Problems with new computer

Here is what I did in the order that I did it:

I did the complete 12.04 upgrade
Downloaded the 3.4.55 files from here: highlab.com/~seb/linuxcnc/rtai-for-3.4-prerelease/
I installed the source file then the manual, then header fies and doc file.
Neither image file would install, one just wold not compile, the other said there was a dependency issue.

You have completely lost me there

You need to install
highlab.com/~seb/linuxcnc/rtai-for-3.4-p...55-rtai-2_3_i386.deb
highlab.com/~seb/linuxcnc/rtai-for-3.4-p...55-rtai-2_3_i386.deb
highlab.com/~seb/linuxcnc/rtai-for-3.4-p...-2013.12.13_i386.deb
All the other packages are just crap that debian kernel-package creates and are not needed, there is nothing to compile, they are binaries

cd to the directory where you downloaded them and install with sudo dpkg -i nameofpackage.deb

Afterwards run sudo update-grub and then reboot and choose the new rtai kernel

So figured I would give installing linuxCNC a try and it did not work for the following reason:
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
linuxcnc : Depends: python (< 2.7) but 2.7.3-0ubuntu2.2 is to be installed
Depends: python2.6-tk but it is not installable
Depends: python2.6-imaging but it is not installable
Recommends: hostmot2-firmware but it is not installable
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.

So first I installed python 2.7.3 and then installed 2.7.3-0ubuntu2.2 and tried to install linuxCNC again. Same exact error. What am I doing wrong here?

I can only guess you are trying to install the one built for the old 10.04 kernel and realtime

Probably best that you delete everything and follow the steps here
wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?LinuxCNC_On_Ubuntu_Precise

regards

Have you tried running linuxcnc with the mini or tklinuxcnc interface?

Although you can of course run these interfaces the idea of the test was to isolate the problem computer, video, drivers, Opengl etc.
This gives you a starting point to resolve any problems with the newer interfaces.

Rick G

Just to tie this all up, I had the install for 3.4.55 all screwed up because I was following an old and incomplete thread based on 10.04 kernel as you guessed. I thought that was what was needed to overcome the OS kernel upgrade. But I have since just went back to a fresh install of 10.04.

I initially did the tklinuxcnc fix, but I found the real source of my problem. First I updated my BIOS, which may or may not have done anything. I removed an old graphics card that I had installed to overcome being short one cable. The driver for that card was the problem. As soon as I pulled that card and re-installed the original motherboard driver everything worked perfectly.

I guess the real lesson here is to install LinuxCNC, then configure your machine get it up and running then do updates and changes one at a time so you know when something has a negative effect.

Glad you got it sorted out.

Rick G