[SOLVED]How Do I Access the Internet without Loading to a Desktop Environment

[ultrageeky]

I updated my desktop environment yesterday using "apt-get update" and "apt-get dist-upgrade". I've been unable to access my desktop environment since restarting my PC. The log-in screen loads but the desktop will not. Consequently, I can only access my computer using either a Live Disk or Command Line.

To attempt access to a graphical user interface (GUI aka my Desktop Environment) I have,

• tried the Recovery Mode (pressed "ESC" at Grub Loader),
• attempted to gain access by loading previous Kernal(?)/Linux Header versions,
• attempted to gain access by booting to Command Line with Networking Support and re-running the update/upgrade (reason for failure give below),
• issued the startx command from the Command Line.

None of those methods gave me access to my desktop.

I established that the upgrade failed to install the new version of "kdebase-workspace-data" - it was held back. I thought, I know, I'll uninstall it then re-install it (usually resolves this type of problem). Unfortunately, I can't re-install it because the package didn't download during the original update and Kubuntu is not accessing the Net from Command Line.

I can think of two solutions,

• I could download the package whilst using the Live Disk, save it to a USB drive or CD, add the drive or disc to sources.list then install it manually or I could save it the folder where apt would usually store them, else
• I could manually set-up a connection to the Net and re-run the update/upgrade.

If there's another option, I'm all eyes to learning it.

Anyway, I need some help to use either of those solutions:

• If I download the missing package and save it to disc/USB, how do I add it to sources.list; if I save it in apt's cache where's the folder located and how do I manually register it with apt?
• How do I manually configure Internet access whilst using Command Line?

To attempt access to the Internet from Command Line, I've run the following commands:

• ifconfig wlan0 up
• iwconfig wlan0 essid awesome
• iwconfig wlan0 key off
• iwconfig wlan0 mode managed
• dhclient wlan0

It didn't work, it still uses the default IP address of 255,255,255,255 so I can neither ping nor access the Net.

I'm using an unencrypted wireless network (my choice). The wireless device is shown in lsusb and is listed in lshw -C network.

How do I get Kubuntu to issue an IP address (? I think that's all I need it do). How do I get Internet access?

Please help

And thank you to the developers for this wonderful Live Disk.

[toad]

Re: How Do I Access the Internet without Loading to a Desktop Environment

To access the internet without X install lynx or links - either are pretty decent.

If I were you, however, I'd check the syslog.log, Xorg.0.log and everything.log (located in /var/log) to see what is keeping you from the promised land

Could you perhaps tell us what exactly your box does when it comes up? KDM comes up but you cannot log in? You mean to say that you are returned to the KDM login screen? If so, you may want to check whether your / is full by doing a:

df -h

If your / or your /home is at 100% delete or move some non essential stuff and try to login again. If that is not the problem move your ~/.kde folder to ~/.kde_date so you start with a clean slate and try to login again.

Let us know how you fare...

[ultrageeky]

Re: How Do I Access the Internet without Loading to a Desktop Environment

The log-in screen loads but when I enter my details and press return it gets no further than the sparkly blue screen. It doesn't reload the log-in screen and doesn't load anything else. The mouse cursor is visible and movable. No key depresses are recognised (e.g Ctrl+Alt+Delete, Alt+Ctrl+F1...).

I've tried the failsafe option too and that gives me an error message telling me that the x-server emulator is not present before it loads to a black screen without the mouse cursor being present (on clicking "abort").

I can't install any other applications without Internet access except for those on my Live Disk. However, Lynx is already installed yet is useless until I can regain access to the Net.

I strongly feel that were I able to gain Net access from Command Line (before x-server loads) then I will be able to re-install kdebase-workspace-data to fix the Desktop load issue.

Also, my installation drive has plenty of free space.

[GreyGeek]

Re: How Do I Access the Internet without Loading to a Desktop Environment

What does

sudo iwlist scanning

show?

And, do a "man ifup".

[ultrageeky]

Re: How Do I Access the Internet without Loading to a Desktop Environment

I've just checked the man page for ifup. I will try "ifup -o auto" and "ifup -o hotplug"' (see which works, if either).

I have Moblock installed. I deactivated it with "sudo blockcontrol stop" before attempting access to the Net. I'll try iwlist and post back. Not sure how I will copy and paste any output though because I can't use the GUI.

I can access my log files etc.. from within my Live Disk (I just use "sudo mount -a") so if anything there might be of help then please just advise me.

I will respond in about 5 minutes (I need time to restart, issue the commands then reboot the live disk).

[ultrageeky]

Re: How Do I Access the Internet without Loading to a Desktop Environment

Here's the result from "sudo iwlist scanning > scancheck.txt"

wlan0 Scan completed :
Cell 01 - Address: 00:13:64:37:9A:EF
ESSID:"Default"
Mode:Master
Channel:6
Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
Quality=100/100 Signal level:55/100
Encryption keyff
IE: Unknown: 000744656661756C74
IE: Unknown: 010582848B962C
IE: Unknown: 030106
IE: Unknown: 2A0104
IE: Unknown: 32080C1218243048606C
IE: Unknown: DD0A0800280101000200FF0F
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 22 Mb/s
6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s
36 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Extra:tsf=000000049626d1e4
Extra: Last beacon: 36ms ago

The "ifup" man page I read on the Net must be for a different version to the one in 9.04. I used "man ifup" from the command line to find its operands. I tried "ifup -a" but still was unable to access the Net.

Interestingly, I did run "sudo iwconfig wlan0" (I should have had it write the result to a text file but didn't). It told me that the service, signal strength etc.. were at 0 (zero). This was after I'd used "iwconfig wlan0 up".

As far as I know, before I drop to Command Line, the boot process configures the wireless adapter using NetworkManager, Avahi and DHCP (I'm re-iterating the boot-up messages). I know the device works because I'm using it now, on the same computer by using the Live Disk.

Surely there's a simple way for me to configure my wireless adapter without using the GUI.

[Snowhog]

Re: How Do I Access the Internet without Loading to a Desktop Environment

As to your GUI desktop. Verify that you have kdebase-workspace installed. It could have been removed during the upgrade.

[ultrageeky]

Re: How Do I Access the Internet without Loading to a Desktop Environment

As to your GUI desktop. Verify that you have kdebase-workspace installed. It could have been removed during the upgrade.

This is the reason I need to gain access to the Net from Command Line. I said in my first post that I couldn't access the Desktop after a restart after the upgrade, that (to rephrase) "apt-get install" stated that "kdebase-workspace-data" had been held back so I uninstalled it with the intention of re-instaling it but I can't re-install it because the package wont download because I can't access the Net from within the OS that has the problem.

If I knew how to download it, transfer it to apt's cache then register it with apt then run the installation then I would do that.

I understand your question but it doesn't help to know whether it's installed or not because I can't access the Internet to install it if it isn't.

All I want to do is gain access to the Internet from Command Line so I can install any missing packages or re-install KDE then re-run the upgrade; alternatively, if given the right instructions, I could manually deliver the package to apt, register it then install it.

[Snowhog]

Re: How Do I Access the Internet without Loading to a Desktop Environment

Ah. Okay. If you have not already see this, take a look through Detonates Howto: Ethernet connection without a GUI

[ultrageeky]

Re: How Do I Access the Internet without Loading to a Desktop Environment

I'll give that a go.

[ultrageeky]

Re: How Do I Access the Internet without Loading to a Desktop Environment

Ah. Okay. If you have not already see this, take a look through Detonates Howto: Ethernet connection without a GUI

O.K I gave it a go but still no joy.

Also, kdebase-workspace is not installed. The old packages are still in apt's cache. Whenever I try to re-install them apt tells me it cannot download the packages. How I direct it to its cache?

[skunk]

Re: How Do I Access the Internet without Loading to a Desktop Environment

If you can connect to the internet from another machine, you could download the deb file from here
https://launchpad.net/~kubuntu-ppa/+archive/backports
and then install it

You may need multiple iterations to resolve any dependencies

[Snowhog]

Re: How Do I Access the Internet without Loading to a Desktop Environment

Retry using the command:

sudo apt-get install --no-download --simulate kdebase-workspace

The option --no-download forces apt-get to use the package in the cache. The option --simulate forces apt-get to just 'go through the motions' of an install. This allows you to see what would happen. You're looking for any errors concerning missing packages/dependency issues associated with installing this specific package from your cache only.

[ultrageeky]

Re: How Do I Access the Internet without Loading to a Desktop Environment

Snowhog, thank you, I'll try it now.

[ultrageeky]

Re: How Do I Access the Internet without Loading to a Desktop Environment

Sorry to say it but it didn't work.

The simulation went well but the actual event didn't happen. Asked me whether I "sing?"

I edited sources.list to re-enable the CD repository. Apt told me it didn't like it - I'll have to add with a command (I'll research to find it).

Anymore suggestions? Is 9.10 stable enough for use? If I have to, I will re-install; I'm just loathe to so because I have to add a lot of repos for media playback etc... And, my last FEBE back-up was over a month ago so I'd need to manually edit Firefox.