Other Distros

[bark_bark_bark]

I think a new Slackware version would come out when there is a significant change is big enough to demand a new stable version. Eitherway, Slackware-current seems to be very stable.

[Colonel Panic]

I don't think the Slackware change is really a new release. They seem to have just included some fixes in their distribution disk for recent security vulnerabilities. If your secure networking was OK before, you could just update from an earlier version, but this is exactly the problem with several recently announced vulnerabilities.

I think Slackware just did this to avoid continuing problems with people downloading a vulnerable version, and reporting difficulties.

If anyone has inside information, I'd like them to post that. What I'm doing is speculating based on what I've noticed in that ISO image.

I think you're right. The changelog consists mostly of entries starting like these;

n/httpd-2.4.16-i586-1.txz: Upgraded.

This update fixes the following security issues:

ap/cups-2.0.3-i486-1.txz: Upgraded.

This release fixes bugs and a couple of security issues:


http://mirror.its.dal.ca/slackware/slac ... ngeLog.txt

[James C]

Vector 7.1 32 bit release.

http://www.vectorlinux.com/

Code: Select all

james:$ uname -a
Linux vector.linux.vnet 3.18.16 #1 SMP Tue Jun 16 15:08:37 CDT 2015 i686 Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linux

Noticed they've also released 7.1 Light, ICEWM replacing XFCE.

[James C]

Another Arch update.....

https://www.archlinux.org/

Code: Select all

[james@evo ~]$ uname -a
Linux evo 4.1.2-2-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Wed Jul 15 08:30:32 UTC 2015 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[prehistoric]

I have a DVD with Vector Linux 7.1 64-bit, (Vlocity) but I've become cautious about running it. It appeared to attempt to overclock my 8-core machine, which seems bizarre. This system crashed. Fortunately, it didn't run long enough to burn the processor.

(This machine probably could be tweaked to run at that speed, but I'd be very careful to approach it a step at a time under manual control.)

I know most operating systems only use BIOS settings during boot-up, but generally they don't attempt overclocking. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Was it a fluke?

Anyone have a clue about what else might be responsible?

I'm running DDR3 RAM at 1600 MHz, on a GA 970A-DS3P, which requires enabling special DRAM timings, but the timings at that speed are exactly the same as those on nominal 1333 MHz: 9-9-9-24. This is very good DRAM running at a speed the motherboard manufacturer (Gigabyte) says they support without overclocking. I've run it for hours at that speed. Nothing in running this way should set a 3.5 GHz processor clock to 4 GHz.

[bark_bark_bark]

I'm trying out the RTM build of Windows 10 on my laptop. Wifi isn't working, so I won't be able to get the Day 1 patch M$ has released.

[Billtoo]

I installed the 64bit Vector 7.1 Light to my hp desktop:

bill:$ uname -ra
Linux vlocity.linux.vnet 3.18.16 #1 SMP PREEMPT Tue Jun 16 16:29:26 CDT 2015
x86_64 Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E4500 @ 2.20GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linux

It works well on this older pc.

[cimarron]

I upgraded to Windows 10 today on a spare computer (MS lets you download an iso here), to see the new changes. It upgraded fine, and left my (Mint dual boot) GRUB2 bootloader intact. That's a first!

Looks heavy, almost 1G RAM usage at startup...

[otropogo]

I installed Windows 10 today on a spare computer (MS lets you download an iso here) to see the changes. It installed fine, and left my (Mint dual boot) GRUB2 bootloader intact. That's a first!

Looks heavy, almost 1G RAM usage at startup...

I'm looking to go back to Windows 7 from 8.x, if I can find an affordable license. Have no wish to have MS take complete control of my PC and my online existence with compulsory automatic updates. Am looking to drop Microsoft Essentials ASAP too. Latest tests show it's 22nd from the top in virus detection (and that's probably not counting any malware MS installs).

But I am interested in trying Mint 7.02. Can it be installed to and run from a USBflash card?

[cimarron]

Yes, and Win10 is heavily connected if you do the "express" configuration. Do the manual configuration to turn off connecting to MS every time you search from the desktop, run an app, wipe your nose...

Mint can be installed on a USB flash drive (not sure if that's what you mean) and run live, to see how you like it and how it handles your hardware. Very nice, polished and full-featured.

[prehistoric]

That's Linux Mint 17.2 you mean, for sure.

[otropogo]

Yes, and Win10 is heavily connected if you do the "express" configuration. Do the manual configuration to turn off connecting to MS every time you search from the desktop, run an app, wipe your nose...

Really? The articles and discussions I've read about it all seem to agree that automatic upgrades can't be turned off in Windows 10, so everything that MS throws at you gets installed, no choice...

But if there is a way to hold off the flow for a while, won't it just make it worse when you have to go back on line to do your banking, activate new apps or download a driver update, because all the stuff that's waiting to upload and install itself will tie up your system for hours? Or have I misunderstood how it works?

Mint can be installed on a USB flash drive (not sure if that's what you mean) and run live, to see how you like it and how it handles your hardware. Very nice, polished and full-featured.

Great! Do you have to burn a LiveDVD first, or can you do the install to usbflash directly from the ISO? If the former is the case, is there a USBflash install app bundled to do it? If the latter, can you recommend a flash installer for doing under Windows or Knoppix or Puppy?

I can't even find an app to burn an iso in Win8. I've got to load Knoppix or Puppy to do it.

[cimarron]

There are several ways Win10 phones home that you can turn off, but as I understand it, updates cannot be turned off. I usually suggest people who use Windows do the updates, for security patches, etc. But if you want more control of that aspect, probably better to stick with Win7. I don't use Windows much myself (I just like to know what's going on with it because I troubleshoot for others pretty regularly).

The Linux Mint iso can be installed to a flash drive, then run live from that, or installed from it. I have used Unetbootin to install a number of Linux distros without problems. I've always used the Linux version, but there is a Windows version as well: http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

Unetbootin will apparently download the iso for you (for a number of popular distros, including Mint), but I've never tried that. I've always downloaded the iso myself first and used the second "Diskimage" option.

Not sure how well Unetbootin runs in Puppy, but there is some guidance here: http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=99826

[6502coder]

Re blocking Win10 updates:

http://www.infopackets.com/news/9641/mi ... ry-updates

http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft- ... 0-updates/

[prehistoric]

For creating a bootable flash drive from an ISO image you might also consider Rufus. This is up to date for UEFI systems and GPT disks.

Here are some other instructions for Rufus.

[otropogo]

For creating a bootable flash drive from an ISO image you might also consider Rufus. This is up to date for UEFI systems and GPT disks.

Here are some other instructions for Rufus.

Thanks. Have downloaded the lot for later review and trial. I see the article you linked suggests using the portable version. Is there any advantage to using the regular version?

[otropogo]

Re blocking Win10 updates:

http://www.infopackets.com/news/9641/mi ... ry-updates

http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft- ... 0-updates/

Thanks, have saved and will read later. But I don't have any trust in MS promises. I've got a backlog of dozens of Win8 updates, and every so often I bash head against the wall trying to figure out whether/which I need.

The first problem is that I can't mass uncheck updates, the optional updates have to be manually unchecked one by one in order for me to avoid installing all of them together with any other update.

The second is that for the vast majority of the updates, when I click on the more information tab, there IS no information, or the information has no relevance.

Third is that often when I finally decide an update might be useful, I learn that I have to have a previous update installed. But I'm not told whether it is or not. So now, I have to scroll through and review all of the updates, including the daily virus sig updates.

Fourth, all of the above may now be moot, because when I tried to look at the updates waiting to be installed, I found I'm no longer able to get a prompt to review them. It's install or not - 1.1GB worth.

Sooo - I don't think I'm going to jump into this mess.

[bark_bark_bark]

Forced driver updates are a REALLY bad idea.

[prehistoric]

...Thanks. Have downloaded the lot for later review and trial. I see the article you linked suggests using the portable version. Is there any advantage to using the regular version?

Not that I know. I have only used Rufus once when I had a problem with another technique. It worked when I needed it.

[prehistoric]

Forced driver updates are a REALLY bad idea.

M$ is now offering a work-around for people who want to avoid some updates. The practical effect will scarcely matter, because almost no one will be able to tell when they need to do this.