200M]
           Display Server: X.Org 1.16.4 drivers: nouveau,intel (unloaded: modesetting,fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1600x900@59.99hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Ivybridge Mobile
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 13.0.5
Audio:     Card Intel 7 Series/C210 Series Family High Definition Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.7.0-0.bpo.1-amd64
Network:   Card-1: Intel 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection driver: e1000e
           IF: eth0 state: down mac: d4:be:d9:86:d8:c7
           Card-2: Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 driver: iwlwifi
           IF: wlan0 state: up mac: 24:77:03:df:1e:94
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 128.0GB (8.0% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: TOSHIBA_MK1234GS size: 120.0GB
           ID-2: USB /dev/sdb model: Cruzer_Glide size: 8.0GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 106G used: 5.5G (6%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 4.58GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda3
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 53.0C mobo: N/A gpu: 49.0
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 206 Uptime: 58 min Memory: 960.6/7893.0MB

[Stevo]

I like it so far.

Code: Select all

System:    Host: mx16KDE Kernel: 4.7.0-0.bpo.1-amd64 x86_64 (64 bit)
           Desktop: KDE Plasma 4.14.2 Distro: MX-16 amd64 Migrated
Machine:   Device: laptop System: Dell product: Latitude E6430 v: 01
           Mobo: Dell model: 0H3MT5 v: A00 BIOS: Dell v: A17 date: 08/19/2015
Battery    BAT0: charge: 50.7 Wh 69.7% condition: 72.8/90.0 Wh (81%)
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i5-3320M (-HT-MCP-) cache: 3072 KB 
           clock speeds: max: 3300 MHz 1: 1313 MHz 2: 1476 MHz 3: 1264 MHz
           4: 1334 MHz
Graphics:  Card-1: Intel 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller
           Card-2: NVIDIA GF108GLM [NVS 5200M]
           Display Server: X.Org 1.16.4 drivers: nouveau,intel (unloaded: modesetting,fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1600x900@59.99hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Ivybridge Mobile
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 13.0.5
Audio:     Card Intel 7 Series/C210 Series Family High Definition Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.7.0-0.bpo.1-amd64
Network:   Card-1: Intel 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection driver: e1000e
           IF: eth0 state: down mac: d4:be:d9:86:d8:c7
           Card-2: Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 driver: iwlwifi
           IF: wlan0 state: up mac: 24:77:03:df:1e:94
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 128.0GB (8.0% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: TOSHIBA_MK1234GS size: 120.0GB
           ID-2: USB /dev/sdb model: Cruzer_Glide size: 8.0GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 106G used: 5.5G (6%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 4.58GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda3
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 53.0C mobo: N/A gpu: 49.0
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 206 Uptime: 58 min Memory: 960.6/7893.0MB

Thanks for the feedback! Are you going to try to use the Nvidia driver install tool to see if it can set up Bumblebee for your Optimus system?

[Shay2]

Well, is not Bumblebee for multi video cards?

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 lspci -vnn -s 01:00.0
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: NVIDIA Corporation GF108GLM [NVS 5200M] [10de:0dfc] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
	Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:1534]
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 33
	Memory at f5000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
	Memory at e0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
	Memory at f0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=32M]
	I/O ports at e000 [size=128]
	Expansion ROM at f6000000 [disabled] [size=512K]
	Capabilities: <access denied>
	Kernel driver in use: nouveau