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Quirks noted with install on new machine

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  Quirks noted with install on new machine Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2016-12-28 11:50 +0100
    Re: Quirks noted with install on new machine Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2016-12-28 23:50 +0100
      Re: Quirks noted with install on new machine Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2016-12-29 05:00 +0100
        Re: Quirks noted with install on new machine Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2016-12-29 12:00 +0100
    Re: Quirks noted with install on new machine Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2016-12-29 00:00 +0100
      Re: Quirks noted with install on new machine Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2016-12-29 05:10 +0100
        Re: Quirks noted with install on new machine Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2016-12-29 12:00 +0100
          Re: Quirks noted with install on new machine Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2016-12-29 13:10 +0100
        Re: Quirks noted with install on new machine rhkramer@gmail.com - 2016-12-29 14:30 +0100
          Re: Quirks noted with install on new machine Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2016-12-29 15:50 +0100
        ERROR! - was [Re: Quirks noted with install on new machine] Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2017-01-02 14:00 +0100
          Re: ERROR! - was [Re: Quirks noted with install on new machine] David Wright <deblis@lionunicorn.co.uk> - 2017-01-02 16:50 +0100
            Re: ERROR! - was [Re: Quirks noted with install on new machine] Greg Wooledge <wooledg@eeg.ccf.org> - 2017-01-03 14:50 +0100

#176001 — Quirks noted with install on new machine

I just purchased a used Lenovo T430 and did my interpretation of 
a minimal install of Debian 8.6.0 with a Mate DE.

During install was a warning message that two non-free drivers 
were "required". As I had none available I chose the option to 
continue without installing. It went on and I have an apparently 
fully functional system.

I have two questions:
1. Is there a log somewhere that would tell me what it thought 
was missing?
    The laptop may have a feature that I've never used but would 
like if I
    knew it existed.
2. The explicit raison detre of this laptop is to serve as a test 
bed for, for
    want of a better term, alternative configurations. All 
install will be done
    with a very custom preseed.cfg file. If I'm not interested in 
whatever
    functionality provided by this non-free software, is there a 
way to bypass
    that particular warning?

There is a separate issue with default font sizes that I've 
noticed before, but am now motivated to address. Default fonts 
are annoyingly small. I know how to adjust them on a per user per 
font basis in Mate's "Appearance Preferences" menu. As there will 
ever be exactly one human seeing this machine, where can change 
the default setting from "10" to "16" system wide [preferably by 
preseeding]? If it would also change the font size of the User 
login screen that would be much appreciated.

On a related note, when I set the display font size to readable 
the labels for desktop icons tend to overlap. Where can icon 
spacing be set?

TIA

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#176034

On Wed 28 Dec 2016 at 04:48:41 -0600, Richard Owlett wrote:

> I just purchased a used Lenovo T430 and did my interpretation of a minimal
> install of Debian 8.6.0 with a Mate DE.
> 
> During install was a warning message that two non-free drivers were
> "required". As I had none available I chose the option to continue without
> installing. It went on and I have an apparently fully functional system.
> 
> I have two questions:
> 1. Is there a log somewhere that would tell me what it thought was missing?
>    The laptop may have a feature that I've never used but would like if I
>    knew it existed.

grep -i firmware /var/log/installer/syslog

> 2. The explicit raison detre of this laptop is to serve as a test bed for,
>    for want of a better term, alternative configurations. All install will be
>    done with a very custom preseed.cfg file. If I'm not interested in whatever
>    functionality provided by this non-free software, is there a way to bypass
>    that particular warning?

https://www.debian.org/releases/jessie/example-preseed.txt

-- 
Brian.

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#176038

On 12/28/2016 4:46 PM, Brian wrote:
> On Wed 28 Dec 2016 at 04:48:41 -0600, Richard Owlett wrote:
>
>> I just purchased a used Lenovo T430 and did my interpretation of a minimal
>> install of Debian 8.6.0 with a Mate DE.
>>
>> During install was a warning message that two non-free drivers were
>> "required". As I had none available I chose the option to continue without
>> installing. It went on and I have an apparently fully functional system.
>>
>> I have two questions:
>> 1. Is there a log somewhere that would tell me what it thought was missing?
>>     The laptop may have a feature that I've never used but would like if I
>>     knew it existed.
>
> grep -i firmware /var/log/installer/syslog

What's missing is related to wifi which I'll not be using in the 
immediate future.
>
>> 2. The explicit raison detre of this laptop is to serve as a test bed for,
>>     for want of a better term, alternative configurations. All install will be
>>     done with a very custom preseed.cfg file. If I'm not interested in whatever
>>     functionality provided by this non-free software, is there a way to bypass
>>     that particular warning?
>
> https://www.debian.org/releases/jessie/example-preseed.txt
>

That suggests that I should add
     d-i hw-detect/load_firmware boolean false
to my preseed.cfg . But might that disable something I do need?

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#176052

On Wed 28 Dec 2016 at 21:59:03 -0600, Richard Owlett wrote:

> On 12/28/2016 4:46 PM, Brian wrote:
> >On Wed 28 Dec 2016 at 04:48:41 -0600, Richard Owlett wrote:
> >
> >>I just purchased a used Lenovo T430 and did my interpretation of a minimal
> >>install of Debian 8.6.0 with a Mate DE.
> >>
> >>During install was a warning message that two non-free drivers were
> >>"required". As I had none available I chose the option to continue without
> >>installing. It went on and I have an apparently fully functional system.
> >>
> >>I have two questions:
> >>1. Is there a log somewhere that would tell me what it thought was missing?
> >>    The laptop may have a feature that I've never used but would like if I
> >>    knew it existed.
> >
> >grep -i firmware /var/log/installer/syslog
> 
> What's missing is related to wifi which I'll not be using in the immediate
> future.
> >
> >>2. The explicit raison detre of this laptop is to serve as a test bed for,
> >>    for want of a better term, alternative configurations. All install will be
> >>    done with a very custom preseed.cfg file. If I'm not interested in whatever
> >>    functionality provided by this non-free software, is there a way to bypass
> >>    that particular warning?
> >
> >https://www.debian.org/releases/jessie/example-preseed.txt
> 
> That suggests that I should add
>     d-i hw-detect/load_firmware boolean false
> to my preseed.cfg . But might that disable something I do need?

The question occurs only when *network* firmware is missing. Your
previous answer seems to cover the answer to it.

-- 
Brian.

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#176035

On Wed 28 Dec 2016 at 04:48:41 -0600, Richard Owlett wrote:

> There is a separate issue with default font sizes that I've noticed before,
> but am now motivated to address. Default fonts are annoyingly small. I know
> how to adjust them on a per user per font basis in Mate's "Appearance
> Preferences" menu. As there will ever be exactly one human seeing this
> machine, where can change the default setting from "10" to "16" system wide
> [preferably by preseeding]? If it would also change the font size of the
> User login screen that would be much appreciated.

When you adjust the fonts to your liking the config will be stored in
a file in your home directory. Locate the file and copy it to your USB
stick. Have a late_command in your preseed file transfer the file to a
home directory on /target.

-- 
Brian.

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#176042

On 12/28/2016 4:53 PM, Brian wrote:
> On Wed 28 Dec 2016 at 04:48:41 -0600, Richard Owlett wrote:
>
>> There is a separate issue with default font sizes that I've noticed before,
>> but am now motivated to address. Default fonts are annoyingly small. I know
>> how to adjust them on a per user per font basis in Mate's "Appearance
>> Preferences" menu. As there will ever be exactly one human seeing this
>> machine, where can change the default setting from "10" to "16" system wide
>> [preferably by preseeding]? If it would also change the font size of the
>> User login screen that would be much appreciated.
>
> When you adjust the fonts to your liking the config will be stored in
> a file in your home directory. Locate the file and copy it to your USB
> stick. Have a late_command in your preseed file transfer the file to a
> home directory on /target.
>

Found the file. If I do as you say, will it automatically be used 
for any "user" I create in the future?

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#176051

On Wed 28 Dec 2016 at 22:09:14 -0600, Richard Owlett wrote:

> On 12/28/2016 4:53 PM, Brian wrote:
> >On Wed 28 Dec 2016 at 04:48:41 -0600, Richard Owlett wrote:
> >
> >>There is a separate issue with default font sizes that I've noticed before,
> >>but am now motivated to address. Default fonts are annoyingly small. I know
> >>how to adjust them on a per user per font basis in Mate's "Appearance
> >>Preferences" menu. As there will ever be exactly one human seeing this
> >>machine, where can change the default setting from "10" to "16" system wide
> >>[preferably by preseeding]? If it would also change the font size of the
> >>User login screen that would be much appreciated.
> >
> >When you adjust the fonts to your liking the config will be stored in
> >a file in your home directory. Locate the file and copy it to your USB
> >stick. Have a late_command in your preseed file transfer the file to a
> >home directory on /target.
> 
> Found the file. If I do as you say, will it automatically be used for any
> "user" I create in the future?

As it stands, no. You will have to use /etc/skel. Please read adduser(8)
and /etc/adduser.

A late_command could be used to populate /etc/skel, though.

-- 
Brian.

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#176056

On 12/29/2016 4:52 AM, Brian wrote:
> On Wed 28 Dec 2016 at 22:09:14 -0600, Richard Owlett wrote:
>
>> On 12/28/2016 4:53 PM, Brian wrote:
>>> On Wed 28 Dec 2016 at 04:48:41 -0600, Richard Owlett wrote:
>>>
>>>> There is a separate issue with default font sizes that I've noticed before,
>>>> but am now motivated to address. Default fonts are annoyingly small. I know
>>>> how to adjust them on a per user per font basis in Mate's "Appearance
>>>> Preferences" menu. As there will ever be exactly one human seeing this
>>>> machine, where can change the default setting from "10" to "16" system wide
>>>> [preferably by preseeding]? If it would also change the font size of the
>>>> User login screen that would be much appreciated.
>>>
>>> When you adjust the fonts to your liking the config will be stored in
>>> a file in your home directory. Locate the file and copy it to your USB
>>> stick. Have a late_command in your preseed file transfer the file to a
>>> home directory on /target.
>>
>> Found the file. If I do as you say, will it automatically be used for any
>> "user" I create in the future?
>
> As it stands, no. You will have to use /etc/skel. Please read adduser(8)
> and /etc/adduser.
>
> A late_command could be used to populate /etc/skel, though.
>

Thank you.

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#176059

On Wednesday, December 28, 2016 11:09:14 PM Richard Owlett wrote:
> On 12/28/2016 4:53 PM, Brian wrote:
> > On Wed 28 Dec 2016 at 04:48:41 -0600, Richard Owlett wrote:
> >> There is a separate issue with default font sizes that I've noticed
> >> before, but am now motivated to address. Default fonts are annoyingly
> >> small. I know how to adjust them on a per user per font basis in Mate's
> >> "Appearance Preferences" menu. As there will ever be exactly one human
> >> seeing this machine, where can change the default setting from "10" to
> >> "16" system wide [preferably by preseeding]? If it would also change
> >> the font size of the User login screen that would be much appreciated.
> > 
> > When you adjust the fonts to your liking the config will be stored in
> > a file in your home directory. Locate the file and copy it to your USB
> > stick. Have a late_command in your preseed file transfer the file to a
> > home directory on /target.
> 
> Found the file. If I do as you say, will it automatically be used
> for any "user" I create in the future?

Name of the file, anyone?

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#176063

On 12/29/2016 7:25 AM, rhkramer@gmail.com wrote:
> On Wednesday, December 28, 2016 11:09:14 PM Richard Owlett wrote:
>> On 12/28/2016 4:53 PM, Brian wrote:
>>> On Wed 28 Dec 2016 at 04:48:41 -0600, Richard Owlett wrote:
>>>> There is a separate issue with default font sizes that I've noticed
>>>> before, but am now motivated to address. Default fonts are annoyingly
>>>> small. I know how to adjust them on a per user per font basis in Mate's
>>>> "Appearance Preferences" menu. As there will ever be exactly one human
>>>> seeing this machine, where can change the default setting from "10" to
>>>> "16" system wide [preferably by preseeding]? If it would also change
>>>> the font size of the User login screen that would be much appreciated.
>>>
>>> When you adjust the fonts to your liking the config will be stored in
>>> a file in your home directory. Locate the file and copy it to your USB
>>> stick. Have a late_command in your preseed file transfer the file to a
>>> home directory on /target.
>>
>> Found the file. If I do as you say, will it automatically be used
>> for any "user" I create in the future?
>
> Name of the file, anyone?
>

On my machine I have:
/home/richard/Desktop/MATE Terminal
/root/Desktop/MATE Terminal

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#176252 — ERROR! - was [Re: Quirks noted with install on new machine]

On 12/28/2016 10:09 PM, Richard Owlett wrote:
> On 12/28/2016 4:53 PM, Brian wrote:
>> On Wed 28 Dec 2016 at 04:48:41 -0600, Richard Owlett wrote:
>>
>>> There is a separate issue with default font sizes that I've
>>> noticed before,
>>> but am now motivated to address. Default fonts are annoyingly
>>> small. I know
>>> how to adjust them on a per user per font basis in Mate's
>>> "Appearance
>>> Preferences" menu. As there will ever be exactly one human
>>> seeing this
>>> machine, where can change the default setting from "10" to
>>> "16" system wide
>>> [preferably by preseeding]? If it would also change the font
>>> size of the
>>> User login screen that would be much appreciated.
>>
>> When you adjust the fonts to your liking the config will be
>> stored in
>> a file in your home directory. Locate the file and copy it to
>> your USB
>> stick. Have a late_command in your preseed file transfer the
>> file to a
>> home directory on /target.
>>
>
> Found the file. If I do as you say, will it automatically be used
> for any "user" I create in the future?
>

I *HAD* found *A* configuration file named "MATE Terminal" in both
/home/richard/Desktop/ and /root/Desktop/.
I had *ASSUMED* that was the file to which Brian had referred.

It is evidently not.
I have done a fresh install of Jessie with MATE Desktop using the 
installer's defaults rather than my minimal install via preseeding.

I have adjusted the font sizes used by richard and root. No file 
titled "MATE Terminal" appears in either /Desktop directory.

More investigation needed.

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#176259 — Re: ERROR! - was [Re: Quirks noted with install on new machine]

On Mon 02 Jan 2017 at 06:53:24 (-0600), Richard Owlett wrote:
> On 12/28/2016 10:09 PM, Richard Owlett wrote:
> >On 12/28/2016 4:53 PM, Brian wrote:
> >>On Wed 28 Dec 2016 at 04:48:41 -0600, Richard Owlett wrote:
> >>
> >>>There is a separate issue with default font sizes that I've
> >>>noticed before,
> >>>but am now motivated to address. Default fonts are annoyingly
> >>>small. I know
> >>>how to adjust them on a per user per font basis in Mate's
> >>>"Appearance
> >>>Preferences" menu. As there will ever be exactly one human
> >>>seeing this
> >>>machine, where can change the default setting from "10" to
> >>>"16" system wide
> >>>[preferably by preseeding]? If it would also change the font
> >>>size of the
> >>>User login screen that would be much appreciated.
> >>
> >>When you adjust the fonts to your liking the config will be
> >>stored in
> >>a file in your home directory. Locate the file and copy it to
> >>your USB
> >>stick. Have a late_command in your preseed file transfer the
> >>file to a
> >>home directory on /target.
> >>
> >
> >Found the file. If I do as you say, will it automatically be used
> >for any "user" I create in the future?
> >
> 
> I *HAD* found *A* configuration file named "MATE Terminal" in both
> /home/richard/Desktop/ and /root/Desktop/.
> I had *ASSUMED* that was the file to which Brian had referred.

What was in it?

> It is evidently not.
> I have done a fresh install of Jessie with MATE Desktop using the
> installer's defaults rather than my minimal install via preseeding.
> 
> I have adjusted the font sizes used by richard and root. No file
> titled "MATE Terminal" appears in either /Desktop directory.

But did the settings stick? ie do they survive a reboot?
Typing:

    find . -type f -mmin -1440 -print | less # one day

can also be useful in such situations. Obviously reduce 1440 to
some suitably small interval to find the most recently modified files.

Cheers,
David.

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#176286 — Re: ERROR! - was [Re: Quirks noted with install on new machine]

On Mon, Jan 02, 2017 at 09:49:16AM -0600, David Wright wrote:
> But did the settings stick? ie do they survive a reboot?
> Typing:
> 
>     find . -type f -mmin -1440 -print | less # one day
> 
> can also be useful in such situations. Obviously reduce 1440 to
> some suitably small interval to find the most recently modified files.

I have a more complicated variant of this command, which I created
as a function named "rlart" in my .bashrc:

rlart() {
  find "${1:-.}" -type f -printf '%T@ %TY-%Tm-%Td %TX %p\0' |
    sort -zn |
    while read -rd '' _ day time path; do
      printf '%s %s %s\n' "$day" "${time%.*}" "$path"
    done
}   

It's basically like "ls -lart" but it also recurses, hence the name.

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