Something has gone terribly wrong

My desktop computer failed to boot yesterday. Completely and totally failed to get passed the most basic kernel start up.

It took most of the day to determine it was something WAY OFF with the MBR. How did it happen? I think it was a kernel upgrade from the online-update from SuSE.

In working to get sound on lizetta's machine working, I did the on-line update and it gave me the exact same problem.

I worked with lilo to reconstruct the MBR but never quite succeeded. I'll work on my desktop later, for now, though, I'm installing SuSE 9.1 from scrath on Amy's machine -- again.

This time, though, I've changed the way I'm handling her encrypted /home partician. That should make it easier to upgrade in the future.

Sigh.

For a short time, I had three computers running around me. Two laptops and a desktop. None of the three were working correctly. Isn't that special.

There are things to be said for Microsoft. Almost everything works right out of the box. Hardware works, software works. And XP is pretty stable. It is just too damn bad that Microsoft security is the pits. Using Firefox and Thunderbird, though, makes it quite a bit better. Quite a bit.

There are things to be said for Linux, too. Security is the big thing.

If I were starting over with being a computer user, though, I would be using an Apple machine.

Today is install the world day. Now to start on my desktop machine.

Love.

Kernel of Truth

I've completed the initial installation of SuSE 9.1 on my desktop and on lizetta's machines. I will have to upgrade the kernels on both because there are two BIG security problems with the kernel that shipped with 9.1, it seems. I'm going to upgrade my desktop first. If that goes well, I'll fire it up on her machine. I can't install the oss driver on her machine until I get the kernel situation stable.

Also, it seems I have a 3D graphics card in my desktop. I'll have to get the correct NVIDIA drivers and see if that works, too. Not that I care overly much.

Static Kernel

Oh boy! I guess those find folks at SuSE have decided that kernel modules aren't really the best way to go for some things. You know, the things that are different on EVERY GODDAMN MACHINE.

It seems the sound system has been statically linked to the newest kernel for SuSE. Now I'll have to rebuild it if I want sound. If it were my computer, I'd not even suggest it.

I've not made a kernel before. I haven't even studied up on it. This really, really, really sucks. Really. A lot.

Fuck.

Far Less PISSED

I screwed around with the sound system on Amy's computer for another hour. I tried everything I could think of to try. I even took a big chance and let a hardware probe run (these things have the aibility to eat operating systems). The probe found three "sound cards." Obviously not, but a sound chip that the three cards share.

Then I tried every combination of installing what I figured was the best guess.

And Lo! There be sound here. And what's even better, it's not a driver that costs money. I'll leave the license on her machine just in case the next version fails.

But now I'm a happy dude.

My desktop is nearly normal, too. I have installed all the non-kernel patches. And now, all by itself, I'm upgrading the kernel.

Then, by god, I'm done.

Tomorrow, the Geo goes back to the shop for warranty work.

Then on Wednesday, I go earn some money. I'm feeling a little queasy about the "job," but I think that's because I have been without one for so long.

Anyway, Love. :)