Here's my how-to for everyone out there...

[ddamron]

Ok, I've been through many, many, MANY problems with linuxmce... quite a few of them are also experienced here by other users, so I thought I would put together a small "what works for me, what to stay away from"

I'm writing this as I go, cause I broke my install by screwing with the repositories... just a note, don't do that...
just like everyone else, http://deb.plutohome.com/20dev_ubuntu main returns error 404...  I tried playing with that and really broke my config.
SO, here we go again.

I have been able to get most of it working...  here's my setup:

EVGA NVidia SLI motherboard (can't remember the model)
  it has dual gbit nics, Intel Pro2Duo
GeForce 6600
SATA DVD ROM
SATA 320GB HD
Bluetooth dongle
HP IPAQ 4155 (wifi and bluetooth)
3x GADSPOT 1600H IP Cameras
1x GADSPOT 9603 IP pan tilt camera
CM11A X10 controller
X10 throughout house..

D-Link DI-524 Router, D-Link 1120G (Viop) and a bunch of computers, etc.

Ok, first, My VOIP router plugs into broadband, Dlink router into VOIP router, this allows the rest of my network to continue to operate while I play.
MCE box plugged into DI524 with ETH0

Boot and install ubuntu 6.10 Desktop

*** don't try mixing SATA with PATA - you'll get frustrated.. keep it either all PATA or all SATA... I ended up bying a SATA DVD RW because of these frustrations...

that said, once ubuntu is installed from CD, reboot, and then do all the software updates. DO NOT update to 7.04!

Grab another cup of coffee... drink it, and wait.

once you have ubuntu 6.10 updated and good to go, then go to www.getautomatix.com and install automatix.

This really helps installation of codecs and video card drivers.

ok, I'll update this when my ubuntu is finished installing... TTYL

(BTW, if you follow with me, it should work, I DID have it working quite well, bear with me...)

Couple of other parts I remember:  Install a hybrid, booting to ubuntu by default... I tried all the other combinations, got lots of errors, HAL errors, etc.  This was the only config I managed to get working.

Ok, will update in a bit.

[ddamron]

Still updating 6.10... still here... BTW, using ubuntu 7.04 64bit to post (hardware identical to my mce box)
currently downloading 148 of 168..

[ddamron]

Download of updates completed, installing updates now, rebooted.  Next Step: Automatix
FWIW: I also downloaded the installer to my desktop.

go to www.getautomatix.com
click Installation
Select your flavour (Ubuntu 6.10 Edgy i386) and click the link.
Open with GDebi Package Installer, and install package.
Once installed, navigate to Applications, System Tools, Automatix
read the agreement, and click yes.
Automatix updates your sources, does an apt-get update, and gives you a nice gui to install 'extras'.
Select Codecs and Plugins
check AUD-DVD Codecs
Check Multimedia Codecs
If you have an NVidia GPU, click Drivers, and select NVidia Driver
Click Start!

At some point, you will see more updates available, wait until automatix finishes, then do more updates.
If you installed the NVidia driver, automatix will want to reboot. go ahead, then do the rest of the updates.
ok, all is good so far, install the mce-installer... (hehe)

Insert the Linuxmce CD and Dblclick Install Linux MCE
*** First Question it asks, Do you also want to use this core to act as a media player, select YES (default)
next is external network config, although, I use my Dlink router with DHCP on that side, I still select static IP address, all goes well cause it's registered in the router anyway.

Tells you to insert CD -> Forward
Run a DHCP server: YES
Internal Network 192.168.80
Click Forward
it asks How do you plan to use this computer? select Primarily used as a PC --- DO NOT select dedicated mce - you'll run into HAL errors (hardware abstraction Layer)

Grab another cup of coffee, smoke em if you got em, and relax.  Once it finishes caching CD to the hard drive and installs, I will update.

TTYL

Dan

[ddamron]

FYI:  My first install failed, it seems as I rebooted with the linuxmce cd in the drive.  for some reason it thought it was the ubuntu CD...
I refreshed the cd and restarted the install...

My CD must be bad... it's a bit scratched, burning another one, brb

[ddamron]

ok, It's my bed time, will continue this install tomorrow... TTYL

[ddamron]

Ok, This is pissing me off... the attempts, thought it was a sources issue, still do, but trying one more, If I can't get it, I'll post the log, maybe someone out there can find out where the install is failing.

[ddamron]

MESSAGE: Seting Up Networking
Internet Systems Consortium DHCP Client V3.0.4
Copyright 2004-2006 Internet Systems Consortium.
All rights reserved.
For info, please visit http://www.isc.org/sw/dhcp/

Listening on LPF/eth0/00:04:4b:02:b7:50
Sending on   LPF/eth0/00:04:4b:02:b7:50
Sending on   Socket/fallback
DHCPDISCOVER on eth0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 6
DHCPOFFER from 192.168.2.1
DHCPREQUEST on eth0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67
DHCPACK from 192.168.2.1
bound to 192.168.2.81 -- renewal in 263396 seconds.
MESSAGE: Setting up APT Package Manager
ln: creating symbolic link `/etc/apt/apt.conf.d/99offline' to `/usr/pluto/var/apt.conf.offline': File exists
MESSAGE: Preseeding debconf options
Ign file: ./ Release.gpg
Ign file: ./ Translation-en_US
Ign file: ./ Release
Ign file: ./ Packages
Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy Release.gpg [191B]
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign http://linuxmce.com ./ Release.gpg
Ign http://linuxmce.com ./ Translation-en_US
Ign http://linuxmce.com ./ Release
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy/universe Translation-en_US
Get:2 http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security Release.gpg [191B]
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security/universe Translation-en_US
Ign http://linuxmce.com ./ Packages
Get:3 http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates Release.gpg [191B]
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates/restricted Translation-en_US
Get:4 http://linuxmce.com ./ Packages [1798B]
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates/universe Translation-en_US
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates/universe Packages
Fetched 1801B in 1s (1371B/s)
Reading package lists...
MESSAGE: Generating Default Config File
MESSAGE: Configuring Network Information Service (NIS)
Mounting CD
MESSAGE: Caching LinuxMCE CD on the harddrive
MESSAGE: Installing LinuxMCE Base Software
Ign file: ./ Release.gpg
Ign file: ./ Translation-en_US
Ign file: ./ Release
Ign file: ./ Packages
Ign http://linuxmce.com ./ Release.gpg
Ign http://linuxmce.com ./ Translation-en_US
Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy Release.gpg [191B]
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://linuxmce.com ./ Release
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy/universe Translation-en_US
Get:2 http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security Release.gpg [191B]
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign http://linuxmce.com ./ Packages
Hit http://linuxmce.com ./ Packages
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security/universe Translation-en_US
Get:3 http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates Release.gpg [191B]
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates/universe Translation-en_US
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-security/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com edgy-updates/universe Packages
Fetched 3B in 1s (2B/s)
Reading package lists...
Reading package lists...
Building dependency tree...
Reading state information...
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.

Since you only requested a single operation it is extremely likely that
the package is simply not installable and a bug report against
that package should be filed.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
  pluto-dcerouter: Depends: pluto-confirm-dependencies (>= 1.0) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-confirm-dependencies (< 1.1) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-createdevice (>= 1.0) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-createdevice (< 1.1) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-install-scripts (>= 1.0) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-install-scripts (< 1.1) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-local-database (>= 1.0) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-local-database (< 1.1) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-std-plugins (>= 1.0) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-std-plugins (< 1.1) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-system-database (>= 1.0) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-system-database (< 1.1) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-website-admin (>= 1.0) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-website-admin (< 1.1) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-boot-scripts (>= 1.0) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-boot-scripts (< 1.1) but it is not going to be installed
                   PreDepends: vim but it is not going to be installed
E: Broken packages

[sharlee_angelo]

read this http://wiki.linuxmce.com/index.php/Installer_Problems. it will enlighten you .

[ddamron]

ahh, yeas, that was the ticket...

sudo apt-get remove --purge vim
and then
sudo apt-get install vim
 ok, attempting install again.. cross our fingers!

[ddamron]

Ok, Install completed successfully, rebooting now..
back to the standard ubuntu login.. so far so good.

Damn, how getting that stupid Unable to initialize HAL
bypassing temporarily by :
sudo /etc/init.d/dbus restart
shows Avahi mDNS failed...

[cirion]

I had to reinstall since my LinuxMCE got full once it started searching throug my media...

I decidet to try your how-to... I can start to say DONT INSTALL AUTOMATIX!!!!
LinuxMCE wont install at all...

After trying and reinstalling Ubuntu and Automatix 4 times, I decided to try without Automatix, and then everything worked like it should.

Maybe I'll try Automatix when I have addet some media.

[cirion]

Now that LinuxMCE is up and running again, I tried installing Automatix to get DVD working. But the automatix installer fails to install. I don't thing Automatix is compatible with LinuxMCE at this time.

[sharlee_angelo]

what packages did you install to make dvd working? because linuxmce makes this kind of things to work.

[ddamron]

Ok, this install did NOT work for me either, I'd like to restart it again.. lol

More key points I've found:  do not install any updates, let linuxmce do that for you...
install automatix after, worked great for me..

[cirion]

what packages did you install to make dvd working? because linuxmce makes this kind of things to work.

Did you ask me or ddamron? I have not gotten DVD to work yet...

And since I can not add software I belive there is still a lot wrong with my installation...
I'm now trying to install on Ubuntu 7.04 but it is not working either... The install fails after downloading packages I thing.

This is from the errorlog:
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.

Since you only requested a single operation it is extremely likely that
the package is simply not installable and a bug report against
that package should be filed.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
  pluto-dcerouter: Depends: pluto-confirm-dependencies (>= 1.0) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-confirm-dependencies (< 1.1) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-createdevice (>= 1.0) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-createdevice (< 1.1) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-install-scripts (>= 1.0) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-install-scripts (< 1.1) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-local-database (>= 1.0) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-local-database (< 1.1) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-orbitergen (>= 1.0) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-orbitergen (< 1.1) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-std-plugins (>= 1.0) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-std-plugins (< 1.1) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-system-database (>= 1.0) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-system-database (< 1.1) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-website-admin (>= 1.0) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-website-admin (< 1.1) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-boot-scripts (>= 1.0) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: pluto-boot-scripts (< 1.1) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: mce-diskless-tools (>= 1.0) but it is not going to be installed
                   Depends: mce-diskless-tools (< 1.1) but it is not going to be installed
                   PreDepends: ssh
                   PreDepends: vim but it is not going to be installed
                   PreDepends: samba but it is not going to be installed
                   PreDepends: bind9 but it is not going to be installed
E: Broken packages

ERROR : Failed to install and configure the base software