At my wits end: SL-5500 + OZ + IPKG

[Mach10]

I'm at my wits end. I am totally and utterly frustrated and lost.

I am a linux newbie, but I'm a fast learner... At least, when things work well enough for me to make sense of them


What I HAVE is an SL-5500 with OZ 3.2

What I don't have is a Zaurus that does a whole hell of a lot of ANYTHING.

The thing boots fine (long and involved hike to get to this point) now, and all of the apps that came with the ROM flash seem to work.

However, I cannot get ANY IPKG applications on any feeds to work;

They sometimes seem to sinstall fine (despite persistent "ERROR: opie-mediaplayer2-codecs.postinst returned 127" errors after each package download and install), but I get big, empty looking "Could not start <insert name of application> error messages, and my Zaurus hangs for about 30-45 seconds.

Other times, I get "Package <insert name> wants to install file <insert file> .... but that file is already provided by <insert other name>

I got the thing used, with a butchered (badly) copy of OZ. After reinstalling a few times, I tried to give up, and go back the the SharpROM version. The install didn't go so well, got a screenload of errors; But after a hard reset, it would run, but not much better than OZ. So I went back.

It seemed to install OK, except that, as stated before, I can't get any bloody thing to work.

It connects to the net fine, I can update IPKG lists etc through networking... But I can't do anything with them.

I've done a little browsing on the forum (proper internet forum decorum), but I have to say. When one has to wade through 7 or 8 nested "try a search on" posts, it gets a little out of hand. Compound this with the fact that I really don't know where at all to start.


Does ANYONE have any possible insight? I'm at my wits end. I have a very powerful, (compared to my Clie, anyway) functional tool that I cannot use for anything but the most basic telephone number storage... And that functionality is already taken by the backs of Water and electricity bills on the fridge.

I'd read the manual... Except that there isn't one  

HELP!?!

[lardman]

However, I cannot get ANY IPKG applications on any feeds to work;

I don't know that there are any OZ3.2 feeds left on the 'net, you may be having troubles because you're trying to use a feed for a later version...?

They sometimes seem to sinstall fine (despite persistent "ERROR: opie-mediaplayer2-codecs.postinst returned 127" errors after each package download and install), but I get big, empty looking "Could not start <insert name of application> error messages, and my Zaurus hangs for about 30-45 seconds.

The error to do with opie-mediaplayer2-codecs is caused by something not working in the post installation script for that package. Take a look at it and see if something needs to be done (otherwise just delete the file and be don't with it). The script will be in: <mount point>/usr/lib/ipkg/info/

To debug the 'Couldn't start app' problem try running the app from the command line and seeing what the error message says.

Other times, I get "Package <insert name> wants to install file <insert file> .... but that file is already provided by <insert other name>

If you're happy to overwrite the existing files then use the -force-overwrite flag.

So I went back.

I'd recommed you move to OZ3.5.1 - this is the currently supported version (and as stable as OZ3.2 IMO).

HELP!?!

Gladly, (but I'd definitely move to 3.5.1 as I've not used 3.2 for a long, long time).


Si

[Mach10]

Thanks for the prompt reply, I'd love to take the advice, but I have no CF card of my own (the other was a loaner) so I'll have to wait until reflashing.

After I posted, I realized that I was using newer feeds on an older OZ version. But being the suspicious bastard that I am, I went ahead and dug up some archived IPKs and started my own server. Same kind of trouble; nothing bloody works.

Same problems. The pointer about force-overwrite kicks ass though; thats one less thing to worry about. Thanks

As far as debugging programs from the command line, it's going to have to wait, but I'll

[lardman]

As far as debugging programs from the command line, it's going to have to wait, but I'll

...

In the majority of cases the message displayed on the command line very quickly lets you know what you're missing. I suppose it's debugging of a sort ... ;-)


Simon