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User 224437 · 2014-07-09, 23:29

I am trying to write xbmcbuntu-13.0~gotham_amd64.iso to a 16Gb ByteStor USB stick, used for many other Linux distros. The load aborts with an "Installation Failed" error message: An uncaught exception was raised: Invalid version string '"Trusty"' (The use of single and double quotes is in the message.)
I have tried downloads from 3 different mirrors (in case of file corruption), but the extent of data written to the stick is the same in each case: casper, isolinux and preseed directories and the md5sum.txt file. About 40% of files are copied.
As advised in the XBMC website install instructions, I am using the Ubuntu Startup Disk Creator, but from Lubuntu 14.04 32-bit (fully updated). This is on a Sony Vaio VGN-S271E laptop.

This is a first attempt to use the live system XBMCbuntu, triggered because trying the XBMC package on a Kubuntu 14.04 64-bit installation failed when it would not play any DVD. Attempting to do so freezes the PC just after XBMC puts up a box saying "Working" as it loads a DVD. The only way to clear is to shutdown the PC with a forced power-off. The system in this case is a Medion 64-bit with 4 Gb RAM and an NVidia 210 graphics card, connected via DVI to a Samsung HD TV. The DVD's play through VLC, but not XBMC. XBMC is fine with CD's.
Under the circumstances I am assuming that I am missing something, somewhere. Any suggestions as to what I may have wrong would be gratefully received.

oldpoem · (This post was last modified: 2014-07-10, 01:30 by oldpoem.)

Try Unetbootin , It usually works for me all the time. Except latest XBMCBuntu but I think it's down to XBMCBuntu can't figure out my rig and failed to install proper video drivers.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gezakovacs/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install unetbootin

**dnairb** · 2014-07-10, 07:20

There is a bug in the Startup Disk creator I believe.
If you are happy to use the terminal, the .iso file can be extracted to a USB stick using the following method:

1. Plug in the USB stick. In terminal, run:

Code:
sudo blkid

The output will be something like this:

Code:
/dev/sda1: UUID="4b698be4-4e41-4656-9746-1dffc78e0965" TYPE="ext4" 

/dev/sda2: UUID="6a7428a2-8497-4922-88a5-2edef0c9ad6b" TYPE="ext4" 

/dev/sda3: UUID="9afb70bf-0adb-4f68-8c58-2d55578eeb04" TYPE="ext4" 

/dev/sda4: UUID="758f3e61-0808-459f-8716-4a93cc0df85a" TYPE="swap" 

/dev/sdb1: UUID="5F3E-AC18" TYPE="vfat"

Where /dev/sdb1 refers to the USB stick

2. Run the following in terminal:

Code:
sudo dd if=/path/to/.iso file of=/path/to/USB stick bs=8M;sync

For example:

Code:
sudo dd if=~/Downloads/xbmcbuntu-13.0~gotham_amd64.iso of=/dev/sdb bs=8M;sync

Note that blkid reports the USB stick's partition as /dev/sdb1, but you must use of=/dev/sdb to write to the whole USB stick.

This method does not allow for persistence, and when installing from the USB stick, the installer application will see the USB stick's partitions.

contadino · 2014-07-10, 13:21

Create the Boot-USB with a Win-PC.
Could be dramaticlly faster... :-)

**wsnipex** · 2014-07-10, 15:32

unetbootin works fine and is cross- platform

User 224437 · 2014-07-10, 20:51

Unetbootin will do. Used it before when the SDC produced USB sticks that would not load on a particular old laptop (now deceased after a good long run). That problem was fixed with *buntu 12.04, so I had got back into the rhythym of using the SDC. Not expecting another bug ... 's good to be reminded that things can still go awry.

User 224437 · 2014-07-11, 23:38

OK ... so far, so good. Unetbootin has created a good USB stick which runs on a laptop. Now to get the Medion to play DVD's. It's a fun life if you don't weaken ... pass the wrench ... !

nickr · 2014-07-12, 00:35

Log

User 224437 · 2014-07-13, 21:52

OK, not so good.

Default startup on XBMCbuntu on the Medion is with the NVidia proprietary driver, and what I get after the initial text-format intro with walking dots is a black screen with a one-line flashing cursor in the top-left. No XBMC logo and no screen or menu display ... so no progress to an install. This is on both the "Try without Installing ..." and "Install .." options.

The "Help" option doesn't provide the help text screens (I eventually read them off the USB as text files, on another machine), it duplicates the "Expert ..." option with an "initramfs" prompt.

In any case, as I have found with other Linux installs on this machine, with the G210 card the proprietary NVidia drivers are universally rubbish ... enormous text matched with tiny icons and no response to any display configuration changes. I have never been able to get this combo to work. The only driver that gives a reliable display is the nouveau, although I have to jump through hoops with pulseaudio to get sound on the HDMI because the standard Linux sound config always drops part on the analogue channel and part on the digital (usually system & program sound on the digital, but anything through a browser stays on the analogue). Pulseaudio fixed where editing configuration files did not ... it did something under the hood that I could not identify ... until I tried XBMC on Kubuntu 14.04. XBMC had even more audio configuration options listed than pulseaudio and I found the right one straightaway. The lockup on trying to play a DVD was a bit of a drawback.

I thought that XBMCbuntu might be the answer, but the NVidia driver default nixed that.

So I'm trying a simulation of XBMCbuntu with XBMC on a Lubuntu 64-bit base running nouveau. It's just taken me three attempts to get Lubuntu to load with a nouveau driver. It seems that if you hit the wrong key combination when setting up the Lubuntu HD load (the Medion has three to choose from) the USB goes over to the NV proprietary driver, stores this to the persistence and sticks with it ... and the simplest way to remove this is to reload the USB.

No, I don't understand that either, but it is repeatable ... I just don't have the time to identify the key sequence. I just found one that did not ... if you see what I mean.

I am having an interesting day ... you can tell, can't you.

nickr · 2014-07-13, 23:05

Medion must have royally screwed something because the nVidia drivers are flawless in any other machine I have used with an nVidia GPU.

User 224437 · 2014-07-14, 00:04

Hah!

We have the technology ...

OK, so after all the hassles, I now have working XBMC, music and video.

Just one question ... there is currently a considerable level difference between CD and DVD audio playback. The only tweak point I have found so far is the audio amplification setting once a DVD is playing. Is this a generic setting or per DVD?

**wsnipex** · 2014-07-14, 09:37

its per movie, but you can set it as default.