[kwlug-disc] Can OSs demand too much?

Fri May 14 15:54:53 EDT 2010

Upgrades aren't the same as a new install, and I'd expect a long upgrade 
to go bad.

For example, you start off at mysql version 1.  You upgrade to 2 and the 
system has to figure out what config file to use.  Then you go to 
version 3 then 4 and everything in between.  End result, you've got a 
current version of mysql, but goodness knows how the configuration file 
is going to look like.  If it's a brand new config file, that may need 
to be tweaked for your system.  If it's a munge of your config file from 
version 1 then you can expect version 4 to barf on it.  You can tweak 
this stuff individually on small upgrades but when you do a long span, 
all manner of nonsense happens.

The fix again is to try a fresh install.  I don't think 2004 is 'old' 
hardware in linux terms.  My experience has been exactly the opposite - 
newer versions of linux work better on older hardware as time goes on.

I actually used to treat myself to current hardware.  Haven't done that 
in many  many years - since switching to linux.  No need to, newer 
installs just get better and better on the same hardware.  Last year I 
decided to finally treat myself on a ram upgrade - from 1 gig to 2 
gigs.  Didn't need it, just figured what the heck.  Then I opened up the 
machine and found I actually only had 512megs of ram.  (point being, I 
was running current distros on 512megs of ram as my daily desktop, and 
had 0 issues or need to upgrade).

On 14/05/10 03:36 PM, Shane wrote:
> I did the upgrades one at a time, as I had been directed.  When the results were less than stellar I had a CD sent from Canonical and did a clean-to-install from that.  No discernible improvement.  As I said, I'm running out of ideas.  The old beast has definitely seen better days, I have to run it like a desktop because I've no idea where the battery is.
>
> It seems to run fine from the command line but I haven't done a whole lot with it that way.  I doubt very much that it would even load Windows 7, let alone the Vista disaster.
>
> I might try Lucid just to see.
> ================
> It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Darcy Casselman<dscassel at gmail.com>
> Date: Fri, 14 May 2010 15:27:15
> To: KWLUG discussion<kwlug-disc at kwlug.org>
> Subject: Re: [kwlug-disc] Can OSs demand too much?
>
> But you upgraded to 9.10, right?  I've generally had good luck with
> upgrades, but when I run into problems with them I'll back up my home
> directory and reinstall from scratch.  Upgrades are voodoo magic
> sometimes.
>
> Lucid seems fine to me, but then I didn't have any major problems with
> Karmic either.
>
> Darcy.
>
> On Fri, May 14, 2010 at 3:08 PM, Shane<shane.msg at gmail.com>  wrote:
>    
>>   " Last installation was from a CD sent from Canonical."
>>
>> By getting a CD sent from Canonical I thought it would be the best attempt.
>>
>> I heard some rumours that 9.10 had some problems in this area and am wondering if 10.04 might have them cleared.
>> ================
>> It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: "Insurance Squared Inc."<gcooke at insurancesquared.com>
>> Date: Fri, 14 May 2010 15:04:37
>> To: KWLUG discussion<kwlug-disc at kwlug.org>
>> Subject: Re: [kwlug-disc] Can OSs demand too much?
>>
>> Step 1, do a fresh install instead of an upgrade.
>>
>> Step 2, grap a distro that's designed to work on older/minimal hardware.
>>
>> Though that being said, I'm running mandriva 2010 on most of my machines
>> - and they're all 5-6 year old vintage computers, including some
>> laptops.  So I don't necessary think that the hardware's so old that new
>> releases would be causing a problem.  My best guess is that the fresh
>> install will do the trick.
>>
>> On 14/05/10 02:52 PM, Shane wrote:
>>      
>>> Here's the situation.  I found a vintage 2004 Toshiba laptop that had an older version of Ubuntu installed which appeared to be running quite well.  Me being me, I upgraded - yes, all the steps - to 9.10.  The problem is that now it doesn't run so well.
>>>
>>> It hangs while booting or, if it does get booted, while running.  It is not always at the same place or while performing the same function.  Length of time running is obviously not a factor.
>>>
>>> Things I have noticed: it will no longer play music, when it hangs I can move the mouse pointer but cannot get any response, sporadically while running the display will "grey down" and it won't respond for a minute or so.  Moving the mouse sometimes clears this, sometimes not.  Certain functions, bringing up gedit, are as fast as ever
>>>
>>> Memory check reports nothing wrong.  Notice the wording.  1.2 gig RAM.  Last installation was from a CD sent from Canonical.
>>>
>>> Is it possible the upgraded 9.10 is asking more than the hardware can deliver?  Is it possible that moving to 10.04 will help, assuming that it is 9.10 causing it and further assuming that 10.04 will have the problem corrected or should I go back to 8.xx or before?  I am running out of theories, actually hypotheses.
>>>
>>> ================
>>> It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>>        
>> --
>> Glenn Cooke
>> Insurance Squared Inc.
>> (866) 779-1499
>> www.insurancesquared.com
>>
>> Insurance Agent Discussion Forum:
>> www.americaninsurancebroker.com
>>
>>
>>
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>>      
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>    

-- 
Glenn Cooke
Insurance Squared Inc.
(866) 779-1499
www.insurancesquared.com

Insurance Agent Discussion Forum:
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