Resetting fresh installation to defaults

[Member dsl25]

Hi folks,

I’m a total newbie here but glad I found something that will allow me to play with a 17 year old Dell Latitude D400 and maybe help me undrestand how this Linux thing works when you’re coming from Windows…

I was initially surprised and glad to find an OS that actually install without problem on this computer.
Encountered some freezes on the way but I finally managed to install everything from a USB key.

I installed some packages as the WIFI seemed to work, at at least partially: my home’s hidden SSID didn’t seem to work, my Windows hotspot neither did but, surprisingly my Android phone’s hotspot did work!

After that I started playing a bit around with desktops and settings and, after a while, the result was that I lost all network connections! Don’t ask me how but that is the result…

Is there a way to fully reset the installation to its initial default state, without losing the installed packages?

Hope that makes any sense!

Thanks.

[Member sybok]

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Hi,

1)
An ugly way could be to boot from the USB, mount existing partition(s) and overwrite/compare all relevant configuration files that has been altered.
Since this may break something, I’d suggest not to do it this way AND to definitely backup all relevant data.
If the issue is related to network, I would suggest to locate/find and examine only the relevant configuration files (connman/ceni?) in ‘/’ or ‘/home/<user>/’.

2)
Check (don’t know how) that you have not disabled wi-fi altogether and examine wi-fi in general.
Use ‘antiX control center’:

antiX control center -> network
antiX control center -> maintenance -> network troubleshooting

Some of the relevant tools are ‘ifconfig’, ‘iwlist’, ‘iwconfig’ (see e.g. this link).

Currently in Windows on desktop PC (ongoing upgrade to 20H1) with no wi-fi card; sorry, cannot help more than this.

3)
Also, someone mentioned frugal install, not quite sure what/how but it is mentioned couple of times at the main site antixlinux and forum here and here.

BTW: In case you have access to a wi-fi router with WAN-connectors, I’d suggest to buy a short ethernet cable to be able to connect using wired connection.
This has saved me a lot of time over the years.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by sybok. Reason: Switch order of answers, expanded the new-2)
• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by sybok. Reason: antiX control center added

[Member dsl25]

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Many thanks for this Sybok, I think I’ll re-install as everything was fresh and new.
Yes, I used already a cable to connect to the router but would prefer the wifi solution.
Will have to investigate this further, thanks again!

[Forum Admin rokytnji]

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One of my posts

On my reinstalls on my atom netbook. I found the saved settings on my live usb were causing me problems.
Troubles disappeared when I used the dd option in Live USB maker when making my live pen drive read only.

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[Member dsl25]

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Thanks for this. I finally re-installed from scratch as it was a basic fresh installation.

[Member seaken64]

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@dsl25,

Welcome! antiX linux can be a lot of fun. I have resurrected many old computers, many older than your Dell Latitude D400. I suggest you focus on getting the network interfaces working and learn how to configure and save the settings. Once that is under your belt you can start exploring and installing other packages. At least if you want to use WiFi – ethernet should work pretty reliably.

Once thing I have noticed is that the built-in WiFi on these Dell laptops are not robust. It seems they work best in Windows where the maker supports a good driver. You may have to experiment with the best drivers and load modules and blacklist others. Keep a log of what works and what doesn’t. If the built-in WiFi won’t behave you can often use a USB dongle. You can search for network interfaces that are known to work good with Linux.

As you have discovered, often the best way to repair settings that may have been accidentally changed to a non-working condition is to re-install. You may also have to learn how to setup a LiveCD/DVD, or USB, with a different kernel. antiX Live is a great tool for these types of setups. But there is a learning curve.

Seaken64

[Member dsl25]

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Thanks @Seaken64, heading that way already.

[Member seaken64]

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Good luck! I had antiX working great on a D600 until the battery died. 🙁

Seaken64

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