OK, I have been looking around and cannot find answers to the problems I am having. I am new to everything linux. I have been able to succesffuly set up my box, mount drives, mess with partitions ect. What I cannot figure out is how to put appliction launchers on the desktop (to make it more windows like).....can anyone point me in the right direction?


I am learning alot about the command line but it would be nice to have some icons on the desktop to make things a little easier.

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yeah I'm smart

short answer : you can't

long answer : fluxbox the window manager used in knoppmyth doesn't have that functionality. Desktop environments like kde and gnome add that functionality, but were not included in knoppmyth to try to keep the resource usage down and make a better set top box.

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Have a question search the forum and have a look at the KnoppMythWiki.

Xsecrets

Thanks for the reply. I have tried to install kde but I get a bunch of dependancy errors. I have tried both using apt and synaptic. I am interested in adding such functionality because I will be using this box as a regular computer as well as an HTPC.

Any suggestions about kde or gnome?


Thanks again

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Hi Jamel,

Please tell the kind folks here about your hardware as then they maybe able to offer more direct answers.

Isn't there a saying about a clean desk and a busy mind? Or maybe simular

Anyway as you install "things" using apt-get or synaptic they should appear under the menus you get anytime you right click on our favorite desktop.

For example, say you wanted a browser, you right click on the desk top and nothing is available . You then open an xterm, su - and become "superuser" do apt-get update, then do apt-get install mozilla-firefox answer a question or two. When done, you should have a new menu item to use as mythtv user.

Easy
We were all new to linux at one time...
Mike

Thanks for the responses. I tried using apt to get firefox but it spit out a bunch of stuff about broken packages and missing dependancies. I was able to instal firefox using the tar file that I downloaded onto a thumb drive. BUt it does not show up in my menus (I probably loaded it to the wrong place or something) but it works. I have tried installing a few things using apt and I keep getting the same errors.

Hardware....
AMD Athlon 64 3800+
MSI NX6200TC graphics card
Hapauge 250

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Hi Jamel,

You must do the apt-get update first as that makes a list of whats availble and good. Then as root, do the apt-get install mozilla-firefox As a basic rule of thumb, install as root, run as mythtv.

to become root, open xterm and enter su - then enter (supersecretpassword)
In the menus there is an app called Synaptic that will let you also install properly and is a little more informative.

Try to use apt-get or Synaptic when possible as it is a special tool for Debian (KnoppMyth)

Also if things get really messy and you are not sure where you are, do a backup to save your settings, then if you need to you can redo your install with an auto upgrade. Most settings are restored and any recordings are protected. It doesn't cost extra to reinstall or I would be in the poor house by now.

Mike

Every time I try runnig apt-get update i get a ton of the following:

Err http://non-us.debian.org unstable/non-US/contrib Release
Temporary failure resolving 'non-us.debian.org'
Err http://ftp.us.debian.org unstable/contrib Release
Temporary failure resolving 'ftp.us.debian.org'
Err ftp://debian.marlow.dk sid/madwifi Release
Temporary failure resolving 'debian.marlow.dk'
Hit http://ftp.debian.org ../project/experimental/non-free Packages
Hit http://ftp.debian.org ../project/experimental/non-free Release
Err http://non-us.debian.org unstable/non-US/non-free Packages
404 Not Found

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You're bumping up against the fact that the latest Debian release (code name "Sarge"?) just went from unstable to stable a little while back, http://www.debian.org/ and R5A16 predates that... You need to update the list of apt-get sources to reflect this... You can find more info at the Debian web site... Xsecrets also posted something about this not too long ago...

Hi Jamel,
My appologies, I had forgotten (senior moment) that cesman just mentioned about that a couple of days ago. There about 6 entries that need to be edited (simple changes) The file is /etc/apt/sources.list which is easy to edit with nano
# nano /etc/apt/sources.list you have to do that as root.

If you don't find the changes (look under cesman's posts) I will check tonight.

Mike

Here is the thread in question:

http://mysettopbox.tv/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5634

Hi Jamel,

Just as a heads up, you may not want to install firefox just yet as there could be an issue with a library being replaced that shouldn't be. There have been several people suddenly developing an error and it seems to be related to firefox install.
Don't know about the mozilla suite yet, but you may wish to try that first. same procedure, as root do
# apt-get install mozilla

Change happens, hopefully for the good but an occasonal oops I am sure will happen

related link http://mysettopbox.tv/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5660

Mike

Thanks for the advice unfortunately I have already installed firefox.

I also took you other advice....I messed something else up that I couldnt seem to fix so I just start over. Knowing about apt made everything a ton easier

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Hi Jamel,

Not to worry, if things get messy, do a backup then do an auto upgrade and you will be back just about where you started at, only with a clean fresh beginning. Cecil & Dale did a good job in thinking ahead with the upgrades and saving important stuff.

You can safely do an apt-get install mozilla. Just avoid the firefox for a while till someone figures out what happening there.

Mike