Easy Autoconfiguration for Ubuntu

[grasshoper]

So in an attempt to get a light software center on LXDE, I tried to install the lubuntu software center (available with PPA: ppa:lubuntu-desktop/ppa).

It launches, but it seems to have a problem with its sqlite database and is not able to retrieve any package list. I get the following error whenever I tap on a category:

"unable to find package list"

If someone knows what is going on, it would be good to have an alternative to the heavy, laggy Ubuntu software Center !

[geekpeter]

have you tried running the "Update Manager" and going to Settings, and ticked the extra sources such as Backports, tbh just tick all 4, then try a sudo apt-get update and sudo apt-get upgrade,, see if anything happens.

ive even manually added both Oneiric as well as Natty rather than just 1 to my /etc/apt/sources.list and even that seems to be working well enough.

Im running XUbuntu and Software Center is running well enough.

[George Mari]

Originally Posted by grasshoper

I've got the hp keyboard and I didn't notice any repeating keys. Did you check the batteries of the keyboard?

I've replaced the batteries several times, most recently a couple of weeks ago, so I don't think it's that.

The keyboard works fine in other, native webOS apps.

But I like to use vi a lot in the Ubuntu chroot, and whenever I try Ctrl-c or Ctrl-[ to emulate the ESC key, to go into command mode, I have to

1. Press the CTRL key, then let go.
2. Press the 'c' key or '[' to get into command mode.

It's not press-and-hold CTRL while then pressing '[' - it's like the CTRL key acts like a temporary shift-lock, until I press the next key, and then it toggles 'off'.

I found a bluetooth dongle that I attached to my Linux desktop machine, and paired the HP Bluetooth keyboard to my desktop to see what happens in vi there. The keyboard works just like my PS/2 desktop keyboard - no funky ctrl-key behavior, no repeating keys every once in a while. The upper-leftmost key - the one for pulling down the notifications on the Touchpad - that worked as the ESC key on my desktop - I think someone else may have mentioned somewhere else on the forum.

So based on that experiment, I don't think it's a problem with the keyboard - it seems to be something buried within webOS and how it handles the keyboard. And the problem is it seems to just plain stop working sometimes - the ctrl key stops working in the chroot environment until I restart, either the environment, or sometimes the whole Touchpad.

I really wish I could get a reliable working CTRL key - otherwise I could do more of my software development right on the Touchpad in vi.

[George Mari]

So I found a solution to my problem with vi - I can use the 'Alt' key (Symbol on the TP Bluetooth keyboard) at the same time as one of the meta keys in vi, and that will reliably put me in command mode. I use Alt-j or Alt-k, for example.

In case anyone else is looking for alternatives to the Esc key in vi, here is the page I found with helpful information: http://vim.wikia.com/wiki/Avoid_the_escape_key

[grasshoper]

Originally Posted by geekpeter

have you tried running the "Update Manager" and going to Settings, and ticked the extra sources such as Backports, tbh just tick all 4, then try a sudo apt-get update and sudo apt-get upgrade,, see if anything happens.

ive even manually added both Oneiric as well as Natty rather than just 1 to my /etc/apt/sources.list and even that seems to be working well enough.

Im running XUbuntu and Software Center is running well enough.

So I tried all that and it is still not working. Are you sure you're talking about the lubuntu software center and not the ubuntu software center ? The latter work but not the first one. The latter is heavy on resources though !!

[geekpeter]

i didnt think there was any/much difference between any of the software centers/synaptic/etc beyond their looks?

[grasshoper]

i didnt think there was any/much difference between any of the software centers/synaptic/etc beyond their looks?

well, for me ubuntu sc is quite slow. It's for this reason I wanted to try alternatives...

[zane9000]

For what it's worth, I have always used synaptic. Its very basic, but quick and gets the job done. I have never liked the Ubuntu Software Center even on a full sized computer...

[grasshoper]

Originally Posted by zane9000

For what it's worth, I have always used synaptic. Its very basic, but quick and gets the job done. I have never liked the Ubuntu Software Center even on a full sized computer...

Yeah, I think I'll stick with Synaptic. It's harder to find apps by categories, but it's light and has a strong search engine.

[ejasmudar]

So, I tried running this script after upgrading to 12.04. ie, i installed 11.04, upgraded to 11.10 then 12.004 via terminal itself. Then ran this script, but it it gave me many errors. I had to install lxde manually. And no netbook launcher. Also, synaptic had to be installed manually, but still not woorking. can you please advice?

[geekpeter]

Originally Posted by ejasmudar

So, I tried running this script after upgrading to 12.04. ie, i installed 11.04, upgraded to 11.10 then 12.004 via terminal itself. Then ran this script, but it it gave me many errors. I had to install lxde manually. And no netbook launcher. Also, synaptic had to be installed manually, but still not woorking. can you please advice?

use 11.04, install the script for a fully working system, THEN update to the higher versions of ubuntu, i often do my software updates via synaptic, then do my release upgrade afterwards, any errors after that you can post specifics from the terminal window so narrow down the requires fixes.

[ejasmudar]

ok, updating it to 12.04 after installing the autoconfigure script worked for me. But now synaptic isnt running from the menu. I have to manually start from gksu synaptic

[w2ang]

trying to run the synaptic package manager and keep getting this error

"Failed to run usr/sbin/synaptic as user root
Unable to copy the user's Xauthorization file.".

i am part of the admin group

what does this mean?

[geekpeter]

Originally Posted by w2ang

trying to run the synaptic package manager and keep getting this error

"Failed to run usr/sbin/synaptic as user root
Unable to copy the user's Xauthorization file.".

i am part of the admin group

what does this mean?

ran it as??

synaptic

or sudo synaptic

2nd one usually works, if its via an icon and isnt using sudo already, edit the icon and amend or make your own, or run from terminal manually.