Hey all, I decided to just to do a clean install of Mint MATE 64 bit, to the pen drive. Too many goofy things going on. I took a C++ course, circa 1996, (didn't really enjoy it, too tedious) so I have a rudimentary understanding of how code works, and I know that corrupt code can lead to unseen ramifications that show up in areas they shouldn't. So with all the corrupt caches and stuff, I'm starting over with a fresh install. Which I have just completed, and I'm running from MATE now.
So far, I've adjusted date and time, then set up the Firewall, then updated the Package Manager, then installed video and sound codecs. I left the generic video driver alone. It's working fine, and as we know the nVidia drivers cause boot issues with my legacy system. Video looks great, and I can watch hockey games, so it's all good in that regard.
I then opened Update Manager and got an error about not being able to update the cache because I'm not connected to the Internet. But when I clicked ok, it updated the cache and listed a gaggle of level 2 updates, one level 3 update, and 2 level 4 updates; (the kernel and libc). I opened preferences and set them to "just keep my system safe" then refreshed the cache. All of the level 2 updates were pre-selected, so I "installed updates" then rebooted. Then installed the level 3 update, and rebooted. Then the kernel update, and rebooted. Then the libc update then rebooted, and other than a list of errors flashing by on boot-up, it's running ok as far as I can tell.
Here's a screen shot of Driver Manager. It appears that it isn't seeing my processor, and when I updated the kernel, I kept seeing errors about not being able to find a device, and I'm wondering if this is related.
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I kept getting the following errors every time it completed installing updates. It appears that I don't have permissions set up properly for some updates. Maybe I should note that I was never prompted to make a password during the install, if that has any bearing on the subject.
View attachment 2944
Thanks everyone again for your help. I could never do this without you, and another newbie mentioned that he felt like he needed to pay you for all the free help. I am very grateful myself, so thank you all again, and especially for your patience. I'm not always the sharpest knife in the drawer.
I think, at this point, with this Distro seemingly running without any obvious hiccups, other than the errors I've mentioned, if you pros think this Distro is running well enough to copy to a HD and work from it without too much playing around, (email, News, movies, hockey games; And of course, setting up Timeshift to backup regularly as @Condobloke suggested), then I would like to:
1. Try and get the 1.5 TB WD drive working and then install MATE there, on perhaps one of 3 partitions. (I'm not concerned about preserving or restoring any data)
2. Try and get the USB Seagate 2TB working for Timeshift backups and storage, with 2 partitions. (not concerned about preserving or restoring data)
3. Set up the new 1.0 TB WD with perhaps 3 partitions, (300, 300, 300 GB) as a test bed for playing with the different Distros.
Does that sound workable?
Sorry to be so scarce... I'm afraid it will continue for a bit too (this is the bad part of my work cycle... working 6 out of 7 days). But I wanted to pop in and offer a comment on this "permissions" thing.... I think (hope) I see the trouble here.
When you say "install" to the pen drive, I think you are using the Universal USB Installer to put your Mint .iso file on to the USB pen drive. I've been at work all night, and the lingo seems off, but I can't think of the proper word/term... "creating" a Live Linux distro on USB, maybe. "Installing" takes on a slightly different meaning, usually meaning to install to a hard disk. "Installing" to a pen drive is possible too, but I don't think that's what you're doing because your screen shot shows the user as "mint" (the home folder = mint's Home). This distinction explains why you were not asked for a password... because you were also not asked to create a user name! When you run Mint in "live mode" like this, I think you have full root (administrator) permissions.... so you can run Gparted, or install software, without giving a password, where you normally would have to provide a password. Clear as mud? (Thin mud, I hope.)
So, I also believe you have enabled "persistence" on this "live Linux" USB pen drive. Yes? Persistence is also what allows you to install software, and it saves it. It remembers your home network and WiFi password, if you used wireless. But... there are limitations to what persistence will let you do, and I think that is where you think there is a problem (and probably is not really a problem at all). Let me now quote a paragraph from this link:
"There are a few limitations. You can’t modify system files, like the kernel. You can’t perform major system upgrades. You also can’t install hardware drivers. However, you can install most applications. You can even update most installed applications, so you can be sure your persistent USB drive has the latest version of the web browser you prefer."
So, in my old, tired mind... I'm thinking this may have been part of the trouble for awhile now, though I don't think we recognized it before. Trying to install the nVidia drivers made everything wonky. Trying to update the kernel also. This may have made the whole "live USB" somewhat unstable as well, and it might not be trustworthy to use for a real installation to your WD or other hard disk. If you agree with this assessment, I'd say burn your USB pen drive again fresh with the .iso file (persistence is okay, but not necessary if only using to install to a hard drive)... and use the pen drive "as is".
Now, if I can stay awake a bit longer, I'll re-read some or all of what I've missed and see if I can add anything else at this point. (Don't hold your breath.) But you're getting there... I'd say making great progress! And you're in good hands with Wiz and Condo also!
Cheers