Slax author's Blog (RSS)

Thanks =)
Can I disable/remove/blacklist kernel modules for disable access to cdrom and usb storage ? For example sr_mod,cdrom,usb_storage. I tried to do this via syslinux.cfg but it does not work.

You can boot Slax with the following boot parameter added at the end of the boot prompt, to disable loading of certain modules:
module_blacklist=sr_mod,cdrom,usb_storage

However, if you blacklist these particular modules, Slax will not boot at all, since it needs to access cdrom or USB devices in order to load the root filesystem from it.

Thanks :)
But please remove the pre-installed icons from the desktop - annoying trash!

I am not going to remove any of the preinstalled software, at the moment I am happy with it as it is. Feel free to remove that yourself. For example, you can remove the entire Chromium module from Slax, while the chromium icon will still be in the list - and if you click it, Slax will auto-install chromium for you (after your confirmation of course).

Thank you Thomas. Will check it later :-D

Thanks Tomas, let me download and try it out.

Hi Thomas ! How can I set language to hungarian. hungarian.sb where is ?

Hi. I am not able to test Slax on my Asus x206ha. Is it because of uefi? How can I install Slax if it don't want to start? Thanks with any help.

Hi,

I came across Slax, with the release 9.3 and I was surprised to see the things that has been packed into a small sized ISO. I have captured various screens of Slax 9.3 release and it is shared in <a href="http://www.distroscreens.com/2017/12/slax-930-screenshots.html">my screenshot blog</a>

Now, I have reproduced the Slax 9.4 release announcement in <a href="http://theopensourcefeed.com/Slax-9.4-released-with-extra-applications/">my distributions blog.</a>

Regards.

@György Kántor
In the past versions, Slax contained lots of translations including Hungarian, those translations were made by KDE desktop and I could simply reuse them. Unfortunately, Slax does not use KDE anymore (it uses FluxBox now) and since there is almost nothing to translate, I'm making Slax in English only.

@Boris Delic
UEFI is not supported in Slax. From what I've learned, it requires extra directory in the root of the bootable filesystem, which is something I do not like to support by default.

@OpenSource Feeder
Thank you for your article! :)

thank u Tomas M :)

in 9.4 screeen resolution became worse, return as in 9.3

Hi Tomas ! Thanks for info. The other thing, what about repositories ?. Can I rebulid KDE for example ?

what is different between 9.3 and 9.4 versions ? my laptop freeze randomly and 9.3 beta 2 do not freeze just 9.4 on 32 bits ???!!! in windows 7 or windows 10 i disable intel mhd 4500 video display built in chipset adapter to work on this junk

this may provide a solution for this growing in number problem of laptops who freeze randomly

Whether correctly I have understood that now it is impossible, having installed the application from a repository, to make his icon on a desktop. It does Slax inconvenient. In such type of Slax can please only the developer, showing operability of system. Therefore users will refuse use of this operating system. Whether it is worth developing an operating system personally for himself? Maybe I don't understand something?

@György Kántor
Slax uses Debian's repositories. So you can use "apt" command to install any software which is in Debian's repository

@1955UncleCo
Installed applications, which properly put a .desktop file in /usr/share/applications, are automatically added to the icons list

Hi,
I really need to compliment with you for the wonderful work you have done.

If I may, I'd like to pose you a few questions:
If I understand correctly, in previous versions of S., application become *.sb files in the “Slax” directory, does it works that way on S. 9.3 too? Using ATP?

Is there a dedicated software centre for your Slax


Tks Again for your work, I resurrected a few old Laptops with it!!

Ivo

Sorry, I ment "in 9.4 too"

I am trying to install the system through the usb, but when I log in, the following appears, root @ slax: ~ #, how do I proceed? what command?

I see you add in 9.4 opengl libraries . i think this is the cause my laptop freeze randomly ...OPENGL error located in chipset

@Ivo Giulio Gagliolo
you can install applications in slax with 'apt' command. You can of course build module for Slax like in previous versions, but that is a different story.

On all the PCs where I start this new 9.4 version of slax the vlc in video viewing especially in movies with explosions and fast scenes, displays the frames as broken, as if playback was not fast enough. This happens on different machines and therefore does not depend on the hardware.
How can I solve ?

Hi, @tomas

Slax is killing my mind, hehe
I am very currious with this lightweight linux distro.

I tried to create the usb live boot for slax and I tried to copy it into my hdd. Can I?

But, my step is stucked when Slax is asking me the root and toor access, after that, I can't do anywhere. I can't reach the GUI. How sad and fool I am? :-(

I tried to find any tutorial, I found nothing but I can read the cheatsheer. Could you please guide me?

Thanks

I downloaded Slax 9.4

I got further changes:

1. I removed automount in boot
2. I typed startx, after giving root and toor
3. I got this error message from x-server :

xauth: (argv):1: bad display name "slax:0" in "list" command
xauth: (stdin):1: bad display name "slax:0" in "add" command

...
bla bla bla X.Org
...

xinit: giving up
xinit: unable to connect to X server: Connection Refused
xinit: server error
xauth: (argv):1: bad display name "slax:0" in "remove" command

----

My device is Lenovo Ideapad S10-3 (Intel Atom Processor, 2048 MB RAM)

----

Thanks for your reply and I am wishing for it.

[REVISION]

Error Messages after startx

hostname: Temporary failure in name resolution
xauth: (argv):1: bad display name "slax:0" in "list" command
xauth: (stdin):1: bad display name "slax:0" in "add" command

...
bla bla bla X.Org
...

xinit: giving up
xinit: unable to connect to X server: Connection Refused
xinit: server error
xauth: (argv):1: bad display name "slax:0" in "remove" command

-------------------

I checked the hostname and it result as "slax" :-)

#confused

I got further changes :

The hostname error is one, I did this changes

nano /etc/hosts

127.0.0.1 localhost slax

But, sadly, this error still hapened

xinit: giving up
xinit: unable to connect to X server: Connection Refused
xinit: server error

WELL DONE. . . [SOLVED]

My laptop Lenovo S10-3 is using Intel D4xx/D5xx/N4xx/N5xx Intel Integrated display, and the driver is not included in the package.

So, I connected my box to the wifi, following this article https://askubuntu.com/questions/294257/connect-to-wifi-network-through-ubuntu-terminal, and install intel display driver as well. Here is the solution:

sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-video-intel

Good luck...

Film izlerken ekran kararmaması için ne yapmalıyım..

Hi friends do you could release a Raspberry Pi version? I am interested on using slax on it

>preinstalled software (after your confirmation of course).
Does not ask and does not work! For example:

root@slax:~# /opt/viber/Viber
/opt/viber/Viber: error while loading shared libraries: libpulse-mainloop-glib.so.0: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

The browser does not start from the menu fluxbox :(
fbliveapp + "preinstalled" software (vlc, votecoin!, viber) = the idea of a pervert

Hi Tomas :) by saying you do not want to include uefi by default, does that mean in the future there will be 2 version to choose from to download? Thanks :)

Hi Tomas,
I cannot run Chromium from the fb menu nor from xlunch. Actually I was not able to start off any other browser like Firefox or Basilisk. Only once I succeeded in launching Chromium but then I could not reproduce that. Any workaround available? Thanks.

efi boot
I read the comments from 9.3 version.
Link to zip file with all files needed to run from (u)efi (tested on virtualbox and on my notebook), extract to usb root next to the slax folder (no scripts required):
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1NGYIVn0f5V_jb9TAl9KLQktvm0oXhQrp

hi everyone

thanks for the slax, i am trying to do small customize before using in the office (approximately 250 PC).

i have small problem with slax. 9.3 version no problem with boot but 9.4 doesnt work after booting. keyboard-mouse not moving (USB). in system tray no time and no power icon. i guess its frozen. so 9.4 i cant use it.

with 9.3 i can use it well. chrome-leafpad etc. but the problem when i add new sb file that time chrome doesnt work. when i execute the chromium in terminal gives message "Cannot execute /bin/bash". actually even adding any sb file occurs this message on chromium.

note:
1-) i create any single text file /tmp folder like readme.txt.
2-) i use mksquashfs create sb file. like 06-test.sb
3-) i put it in same folder with other sb files.
4-) during the boot sb files already automaticly expanded and ready to use it. i can see the files with file manager or terminal.
5-) But chromium doesnt work. it gives error. when i remove the 06-test.sb file that time chromium works.

honestly didnt understand it.

thanks for help

1) When I click on the label of the VLC and click "OK", then this window appears for a second. How can I fix this error and install the VLC?
https://habrastorage.org/webt/1e/nc/y2/1ency2dkbaczxi7elkhecsfofns.png

2) Please add shortcuts for installing applications such as:
Simplenote
Any VPN
Aida or Everest (or analog)

love slax....question....

how can i bring up the desktop environment in a persistent session?

i tried startx but it it did not work me.

thanks!

hi, congratulations for your great work.
is it possible to install a module for slax 9.4 and chromium in Italian? I think it's not possible yet
sorry I'm a newbie

Hi Can someone help please?

I have removed everything except the core module and I am trying to install the mate desktop. I installed xserver-xorg, xinit, and mate, created .xinitrc in HOME with 'exec mate-session' but when I launch startx I just get a black screen.

Then I tried the same thing but installed xfce instead. This time it worked but booted up at 640x480 16 colours.

What am I doing wrong please?

What packages are installed the xorg bundle that comes by default in Slax?

Thanks

Hi, I got the list of packages installed by typing: apt list --installed

Now, the problem is that once you boot slax with just the core bundle and try to install any other desktop environment, nothing works out of the box. Only XFCE starts but with 640x480 16 colours.

I tried the same exact installation on a properly installed Debian Stretch and everything works immediately.

Can someone (Mr Tomas M) point out the cause of the issue please?

What I am doing now is to create a Debian VM in VIrtualBox, install mate and then issue ./build. In this way, the .core bundle will also contain the GUI. I will check whether everything works fine like that and post an update here.

Just tried what I had in mind in the previous post and the same symptoms occurred. The GUI does not load.

So basically it is not a question of installing something and issue the savechanges command to create a bundle since the bundle will not work.

Awaiting a reply hopefully on this issue...

Thomas,

I am getting an iotop error and this was the only place I could contact you (I am using Fedora 27 x86_64):

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/sbin/iotop", line 17, in <module>
main()
File "/usr/lib/python3.6/site-packages/iotop/ui.py", line 631, in main
main_loop()
File "/usr/lib/python3.6/site-packages/iotop/ui.py", line 621, in <lambda>
main_loop = lambda: run_iotop(options)
File "/usr/lib/python3.6/site-packages/iotop/ui.py", line 506, in run_iotop
return run_iotop_window(None, options)
File "/usr/lib/python3.6/site-packages/iotop/ui.py", line 501, in run_iotop_window
ui.run()
File "/usr/lib/python3.6/site-packages/iotop/ui.py", line 155, in run
self.process_list.duration)
File "/usr/lib/python3.6/site-packages/iotop/ui.py", line 434, in refresh_display
lines = self.get_data()
File "/usr/lib/python3.6/site-packages/iotop/ui.py", line 415, in get_data
return list(map(format, processes))
File "/usr/lib/python3.6/site-packages/iotop/ui.py", line 388, in format
cmdline = p.get_cmdline()
File "/usr/lib/python3.6/site-packages/iotop/data.py", line 289, in get_cmdline
cmdline = proc_cmdline.read(4096)
File "/usr/lib64/python3.6/encodings/ascii.py", line 26, in decode
return codecs.ascii_decode(input, self.errors)[0]
UnicodeDecodeError: 'ascii' codec can't decode byte 0xc2 in position 909: ordinal not in range(128)

Is this a real bug or is there some environment fix or something?

Thanks,
Phil.

@Robert Spiteri
I would guess that the problem is in Slax - it uses --no-install-recommends by default. So even if you use the same "install command" it does not install all the packages which would be installed otherwise on pure Debian. So you either need to install all pakcages manually, or you can disable --no-install-recommends in /etc/apt/apt.conf/000Slax

@Philip Rhoades P
if I use "apt install iotop" in Slax, then I can run iotop without any problem.
You can also consider using the C variant instead of the python iotop. You can get it from here: https://github.com/Tomas-M/iotop

@Tomas M
Thanks for your reply. Kindly note below:

1. I have created a file named 000Slax in /etc/apt/apt.conf.d as by default there is no such file
2. In the file I wrote: APT::Install-Recommends "1";
3. Installed xfce4
4. Launched startxfce4

same problem... xfce loads with 16 colours... other desktop environments like mate do not even load

Am I doing something wrong please?

@Tomas M

Here is an update. I must specify that the above issues happened after I installed a fresh debian system myself, create a live system using linux-live kit with just a console based operating system and then started to add the GUI as a module.

Right now, I have just downloaded a fresh slax, repeated steps 2 - 4 in the last post since 000Slax is now there and then XFCE4 worked flawlessly.

Do you mind posting the packages that are found in xorg.sb please? As I specified earlier, I tried apt list --installed but it seems I am missing a package or something.

Thanks in advance for your time.

Hello, I tried different ways to mount / automount external usb drives in Slax, but never successfully. Can anybody help? Thanks.

I found two problems with this version of Slax :

1. Can't use the left mouse click in touchpad.

2. Can't copy and past text in terminal (right click selects text and shurtcut ctrl+shift+V doesn't work)

I solved the first issue but i can't solve the second issue.

Another problem is that i can't edit notebook brightness, previous slax versions worked well.

hi
is possible change the chromium language?
with debian commands it does not work
thanks

Regarding EFI booting
@Tomas M. suggest a EFI skeleton/tree providing the files to EFI boot both 32bit and 64bit Slax9.4 such that users copy either/both/other Slax versions into this skeleton/tree using preferably syslinux. such to boot either bios or EFI computers. Perhaps Grub2-efi secondary bootloader. This maybe capable of multiboot other distros via user editing syslinux cfg. Suggest using above Guzmazow zip download in combination with 9.3 blog suggestions. A text file with instructions for install and also how to .sb making options ---- save2sb, dir2sb, sb2dir, etc. This would greatly aid new beginner slax users.

Suggest Synaptic package manager icon install be added to next version as this aids beginners to search application naming, additional recommends, alternatives and dependencies. Example firefox-esr instead of firefox and if installing this requires removing such and such. Allows selecting which recommends to install.

These suggestions should minimize the questions of blog users.

Hi everyone

Happy to discover this powerfull distro.

I'm going to edit this outdated french link:
https://doc.ubuntu-fr.org/slax
(in few days, quite buisy, and first time ubuntu contributor...)

Surprise to not find any forum, is there any? I encounter some issue to run sound....

See you

Slax 9.3al+ WIFI + KDE 3.5.10
minimal assembly 370 MB

readme.txt -----> Install, Start , Help
https://files.fm/u/sgq43efs

slax93-gui-wifi.zip
https://files.fm/u/5ynbvuup
-----------------
All public files is open
https://files.fm/bolidigor

Dear Tomas,

There was an option on Slax 5, if I'm not wrong, that we could start Slax from DOS environment. A .bat script would come inside the Live CD and was possible to boot the system under MS DOS, (Win 98 DOS), and was needed only type "Linux" inside the folder DOS of the CD and Slax started. Did you maintain this option or something like in this new version?
Thank you in advance.
Best regards.

Hi everyone,

Do somebody know slax root password?

i arrive to login as guest with this command line:

su guest

But i do not arrive again to log as root,.... and google, doesn't help me more....

thank's

see you

finally find solution:

"Your login name: root"
"Password: toor"

What do I do after logging in? root@slax:~#_

You have to type in xinit to start the GUI/desktop environment

Is possible install on hard disk?

hi Tomas... can you make a XFCE version of Slax?
the current desktop environment is not customizable... i have try to install xfce4
but it always boot to fluxbox... is there any way to install other desktop environment?
thank you before..
- Slax lover

Very nice - thankx!
I have only some minor problems - how to change the background of xlunch and logout? And how to get a login (no autologing to root)?

Reply to myself:
You can change the background of xlunch and logout in /usr/bin/fbappselect and
/usr/bin/fblogout. Look for the line with background and change the path to your
wanted picture.(same as you have set for the fluxbox background if you want)
Beautiful!!!
The easiest way to log in as user: logout from root and then type your username, password and then startx. Copy /root/.fluxbox/menue to your homefolder and make some little other changes. Maybe it's worth to do this(?)

Because I got crazy about it.
If you make a backup of the SLAX Folder(USB-Stick) to your harddisk it could happen that SLAX uses the changes.dat from the harddisk. But it don't uses some other settings, so it's really confusing! Maybe this happens only under certain circumstance and maybe it helps to rename the backup-folder to "slax-backup".

You can use above mentioned behavior as a great feature.
Copy a fresh(!) slax Folder to one of your Harddisks/Partitions (ext4 would be better than ntfs?) where you have some unneeded GBs(and you do not want to install anything new). Rename this folder to SLAXHD.
If you boot from your USB Stick apply from=/SLAXHD to the cmdline. (You can make a new menue entry in boot/syslinux.cfg too) Now it boots to the SLAXHD Folder and you can install what you want - samba-server, Libreoffice or what else.
For better filemanagment you should install thunar and thunar-volman and gvfs.
If you need an other default audio output make a text file called .asoundrc with this content:
pcm.!default {
type plug
slave.pcm {
@func getenv
vars [ ALSAPCM ]
default "hw:0,3"
}
}
-----------
use aplay -l in terminal to find out soundcard and device number and change
"hw:0:3" (This is soundcard 0 and device 3)
Copy this file to /root and /home/guest (chromium use this user)
Have fun, it's great!

Dear Tomas,

Thank you for slax. It is a nice user / pocket friendly operating system.

I found an easy way to add UEFI support for any live cd, in just a few minutes.

So, thought of sharing the same with you.

Here is the download link containing all the necessary files, including README files, for implementing the same. Hope you find it useful. If it is helpful, do share the same on your blog too for the rest of the world. Thanks.

Download Link : https://sourceforge.net/projects/syslinux-graphical-boot-menu/files/latest/download

How I came to know about this is also interesting to share with you :

I knew that Xenialpup 7.5 linux had support for UEFI from its release notes.
Also knew that these puppy linux distributions carry a remaster script in its iso.

So, started the iso in virtualbox, did a find command for *remaster* from / and grep -i "uefi" on the remaster script and found out all the necessary details like commands used, files referred to etc. Extracted all the necessary files from the iso using Archive Manager and published it in the above link for the benefit of a open source world. Similarly, one can port any user friendly feature from that distro too to another.

Hope this is helpful.

Regards,

Nathan SR

i want to install and run gnome on slax how can i do it
please say

Continuation of my previous comment....

Please note that the end users using our live cds/usb, need to be instructed to watch youtube videos on UEFI BOOT, to disable
UEFI settings like fast boot, secure boot etc. and to change Boot Mode to CSM Boot and set the Boot Order Priority to
either CD/USB, depending on our media.

Watch youtube videos like :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Ml1IbVp-8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU0b48XpNsU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM9UyNcSEU0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAjbdK4H4Xs

to see some variations of UEFI settings depending on the computer model.

Hi. I don't get your program. I am running Slax 9.4.0 64 bit, and there is no "Software Center" to find in it.

Also, you offer "Slax IPXE" on the downloads page with not a single word of explanation as to what it does. That's poor marketing.

Cheers

Hi!
I want to thank who made this great Slax pocket OS.
I am using Slax pocket OS for getting acquainted with Linux.
Just one little thing with Slax desktop.
Is it possible to store icons and files on guest or root desktop?
I tried to store files on desktop, but they doesn't show up.

Loved this os very much. I've installed this os in my 16gb pen drive and using it as a daily driver.

dear Tomas M.,
Please place detailed description howto install aditional aplications, (from where?) like firefox or mplayer, and for beginners too. Witout individual customization Slax is useles nonsense, like it or not. Not everybody is familiar with pragramming or building modules, etc., For Slax OS to be useful and enjouable this is necessarily consideration,

with best regards,
Stiven

open terminal and then apt install............you only have to know the name of the package/application, but you can look at the internet. It's easy!

I would propose a Slax 9.4 How To Users input blog wherein users share their "How to" successes with other users. This Slax Author's blog has 72 plus user comments just for 9.4 version and users have written how to for previous versions among all the other user questions which is a hassle to sort through to find useful "how to". Set up so as to permit Thomas M. the ability to delete non-related threads or paste into new thread topics so as to keep subject focused. Whereby a user reading this blog could refer to the "How To" blog their written response to the user's question. For example the How to Install KDE or XFCE or LXDE desktops responses would show in the "How To" blog and referred to in this blog.

Just wondering how I can extract the PXE files from 9.4. Cant seem to find the PXE script or get it to boot into PXE mode. Is there a command I can use at start up?
Cheers!

can you add the feature of " phoenix OS " . Which is you can install OS from windows easily by running an .exe file then it will install the os on any hard drive or on pendrive . And then it will dual boot and let me choose which os i want to run . Then many users will able to use this easily (main feature of installing both os on one hardrive ) .

First congratulations, another wonderful distro! Now for my troubles...

When i boot on my HD screen the resolution in on 4k, way too high, selecting a different one in the resolution menu does not change anything. How can i change this?

Long time ago since I used Slax, did like it when it had kde3, however not easy to install programs (finding dependencies and finally creating a module).
Now... I'm excited !! Based on Debian, first thing I installed Synaptic for easier finding and installing packages. Great !
Brilliant work Tomas, thanks a lot !!

Fred

Hi Tomas,
please, how is it possible to create Slax on USB with persistent storage on ext4 to use >4GB of changes?
I tried to follow your guide, but when I use ext4, slax does not boot. With FAT32, it's working fine. Boot flag is setup correctly.
Thanks!

Karol

@ Karol Skolar
Many methods discussed in this and previous threads. You may have permission issue with ext4. I used Puppy (LxPup) linux on CD or USB to perform "Gparted" partitioning/Ext4 formatting, "Uextract" .iso extraction, copy/paste files, click install.bat file, then click "run in terminal" installing syslinux boot-loader --- success every time whether fat32, ext4 or whatever file system as puppy automatically loads into RAM as root and you can remove CD or USB after boot-up. I now use the slax boot folder to boot other OS's by editing boot/syslinux.cfg making multiboot capable on fat32/ext4 media. I have boot, Slax64-94, Slax64-93, LxPup, Other OS's folders with all booted from same (slax) boot folder files via editing slax syslinux.cfg and the isolinux.cfg in other OS in a similar fashion to YUMI multibooter. Use APPEND from=/path/to/folder/ in editing .cfg files. Slax is not limited to 4GB changes as uses no persistence file. I use separate partition for personal files and so can delete the contents of the "changes" folder which I do after creating a module (ext4 not required). Much thanks to Tomas M for creating such a flexible linux OS.

ja používam grub4dos čo sa týka EFI stačí to nakopyrovať na fat32 partišnu, netreba žiadne dodatočné zmeny do slax/ priečinka. treba sa zmieriť s tým že sa to neda poviem to "nacpať do slax/" musí byť na to samostatný /EFI/BOOT/ priečinok.

nechcem tu spamovaž ale tuna je ukážka aj s upraveným menu https://uloz.to/!sxvgGKpFiaMS/4slax-zip

a doležitá vec je bootia32.efi že nie len bootx64 to je nevyhnutné aby to šlo aj na Bay trail tabletoch a 2 in 1 netbookoch.

not working fail loading slax files

modelus are not working

hi, everyone i am new here...
i have a problem when i boot slax from usb...
after boot i see only the wallpaper and the mouse icon. there is no launcher...
also calculator, chromium, VLC, Votecoin and task manager not opening...
i find those apps from run option in mouse right click......
Please some one help me...
I need a solution.....

Hi I'm Italian sorry for my English...
I'm a newby in Linux.... First of all congratulations!
I need to know why if I integrate chrome or firefox or krusader they won't work
becouse there's an error on several libraries........
what do I have to do?

Thank you anyway,

Hi Nazrul Islam Khan, click on dx mouse and choice "RUN"...

I am using chrome recently there is one update after that in my system it is not working properly then I tried solving it but not able to solve it then I contact https://www.printersrepairnearme.com/blog/epson-0x97-error-fix

Recently I was using my printer for bulk printing purpose then in between its showed some issue after that, I contacted with brother printer support.
https://www.printersrepairnearme.com/blog/hp-oxc4eb827f-error-fix

how can i install the iso to my hard drive so i can keep changes and installed programs ?
I cant and dont want a usb pen, must me a hard drive because i´m doing a project and need like a mini linux server.