-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Yesterday, I tried to update my SuSE 8.2 machine to SuSE 9.0. It was a complete disaster. The machine is a dual boot, Win2K on hda and Linux on hdb (well, /usr is also on hda). I first tried to do an Update Existing System. I couldn't get it to boot. This didn't bother me, as I've read of others with this problem. Then I tried doing an initial install without reformating /home. No good. I could get it to boot, but nothing would run. OK, I thought, version conflicts in configuration. I then did another initial install, this time reformatting all Linux partitions. The install procedure reached the point of setting up the boot configuration, and went into a loop displaying "Error in writing boot configuration" ... I'd answer OK, then this message would come up again ad infinitem. No way to continue the install. At this point, I reinstalled SuSE 8.2. I doubt that I'm EVER going to try updating to 9.0 again, but I'd like some idea what might have happened so that I might be able to fix it at 9.1 or whatever. Does anyone have any ideas? -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.2.2-rc1-SuSE (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFACteAjeziQOokQnARAjdbAJ9AbAFjNY9306EtABKZjoJ3mwtvBwCfRnFF xNaHWaYLIDrv+OqYlf2ZUWs= =NRgj -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
On Sunday 18 January 2004 10:59 am, Michael Satterwhite wrote:
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Yesterday, I tried to update my SuSE 8.2 machine to SuSE 9.0. It was a complete disaster. The machine is a dual boot, Win2K on hda and Linux on hdb (well, /usr is also on hda).
I first tried to do an Update Existing System. I couldn't get it to boot. This didn't bother me, as I've read of others with this problem.
Then I tried doing an initial install without reformating /home. No good. I could get it to boot, but nothing would run. OK, I thought, version conflicts in configuration.
I then did another initial install, this time reformatting all Linux partitions. The install procedure reached the point of setting up the boot configuration, and went into a loop displaying "Error in writing boot configuration" ... I'd answer OK, then this message would come up again ad infinitem. No way to continue the install.
I can't speak on the other problems, but I might have an idea of the problem here if, that is, /boot isn't formatted as ext2. I used to have /boot formatted as reiserfs, but on 2 of my 3 machines, grub failed to install during the boot configuration because it couldn't seem to read any of the files in /boot. Once I reformatted /boot as ext2 (I suppose ext3 would also work), the problems went away. HTH, Steve
At this point, I reinstalled SuSE 8.2. I doubt that I'm EVER going to try updating to 9.0 again, but I'd like some idea what might have happened so that I might be able to fix it at 9.1 or whatever. Does anyone have any ideas?
On Monday 19 January 2004 09:06 am, Steve wrote:
I then did another initial install, this time reformatting all Linux partitions. The install procedure reached the point of setting up the boot configuration, and went into a loop displaying "Error in writing boot configuration" ... I'd answer OK, then this message would come up again ad infinitem. No way to continue the install.
I can't speak on the other problems, but I might have an idea of the problem here if, that is, /boot isn't formatted as ext2. I used to have /boot formatted as reiserfs, but on 2 of my 3 machines, grub failed to install during the boot configuration because it couldn't seem to read any of the files in /boot. Once I reformatted /boot as ext2 (I suppose ext3 would also work), the problems went away.
Michael, what are you using for your source for 9.0? I just discovered that my original cds are hosed and have been since they arrived! They dont contain all the rpms they should. Less than half! On the otherhand, the dvd works fine. Don';t know it that helps any but it is something to look for. Richard
Yesterday, I tried to update my SuSE 8.2 machine to SuSE 9.0. It was a complete disaster. The machine is a dual boot, Win2K on hda and Linux on hdb (well, /usr is also on hda).
I first tried to do an Update Existing System. I couldn't get it to boot. This didn't bother me, as I've read of others with this problem.
Then I tried doing an initial install without reformating /home. No good. I could get it to boot, but nothing would run. OK, I thought, version conflicts in configuration.
I then did another initial install, this time reformatting all Linux partitions. The install procedure reached the point of setting up the boot configuration, and went into a loop displaying "Error in writing boot configuration" ... I'd answer OK, then this message would come up again ad infinitem. No way to continue the install.
At this point, I reinstalled SuSE 8.2. I doubt that I'm EVER going to try updating to 9.0 again, but I'd like some idea what might have happened so that I might be able to fix it at 9.1 or whatever. Does anyone have any ideas? Yes,but I am afraid it is not going to be one you like :) I have seen repeatedly on this list the errors reported by people who
Michael Satterwhite wrote: try and upgrade to a new version as opposed to installing from scratch. A friend of mine tried the same idea to upgrade from 8.1 to 9.0 and it took her about a week to realise I was right and that she should have done a clean install of the new version as opposed to trying to upgrade from an older version. DO NOT try and update to a newer version, rather do a clean install of the new version. My advice is therefore to leave your existing partitions as they are and do a clean install of the new version. During the install you will have opportunity to format the partitions. HiH -- The Little Helper ======================================================================== Hylton Conacher - Licenced ex-Windows user (apart from Quicken) Registered Linux user # 229959 at http://counter.li.org Using SuSE 9.0 with KDE 3.1 ========================================================================
On Tuesday 20 January 2004 2:30 am, Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC) wrote:
I have seen repeatedly on this list the errors reported by people who try and upgrade to a new version as opposed to installing from scratch. A friend of mine tried the same idea to upgrade from 8.1 to 9.0 and it took her about a week to realise I was right and that she should have done a clean install of the new version as opposed to trying to upgrade from an older version. DO NOT try and update to a newer version, rather do a clean install of the new version.
My advice is therefore to leave your existing partitions as they are and do a clean install of the new version. During the install you will have opportunity to format the partitions.
Safer, yes. But it means losing all your customizations and possibly a lot of data. I suppose it's possible to keep the non-dot files from your previous home directory, but even retaining your old email can be difficult (depending on the mailer, I suppose). And if you have any licensed software around, porting that across the reinstallation is particularly vexing. My experience is that upgrading by one or two versions can be gotten to work, though sometimes with headaches, but upgrading by more than that (say from 7.x to 9.0) probably won't work. Paul Abrahams
I've found that by keeping my home directory in a separate partition I retain most of my settings, if not all. I also keep a list of what everything I have installed. So far it's working better to do the reinstall. I reformat my root and boot partitions. Rich On Tue January 20 2004 10:45 am, Paul W. Abrahams wrote:
On Tuesday 20 January 2004 2:30 am, Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC) wrote:
I have seen repeatedly on this list the errors reported by people who try and upgrade to a new version as opposed to installing from scratch. A friend of mine tried the same idea to upgrade from 8.1 to 9.0 and it took her about a week to realise I was right and that she should have done a clean install of the new version as opposed to trying to upgrade from an older version. DO NOT try and update to a newer version, rather do a clean install of the new version.
My advice is therefore to leave your existing partitions as they are and do a clean install of the new version. During the install you will have opportunity to format the partitions.
Safer, yes. But it means losing all your customizations and possibly a lot of data. I suppose it's possible to keep the non-dot files from your previous home directory, but even retaining your old email can be difficult (depending on the mailer, I suppose). And if you have any licensed software around, porting that across the reinstallation is particularly vexing.
My experience is that upgrading by one or two versions can be gotten to work, though sometimes with headaches, but upgrading by more than that (say from 7.x to 9.0) probably won't work.
Paul Abrahams
-- Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter. -Martin Luther King- C. Richard Matson
Paul W. Abrahams wrote:
My experience is that upgrading by one or two versions can be gotten to work, though sometimes with headaches, but upgrading by more than that (say from 7.x to 9.0) probably won't work.
Paul Abrahams
7.1 upgraded to 9.0. No loss. I was hoping it would fix the mess I had make of some parts of the system but no. I've had to do those myself.
On Tuesday 20 January 2004 21:59, Peter J. McMenamin wrote:
Paul W. Abrahams wrote:
My experience is that upgrading by one or two versions can be gotten to work, though sometimes with headaches, but upgrading by more than that (say from 7.x to 9.0) probably won't work.
Paul Abrahams
7.1 upgraded to 9.0. No loss. I was hoping it would fix the mess I had make of some parts of the system but no. I've had to do those myself.
Which is one of the best reasons for doing a fresh install. To get rid of old garbage, experiments, failures, etc. -- +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ + Bruce S. Marshall bmarsh@bmarsh.com Bellaire, MI 01/21/04 07:21 + +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ "After a number of decimal places, nobody gives a darn."
The Wednesday 2004-01-21 at 07:22 -0500, Bruce Marshall wrote:
7.1 upgraded to 9.0. No loss. I was hoping it would fix the mess I had make of some parts of the system but no. I've had to do those myself.
Which is one of the best reasons for doing a fresh install. To get rid of old garbage, experiments, failures, etc.
But at the same time you loose all configurations that were working, and your own compilations and additions - that maybe took months to make and tune. That's a very good reason to try the upgrade - if it fails, you can always start fresh. It depends on what each person prefers, seeing the pros/cons of either solution. This has been argued in both directions hundreds of times, and no one will convince the others ;-) -- Cheers, Carlos Robinson
On Wednesday 21 January 2004 08:29, Carlos E. R. wrote:
The Wednesday 2004-01-21 at 07:22 -0500, Bruce Marshall wrote:
7.1 upgraded to 9.0. No loss. I was hoping it would fix the mess I had make of some parts of the system but no. I've had to do those myself.
Which is one of the best reasons for doing a fresh install. To get rid of old garbage, experiments, failures, etc.
But at the same time you loose all configurations that were working, and your own compilations and additions - that maybe took months to make and tune. That's a very good reason to try the upgrade - if it fails, you can always start fresh.
1) Not if you do it right. I always install a new release ---next to-- the old release so I can a) run the old if I need to, and b) compare old and new config files. 2) And your point is *another* good reason to do a fresh install. a) Clean up config files b) Re-do anything that needed re-doing c) Do some thing better. d) Re-learn all that you learned when you installed the last release so that when something breaks (and it will), you will be more able to fix it. e) Find out about new features rather than just going on with life. f) Tons of other reasons. BUT TAKE GOOD NOTES!!! You'll want them for the next fresh install.
It depends on what each person prefers, seeing the pros/cons of either solution. This has been argued in both directions hundreds of times, and no one will convince the others ;-)
-- Cheers, Carlos Robinson
-- +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ + Bruce S. Marshall bmarsh@bmarsh.com Bellaire, MI 01/21/04 09:20 + +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ "All those who believe in telekinesis, Raise my hand..."
The Wednesday 2004-01-21 at 09:24 -0500, Bruce Marshall wrote:
But at the same time you loose all configurations that were working, and your own compilations and additions - that maybe took months to make and tune. That's a very good reason to try the upgrade - if it fails, you can always start fresh.
1) Not if you do it right. I always install a new release ---next to-- the old release so I can a) run the old if I need to, and b) compare old and new config files.
Well, I never do so, I always: 1) do a backup 2) upgrade 3) if it fails, restore/retry, if it fails again, then install fresh - and complain/report to SuSE.
2) And your point is *another* good reason to do a fresh install.
I disagree - I told you that you will never convince me O:-)
a) Clean up config files
No need. Yast will create new config files with an rpmnew extension. I revise both files, and use what I want.
b) Re-do anything that needed re-doing
I can do that for things I want to - I don't want to spend more time than needed.
c) Do some thing better.
Same thing as above.
d) Re-learn all that you learned when you installed the last release so that when something breaks (and it will), you will be more able to fix it.
No need: I can read again my notes.
e) Find out about new features rather than just going on with life.
I find them anyway - And I prefer to go on with life, which is sufficiently complicated without needing extra "help". ;-) The computer and Linux is not and end on it self, but a tool. If I thought your way, I would have updated to 9.0, and I haven't: I'm still using 8.2. If it works, it doesn't need mending.
f) Tons of other reasons.
All of them, are not good enough for me. I'm a lost case, I warn you :-p
BUT TAKE GOOD NOTES!!! You'll want them for the next fresh install.
I always do :-) If I wanted, I would install the new version fresh, on another partition, to see it, then go back and upgrade the old one :-p (I usually have two Linux setups anyway, one used for rescuing, with the older version: so currently I also have SuSE 8.1 there) -- Cheers, Carlos Robinson
participants (9)
-
Bruce Marshall -
C. Richard Matson -
Carlos E. R. -
Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC) -
Michael Satterwhite -
Paul W. Abrahams -
Peter J. McMenamin -
Richard Atcheson -
Steve