Cannot install any additional packages.

[Aquern]

Hi everyone,

I'm fairly new (8 months or so) to Linux, and brand new to Vector Linux — I just stumbled across it, read some good things about it, and thought I'd try it out. I'm quite impressed with the speed, and I had no problems getting my nVidia graphics chip or my wifi adapter working (my two base requirements, which plenty of other, more famous distros failed at!)

However, I've never used a Slackware-based distro (or Slackware itself) before, and I seem to be unable to install any new packages. I have no problem opening gslapt and browsing the repositories, but no matter what package I choose (and I tried at least a dozen different things) I always get an "INSTALL FAILED" message.

I'd be grateful for any help!

[M0E-lnx]

can you try that from the command prompt and post the complete error message here?

for instance...
log in as root in a terminal and execure something like this
slapt-get -i any_package_you_want_to_install

post any error message here

[stretchedthin]

How are you connected to the internet?
Have you changed any of the sources?

Is the way you use Gslapt any different from what is in this video?
http://www.opensourcebistro.com/Tutorial/VL60/02.Beginners-guide/gslapt/gslapt.htm

[bigpaws]

Were you working as root to install the packages?

Bigpaws

[Aquern]

Thanks for the replies. Well, when I got home and rebooted VL, and both gslapt and slapt-get at a terminal are working now! So that's one problem solved -- nothing a little reboot couldn't fix, apparently.

However, I still cannot compile other packages from source. For example, I want to install Skype. First I tried vpackager > build/install from cruxports4slack > display available > contrib, selected Skype, clicked "Build Current", chose "Target Distro: VectorLinux 6.0" and checked "resolve dependencies", then clicked "Begin". I instantly get a "FAILED" message, saying "Error 404: Not Found". So then I tried vpackager > build/install from compressed source, selected the Skype source tarball which I downloaded from the Skype web site, and clicked "Next". This results in what looks like a bunch of items being unpacked (a pile of PNGs and stuff), but then it says "vpackager is unable to recognize the nature of this source package ~ Aborting build process now" and "FAILED".

[stretchedthin]

I' just figuring out vpackager myself, so I'll leave that question for someone else.
However, installing skype is simple enough.
Just follow this tutorial...http://www.opensourcebistro.com/Tutorial/VL60/11.Network-apps/skype/skype.htm

When skype is installed fire up alsamixer in the terminal and make sure nothing is muted (MM on the bottom) also make sure capture is elevated so your microphone will pick up your voice.

[M0E-lnx]

vpackager is not designed to install software like skype, and never will be.
It is designed to build normal open source programs (primarily those written in C/python/cmake and use the free gnu autoconf tools).

[Aquern]

vpackager is not designed to install software like skype, and never will be.

Could you explain to a newbie what "software like Skype" means?

@stretchedthin: Thanks for that link. I got Skpye running by following it, but unfortunately the bonus "video fix" didn't work; I've still got green lines instead of a webcam picture.

Also, back on the subject of vpackager, may I respectfully suggest that it's confusing to folks who are new to VL to find Skype listed under the available packages in vpackager, only to then be told that vpackager can not be used to build it.

[caitlyn]

Could you explain to a newbie what "software like Skype" means?

Proprietary binary software.  vpackager is designed to build packages from source code.  The docs are VERY explicit about that.

I understand your confusion but as we don't maintain the external ports there is no way to avoid that little bit of confusion.  We normally have a Skype package in the repo.  I'll ping the gentleman who built the 5.9 package and see if he can do one for 6.0.  That would avoid the issue entirely.

[stretchedthin]

@stretchedthin: Thanks for that link. I got Skpye running by following it, but unfortunately the bonus "video fix" didn't work; I've still got green lines instead of a webcam picture.

Some questions first and maybe I can help.
1. Are you launching skype from ths script (skypescript in the video) that was described in the video?  Launching Skype from it's original executable will not launch V41compate.so which is needed to make the video work.
....I rewatched the video and apologize that point was'nt very clear. I'll try and fix it in the next couple days.

2. Double click on skypescript (or the name you gave it), tell me does Skype launch? and can you check the video in options, is it any better?

3. If that does not work, I'll ask you a few more questions to diagnose the problem.
Ken