Out of Memory

[quetzpalin]

I am out of memory on my 4gb Mininote, even though I have absolutely nothing on the machine, as far as I know. I know nothing about linux, and frankly don't really want to - I just want it to work.

I am confused because I did have 20-30 files on it at one time, but moved them over to a usb drive when I started getting memory low messages. The mesage came back, and now I am locked out with a mssage that the GDM file can't write because of low memory.

What is taking up this space, and what can I do about it? It seems a bit rediculous that I can run out of space without saving a sigle file.

Any help would be gratly appreciated, as the machine has become essentially useless. All I want to do is simple internet surfing and writing up the occasional text docment. Thank you.

[mikez]

Log files for one -
Software updates for another -
Boot with a copy of SystemRescueCD (or USB version) - delete enough
of the files in /var/log/* so that you can log in and clean things up properly.
The safest files to delete are the older, backup, copies of earlier files.
- - - - -
If you want it to "just work" without knowing anything about it, hire a
system's administrator and let them do your maintenance remotely.

[quetzpalin]

I think I need more specific guidance. I have no idea what that directory is, or where to find it, or how to delete, or what cleaned up properly might look like, etc.

I don't mind doing some work, but I would very much like to avoid having to research all of the above myself when there must be some faq or resource or person out there somewhere that can provide directions or enough info for me to solve the problem without having to invest the time and ffort necesary to really understand it all.

If I were able to clean it up, would I have to do that periodically? Is this a fundamental flaw in the design, are others having this problem?

[Warder]

Welcome to the forums quetzpalin!

Do you have access to a usb cd drive or a >=1GB usb flash drive you can erase?

[mikez]

If I were able to clean it up, would I have to do that periodically? Is this a fundamental flaw in the design, are others having this problem?

*) Yes;
*) Sort-of, Yes.
- - - -
SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop is not intended (now) to be installed on such a small SSD.
There are distributions of Linux that *are* so intended, but that will not help the current problem of the moment.
- - - -
You have been very clear about what you don't have - -
We need to know what you do have, so Warder's questions apply:
*) Is this the only machine you have access too?
- - If you have access to another machine that can burn
a CD iso file, or copy files to a USB stick . . .

*) Do you already have a USB connected CD or DVD drive for this machine?
- - If you do, we can give directions on using a rescue
CD image, if not, don't give up . . .

*) Do you have a 1Gbyte or larger USB stick you can erase?
- - This will also require access to another machine that
can copy a file to that USB stick . . .

- - - -

Failing all of the above - I.E: The mini-note is the only
machine you have access too; then the job can still be done.
Although it will not be "point & click" without external devices and files.

We just need to know the above so that we can give you the
correct set of step-by-step directions.

So don't let the frustration of the moment get to you - see signature.

[quetzpalin]

I have a 4gb HP USB flash stick. It has all the docs, but I suppose I can put them on another computer temporarily.

[quetzpalin]

Ah, I was responding to the post before the last. As to the last post, in addition to the memory stick, I do have a Mac Mini at home (which is how I am now accesing this forum) and a dell laptop at work that I can bring home if need be. I do not, however, have an external CD or DVD drive.

So, aside from asking the self-evidently futile question of why HP chose this instance of linux for the machine, I will ask the at least potentially non-futile question of whether or not it is possible to install an appropriately sized os that still would allow me to run Firefox and Open Office?

thanks. Your help, and tone, is easing my frustration considerably.

[mikez]

OK, then no problem making a USB version of the SystemRescueCD -
That will make it possible for most of the changes to be "point & click".

Your going to need a 1Gbyte USB stick, and the image file, see:
http://forum.netbookuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=972

Those directions are for Linux.

For Windows:

To uncompress the image (the "gunzip" step), your choice:
http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/gzip.htm
or:
http://www.7-zip.org/

To copy the image file to the USB device (the "dd" step), this one should work:
http://www.fdos.org/ripcord/rawrite/rawwritewin-0.7.zip
or:
http://www.chrysocome.net/rawwrite
or:
http://www.chrysocome.net/dd

For OSx:
I expect the commands are available same as for Linux (both are Unix based systems).
Links and hints from someone who knows MAC OSx welcomed.

- - - -

This is the simplest way I know of to get the service tools onto a USB stick -
1) Uncompress
2) Copy
*) Your done, its ready to use (I.E: You can boot your machine with the result).
You will probably need more directions on what to do once you get the
machine to boot from the USB stick just made - -
Let us know if you have problems or when you have the USB stick working.