(old)Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

OK so at seemingly random times, sometimes while running apps, othertimes during periods of inactivity, the X Server goes away and I am left staring at a command prompt.

I have no idea of how to begin to troubleshoot this, and could really use some help.

I am using Slacko 5.3 on an ASUS A52F. Ran smoothly without this problem happening at all for months and then recently it started. Now happens once or twice a day.

If I can't get to the bottom of it, I'm afraid I will have to go back to using a small Fedora USB install instead. I can't have the basic structure of the OS falling apart for no good reason.

All help much appreciated.

Thanks.

try slacko 5.4 it has some fixes for intel cards,

Is there a way to upgrade, or to just install the new drivers or whatever?

I don't want to have the ball-ache of downloading a new ISO, burning it, running the live system and making a new USB install just for the sake of a couple of files.

Thanks.

How is Slacko installed?
Frugal or full?

bigpup wrote:How is Slacko installed?
Frugal or full?

Full install to an 8GB USB.

try doing a frugal install, you can use grub4dos to install iso's without burning a cd

heres my menu.lst for precise 5.4.1:

title precise 5.4.1
root (hd0,5)
kernel /precise-5.4.1/vmlinuz psubdir=precise-5.4.1
initrd /precise-5.4.1/initrd.gz

you download the iso and unzip it to the directory on the right partition
the line that says 'root' tells the PC what partition to use

I unzip the iso in windows, as I dont know how to do it in puppy :/

OK I installed a clean full version of Slacko 5.4 and so far the X Windows has not crashed. However, I now have other problems with permissions on NTFS drives, and the INCREDIBLY slowness of the savefile being written from RAM to disk. Previously it took 10-20 seconds. Now it takes forever.

I am losing patience with Puppy tbh. I prefer stuff to just work rather than having to tinker with it endlessly.

consentient wrote:

bigpup wrote:How is Slacko installed?
Frugal or full?

Full install to an 8GB USB.

You are mistaken!

Puppy does not work as a "full install" to usb devices.

Full installs also do not have save files.

OK I installed a clean full version of Slacko 5.4 and so far the X Windows has not crashed. However, I now have other problems with permissions on NTFS drives, and the INCREDIBLY slowness of the savefile being written from RAM to disk. Previously it took 10-20 seconds. Now it takes forever.

Slacko 5.4 is at the cutting edge of Puppy development.
An older version of Puppy may work better for you.

About your new re-installation.
Prier to the new install.
Did you completely delete all the old files from the USB drive?
Better yet reformat?
What format was used?
Completely removed old save files from drive?
What save option are you using when asked?
Save to file or save to partition?
Are you making a save file and booting using it before installing any additional programs?
Specific details on how you did the re-install.

I am using Slacko 5.3 on an ASUS A52F. Ran smoothly without this problem happening at all for months and then recently it started. Now happens once or twice a day.

This could be caused by the save file getting corrupted.

The boot option

puppy pfix=fsck

Will check the save file and correct any problems.

How do I edit the boot options?

consentient wrote:How do I edit the boot options?

If you are booting from a USB drive.
At the boot screen hit F2 key.
Option screen will show and has info on how to use boot options.

I get no boot screen. Only text saying stuff like "loading puppy" etc...

I am confused?

Explain again. Puppy is installed on what?
How was it installed?
What program was used for install process?
Do you see a boot menu, at boot, that you select from?

I was under the impression you boot from a USB flash drive install of Puppy.
If it was installed by using the Puppy universal installer, you should see a boot screen with option to hit F2 key. (Screen will appear for 2 or 3 seconds).