ARE there any 2009.1 Powerpack par files?

[Thomas Backlund]

rikona skrev:
> No reply to the 'where' email, so on to the next question.... ARE
> there any 2009.1 Powerpack par files? If not, how does one correct
> errors in the downloaded iso?
>
> hoping to be able to fix it....
>

par files ??

[rikona]

No reply to the 'where' email, so on to the next question.... ARE
there any 2009.1 Powerpack par files? If not, how does one correct
errors in the downloaded iso?

hoping to be able to fix it....

rikona

[rikona]

On Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 1:36:10 PM, Thomas Backlund wrote:

TB> rikona skrev:
>> No reply to the 'where' email, so on to the next question.... ARE
>> there any 2009.1 Powerpack par files? If not, how does one correct
>> errors in the downloaded iso?
>>
>> hoping to be able to fix it....
>>

TB> par files ??

Oops - I thought folks here would be familiar with these. PAR files
contain error-correction data that can be used to fix files that
become corrupted during the upload/download process. Mostly used to
fix rar files, but can be used for anything. The file name ends in
.par2 and the linux command is 'par2'.

For example, I had an error in the 2008.1 Powerpack iso file download.
There was a full set of par2 files on the Mandriva site. I downloaded
these and was able to fix the error. The advantage of par files is
that they are smaller, and can have errors which are also corrected in
the 'fix' process. Excellent for fixing files...

So, are there any 2009.1 Powerpack par files? :-) I could not find
them. Would be verrrrry nice to have them....

--
Thanks,
rikona

[James Kerr-2]

On Wednesday 10 June 2009, rikona wrote:

> On Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 1:36:10 PM, Thomas Backlund wrote:
>
> TB> rikona skrev:
> >> No reply to the 'where' email, so on to the next question....
> >> ARE there any 2009.1 Powerpack par files? If not, how does one
> >> correct errors in the downloaded iso?
> >>
> >> hoping to be able to fix it....
>
> TB> par files ??
>
> Oops - I thought folks here would be familiar with these. PAR files
> contain error-correction data that can be used to fix files that
> become corrupted during the upload/download process. Mostly used to
> fix rar files, but can be used for anything. The file name ends in
> .par2 and the linux command is 'par2'.
>
> For example, I had an error in the 2008.1 Powerpack iso file
> download. There was a full set of par2 files on the Mandriva site.
> I downloaded these and was able to fix the error. The advantage of
> par files is that they are smaller, and can have errors which are
> also corrected in the 'fix' process. Excellent for fixing files...
>
> So, are there any 2009.1 Powerpack par files? :-) I could not find
> them. Would be verrrrry nice to have them....
>

I've no idea where the par files are, or if they were actually provided
for 2009.1.

You can use bittorrent to fix a corrupted iso. Start the torrent and
let it create the directory and file structure where the downloaded
files will be saved.. Then stop the torrent. Copy the corrupted iso to
the location created for  the iso by bittorrent and then re-start the
torrent. Bittorrent should check the iso and download whatever chunks
are required to fix it.

At least that's the theory.  I've never done it personally, but I've
read reports that it does work.

Jim
 

[James Kerr-2]

On Wednesday 10 June 2009, rikona wrote:

> On Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 1:36:10 PM, Thomas Backlund wrote:
>
> TB> rikona skrev:
> >> No reply to the 'where' email, so on to the next question....
> >> ARE there any 2009.1 Powerpack par files? If not, how does one
> >> correct errors in the downloaded iso?
> >>
> >> hoping to be able to fix it....
>
> TB> par files ??
>
> Oops - I thought folks here would be familiar with these. PAR files
> contain error-correction data that can be used to fix files that
> become corrupted during the upload/download process. Mostly used to
> fix rar files, but can be used for anything. The file name ends in
> .par2 and the linux command is 'par2'.
>
> For example, I had an error in the 2008.1 Powerpack iso file
> download. There was a full set of par2 files on the Mandriva site.
> I downloaded these and was able to fix the error. The advantage of
> par files is that they are smaller, and can have errors which are
> also corrected in the 'fix' process. Excellent for fixing files...
>
> So, are there any 2009.1 Powerpack par files? :-) I could not find
> them. Would be verrrrry nice to have them....
>

In my earlier reply, I forgot to provide the following link, which  
may be helpful:

http://www.zyxware.com/articles/591/fix-corrupted-iso-images-with-
invalid-md5-checksum-using-bittorrent

(The link may be split over two lines.)

Jim

[rikona]

On Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 2:53:56 PM, James Kerr wrote:

JK> On Wednesday 10 June 2009, rikona wrote:

>> On Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 1:36:10 PM, Thomas Backlund wrote:
>>
>> TB> rikona skrev:
>> >> No reply to the 'where' email, so on to the next question....
>> >> ARE there any 2009.1 Powerpack par files? If not, how does one
>> >> correct errors in the downloaded iso?
>> >>
>> >> hoping to be able to fix it....
>>
>> TB> par files ??
>>
>> Oops - I thought folks here would be familiar with these. PAR files
>> contain error-correction data that can be used to fix files that
>> become corrupted during the upload/download process. Mostly used to
>> fix rar files, but can be used for anything. The file name ends in
>> .par2 and the linux command is 'par2'.
>>
>> For example, I had an error in the 2008.1 Powerpack iso file
>> download. There was a full set of par2 files on the Mandriva site.
>> I downloaded these and was able to fix the error. The advantage of
>> par files is that they are smaller, and can have errors which are
>> also corrected in the 'fix' process. Excellent for fixing files...
>>
>> So, are there any 2009.1 Powerpack par files? :-) I could not find
>> them. Would be verrrrry nice to have them....
>>

JK> I've no idea where the par files are, or if they were actually
JK> provided for 2009.1.

:-((( I'm beginning to think not...

JK> You can use bittorrent to fix a corrupted iso.

JK> At least that's the theory. I've never done it personally, but
JK> I've read reports that it does work.

I've heard that torrents are more reliable. My line is verrrry low
bandwidth - estimated download time for the iso is 3-4 DAYS! The box I
use for big downloads is behind a firewall that can't be changed and
torrents don't work. If they did, I'd have used that instead.

It would be nice if Mandriva would consider folks who are in this
situation. If they ignore us so we can't download, I guess it's off to
another distro...

Another thought - if someone could generate and post a full set of
2009.1 par2 files for download, I'd be eternally grateful. :-) It's
easy and fast to make them if you have a place to post [Mandriva
could, of course, do it quite easily].

Thanks much for the info though,

rikona

[rikona]

On Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 3:27:23 PM, rikona wrote:

r> On Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 2:53:56 PM, James Kerr wrote:

JK>> I've no idea where the par files are, or if they were actually
JK>> provided for 2009.1.

r> :-((( I'm beginning to think not...

JK>> You can use bittorrent to fix a corrupted iso.

JK>> At least that's the theory. I've never done it personally, but
JK>> I've read reports that it does work.

r> I've heard that torrents are more reliable. My line is verrrry low
r> bandwidth - estimated download time for the iso is 3-4 DAYS! The box I
r> use for big downloads is behind a firewall that can't be changed and
r> torrents don't work. If they did, I'd have used that instead.

r> It would be nice if Mandriva would consider folks who are in this
r> situation.

r> Thanks much for the info though,

r> rikona

Well, I was able to finally get a valid iso of 2009.1. I got
absolutely no reply here, or on the MD forum, or from 'customer
service' about the error-correcting files. I started to try the
torrent fix you described above. It finally worked, but it took **MORE
THAN 7 DAYS** to get to a point of a valid md5, and required many,
MANY retries to get there. All this time, the very small bandwidth I
have was almost completely used by this process, and seriously
interfered with 'normal' net operations. A HUGE PITA! This was a paid
product - one in which I have supported MD for some time - and it has
to be the worst way to obtain a product that I have experienced in a
long time.

To make things even worse, this could have been very easily fixed if
Mandriva had supplied the error-correcting par2 files, as they did for
2008.1. And, it would likely only taken them a very short time
[minutes] to generate these files [it's easy]. I am EXCEEDINGLY
disappointed in the 'customer support' from MD! It would seem as
though there is none.

Thanks again for your help,
rikona

But it seems as though I'm not the only one who has problems with
communication from Mandriva. I ran across the following on the MD
forum-

------------------------

After a long absence from Linux events in the German region Mandriva
decided to participate in this year's Linuxtag Conference & Expo in
Berlin, Germany. The Mandriva stand will be held by Mandriva
employees, supported by members of the German community
MandrivaUser.de. There will be demos of products and answers to
questions.

--- <snip>

Here are the facts in detail:

1. In early December 2008 Vanessa Wall (Communication Manager at
Mandriva) mailed me and asked me if I could help in finding out
everything needed for Mandriva to participate at the Linuxtag 2009. I
was in touch with a contact at Messe Berlin (the organisation of the
exhibition) and prepared everything (calculation, application).  

I also told Mandriva that MandrivaUser will be happy to support
Mandriva there.

2. On February 2nd Vanessa told me that Mandriva decided to
participate in the exhibition.

3. After that it was very difficult to get replies to my mails. Time
was running out for the application but whenever I asked I received
the answer that someone had to talk to Hervé and will get back to me
the next day - which never came.  

So, in April 2nd I went to Paris and talked to Anne Nicolas and
Vanessa Wall in person. Both told me that Mandriva will come to the
Linuxtag 2009. Before I had offered the help and support of
MandrivaUser.de and mine. I told Mandriva that Mandriva will have to
pay my hotel room in berlin and my train ticket. During that
conversation in Paris Anne and Vanessa told me to book my train ticket
and Mandriva will make hotel arrangements.  

4. On April 6th Mandriva sent the contract to Messe Berlin. Signed and
delivered.  

After that I heard nothing from Mandriva, nothing about a hotel
reservation, nothing about any activities at the exhibition. I mailed
Vanessa but never received any reply.  

5. On June 8th, 3 weeks before the event, I received a mail from
Vanessa where she told me that she has to see Hervé that day about his
approvement and will get back to me after that. Approvement of what? I
thought everything was decided by then. Of course she did not get back
to me. When I asked again a week later and another week later she
replied on June 15th that I should not send all these mails and that
she was annoyed! That was 8 days before the event and I did not know
anything about Mandriva's plans, nor if they had booked a hotel for me
or not!

6. On June 18th Mélody - Vanessa's assistent - sent a mail, she had
booked a hotel and will tell me the name and address later. Huh? Why
did she not give the hotel name right there? I became a bit nervous.  

7. On June 19th, Friday afternoon, 4 days before the setup day at the
exhibition, Mélody sent a mail to me and Messe Berlin: Quote: our CEO
who should be present at the Linux Tag just had an accident.
Therefore, I am really sorry, but we can not attend the event.

That was also the moment the blog entry was erased. Hervé actually had
an accident and broke his leg. Sad but not something which stops a
company from working.  

Of course I replied to that mail with Anne Nicolas in copy but I never
received a reply to that. I contacted Nino from Messe Berlin and he
was also surprised by this. He told me that Mandriva will have to pay
the full price for the booth nevertheless, according to the contract.  

I phoned Anne on Friday afternoon and she said she was also surprised.
I told her what Nino had said, that Mandriva must pay anyway. So, if
Mandriva really had nobody else to come to Berlin I offered her to
come and do the stand at the exhibition for them, only condition is,
they have to pay my hotel (which I am sure was never booked before)
and that I have to know that until Suturday evening to make my own
preparations. Anne promised to find out and come back during Saturday.
She did not. I do not have any reply from her or anybody else up to
this moment.

Open questions:

1. I offered the help of the community, why did Mandriva never start
to discuss anything about the exhibition during all that time?

2. In any company I ever was, after the decision is made to go to en
event, hotel reservations are made early to make sure. Why did
Mandriva never make any hotel reservations in Berlin?

3. Before yesterday nobody talked about Hervé being present in Berlin.
It was always Anne Nicolas and somebody else. 4. I never heard that a
company canceled an exhibition participation just because one person
could not come (whatever the reason). Is there really nobody available
at Mandriva who could come instead of Hervé ?

And the biggest question of all:

If there really is nobody else available, why is Mandriva rather
paying more than 5,000 Euros for an empty booth (for nothing) than
letting the community help out?  

The sad side of the story:

MandrivaUser.de had a sponsored free booth at the previous 3 Linuxtag
events and presented Mandriva Linux there. We could have applied for
one this year but decided against it to be able to help and support
Mandriva at their booth. Not it is too late for that, of course. So,
in this situation Mandriva pays 5,000 Euro, but nobody will see
anything of Mandriva at Europe's largest Linux event!  

Some MandrivaUser members already made hotel reservations and bought
tickets out of their own pockets to be there. I will also go to Berlin
on my own expenses and we will have a nice week in Berlin together -
without Mandriva and without wearing our Mandriva shirts.  

I don't know what really happened at Mandriva and I don't know for
sure if I really want to know. The only conclusion I get from all this
is: Mandriva does not care to be seen in public and they rather pay
for nothing than to receive help from the community.

---

One of our RPM packagers wrote, "It is a fact that we can not plan
anything togehter with Mandriva in the future. We can't afford another
desaster like this. It will have to be: We here, Mandriva there.
Division, no communication if not needed." I tend to agree. We have a
good name in Germany as Open Source community and we can not afford to
let Mandriva destroy this reputation.

---

I just received an official statement from Messe Berlin: If Mandriva
does not change their mind until Monday, 2 p.m. the place will be
given away to two free projects for free, as Mandriva has to pay
anyway.

---

Well, the project manager Linuxtag of Messe Berlin has sent an
official mail to Mandriva, asking for the official reasons for the
cancellation. "Awaiting questions our press spokesman wants to know
your official position to be relayed to the press."

---

I just received an answer from the project manager in charge at Messe
Berlin. It is official:

Mandriva did not even reply to their mail, nor did they answer to the
request of the press relation guy at Messe Berlin for an official
statement. The exhibition space has been given away to others.

---

As it looks we have the best distro with the poorest management.

------------------

You can see the whole thing here-

http://forum.mandriva.com/viewtopic.php?t=113074


This is VERY sad...

rikona