So, here is an idea...Since there seems to be questions as to which parts to modify, and in what order, etc. Can somebody with better linux skillz than I have write a script that does the following:

Backs up current startsimple.sh and startfull.sh files, and then writes the changes into both files, in the correct order? Then we can just download the script and run it. Also, if there needs to be a change to the script when somebody finds some other cool tweak, it can have a version number and be updated.

Just a thought.

I messed up the install somehow -- I think by missing "step 0" the first time, and now I cannot set up advanced mode.

I tried restoring to defaults (F9), and it did do so, and then I tried again to install Advanced mode properly, WITH "Step 0" but nothing has changed. 

I get many prompts to resolve discrepancies, but they won't resolve.

What can I try next?

Thanks.

There is again another method (somewhere in this forum), by choosing the kdebase package after u select the package manager by
keying kdesu synaptic within a console.

alanking wrote:

The fact that when you change to easy mode the detection happens twice sugests that whatever code thats suposed to run on the launch of the advanced mode is running on exit.

I reconnected a USB drive five times in Advanced Desktop with nothing happened, but after switching to Easy Mode, the dialogue for those five times appeared together, along with the latest sixth. So it appears that the Advanced Desktop is seeing the USB drives, but something is missing which allows the process to complete.

Workaround for no automount in advanced mode

Enter these commands into the terminal. (If you open file manager and select “Open Console Window� from the “Tools� menu you will be able to copy and paste)

mkdir /home/user/SD

mkdir /home/user/USB

sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /home/user/SD

sudo mount /dev/sdc1 /home/user/USB


The code above first creates 2 new directories in the “My Home� folder called SD and USB it then mounts a USB Stick and an SD card at those folders. If either device is not plugged in error messages will occor but no harm will be done

You must unmount the devices before unplugging them (or power down the machine) to unmount use these commands:

sudo umount /dev/sdb1

sudo umount /dev/sdc1

You have to hit the refresh button in file manager to see mount/umount changes

alanking wrote:

I have just tried method 2 which I assume to be the one from lucboucim
post no 33
and it all works and brings up the advanced desktop in 35 secs, but looks like its doing a dual boot to me.

And it's something in that double-boot that allows it to detect SD cards. When I get some spare time, I'll see if I can isolate it, but I'm stuck in a boot loop and debating between F9 and www.pendrivelinux.com (if I can use my camera as a card reader ). I hope there are other's looking as well. Otherwise, we could add alanking's mount steps to the script.

Updated:

SD mounts properly using the mount command.

DVD writer connected via USB isn't being detected unless I enable easy mode and switch back to full desktop. I clicked on the disk icon and ejected it, which it did. I also unplugged the writer and plugged it in the USB again and the autodetect worked.

Last edited by lorsban (2007-11-13 10:54:58 pm)

Hey, it works! 30sec boot, autoreads sd, usb, plug in dvd writer. Awesome job!

I wonder if anyone could post the stock scripts for startfull.sh and startsimple.sh? That way anyone can just cut and paste in case anything goes wrong.

Last edited by lorsban (2007-11-14 4:13:49 am)

Someone asked for the standard startsimple.sh. This seems to be it: (use your own backed up copy, though). I've added comments to explain what each part seems to do.

#!/bin/sh #identifies this file as a shell script

sudo /usr/bin/sessreg -d -l :0.0 -u /var/run/utmp user #deletes the user session variable
xhost + si:localuser:root # Allow local user root only to access the diplay

if ! [ -f /home/user/.firstrundone ]; then # Runs only once. This section can be removed.
    sudo /usr/bin/sessreg -a -l :0.0 -u /var/run/utmp user # sets a new user session variable.
    sudo /usr/bin/firstrunwizard # runs the wizard
    if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then # if successful
        touch /home/user/.firstrundone # adds this file in the user's home directory
    else
        sudo /bin/kill -USR2 1 # ???
    fi     
elif [ -f /tmp/kdesession -a ! -f /home/user/.easysession ]; then # if the user is switching from easy mode to advanced mode. Clicking on the Full Desktop button in the shutdown dialog of easy mode runs startfull.sh, which creates the file /tmp/kdesession. This is on the tmp filesystem, meaning it doesn't survive a reboot.
    sudo /usr/bin/sessreg -a -l :0.0 -u /var/run/utmp user # the the user session variable
    if [ ! -d /home/user/Desktop ]; then # if the Desktop directory (contains your desktop) doesn't exist
        if [ -d /home/.Desktop ]; then # if the hidden Desktop directory exists (which is created below)
        mv /home/user/.Desktop /home/user/Desktop # restore the Desktop
        fi
    fi # this section doesn't actually work. Something must be creating an empty desktop when the computer starts up, so this section can be removed entirely, starting at if [ ! -d ...
    [ -f /usr/bin/dispwatch ] && /usr/bin/dispwatch & # this is a display-related utility
    for i in /sys/block/s[dr]?/uevent ; do # for every drive (sda, sdb, etc) that contains a uevent
         sudo /bin/sh -c "echo add > $i" # ???
    done
    sudo rm -f /tmp/kdesession /tmp/nologin # remove the kdesession and nologin files. allows you to switch back to easy mode
    exec startkde
else # if we're starting the computer from off, or switching from advanced mode to easy mode
    sudo /usr/bin/sessreg -a -l :0.0 -u /var/run/utmp user # set the user session variable
    if [ -d /home/user/Desktop ]; then # if the desktop exists
        if [ -d /home/user/.Desktop.bak ]; then # if there's a backup desktop
        rm -rf /home/user/.Desktop.bak # delete the backup
        fi
        if [ -d /home/user/.Desktop ]; then # if the hidden desktop directory exists
        mv /home/user/.Desktop /home/user/.Desktop.bak # back it up
        fi
        mv /home/user/Desktop /home/user/.Desktop # remove the desktop to the hidden desktop directory
    fi # this simply has the effect of killing your desktop, since the restore doesn't work. This whole section can be removed, starting from if [ -d /home ...
    if [ -f /home/user/.easysession ]; then
     # we are switching from full to easy mode
     for i in /sys/block/s[dr]?/uevent ; do # for each drive (sda, sdb, etc)
         sudo /bin/sh -c "echo add > $i" # ???
     done
    fi   
    /opt/xandros/bin/AsusLauncher & # run the AsusLauncher (easy mode "desktop")
    icewmtray & # and the tray program
    [ -n "$XIM_PROGRAM" ] && $XIM_PROGRAM & # and the input method editor
    powermonitor & # and the power monitor
    minimixer & # and the volume manager
    networkmonitor ath0 eth0 & # and the network monitor
    wapmonitor & # and this
    (sleep 3; /usr/bin/keyboardstatus) & # and the keyboard status (numlock, capslock indicators)
    (sleep 8; /opt/xandros/bin/start_netserv) & # and the netserv utility (for windows networks?)
    (sleep 16; /usr/local/bin/asusosd) & # and this display utility (to respond to function keys? eg. volume up/down, mute, wireless on/off, etc.)
    sudo rm /tmp/nologin # remove the nologin file (probably to allow people who aren't automatically logged in to switch from easy to advance mode and back with logging in each time.
    [ -f /usr/bin/dispwatch ] && /usr/bin/dispwatch & # run the display utility
    exec icewm # and launch the window manager
fi

Duck, Thanks for your continued work on this! It's greatly appreciated. I do have one request though:

When a user comes to this site and goes to the WIKI and sees the advanced desktop mode how to, they are going to go for it, thinking that it is a reliable source. As we have found with your previous script, it did one thing, but caused problems in another area. I would request that we keep the WIKI "Gold" with scripts and procedures that we know work. Post mods here, let it ride for a day or so til all the bugs get worked out, THEN update the WIKI with known good configs. That way, a newb won't come in and hose up their eee right out the gate.  I know that at this point, I have enough programs and time invested in my e, that I don't want to do an F9 reset if I get stuck in a boot loop. I'm sure others are probably in the same position.

Thanks man!

deadDuck wrote:

What I had to do was: disconnect the battery for a moment (with the power off). Then turn it back on and press F9 immediately. Once it was back to factory settings, I tinkered.

As a suggestion, if you're tinkering take it slowly. Just change one or two things at a time and see what they do. And don't install or change a bunch of other things, if there's some chance you might end up in a boot loop and/or reset to factory settings for any reason.

I can restore factory settings easily enough, but I'm trying to get Advanced to work reliably and every time I try, it lands me in an endless reboot. All I'm doing is following the instructions in the Wiki, and it's not getting me anywhere. Hence the whining :p

Paradigm,

I got stuck there once too. Had to do an F9 reset This is an unfortunate state of this OS. In a typical Linux distro, you could hit CTL+ALT+F1 and get a command prompt and then edit your files back to their original config, or fix your error. For whatever reason, that feature is not present here.

So...F9 during the POST will bring up the restore screen. It will wipe any data and settings you may have had in place. It only takes a few minutes to run though, so you will be back up in no time. Once you are done, I would suggest doing a copy paste of the startsimple.sh of your choice. Backup your original using this command from the /user/bin directory "cp startsimple.sh startsimple.orig" - or whatever file name you want it to be. Then use nano to edit the startsimple.sh file. You can copy the script text from a browser on your e and then paste it into the editor. Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to delete all the text in the original one other than using backspace or delete. haha. Once the file is clear, right click with mouse and select paste. Then ctrl O to save, and ctrl X to exit. reboot.

As a side, I have been fairly successful in using the startsimple.sh text from page 2, posted by lucboucim.

Good luck!