debian wheezy install on 5+ year old desktop: use antiX?

coyotito · posted: 2014-01-15 01:05

Just want a good Debian install for desktop use.
I have DVD 1 jigdo image from today.

Want a KDE + Xfce install and switch between those.

Thought I'd use antix 13.1 64 base and DVD as apt source for install (have 20gb data limit dont wanna use that on install)

Am I better off just using plain debian?

Why was the keymap tweaked with a config file in antiX? This works in Debian doesn't it? Better localization?

fatmac · posted: 2014-01-15 08:38

Debian doesn't include all neccessary drivers, i.e. 'non-free', for some people, whilst distros like Antix do include a good few. This is why I install Antix rather than plain Debian.
As Antix is based on Debian, you will be able to install any programs you want from your Debian dvd as long as it matches (Wheezy/Jessie).

jdmeaux1952 · posted: 2014-01-15 15:15

fatmac has it right. AntiX has quite a few of the 'non-free' drivers which do help. And you can do modifications on your own as you may need them. You should be able to utilize AntiX 13.2 and accomplish what you want.

dolphin_oracle · posted: 2014-01-15 15:43

word of warning: the debian xfce and kde start off pretty plain. That's either a positive or a negative depending on how you look at it. the default xfce is pretty good though (4.8 if you are using wheezy repos). I recommend wheezy for xfce. 4.10 in jessie is not quite right, and you'll probably spend more work setting it up.

Eino · posted: 2014-01-15 16:38

I'm running antiX on an older system without any issues, with non-free drivers.
The only upgrade this machine had was memory.

Code: Select all

$ inxi -F 
System:    Host: antiX1 Kernel: 3.7.10-antix.7-amd64-smp x86_64 (64 bit) 
           Desktop: IceWM 1.3.7 Distro: antiX-13.2_x64-music Luddite 12 January 2014
Machine:   System: HP-Pavilion product: GX614AA-ABA a6330f
           Mobo: ASUSTek model: NARRA2 version: 2.00 Bios: Phoenix version: 5.13 date: 10/29/2007
CPU:       Dual core AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ (-MCP-) cache: 2048 KB flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 svm) 
           Clock Speeds: 1: 1000.00 MHz 2: 1000.00 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA C61 [GeForce 6150SE nForce 430] X.Org: 1.12.4 driver: nvidia Resolution: 1440x900@59.9hz 
           GLX Renderer: GeForce 6150SE nForce 430/integrated/SSE2 GLX Version: 2.1.2 NVIDIA 304.117
Audio:     Card: NVIDIA MCP61 High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel Sound: ALSA ver: k3.7.10-antix.7-amd64-smp
Network:   Card: NVIDIA MCP61 Ethernet driver: forcedeth 
           IF: eth0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: 00:1e:8c:8a:16:b0
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 80.0GB (-) 1: id: /dev/sda model: Maxtor_6Y080M0 size: 80.0GB 
Partition: ID: / size: 2.3G used: 519M (23%) fs: rootfs 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 34.0C mobo: N/A 
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A 
Info:      Processes: 98 Uptime: 2:55 Memory: 670.4/2888.4MB Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 1.9.16

coyotito · posted: 2014-01-16 12:21

Yes they are but that's fine. Much faster system + more stable than Mint 15 MATE (even though I switched to xfce on that) and without annoying glitches (in Mint flash crashes and so does the whole desktop, crashes and logs out. Even a kernel crash, 'hardware error'. Not good for linux that such unstable software is offered as 'user-friendly'.

dolphin_oracle wrote:word of warning: the debian xfce and kde start off pretty plain. That's either a positive or a negative depending on how you look at it. the default xfce is pretty good though (4.8 if you are using wheezy repos). I recommend wheezy for xfce. 4.10 in jessie is not quite right, and you'll probably spend more work setting it up.

coyotito · posted: 2014-01-16 12:32

Couple problems: Networkmanager does not recognize or connect my cable connection (this must have to do with the antix setup with Ceni). What to do, setup manually or uninstall Ceni? This has worked automatically on all other distros.

DVD repository keeps getting messed up and does not work. Does not really matter, I got to use it during install.

Not big problems, I use the cable little as it is very slow, 12-13 kb per sec.

dolphin_oracle · posted: 2014-01-16 13:05

go into / etc / network / interfaces and comment the line out for your network card. It should be something like" iface eth0 inet ifup" or something like that. Network manager should take over upon reboot.

coyotito · posted: 2014-01-16 13:17

thanks. Kind of stuff I should know of course.

coyotito · posted: 2014-01-18 21:00

Weird. I got exactly the kind of Debian instalaltion from this that I would like to have.

But KDE kept freezing on starting up and KDE apps kept not starting at all.. Currently running Wheezy on this machine. I just dont have time to sort out this kind of thing - some stuff must have been missing. Gnome 3 is not an option. Make another try, only KDE app I MUST have is k9copy and I think that runs as last version is 1-2 years old so should not be affected. Possibly add Squeeze reps before installing it so that old KDE libs will be installed.

Definitely putting A13 on my ee701/512/8gb disk netbook. I find that even Crunchbang gets too slow on that (speed is a top priority for me). antiX is markedly faster, good choice for a machine with little memory and a slow and small flash drive. And tiny screen.

coyotito · posted: 2014-01-18 21:33

Noticed now that antiX does a better job of sorting out Scandinavian localization than Debian manages even inside a big besktop environment.
Annoying to have KDE serve you a mixture of Danish, Swedish and some Norwegian in the GUI as happens right now with Wheezy.

rust collector · posted: 2014-01-18 22:27

lol, google always give me the cheapest"stuff" in danish, when I search for cheap"stuff
It is better than chineese...

coyotito · posted: 2014-01-19 19:09

always been this way with Debian. Seems they think Norwegian, Danish, Swedish are similar enough to be mixed freely. but that's no good.

rokytnji · posted: 2014-01-19 22:56

I got some 701 posts laying around here somewhere.

701sd-conky-with-temps-fanspeed-battery-link-strength-t2618.html
rtl8187-eee-701-t3321.html
post24646.html#p24646
My last install before I sold it
post30242.html#p30242
My 900 how to, (good for some notes for a 701)
antix-11-eeepc-900-install-finished-t3104.html
but getting long in the tooth. Dolphin_Oracle does a much more better job than me.

coyotito · posted: 2014-01-21 10:31

Thanks roky yeah I'm keeping the 701. I'm putting A13 base on it now -just hope wifi works as well as networkmanager. Have traveleld all over Europe with it, better than Ipad. screen/keyboard suck but so what, no one is going to bother to steal it.

And put Xfce+MATE on my home desktop, only KDE app now K9copy. No problems.