updating from a Gentoo 2008.0 install

[jjock]

Hi,
I am a returning gentoo user, but after three unsuccessful attempts to install using the minimum install CD and the system and portage tarballs, I finally decided to use the 2008.0 install disk. I have a running system now, except for X, but now I want to do the upgrade to the latest tarballs. My problem is, that I have already made one attempt and when I attempted to emerge portage, I got masked packages that I couldn't work around. After many attempts to clear the packages, I ended up borking the system to a point where I thought it would be better just to reformat the drive and do a fresh install.
I have done the install again, and am now at the point where think I am ready to attempt the upgrade to the current profile again. Is there a step by step procedure that is more current than the one I attempted to use in the documentation files? I don't need the explanations, just the commands in the proper order so I don't screw it up again.
The computer is an IBM 800meg Athlon with a 70 gig HD with an 8139too, nic and a dvd rw

Bob Swanson
_________________
You can't run out of skill, but you sure can run out of luck.

[kimmie]

Updating from three year old install is going to be much more painful than solving your problems with the current one. I'm sure you're frustrated enough already, but there it is. I'd go back to the recent install and ask for specific help with that.

[jjock]

Yeah, thanks. After writing the message, I decided to go to the irc and pose my question over there. They gave me the same answer, and so I am going to save my /etc files and do the installation again using the minimal install CD and the latest tarballs. I have done it enough times that it is almost routine. My problem happens somewhere around the chroot, and I believe that something essential is not getting transferred to the new system.
Thanks,
Bob
_________________
You can't run out of skill, but you sure can run out of luck.

[Trog Dog]

Try using the sysrescue cd that way you still have gui while doing the install, a bit friendlier environment to work from than links when problem solving an install

[jjock]

Thanks for the tip, but I am already chrooted into the new system having used the minimum install disk. The only problem I had, was that even though the mirrorselect function worked I was not able to mark my preferred distribution sites and the rsync site. I did it manually for the mirrors, but I need an address or two that will work for the SYNC= function in my /etc/make.conf.
I attempted to emerge the mirrorselect program, but the emerge failed. I don't want to attempt to access the install disk now, because this seems to be the place where the trouble starts every time.
Any hints?
Bob
_________________
You can't run out of skill, but you sure can run out of luck.

[NeddySeagoon]

jjock,

If your stage3 file is dated between 8 May and end of June, its broken.
Essential stuff is missing from the static /dev it donates to your install and udev is not set to start.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

[jjock]

Neddy Seagoon
Thanks for helping me on irc. I had downloaded the latest stage 3 build and the latest portage. It is all working fine now, and I am doing a genkernel build ( which will take awhile because I don't have any other computers to help with distcc ) I have four very different machines that I want to convert to gentoo and things will get faster.
Bob
_________________
You can't run out of skill, but you sure can run out of luck.

[NeddySeagoon]

jjock,

np on IRC

For your manual kernel, try kernel-seeds.org
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.