Frustrating

Yesterday, linuxCNC stopped running on the Dell Optiplex 960 desktop.   It hung the OC when I opened a file that has never previously caused problems.  After reboot, I tried to debug the program that created that file.  The ddd debugger (which is really cool) started failing to find C libraries.

Next, I attempted to use the Ubuntu Package Manager to reinstall linuxCNC.  This may have been a bit optimistic: this Debiab-based build has some odd real time kernel components in it.  It would no reinstall.  Nor could it uninstall and remove linuxCNC.

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Next, I decided to start with the linuxCNC 2.9.2 ISO DVD to do a full reinstall.  No luck.  Even though that DVD turned out to be bad, the BIOS Diagnostics reported Spindle Error for the drive.  I found that a Dell brand DVD drive is available.   It should be here tomorrow  

Next: i burned a fresh linuxCNC 2.9.4 ISO and used a USB DVD drive.  It at least booted but failed part way through copying files as part of installation. 

Next: i found an antique version of linuxCNC (back when it was called EMC2) that came with the mill 15? years ago.  That booted and installed.  Alas it is a version so ancient that Package Manager told me to go away and look for something that did not use Roman numerals.   (I am exaggerating slightly.)

So next, linuxCNC 2.7.14 ISO, which i have installed on this PC back when the DVD drive still worked.  This DVD boots, but stops copying installation files part way through.   No useful error messages and it leaves the hard disk non-bootable. 

What a day!