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nadir

- nadir
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## Re: Snapshot description

Wed Feb 06, 2013 11:24 pm

> golinux wrote:Unable to unzip the first one. And neither xarchiver or squeeze will open it. Getting this message:

> > Archive format is not recognized!

file sr1-menus.mp4.zip
apt-cache search xz
and if in doubt, install (i got xz-utils installed, for what reason ever, never heart of it)
cp sr1-menus.mp4.zip sr1-menus.mp4.xz
xz --decompress sr1-menus.mp4.xz
(I had to rename as before that xz did not work).
In short: The command "file" can be quite handy.
I won't bet it will work, but it might be worth a try.
fsmithred

- fsmithred
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## Re: Snapshot description

Wed Feb 06, 2013 11:55 pm

> Archive format is not recognized!

<snip>
Oops. Never mind. Wrong file. It didn't work.
Edit: Thanks for the commands, nadir - that worked.
@ukbrian - Videos would be helpful for some people. Thanks.
Edit2: Or screenshots. I've got one of the installation options menu, but that's all.
http://distro.ibiblio.org/refracta/scre ... ptions.png
ukbrian

- ukbrian
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:22 am
- Location: Cheltenham, UK

## Re: Snapshot description

Thu Feb 07, 2013 12:36 am

Sorry about that, it all worked on my machine OK
Real zip file at http://lin.me.uk/sr1/vids/menus/sr1-menus1.mp4.zip
Video was 173 MB
zipped was 144 MB
xz was 50 MB
So I went for the xz compression that refracta snapshot uses.
Problems snapshotting ubuntu set me thinking ROFL
After Anthony had tweaked the remastersys installer for Saline Squeeze he brought out a utility called saline-backup and with that you could point at any Debian OS on the machine and create an installable backup file that beat the 4 GB ISO limitations.
That set me wondering if you could point at an OS from a live CD/DVD and create a snapshot ISO?.
Daft/impossible idea I expect but I am old and a bit cranky LOL
These videos were only recorded in VB with recordmydesktop and then a sound track from audacity added in openshot.
I can normally record the video from machine 1 in 1080x720 HD in machine 2 but my TV which I use for the monitor for machine 2 is broken so this is the best I can do until I get it repaired.
golinux

- golinux
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## Re: Snapshot description

Thu Feb 07, 2013 2:54 am

> ukbrian wrote:I was thinking of using Saline to use for the video if that's OK? as it's already got remastersys install and I've used refracta on it already.

In order to make a valid comparison, both refracta and remastersys should be tested on the same OS install. Since these videos would be linked from the refacta wiki page, I think it's most appropriate everything be done on refracta. Can that version of remastersys be installed on refracta?
fsmithred

- fsmithred
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## Re: Snapshot description

Thu Feb 07, 2013 3:16 am

> That set me wondering if you could point at an OS from a live CD/DVD and create a snapshot ISO?.
> Daft/impossible idea I expect but I am old and a bit cranky LOL

Yes, you can. It works with refractasnapshot-9.0.8 and wheezy. I had to add a few things to the excludes file for it to work. You need some storage space to copy the filesystem and create the iso. A 4GB usb stick could do it. I used a 4GB virtual disk with the iso running in virtualbox. Edit the config file and set $work_dir and $snapshot_dir to the mountpoint for the disk.
You can start Refracta Snapshot from the menu, and hit the Setup button in the first window, and it will let you edit the config file and the excludes file if you want. Well, unless you have to edit the config file to tell it you want to use a different editor.
ukbrian

- ukbrian
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- Location: Cheltenham, UK

## Re: Snapshot description

Thu Feb 07, 2013 3:31 am

> In order to make a valid comparison, both refracta and remastersys should be tested on the same OS install.

That's why I suggested Saline, I've been using the unoficial LMDE xfce for a couple of weeks but a few funnies have happened in that time, Saline is a better test bed and after I've done the videos I'll upload a snapshot so you can do it yourself if you want.

> Since these videos would be linked from the refacta wiki page, I think it's most appropriate everything be done on refracta.

For the wiki I'd prefer to do a different video, these videos are just so you can make a comparison, your writing on a bad day would be much better than mine on a good day LOL.
I'm just doing a fresh install in virtualbox to do the vids.
ukbrian

- ukbrian
- Posts: 109
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- Location: Cheltenham, UK

## Re: Snapshot description

Thu Feb 07, 2013 3:56 am

> es, you can. It works with refractasnapshot-9.0.8 and wheezy. I had to add a few things to the excludes file for it to work. You need some storage space to copy the filesystem and create the iso. A 4GB usb stick could do it. I used a 4GB virtual disk with the iso running in virtualbox. Edit the config file and set $work_dir and $snapshot_dir to the mountpoint for the disk.

WOW WOW WOW ROFL I thought it might be possible.
Could you add a snapshot folder to the ubuntu OS, add it to excludes and then write the ISO there?
I made a rescue CD with Refracta and Saline for reinstalling for folks who backed up LMDE using qt4-fsarchiver 13 months ago and it gets downloaded a lot, last month there were 58 downloads so maybe that's a good approach for ubuntu and in the process show them a superior Linux product with videos on the desktop showing them how to use it.
Going back to creating videos while I think about it, I find it very relaxing.
Edit
I guess what I'm thinking is could you use the ubuntu install for your work dir etc. and then remove it once your done
golinux

- golinux
- Posts: 663
- Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:23 am

## Re: Snapshot description

Thu Feb 07, 2013 4:39 am

> ukbrian wrote:

> > Since these videos would be linked from the refacta wiki page, I think it's most appropriate everything be done on refracta.

> For the wiki I'd prefer to do a different video, these videos are just so you can make a comparison . . .

Ok. Now I get what you're trying to do. No need for me to replicate it here . . . I'm really not much into tinkering unless there is a specific problem with my system. Looking forward to seeing the vids.
Regarding the menu vid . . . is there any reason that you'd go through that process instead of just adding items under an existing panel application? My root terminal icon in the panel contains a stack of administrative apps - synaptic, gparted, system-monitor, hardinfo and xkill. All my other browsers are stacked above the iceweasel entry and all my video apps are collected under the avidemux icon. Yada, yada. I tried to take a screen shot but it doesn't work when those menus are expanded.
ukbrian

- ukbrian
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- Location: Cheltenham, UK

## Re: Snapshot description

Thu Feb 07, 2013 5:26 am

> is there any reason that you'd go through that process instead of just adding items under an existing panel application?

If you do a fresh install you'll have to recreate all those launchers, all I have to do is create a sym link to the menus on my data partition and then add application menus to the panel pointing at the menus.
It might take me 5 minutes max and I have my familiar desktop back, plus all the OS's installed on my machine use the same menus so very little maintenance. It might seem a bit strange but I've been using them for nearly 2 years now and they are the first thing I set up on a fresh install.

> My root terminal icon in the panel contains a stack of administrative apps - synaptic, gparted, system-monitor, hardinfo and xkill. All my other browsers are stacked above the iceweasel entry and all my video apps are collected under the avidemux icon. Yada, yada

Sounds like my set up, I have 3 custom menus, one for internet stuff, one for admin stuff and one for media stuff.
If I set up a machine for a newcomer I have one menu I add with just firefox, skype, music player and thunar opening in their download folder and they actually use the menu.
The last 4/5 folk that i've cleaned up windows for when I've asked them if they ever click on/use the start menu they all said no and give me a funny look which says it all about the XP/windows 7 menus.

> I tried to take a screen shot but it doesn't work when those menus are expanded.

I use shutter for that with a 5 second delay, it comes with a bit of baggage but it does the job.
fsmithred

- fsmithred
- Posts: 2101
- Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 9:13 pm

## Re: Snapshot description

Thu Feb 07, 2013 10:37 am

I made screenshots of open menus while running refracta in virtualbox and using the host system to take a screenshot of the virtualbox window.
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