help installing xpde and kmess

hsh20261, you don't indicate what version of Mepis you are using, but for most versions of Mepis and Debian-based Linux distributions you should try using either apt-get, from the command line, or synaptic, from the GUI. These tools will allow you to download complete applications (packages) that have been configured for Debian or Mepis. You normally should avoid direct downloading of tar (and tar.gz) files unless you are familiar with compiling the applications.

Do you know how to use synaptic or apt-get? Please post back and I can give you instructions on them if you need it.

I did a quick search and there is a package called "kmessedwords". Is that the same as kmess? If so, it is in the software repository and can be loaded easily enough. However, the xpde "window manager" is not in the repositories (yet). It looks like it's a fairly new window manager. If you want to try a window manager that's a little more like Windows than KDE, you may want to try icewm. icewm is available through the repositories.

Please post back if you need help loading the two packages above. Also, are you using broadband or do you have a dial-up? I want to know that so that I can estimate how long it would take for you to do certain software updates. I would strongly suggest avoiding xpde for right now because it doesn't look like it's ready for "regular user" use. Let me know how you want to proceed

Jon

thanks Jon,
I just wanted to use kmess because I have webcam conversations with my family and would like to use xpde because I have used nothing but windows forever and would like to use xpde to help get used to linux. I know that "converting" linux to windows is just avoiding the getting used to of linux part. I have tried many different distros and mepis is the only one I can seem to get used to. but if xpde is going to be more problems than It's worth then let me know. but I do need kmess. just in case you need to know I'm using 3.3.1 "I believe" and have dsl. I have been using linux for a month or so but still dont know much. I have never heard of synaptic or apt-get but I would guess they are installers. as for icewrn if you cold let me know how to install it and if there is anywhere specific I should get it. I think I covered it all but if I did'nt and you need any more info let me know. all your help is greatly appriciated.
thanks,
Nick

I tried installing kmess and it came up with this error

dpkg -i '//home/nick/kmess_1.2.1-1_i386.deb' ;echo RESULT=$?
(Reading database ... 68787 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace kmess 1.2.1-1 (using .../nick/kmess_1.2.1-1_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement kmess ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of kmess:
kmess depends on libmimelib1 (>= 4:3.1.1); however:
Package libmimelib1 is not installed.
kmess depends on libqt3-mt (>= 3:3.1.2); however:
Package libqt3-mt is not installed.
dpkg: error processing kmess (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Errors were encountered while processing:
kmess
RESULT=1

what does this mean?
Nick

Hi Nick,

OK, I don't know anything specific about kmess, so take my advice with lots of salt. However, your installation messages above about "dependency problems" is the key. The nice thing about Debian-based distros is they do a good job of tracking dependencies (one program requiring another program in order to run). So I'll show you how to possibly solve that in a sec.

Since you seem familiar with the command line, I would recommend that you do some of this through apt-get. All of the commands below should be done as user root. The program apt-get eventually uses dpkg, but apt-get does some checking first. First, install a nice package called apt-listbugs. This program ties in with apt-get and synaptic to warn you of any possibly bad bugs in any package that you install.

Before you do a lot of installation, make sure that your repositories are up-to-date:
apt-get update

To install a program through apt-get, such as apt-listbugs do:
apt-get install apt-listbugs

To remove a package:
apt-get remove programname

If any program has bug reports filed, then you will be told of this and asked whether you want to install. Depending upon the severity of the bug(s) you can choose whether to continue.

Normally, if you install a complex package like firefox, there might be other packages/programs that need to be installed. If so, the list of those packages/programs will be displayed. Normally you WANT to install those packages, so allow the process to continue. Also, the name might not be simply "firefox". So for that one you have to know what its correct name is "mozilla-firefox":
apt-get install mozilla-firefox

Now, in your case above, where you're using dpkg, you need to separately install the packages upon which kmess depends. So where it says, "Package libqt3-mt is not installed.", you need to install it:
apt-get install libqt3-mt

However, since you might have to install LOTS of different things because of these dependencies, go down through your original list (print it out?) and find the dependencies and packages that are not installed. Then do this to save some grief:
apt-get -s install prog1 prog2 ... progn

The "-s" causes a "simulation" of installation and you can specify multiple packages at a time. Nothing will be loaded on your system, but a MESS OF INFORMATION will come to your screen. If your scroll-back on the terminal is not enough you can save the messages to a file for examination:
apt-get -s install prog1 prog2 ... progn > apt.get.messages.txt

The apt.get.messages.txt will be in your current directory.

By examining this listing it will show you if you have any other packages to load or any other dependencies to take care of. If you have taken care of all the dependencies, run the apt-get again but without the "-s" option.

One final note and possible warning: If the above simulation only shows installs and upgrades of packages, you will probably be safe in performing the installation. However, if it indicates that it's going to DELETE certain things, well let us know, because you don't want to delete any important other applications (like KDE as a whole).

As to icewm. It's a fairly clean, pared down window manager. According to the design of it, it is intended to be something like the Windows 98 interface. To install it:
apt-get install icewm

When you log out/log in, before you press the Login button, choose the Menu button and then choose Session Type. You should see Icewm listed along with KDE. Choose that and then press the Login button.

There are LOTS of different window managers. I know I've seen reference to some others that are supposed to be more Microsoft-Windows-like but I just don't remember the names right now. Perhaps someone else monitoring this thread can remember.

For your own entertainment and confusion (!) here are some links to sites just about different window managers. The last one will amaze you with the amount of "stuff" that is available!

Linux Online - Category: GUI / Window Managers
http://www.linux.org/apps/all/GUI/Window_Managers.html

[Chapter 6] 6.3 Window Managers
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/debian/chapter/book/ch06_03.html

Window Managers for X
http://xwinman.org/

Let me know if I can help further. Good luck!

Jon

Before you do a lot of installation, make sure that your repositories are up-to-date:
apt-get update

where do I type in commands such as the one above. I downloaded apt-listbugs (not sure if that was what you told me to do) and tried to installed it. It came up with the same errors as kmess did when I tried it. I uninstalled both to make sure I did'nt do anything stupid untill I comepletely understood. If I could figure out where to type in the commands and how to install the dependancies I would problably be able to figure it out the rest (not positive though).
thanks,
Nick

Nick,

All of the commands that I specified above should be done in a console. You can find a small icon for it on the lower-left, just to the right of the "K". Hoover your mouse over each of them and one of them says "Konsole". Once you have opened the console, you need to become root. So in the console window type:
su <-- This is what you type
Password: (enter-roots-password) <-- You will be promted for this

Once you are root then you can do the "apt-get install stuff" commands.

Jon

thanks for the help. now I have another problem. when logged in as root in the konsole and try to install anything it says this:

root@1[nick]# apt-get install apt-listbugs
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Package apt-listbugs is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source
E: Package apt-listbugs has no installation candidate

so from what I see is it cant find the actual program right? could be wrong but anyways so does that mean I have to download the program and place it in a certain directory? I have tried to change the directory of the konsole to the folder containing the programs to be installed but that does'nt seem to work either it says the same thing that E: package xxxx has no installation candidate.
Nick

Hi Nick,

Hmm, I just double-checked my system to be sure of the program name. apt-listbugs is correct. However, you may not have all the repositories. Can you post your current repositories? You can do this from the Konsole (as usual) by entering the following command:
cat /etc/apt/sources.list

You can cut and paste the screen contents by clicking at the beginning of what you want to copy, holding down the left button and dragging through to the end, then click the Edit menu and choose Copy. Finally, paste the results into this comment thing by simply pressing ctrl+v.

You may just have the basic one apt.mepis.org/3.3. If so, I'll give you instructions to load other repositories and use them. This may be part of the reason you have been having other installation problems

Jon

ok so first let me start by getting out my frustration. I was writing out a reply that was problably 20 lines (took me a long time) and I accidentally clicked on my middle mouse button at the same time as I was rolling the button and it took me back a page!!! then I went forward and it was gone. ok anyways now that im done complaning to no one in particular I was reading through another post and and found out that I can open synaptic and go to settings\repositories and click on three other sources to get programs from. so I did that and got a lot more programs than before. but no kmessedwords is a game and kmess is a msn messenger clone. so unless you dont mind explaining how to install debain packages and tar. packages. I dont blame you if you dont. could you post a few links on how to. I found another forum http://www.mepis.org/node/5999
but the link on that page does'nt seem to work. and of course the info I've got that I pasted in my original post. but I still dont understand that either. so just a few links for installing deb. and tar. that might give a little more detail.
thanks for all your help Jon.
Nick

Sounds like you're making progress Nick. Why is it easier to undo than it is to do?

dpkg is the thing that synaptic and apt eventually really do. I normally do what I need to do with apt-get, but there are some other threads on here about using dpkg when it's necessary. The main difference between dpkg and apt-get is that you need to be more specific with dpkg. For instance, if you wanted to install someprog.1.2.3, with apt-get you would enter:
apt-get install someprog
You wouldn't need to specify the revision level (normally).
But to use dpkg you would enter
dpkg --install someprog.1.2.3

Both routines will put all the subroutines, libraries and such in place.

If you can only find a package in RPM format, then you can use the alien command to convert it. But I have not used this command.

If you have to revert to using tar (or tar.gz) files then you're getting ready to compile! Most of the "packaging" methods listed above (.deb, .apt, .rpm) are binary ready-to-run applications. But normally when you download a tar file, you are downloading source code that will have to be compiled.

I probably haven't directly answered your question, but is that satifactory enough for now, or is there more information that I can give you?

Jon

im still working on kmess but not worried about xpde as much for now. my computer is having problems connecting to the repositories to download the dependancy files. thats the only problem now. other than that I have figured out how to install it. but im pretty sure I can find that in another post. either way mepis hasn't givin me any other problems and if I cnat figure this out I will still be happy with it. ok getting late. hope to hear from you soon.
Nick

You probably need to edit your apt sources.lst file. This is where the apt-get repositories are found. Go to etc/apt in konqueror and you will see a file called soutces.lst. It should read something like this:

# See sources.list(5) for more information, especialy

# This file should be edited through synaptic
# New sources should be added only in the section at the end of this file!

# Primary
deb ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian/ testing main contrib non-free
deb ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian/ unstable main contrib non-free

# non-us
# deb ftp://non-us.debian.org/debian-non-US/ testing/non-US main contrib non-free
# deb ftp://non-us.debian.org/debian-non-US/ unstable/non-US main contrib non-free

# MEPIS apt pool - specific packages available on-line
deb http://apt.mepis.org/3.3/ unstable main

# DO NOT EDIT ABOVE THIS LINE
# mplayer
deb ftp://ftp.nerim.net/debian-marillat/ unstable main

To make changes you have to edit as root. This is quickly done through konqueror by RIGHT clicking on the afore mentioned file, edit as root, type password. Make your changes then save.

When you next do apt-get update from a konsole, you shouldn't get any error messages.

I would also suggest downloading the Mepis User Guide, on the left. It has lots of good help and advice.

Another excellent Mepis site you may want to have a look at is MepisLovers. Very friendly and questions get answered quickly.

There is also Mepis on LinuxQuestions, though I feel that answers are slower to come than here or mepisLovers.

(Both are linked on the left)

Hope all this helps.

anticapitalista

Philosophers have interpreted the world in many ways; the point is to change it.

anticapitalista, your info is correct except for the file name. Nick, the file is /etc/apt/sources.list not "lst"

All other info is correct.

Jon

ok so before editing my sources list it looked just like yours with the exception of a few lines:

# See sources.list(5) for more information, especialy

# This file should be edited through synaptic
# New sources should be added only in the section at the end of this file!

# Primary
deb ftp://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ testing main contrib non-free
deb ftp://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ unstable main

# MEPIS apt pool - specific packages available on-line
deb http://apt.mepis.org/3.3.2/ unstable main

# mplayer
deb ftp://ftp.nerim.net/debian-marillat/ unstable main

so i added what needed to be added to mach your list (non-us sources and the rest of the primary source). now when I run apt-get update in konsole the last few lines reads the following:

W: Couldn't stat source package list ftp://non-us.debian.org unstable/non-US/non-free Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/non-us.debian.org_debian-non-US_dists_unstable_non-US_non-free_binary-i386_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)
W: You may want to run apt-get update to correct these problems
E: Some index files failed to download, they have been ignored, or old ones used instead.

this is just the last few lines. then as soon as I open synaptic I get this warning:

The following problems were found on your system:
W: Couldn't stat source package list ftp://non-us.debian.org testing/non-US/main Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/non-us.debian.org_debian-non-US_dists_testing_non-US_main_binary-i386_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)
W: Couldn't stat source package list ftp://non-us.debian.org testing/non-US/contrib Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/non-us.debian.org_debian-non-US_dists_testing_non-US_contrib_binary-i386_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)
W: Couldn't stat source package list ftp://non-us.debian.org testing/non-US/non-free Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/non-us.debian.org_debian-non-US_dists_testing_non-US_non-free_binary-i386_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)
W: Couldn't stat source package list ftp://non-us.debian.org unstable/non-US/main Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/non-us.debian.org_debian-non-US_dists_unstable_non-US_main_binary-i386_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)
W: Couldn't stat source package list ftp://non-us.debian.org unstable/non-US/contrib Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/non-us.debian.org_debian-non-US_dists_unstable_non-US_contrib_binary-i386_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)
W: Couldn't stat source package list ftp://non-us.debian.org unstable/non-US/non-free Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/non-us.debian.org_debian-non-US_dists_unstable_non-US_non-free_binary-i386_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)

when I update using synaptic I get even more:

Could not download all repository indexes

The repository might be no longer available or could not be contacted because of network problems. If available an older version of the failed index will be used. Otherwise the repository will be ignored. Check your network connection and the correct writing of the repository address in the preferences.

then it lists 8 sources it couldn't connect to. once i close that window another pops up:

The following problems were found on your system:
W: GPG error: ftp://ftp.nerim.net unstable Release: The following signatures couldn't be verified because the public key is not available: NO_PUBKEY 07DC563D1F41B907

ok well that about sums it up. I have a good internet connection and have not messed with the firewall but the updates just dont seem to be connecting to the repositories.
thanks anticapitalista and Jon

I'm sorry I didn't explain this. If you added any of my sources that had a "#" before them, but you didn't include the "#" then you made those repositories "live". Placing a "#" before any line turns it into a comment, temporarily disabling it.

So go back into the sources.list and put the "#" before all of the non-us items (and ftp.neim.net).

Jon