I kind of like being on Linux, now that my wireless is functioning. It's a lot of heartache but somehow it gives you more power over what's going on in the recesses of your computer. It's as if you have found that you can split open a blackbox and are able to look at the virtual software connections and wires that make your computer tick.

Linux = 85% pain + 5% revelations + 10% knowledge everyday.

I just have to decide if the 15% of useful stuff is worth the 85% pain...

Google search... evolving right under your noses (or in front of your noses, as the case may be).


And (e:Paul). Hee Hee. Someone was spying on i2. ;-)

Some stuff you can do for a faster boot time on Crunchbang.

1. Enable autologin.
Open the terminal and type

gksu gdmsetup

You will need to enter your administrator password. Go to the "Security" tab and check "Enable Automatic Login".

2. Decrease grub menu timeout.
Edit the /etc/default/grub file and change the grub option menu timeout to 1 or 0

GRUB_TIMEOUT=1 (or even 0).

Additional random but useful notes that might be helpful to people struggling with existential queries on Crunchbang:
a) Prevent Iceweasel from weaseling in.
I like Google Chrome beta on my OS. But uninstalling the default Chromium compulsorily installs something called iceweasel. One way around this is to install the iceweasel-dummy package to avoid installing iceweasel when you remove chromium. Apparently, there is some java dependency on this neverending it's-either-chromium-or-iceweasel vicious cycle on crunchbang. What a mess.

b) To check if JRE (Java Runtime Environment) successfully installed on your laptop, type the following at the terminal:

find / -iname java -print 2>/dev/null

With my new found "Su" power, I compiled the RTL8191SEvB wireless driver in Crunchbang and am documenting all the (as it turns out, rather minor) hurdles and leaps here. The good news is if I can do it, you can surely do it too. I am pretty much the lowest of the lowest common denominators when it comes to dealing with linux. And no, I am not being humble. Linux and I haven't found much common grounds for camaraderie yet. However, we tolerate each other because we simply have to. The alternatives are even more hideous and strewn with frustrations.

0. Get the driver from the Realtek site at this Get both RTL8192SE and RTL8191SE-VA2 if you are doubtful of what to get.
Special Note: Pay attention to which version of the driver you are downloading. First check your kernel version with:

uname -r

Then pick either
--> Linux driver for kernel 2.6.34 (and earlier) or
--> Linux driver for kernel 2.6.35 (and later)
depending on what version came up with uname -r. I am telling you based on my bitter experiences that you will end up wasting a ton of time if you download the wrong version.

1. Crunchbang has a problem with su and can't really switch you into Su root mode unless you do this: At the terminal type:

sudo su

followed by

passwd

The system should now ask you for a new root user password. Enter something that you will remember. You are set with a Su command to go into root mode like in regular debian.

2. Type the make command at the terminal:

make

If you have a vanilla no-frills crunchbang installation "make" is sure to complain with:
make: *** /lib/modules/2.6.32-5-amd64/build: No such file or directory. Stop.
make: *** [all] Error 2

2a. It's whining about the lack of kernel headers so install the kernel headers:

apt-get install linux-headers-2.6.32-5-amd64

(...which makes you wonder why the kernel was headless to begin with. Perhaps to save space. Perhaps to add to your vexation. Who knows.)

--
Note: If you want to install these headers manually, these are the files you need from the debian repository:

• linux-headers-2.6.32-5-common_2.6.32-31_amd64.deb
• linux-kbuild-2.6.32_2.6.32-1_amd64.deb
• gcc-4.3_4.3.5-4_amd64.deb
• gcc-4.3-base_4.3.5-4_amd64.deb
• cpp-4.3_4.3.5-4_amd64
• linux-headers-2.6.32-5-amd64_2.6.32-31_amd64.deb
• linux-headers-2.6-amd64_2.6.32+29_amd64.deb

In that order.

---

3. You can then go ahead and issue the make command again:

make

. A ton of mumbo-jumbo will scroll across your terminal but most of it will be orderly except this line:

/rtl8192se_linux_2.6.0019.1207.2010/HAL/rtl8192/rtl8192s/r8192S_firmware.c:722: warning: format ‘%d’ expects type ‘int’, but argument 3 has type ‘long unsigned int’

Some not-very-consequential warning. I am told it could be because of the carelessly or poorly written code for the driver. Which is also claimed as the reason (by debian overlords in the #debian channel on the irc.debian.net server) why it was not included in the native Debian kernel and is only scheduled for inclusion in the 3.0 version after some squabbling or quality checks or both... or none. Again, who knows what's going on the dark recesses of kernel-developers minds.

4. Assuming, there are no other warnings and errors (there were none in mine), issue the make install command:

make install

Another scroll of messages where linux will enter and exit various directory locations will follow. Hopefully these entries and exits will pass without incident. If there is some permission error, you probably don't have Su power. See step 1. Sudo doesn't cut it for the whiny RTL8191SEvB driver.

5. Finally. SHUT DOWN completely and reboot. Hopefully you will be able to see your wireless networks now. If not, you have probably wasted your time reading these instructions and it's time to go and read the other zillion forum posts about this difficult wireless driver on the rest of the net. Even if none of them end up helping you, they would have, at the very least, taken a shot at helping build some character - which you will need for putting up with no wireless in a laptop.

I just installed a browser on my Android phone that makes me shout with glee about how fast my phone has suddenly become...

Rejoice!

Rejoice!

Rejoice!

The Boat Browser is here!!


I am never going back to any other browser on my phone ever! You need to check the boat browser out if you haven't already!!! ===> I have MISSED all this amazing snappiness! I don't know how the boat browser does it, but it does. It makes everything go REALLY fast and its interface is SO intuitive and non-clumsy, it makes every other android browser out there look paleolithic and clumsy and gargantuan (in a bad way).