SimRacing.org.uk

Tony, please sit down and take a deep breath...maybe even a tranquiliser......

I am contemplating installing Linux OS on my PC, Microsoft and Win10 has stretched my patience to breaking point with their infernal insistence that I create an Account ( why??!) and their intrusive and disrupting updates.

The boffins at GPL assure me that I can run GPL perfectly well ( if not better? ) on Linux, but as I regularly use GTL as well I wanted to check for any issues that I might face.

Linux can be set up on a USB stick and used a dual boot OS, so the plan is to take it slowly, slowly and not commit until I have everything running tickety-boo. Only then will I migrate GPL and then GTL under the Linux banner.

Fantastic news!

This could keep me amused for months!

Hi !
I'm about to do the same ... ;) not because windows bother me or bother me :D, (I believe that with win10, there is no longer a problem for a long time) but some here have me made you want to try again ... ;)
Although I am a little skeptical about the installation and use of certain games (AC seems not to be very easy with content manager for example! In terms of graphics performance and FFb too!)
And more, by experience , at one point, something is always missing under Linux that is easily found in windows! But, nobody forces me and anyway, it costs nothing !! :D

Thankfully I have no  :censored: clue about GTL and Linux so I will say "I'm out".

I think Kurt has dabbled tho?..

I might start asking Clive Loynes for advice, that should keep the smirk off of his face  :shifty:

I think Tony's reply was a total cop out, but I guess a little understandable  ::).

Thanks to Christian for his comments. I won't be using it as a primary OS until I am 100% happy with it. From what I have been told thus far, I can run it alongside Win10 and simply select which OS I want to wrestle with when I boot my PC...............................anyway,  everyone needs a hobby!

Running a dual boot PC with W10 & Linux Mint 20 (Linux for all purposes & W10 for gaming & Photoshop only).

Would be a dream GTL running with Linux, but so far I have no problems with W10 at all
(except having to shutdown & restart the computer each time I want to play).
Up to now I have not been asked to create a Microsoft online account - but maybe I have an older version of W10.
I just read something about that and also that there are possibilities to ignore the creation of an online account
(will have a look).

GTL could work on Linux, but I've never tried it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57QCir0wlEs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57QCir0wlEs))l

https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=3906 (https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=3906)

Too sophisticated for me  :P

I saw a lot of posts from one of your GPL peeps, who was proudly sharing his GPL on wine on Linux success
Or at least I think he was running under wine. I have managed to get some old games like Descent
running in wine but you could count the frames. Apparently this was not the case for GPL
"Wine Is Not an Emulator". Well, purists flame wars asside, it kind of is. It translates the MS instructions
int Linux ones. So you install and run a Linux "Distro" (Distribution) of which there are many
https://distrowatch.com/ (https://distrowatch.com/) Probably as Kurt says Linux Mint is a good desktop one
My fave is MX Linux, but any will do that come with Wine, or you can install Wine onto.

This what I don't understand. Account for what?

I've never had this

I think you need to create an account if you want to buy MS products like Office 360 or whatever it's called this week.

I think it's for a new W10 install.

Quote from PC-World 02/21 - translated with DeepL:

Compulsion to have an online account?
Microsoft now restricts the possibility of a local user account in the home variant of its operating system.
During installation, the option was simply removed, so that - if the software company has its way - you have to log in with a Microsoft account.
However, this constraint can be circumvented by intentionally typing in a wrong password ten times....

They ask for an account to register the product, and even have access to certain customizations

Hi guys

yes linux + wine are able to run GTL as good as in w-ten - if not better ;)

I succeeded in running GTR2 (P&G) and the AC 67mod, so why not GTL?

For GPL a NVidia GPU is to prefer, but more modern games have the graphic tweaks needed in game, so you can have a recent AMD GPU

Linux mint is the save way to get a stable OS and with the cinamon or XFCE desktop you have a W7 like workaround.

Wine runs all DirectX versions and is better for the older games that are no longer supported by w-ten

My Windows 10 and 7 before that are OEM versions so maybe I have slipped through the net.

That looks like a future project  :) - thanks for the update

For now, for me, the first test is inconclusive !! GTL seems to be installed but impossible to launch it ...
I test under Mint and whether it's Lutris or Wine, something is always missing !! I have the message of a launcher that I need to install, but nothing installs ...
On the other hand, I have not found a method to install these games (GTL, PnG) without depending on Steam! If I (re) switch to Linux, I might as well be free from this kind of dependency, right? !!!

You don't need steam for GTL. It is a good option for a clean and easy install
But you can run it without needing to start it from steam, and there are installs
you can get that re stand alone if you know the right people...  ::)

get it, no problem, get it to work correctly in linux, it's less easy ... :-\

Afair you need no steam for GTL or GTR2(P&G) just the CD...+ code

For GPL I do nor use any wine helper apps, just pure install on drive_c

If GTL fails to run under W10, and you have told it that you are running as Administrator it is most likely a compatibility issue. Set it to run in Compatibility mode using W8, or run the Compatibility troubleshooter.

Wrong. The CD will not work on anything after W7. The built in "Starforce" copy protection usually fries your Windows install if you try to install from disk. Buy the Steam version, install it then forget Steam. You will however need a valid online code.

I vaguely remember starforce killing GTL in Win7. Is why I strangely liked Vista  ;D

under win10, it works, it is under linux that I have the problem ... (for the moment  ;))

................................I am reading these exchanges with great interest  ;).

I have delved into Linux over the past 3 days and now have a 30GB USB stick with a bootable virgin, Linux cinnamon working, so there is ample space on there for any other stuff I might want to add in the short term. I have yet to investigate all of the various parts of this new OS, but I am in no rush.
Next step is probably a 2nd SSD drive for my rig that will eventually host Linux and any other software ( GPL, GTL etc ) I decide to try and run with it.

I am quite impressed with myself for getting this far lol.

As long as you are not looking for anything special, all is well! When you start to want to do something out of the ordinary, it can quickly get complicated, before losing his habits and the apparent ease of w10

Not much has changed in the last few years in Linux !! On the other hand, we can say that win10, yes it is much improved and makes the transition to Linux much less necessary other than by conviction ... ;) ::)

Nevertheless, I will still try like you ... :)

What special task are you looking for?

All tasks I expect from my pc can be done with linux.

I have been using real Unix systems like Solaris, and Linux, which started as "Hobby Unix" and is now very capable
for more than 30 years, and unless you know what you are doing it is likely to be a frustrating experience.

I mostly use MS windies for games, and some software that only exists for Windows. I would never run anything
under wine in preference to running it on the system it was compiled for. Unless I wanted to do it to prove I can

I would use a Linux distro over any MS opsystem if everything I wanted was ported to Linux, but they are not
my current PC would easily run GTL or modern simms with an extra layer of translation, but the only reason I would
do it is, as I said for "fun" it is only going to run "well enough", and there may be some intellectual satisfaction with
being able to. You better be prepared for some learning Clive  ;D I expect Cookie can talk you through it so that
will make it less painful. Good luck   :thumbup1:

p.s Cinnamon is the desktop program. What Distro are you running? Mint? or somethings else?

Clive to start a good mint install read here: https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.com/p/1.html

Mint is very nice. 
Cookie, I sent you a message, a suggestion to install Gtl / gtr2 ...? ;)

Well a big step, GPL is finally working, maybe the next race will be under Linux  ;) ;D

However, as I noted it was not without pain, Wine did not install correctly and I had to find some help to enter everything manually and load the latest version (6) which Mint does not did not want to load!
(@Cookie, that's what I wanted to point out, compared to Win10, where there are rarely programs that don't work)

It remains to solve the shifter, because the pallets  >:(   and install GTL among other things, I think Lutrix also works poorly ...
EvilClive courage, with a little luck it will work the first time for you ... :D

Yes I do prefer the winehq.org version too, as one of the repository versions of mint is outdated ;)

Therefore you must learn to read carefully and  copy paste the given lines into the terminal.

Don't forget after installation you have to write "winecfg" into the terminal to built the wine environment.

I confirm linux coding people are no gamers so they sometime have problem to understand what we need...

I still haven't figured out how to shortcut exe to the desktop !
And in the configuration of Wine, are there things to change?  everything is by default!

mmmh, there must still be something wrong !!

<font color="#8AE234">hris@chris-System-Product-Name</font>:<font color="#729FCF">~</font>$ winecfg
0034:err:module:process_init L&quot;C:\\windows\\system32\\winemenubuilder.exe&quot; not found
002c:err:wineboot:process_run_key Error running cmd L&quot;C:\\windows\\system32\\winemenubuilder.exe -a -r&quot; (126).
005c:fixme:font:get_name_record_codepage encoding 20 not handled, platform 1.
005c:fixme:font:get_name_record_codepage encoding 20 not handled, platform 1

When wine is ok and NVidia GPU has the proprietary driver

I put the complete installed GPL folder into drive_c ( or you install it with the CD + 1.08 installer from drive_c)

then I put the GEM+installer into drive_c and run it. this makes the desktop links.

Next go to /home/YOU/.wine/drive_c/users/Public/Documents/GEM+/ and delete the gem.ini

Get the options folder of GEM+ from W10 and copy it into linux GEM+ folder ;) and modify the igor.ini path to igor.

Then start GEM+ from desktop and config it.

(https://i.ibb.co/WKZ75YM/Bildschirmfoto-2021-05-19-14-35-06.png) (https://ibb.co/j4mqf1Q)

https://wiki.winehq.org/Ubuntu
when you followed the winehq.org install :

(https://i.ibb.co/ByDkSDG/Bildschirmfoto-2021-05-19-14-44-03.png) (https://ibb.co/6HhQfh8)

then run winecfg in terminal an let gecko or mono be installed

(https://i.ibb.co/NWBksj7/Bildschirmfoto-2021-05-19-14-50-25.png) (https://ibb.co/6DCpmPN)

precisely Gecko or mono did not install (he did not ask me)

wich wine did you install ? stable - staging - devel ???

winecfg gives this:
(https://i.ibb.co/TmjM4qC/Bildschirmfoto-2021-05-19-14-57-49.png) (https://imgbb.com/)

yes, I have 6.0.  Stable
I just tried the installation again, it does not ask for gecko or mono (I have the error message put above)
Do I have to register an account? I did not do it.

in any case GPL works! just for the moment I have to go look for the exe in the folders (C ... wine ...) to launch it ...

IMO you missed a step of the wine install or had an error, just repeat the whole steps of my pic.

It keeps the files in drive_c ;)

no registration required!

did you run GEMPackage_2.5.0.32.exe ?

yes, something didn't completely work!
I will try it manually!

"WineHQ does not at present package wine-gecko or wine-mono. When creating a new wine prefix, you will be asked if you want to download those components. For best compatibility, it is recommended to click Yes here. If the download doesn't work for you, please follow the instructions on the Gecko and Mono wiki pages to install them manually."

oh yes but manually, I do not know what to do after downloading ... :-\

Yes !

To run gpl no gecko or mono is needed, I am just used to be asked to let install.

Does GEM+ run?

I just found, Gecko and Mono are already installed !!
How to post an image on the forum?

yes, Gem works, I was able to ride already! Igor too.
I just don't know how to run these programs other than looking in the directory ...

https://imgbb.com/

move the pic to the upper part and upload it

copy the link and just past in here

(https://i.ibb.co/XDqhGD5/Bildschirmfoto-2021-05-19-15-32-20.png) (https://ibb.co/42H602S)

(https://i.ibb.co/WKZ75YM/Bildschirmfoto-2021-05-19-14-35-06.png) (https://ibb.co/j4mqf1Q)

GEM install asks if you want shortcuts on desktop...

only shortcuts to folder work ;)

I allways start gpl from GEM+

OK, thanks.
So I don't have any shortcuts !! I will reinstall Gem ...

To add GTlegends to Wine, you must "install" the game or will copy / paste work? (I made for GPL but not Gem)

Okay, another "Linux" bug
I checked shortcuts ... well, no shortcuts !! ;D

All the same managed to put in the favorites ...

right click on file - send to - shortcut to desktop

You need to understand that wine is a separate OS - you should not mix it with linux favourites!


Yes Linux is different, but it does not steal your data!

Nooo, not this possibility !! ???

At first I was against Windows / Microsoft Live accounts, but...

After Microsoft has decided that even Win 10 Home license can be attached to MS Live account, I have had no personal problem creating online account for windows. Now I can change even the whole system to completely new and still get the same Win 10 license working without need of buying another one. Of course the old system does not have OS after that, but I usually use everything until the very end of their life cycles so probably there's no system needing a one. As it seems that there's no completely new Windows (11) in the horizon, I will be running most likely 5-10 years with that very same windows license.

Another good things that come with the universal account system is file shares in home network. Since XP, workgroup file shares changed from share based rights to user account based rights. So, when you used to have network share with password to all users access it, now you have network share with certain users having rights to access it, which of course called to every computer having same users to make sure that user always gets correct access to share. This was really annoying especially when you were used to share stuff momentarily. But now with Windows Live users, only you need to know is the Live username and thats it. you can share folders and stuff easily to everyone in network without need of thinking what was his/hers account in the computer you are using right now. This is a real helper for me with 4 computer in apartment with two users. :)

I have had used several *nix based systems during the years and Used to have own Linux (slackware, redhat  / Fedora, debian, Ubuntu... some other distros which I can't remember right now. Did run it about 10 years though.)  server at home. It's great hobby and you need to know quite lot of Bash to get everything out of it. However, I can't see having so much of free time that would like to use it maintaining Linux AND Windows both in my own (hobby) computer. As software engineer, I accept that stuff might not work easily when I am at work and I do like challenges, but after doing 8-10 hours of work with challenge, I like the idea that own hobby system just works as I expect it to. Getting non-native stuff run in *nix can be really challenging at the times and I rather use that time to doing additions to GTL and playing games like Mashinky (If you are interested about miniature railroads, that game will suck all your free time you can throw at it plus 50% of the time you did not allocated for it. So, consider yourself warned. ;) ) in platform they were  designed to run.

But good luck everyone who is willing to try get the GTL run via Wine. :)

this works with wine folders but not with wine.exe

You can, but look:

"env WINEPREFIX="/home/kookie/.wine" wine C:\\windows\\command\\start.exe /Unix /home/kookie/.wine/dosdevices/c:/users/Public/Desktop/GEM+\ 2.lnk"

if you know what to do...


(https://i.ibb.co/NYh572p/Bildschirmfoto-2021-05-19-16-05-09.png) (https://ibb.co/DKXhLfk)

OR until you change the hardware too much or buy a new pc...

PS

this w-ten license is locked to the mac adress of your pc!

I am keeping up with these posts and they are all very interesting, but I am waiting for delivery of 2nd SSD drive for my PC before I go much further.

The plan is to install Linux on a clean SSD and then add GPL etc to that drive. That way I can keep Linux and Win 10 completely separate. When I am confident in the Mint/Cinammon OS I can switch to using that, but there will be no great rush  ;).

You are right.

I think that, depending on the degree of knowledge, the desire or not, one day of having to seek to solve certain problems and the level of requirement, make that one remains or not on one or the other of the 2 environment. I don't think the "personal data" argument today is the main argument.

Yes Clive a good way to go.

Look into the Easy Linux tips project and get a stable OS.

Except I can detach it from hw, move it to my live account and when I scrap this pc I can pick up the license from live account and attach it to new hw. It works as long as you are not trying to use it in two hw at the same time. Originally it worked only with pro version but in some point MS changed it so that you can do it with Home too.

I have already done it in case of motherboard failure and in that I needed to change CPU and memories too. Motherboard had integrated LAN and so the MAC address definitely changed. After reinstall activation failed, but after I went to the live accounts and devices and told windows that this install was same as the old install listed there, activation was successful. So need to calling to microsoft about activation reset.

Oh, you need to have a retail version of win 10. Oems cannot be moved from system to another one.

Isn't MS planning to switch to annual licenses like the office 365 ?

It has been some sort of possibility since windows 10 was launched. Or the user agreetment has points that indicate it being possible, but so far it has not happened. If and when that happens, it all comes down to price. I am already using photoshop with monthly payments so concept works as long as cost is tolerable.

(While photoshop used to cost around 1000 euros per version and there was new version every three years, I pay now 25 euros per month and have always the latest  version. So it is actually cheaper than the old licensing model.)

@EvilClive, Did you start to work? ;)

For the moment I am coming to the conclusion that if GTL can indeed work under Linux, it is without FFB ... :-[
To be deepened, but not encouraging for a unique system

I have been waiting for the new SSD to arrive.  Today I have installed the new SSD in my PC, and it is formatted and ready to receive the Mint installation.

I have a working Mint, Cinnamon on a USB stick and have had a look around the OS.

Now I have to decide if I want to install Mint onto the original SSD, which carries my Win10 OS, that way I will get the option of choosing which OS to use whenever I boot up the PC.

or,

I install Mint on the new virgin SSD and keep that drive for all things Linux related completely separate from any Microsoft influence. That would men that I have to adjust the BOOT sequence in Bios whenever I switch from win10-linux-win10.

I am taking things slowly so that I do not trip over my lack of computer knowledge, so do not expect any rapid developments lol.

Clive as the install is easy and takes not much time, I would go the separate way first. Not much action to repeat it if something went wrong...

 Not a good idea to format this SSD with Wten, Mint will do it anyway, so you should choose "delete and use the whole disk".

Mint does help you with the first steps

After that go to firefox and open https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.com/p/first-mint-cinnamon.html and follow step by step

I guess that I am being ultra cautious, but I have a question before I press the nuclear option button for the install.

Booting from the USB stick is fine and I get to the MINT desktop.
I have the "INSTALL" button and I can double click to start the process. But it does not appear to ask me where ( which hard drive ) I want to install MINT?

I select:-
 Language
Media codecs etc

Then I get an OPTIONS screen

Install alongside Windows10......... on my "C" drive which is a 120MB SSD . I would rather leave that untouched for now.
Erase drive and Install Mint.......  again it does not ask which drive to ERASE? Presumably it would wipe "C" and install Mint? Not exactly what I had in mind!!
Something Else.  .....................Here it lists the available disks within my PC and I can see my new "E" drive which is a Kingston 450MB SSD amongst them. This is where I want to place the Linux install, but I was not convinced that this is where it would go?

At this point I took the chicken option and opted to QUIT INSTALLATION

I was concerned that if I got things wrong at this point I might screw the Win 10  OS. Windoze might be bad, but ATM is is working lol.

Good idea,

When you put the new SSD in the PC just disconnect all other SSD and HDDs and remember wich plug was where (snapshot!)

Now you can install mint on the new SSD by erase it first. (option in menu)

If you have allready done so, this is the result of letting Wten format the new SSD ( It took possesion of it...) then you choose erase the HDD and install

Thanks Axel.

Yep! I installed the new SSD and stupidly allowed Win10 to format and INSTALL drive, so it took ownership.

Sadly I have returned my PC tower to its hiding place under my desk where space is very tight. I will have to spend some time tomorrow and drag it out again, then I can disconnect stuff and do the MINT install.

My idea is that you first make this save install and have no risk if doing anything wrong.

You will be at a point when this mint is running and you are save in handling it,
 then you add the other HDD+SSD and let make a bootmanager that shows at start.


PS

this install of the complete OS is faster as any little update Wten does ;)

After reconnecting the other SSD+HDD, Wten will not see the new SSD as it can't read it!

@Cookie,
What are your graphics settings for GPL?
You have an Nvidia card apparently, me too.
I find that the display is a little thinner than under win10, for example for white lines the staircase effects are more visible.

Like in Wten you can for GPL

- set the AA and AF to medium-high values
- set in powermizer - prefer maximum performance - most important!
- openGL - High Quality
The better the GPU the higher settings - else the GPU falls asleep!

(https://i.ibb.co/B6hQtLL/Bildschirmfoto-2021-05-25-19-51-15.png) (https://ibb.co/M1ztsnn)

After a little searching and a screwdriver, Mint is now installed and working on my new SSD. Disconnecting the original drives in the case sounded like a simple task........just unplug the leads from the PSU and leave the new SSD connected, simples huh???
Dragged the case out from under my desk and removed a multitude of plugs from the rear. Removed the side panels turned the case on it's side and peered inside.

Well it started well and I easily identified the 3TB hard disk "D" and carefully removed the plugs ( feeling very smart and confident ). Ok now to disconnect the "C" drive 12MB SSD.......yup, just pull the plug from the original SSD?? What SSD? where the f**k is it??? Followed all the cables from the PSU but none ended at an SSD like the new one I had installed yesterday ready for the MINT installation????

Old age and failing eyesight could have been the reason that I could not see it, so I removed my specs and  got a torch. After 15minutes of meticulous searching over every sq mm of the motherboard and all internals I found a small circuit board ( approx 15mm x 40mm ) screwed onto the motherboard and with a paper label. On this tiny label was some text which when viewed under a magnifying glass read 120MB SSD!!. No cables or plugs, it had one end pushed into a socket on the mboard and a screw at the other end into a small stand-off pillar. It was impossible to remove without first removing the monster graphic card.

After much swearing and fiddling I was able to reinsert the GPU and fire up the PC into BIOS and aim at the USB stick. Got MINT installed on the only remaining drive available ( the new SSD ). Then shut down and remove the GPU, reinstall the tiny SSD card, replace the GPU and rebuild PC and all cable connections.

I have test booted Mint and also switched bios and booted the Win10 SSD.  After some adjusting of the screen size, everything works  :thumbup2:
Booted Firefox in MINT and logged into SROU, from where I am typing this message. So I am confident that all is tickety-boo.

From Mint I can also see the contents of my Win10 disks.

That is enough excitement for one day lol. more fun tomorrow?

Yes, great to read.

for the start you have a fast bios shortkey (F9 ot F12) for the boot menu so you can choose wich OS you want.

Have you done the first steps?

Timeshift
Hardwaredriver
updates

Then go to the https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.com/p/first-mint-cinnamon.html and get mint optimized.
......
When all is fine get "wine" from the software manager, get the one with the picture ~ ubuntu 5.0.3

After wine is installed open a terminal and write "winecfg"

Yes, First Steps all done.

Need to do the easylinuxtipsproject tomorrow, then will d/load "wine" and try sorting that.

Well done, but wait, you haven't attacked the games yet ... ;)
GPL, it's going to be fine, GTL is less funny ... the others, (if you use it) you will have to be patient :'(

First do open W10 and copy some essentials to a stick or external HDD

get GEMPackage_2.5.0.32.exe

Get the Options folder out of .../GPLSecrets/GEM+/Options

an installed folder of GPL - to get it run I use a vanilla

Can you explain Vanilla ?!

Just a minimum original 67 installed version

out of the CD with 1.08 installer and the papy tracks + Spa67 - ~360 MB 7zip

Full install is ~ 38 GB!

@Clive

Wine install:
Go to http://srmz.net/index.php?showtopic=13244&#entry144683

OK we are a couple of steps further down this road, taking things very gently and looking at all the scenery  ;D

I have completed all of the tweaks to Mint.

I have downloaded WINE and it is installed and unhidden. I have a small question about what I am looking at, before I go any further.

The WINE folder appears to have copied, or have access to, the file structure on my WIN10 SSD. ( which is referred to as "C" Drive on Win10, but appears simply as 127GB SSD in MINT menu bar).

Am I right in thinking that WINE has designated the new 450GB SSD ( dedicated for MINT) as its own "C" drive?? If this is true, I will have to be sure that I am copying/pasting files from the old Win10 "C", to the new MINT "C"??

The next step is the VIRGIN GPL, which I will need to create from the CD. I have a USB CD drive that I can plug in and use via WIN10 to create the folder on a memory stick , or can I create it straight onto my 3TB drive and simply copy it across to MINT "C" ?

Just to make clear:

Linux drive_c has nothing to do with win c:\  (there is no linux c: ! )

Have you looked at my link to SRMZ about the wine install?

path to linux drive_c  => /home/CLIVE/.wine/drive_c/ in here you copy the files
and then run the GEM installer from here

(https://i.ibb.co/MZVtZJR/Screenshot-from-2021-05-27-15-59-47.png) (https://ibb.co/XjsKjGz)

You must not install a new GPL
if you allready have an installed one that can be copied - I have this as a reserve as most new PCs have no CD drive ;)

So copy the GPL folder from your 127GB SSD in MINT menu bar to  /home/CLIVE/.wine/drive_c/  by drag and drop

PS

"WINE has designated the new 450GB SSD ( dedicated for MINT) as its own "C" drive??"
NO!
.wine/drive_c is a subfolder of your linux SSD!
Linux names the main SSD as "sda"

Thanks for that Axel, I understand the "C" drive difference now.


PS.
First glitch!...it had to happen sometime!

I have a basic, virgin GPL install within my Win10 files. I checked that it works from Windows with basic graphics etc. and was able to drive a car at Kyalami. Thought that I would do GPL first and then install GEM afterwards, small steps taken slowly.

So, rebooted into Mint and then copied that virgin GPL and pasted into Mint/Home/Wine/drive C/. Located the gpl.exe within that folder and clicked....Error message about "mime"?? files and not compatible??

Time for food now, so I will go back and look again later.  :-\

Clive slowly step by step. ;)

- right click on the gplc67.exe

- open with
- other app
- write  "wine"  in the box and set as default

Now linux knows how to handle .exe files ;)

(https://i.ibb.co/BPFfHZ6/Screenshot-from-2021-05-27-19-20-01.png) (https://ibb.co/xsd2Kjg)

The steps here are essential

http://srmz.net/index.php?showtopic=13244&#entry144683

HERE is GEM

http://gem.grandprixlegends.info/downloads.html

@Axel, Do you only use GPL?

Yes,
after testing lots of Sims - I concentrate on GPL.

I would like too ! but there is always something interesting about others ... ;)

Thankyou Axel, Virgin GPL loads. Still need to sort graphics etc, but when it is working properly, I think I know that I can copy across my working GPL install from Windows and overwrite?

I will quit while I am still ahead for today and install GEM tomorrow  lol.  small steps taken slowly  :wheelchair:

for GPL

- set the AA and AF to medium-high values
- set in powermizer - prefer maximum performance - most important!
- openGL - High Quality
The better the GPU the higher settings - else the GPU falls asleep!

(https://i.ibb.co/B6hQtLL/Bildschirmfoto-2021-05-25-19-51-15.png) (https://ibb.co/M1ztsnn)

Update.

Carefully read Axel's conversations with Bernie and the issues that arose and tried to understand what to look out for.  ;)

Checked my Wine install and discovered that I had version 5.0, so went through Software Manager and updated to Wine 5.3
I had a problem with monitor display, the window was bigger than the screen size, so I was missing buttons on extreme edges.
Changed Screen Resolution from 4060x2190 to 4054x2138 within Nvidia X SERVER SETTINGS and the "save configuration" button was revealed. I was worried that each time I re booted I reverted to the default screen size, but that was because I had never saved the changes!!

so then we...
GEM installed and working with virgin GPL
Copied full working GPL folder from Win10 to Wine/c-drive
Directed GEM to new GPL.exe

GEM/IGOR OK. Had to re-activate carsets and recreate Driver/Carset, but all good now.

BUT.........
When I launch GPL from GEM I only have small window with GPL active?? I have tried adjusting screen resolutions etc in GPL and Nvidia but cannot find the magic solution.
Also G25 is not being detected/calibrated.
I have BODNAR cables for shift and pedals which came with their own calibration software in WIN10??

Time for a break now..............4 steps forward, 1.5 sideways   ::)

Edit:- Used  the terminal command for "game controllers" and it showed G25 wheel and Bodnar shifter. I was able to test that both were being "read". But nothing for the Bodnar pedals??
Downloaded the calibration software for the pedals from Bodnar and tried tried to run with WINE. Wine does not wish to run this little app and I get the blank calibration window with an error message "subscript out of range". Strange that the SHIFTER is recognised and the TEST panel in WINE shows it is activated and yet the PEDALS do not show in GAME CONTROLLERS and do not calibrate within GPL either ( which I guess is not surprising??)

"winecfg" in terminal should not have checked in graphics ~" virtual desktop"

(https://i.ibb.co/61zHDX7/Screenshot-from-2021-05-28-17-01-41.png) (https://imgbb.com/)

Put the native monitor resolution in your GEM !

(https://i.ibb.co/rsBY91p/Bildschirmfoto-2021-05-28-16-22-59.png) (https://ibb.co/TLQ6yF0)


Why do you use Bodnar pedals? for this ask Pete Bennett he has such things working ;)

can you make a screenshot of"wine control" ?
You must disable the (js) instance of G25 as shown in SRMZ

OK graphic size sorted I think.  Nvidia only seems to respond to 390 Linux driver, but I will experiment with that later.

I now have GPL in full screen. I notice that I get basic resolution 600x480 at each boot and have to select preferred resolution from GPL OPTIONS. Is this normal??

I have run the Wine control in Terminal and disabled G25 jst.
Under the TEST tab the wheel shows as working with constant FF and the Shifter works through all 6 gears.

Still no pedals, so I might have to revert to direct G25 connection and remove the Bodnar cable. That would be a step backwards as the increased sensitivity on the pedals was nice  :-\

I have enabled FF2 in GEM and whilst I am in GEM, wheel has FF resistance. But, once I launch into GPL all FF vanishes, although wheel still works steering.

I have downloaded and installed the pyLinuxwheel app, to adjust the range, but it has not helped with FF in GPL?

FIRST had you deleted the gem.ini?

FFB in linux is good but it has no centering spring - test it driving ;)
In linux sys there is other FFB active than in wine! it works ok when in game.
The settings of FFB2 in GEM work as intended

NVdriver here with old small GPU 460
(https://i.ibb.co/cvww5yz/Screenshot-from-2021-05-29-15-08-25.png) (https://ibb.co/3svvXTt)

For the rotation I have a basic workaround (range) - but I also would ask Pete Bennett how he does

Get this file, place it on the desktop - edit properties - make it executable
https://www.mediafire.com/file/2elsmzv893h2p24/range/file
NOW
rightclick on the "range" file - run in terminal - enter your PW

rotation is set to 540° but you can edit the file to your choice!

PS

I am more using mint XFCE...

Now I found that cinamon does not install the "wine-desktop-files" by default!
so please install it ::)

(https://i.ibb.co/mBX5Frr/Screenshot-from-2021-05-29-15-40-19.png) (https://ibb.co/1ndGJYY)

Important
That you don't have the latest NVidia drivers is due to the safe but old kernel 5.4 - the newer (also save!) one is 5.8!

I'll take a few snapshots of how to get the 5.8 kernel

Do
- open the Update Manager

go to View - Linux Kernels
- click on 5.8 - doubleclick on top 5.8.0-53 and install it - needs restart and activating it

(https://i.ibb.co/VLZK4Gj/Screenshot-from-2021-05-30-11-06-09.png) (https://ibb.co/tHtdr6m)


After this you can run the Driver Manager and will be able to choose the recent driver

 I have updated and installed latest KERNEL, no probs in doing that.
Checked for the Wine Desktop files and it appears that I already have them?? although I have no idea of what they are or what they do?? lol

 things that are currently puzzling me.
When I run a TERMINAL to check for G25 etc. I get this message.

clive@clive-PRIME-Z270-P:~$ wine control
wine: L"C:\\windows\\system32\\joy.cpl" is a dll, not an executable
clive@clive-PRIME


Then I get the TEST screen with access to the G25 wheel and to the Bodnar SHIFTER. Both register a movement in the TEST section, but zero FFB on Wheel No sign of any PEDALS. I am suspecting that the message above relates to the BODNAR pedal cable?  .Just a minute....?!?!?!?!?! As I am typing this FF has suddenly activated??? Rotation is way too much for me ATM, but I am more concerned with getting all CONTROLS operating before I worry about calibration etc.

After updating the KERNEL, I switched the NVIDIA driver to the "recommended" 460 option and installed.
Operating System is confirmed as being 460.73.01

But I suspect that I am missing something? I go to NVIDIA SERVER SETTINGS and select/adjust "X SERVER DISPLAY CONFIGURATION" for resolution etc, to give me a decent DESKTOP size and fit. I make sure to click the APPLY button, to check my adjustments and then SAVE to X CONFIGURATION FILE ( which I created in DOCUMENTS when asked ).
But when I click the QUIT button ( which should save all changes?) I get a message :-

" you have pending changes on following pages:
X Server Display Configuration-Save to X Configuration File
Do you realy want to quit?

with CANCEL or QUIT buttons.

APPLY is greyed out.

Sometimes, when I go back to DESKTOP I have the new Resolution and my DISPLAY fits my screen. But often after a re-boot I have a desktop which appears to be within a separate window on a massive MINT background. It is so big that when I open files etc, I have to scroll LEFT/RIGHT and UP/DOWN to find the folder that I have just opened. Also even then, sometimes the newly opened folder is partially beyond the end of the scrolling range and I am unable to drag it back onto the working DESKTOP area??

EDIT
Just re started MINT and I now have a desktop with what appears to be 640x480 resolution and a black message box in top right corner which says:-

Check your video drivers
Your system is currently running without video hardware acceleration
You may experience poor performance and high CPU usage
LAUNCH DRIVER MANAGER

This is something that I had before and only resolved it when I went to the 390 driver. It would seem that the 460 option is not being recognised or initiated at start up?, and yet I can adjust resolution within the 460 if I RE-INSTALL from Driver Manager, at least until I restart?

When I try and access ADMIN/NVIDIA SERVER SETTINGS, I get a message window with HELP or QUIT, no access to the NVIDIA window. HELP button says " No help available", so QUIT is only option. Looks like MiNT is not seeing the 460 driver?

In linux there is a soft reset if the screen is frozen or other graphic disorder.

ctrl + alt + back

test it if you have the right resolution after this

my NV settings
(https://i.ibb.co/gMn7xKF/Bildschirmfoto-2021-05-30-15-50-26.png) (https://ibb.co/FbPWFTq)

EDIT
Just re started MINT and I now have a desktop with what appears to be 640x480 resolution and a black message box in top right corner which says:-

Check your video drivers
Your system is currently running without video hardware acceleration
You may experience poor performance and high CPU usage
LAUNCH DRIVER MANAGER

This is something that I had before and only resolved it when I went to the 390 driver. It would seem that the 460 option is not being recognised or initiated at start up?, and yet I can adjust resolution within the 460 if I RE-INSTALL from Driver Manager, at least until I restart?

When I try and access ADMIN/NVIDIA SERVER SETTINGS, I get a message window with HELP or QUIT, no access to the NVIDIA window. HELP button says " No help available", so QUIT is only option. Looks like MiNT is not seeing the 460 driver?

Yes, seems something killed the NV driver...
_________________________________________________________________

did you install a logitech driver? how comes you get a path to windows ?

wine: L"C:\\windows\\system32\\joy.cpl" is a dll, not an executable   ???

__________________________________________________________________

Have you tried my range file?

You must edit in it your name where I wrote "mint" !
then run it in terminal

RUN  timeshift and look for a good point to jump back!

Gonna take a break here Axel and think about things with a cup of tea and a cookie.

Did you install any windoze driver for G25 or Bodnar device?

PS

for me it was clear that not everything runs perfectly the first time, so I suggested a secure independent installation.

If this one is broken, it is easy and without much effort to make a repair installation and to go through the steps you have learned again.

e.g. the NVidia often gets a problem when you switch drivers!
next time you make the 5.8 kernel first - then it will see the 4.60 NV ;)

I did not directly install any drivers for the Bodnar cables.
BUT... the way that the cables work is that a small program is downloaded ( in Win10 ) which allows you to calibrate the pedals and the shifter. Once you have run through the calibration, the result is saved directly to a small chip within the plug on the Bodnar cable. So I am wondering if Mint has picked up that file from the USB cable?  It sounds a little unlikely.
Also, within Win10, I had a folder within my SIERRA/GPL directory in which I stored copies of the Bodnar calibration software and the Logitech Profiler Software so that I knew where to find them if needed. This folder was copied across to MINT/WINE along with GPL, so maybe it was read by WINE?

I did fire up MINT again last night and almost immediately shut it down again as it was a total mess. Since installing the new KERNEL things seem to have become very random.
When I selected my boot disk within BIOS it then offered me 4 options for MINT. I chose the option with the latest KERNEL.
When the desktop appeared it was neither the 640x480 or anything like the settings I had made in NVIDIA at the last session. Once again the message about no graphics acceleration hardware installed? ICONS were huge.

The background stretched way beyond the edges of my screen display and I had to scroll across and up/down to find things.  
Previously GEM IGOR was working perfectly, I tried to launch GEM and it did give me the GEM menu screen but refused to launch GPL. IGOR would not activate from the launch button in GEM.
From the wine menu on the desktop bar I could see the NVIDIA SOFTWARE but when I selected it, it was not available with the same HELP and QUIT buttons as before.
I resisted the urge to try and change things and simply shut down the PC.

I am now thinking that I should do a fresh install of MINT as the potential for screwing things even more, if I try to correct all of the issues, is too big.  So maybe later today I will spend some time with it.

P.S. I fully realise that this is on the GTL forum, but the intention is to install GTL just as soon as I have sorted all of the bugs with GPL. I chose to install GPL first, simply because I have ( a little more ) knowledge about the workings of GPL than I do about GTL. So I figured that it might be a slightly easier step  ???

it happened to me (and I will do it again for a final installation) several times as well ... ::)
When you start to "force" too much with Linux, it ends like this ... (well for me and when you don't have enough knowledge with Linux !!)
Fortunately, nothing is inaccessible ...
Mixing Linux with Windows programs is not as easy as with Windows alone ... ;)

I did not understand why forcing the Kernel !? I do the same installation as you and there was no such problem, nor video driver. Maybe the components of the PC? (I have a Ryzen 5 and a gtx1080 card) I was able to put the 460 driver without any video problem.

Curious to see if you can recognize the LBodnar wiring, I would like to take one also to have the shifter, because the paddle speeds are really not pleasant, especially with GPL...

The problem that occured came from the NVidia driver wich is proprietary.

Installing mint does install a very old but stable linux kernel 5.4 wich is not compatible to the last prop NV driver wich needs 5.8  ;)

Now installing another NV driver over the old one leaves some problematic files - that occured...

As newbie to linux it helps to know you cant destroy any HW!

My problem atm is this Bodnar stuff I can't test, I only know Marcos Mirande and Pete Bennett are using those parts with linux.

Clive are all these devices plugged in USB2 ports? (avoid to plug in blue USB3 as GPL is even in wten problematic with USB3)

Last try could be a timeshift to a working restore point back... (50:50 chance as NV is the problem)

I nevertheless had the 460.73 functional! (without changing the kernel)
That I changed for the 450 because the 460 is not compatible with RFactor 2!

I tend to just download and install the latest version of the distro when the update repository
gets out of date, and isn't seen anymore.

Do you still have to update your NV driver when you accept kernel updates?

Yes Axel the Bodnar cables each plug into a separate USB ports.

So, I have the Logitech wheel and cable into a USB as original,
the pedals have their own Bodnar cable into another USB,
and the shifter has it's own Bodnar cable into yet another USB.

Each Bodnar cable has a large plug/socket on one end which joins to the original cable/plug from the pedals or shifter ( that would originally have connected to the base of the wheel.) and a USB plug to connect direct to PC. I am informed that within the larger plug/socket on the Bodnar cable there is a small circuit board that works the "magic" and stores the calibration details.

Up until yesterday all 3 USB plugs were into USB3 ports ( blue ) and I had full function on steering ( original Logitech) and shifter ( via new Bodnar cable). But the pedals did not register within MINT and were non functioning. All worked 100% within Win10.

Yesterday, I thought about the USB2 or 3 issue with GPL and re-routed all my USB cables so that Wheel/shifter/pedals were using all available USB2 ( black) ports and everything else mouse/keyboard/printer/etc etc all moved to the USB3 ports.  All worked fine in Win10, but still no pedals in MINT/WINE/.

It does seem odd that WINE CONTROL locates the Logitech wheel and also the Bodnar cable for the shifter, but does not see the Bodnar connection for the pedals.  :-\
 I have sent an e-mail to Bodnar asking if they have any LINUX friendly software for their products. But as it is a Public Holiday in the UK I don't expect an answer for a few days. I will keep you posted if I get an answer.

I have been summoned to help in the garden for a few hours, but hope to attack Linux again later. It would be helpful, and probably avoid certain death, if you could give a few pointers on how I should go about removing/overwriting the various problem areas like Kernel/NVIDIA etc. My reputation in these areas does not inspire huge confidence lol  ;)
There is no rush and I am quite comfortable with this project taking a little time as I never expected it to be a quick fix. But I am learning ( I hope) and  it is different to Win10 etc. with the TERMINAL commands to execute various actions. Incidentally, how do you find the correct command syntax for the various terminal inputs? or is that a common language amongst people who are computer literate?? lol. It might be dangerous for me to have access to too much information.

@phspok
No, as mint provides distro versions of the NV driver wich are updated regularily.

Clive had the problem that after his installation he only had the NV 390 in his driver manager...
afair Clive has a GTX 1070 ?


@Clive

Can you please test to use only the pedals with adaptor in wine and see if it is detected

Something like this: https://www.guru99.com/must-know-linux-commands.html (https://www.guru99.com/must-know-linux-commands.html)
There will "Man pages" ie "pages of the manual" on most Unix installs

Trouble is, you need to know what you want the man page for  :lol:

Try
man ls

for example to get you going.
Or to search for a phrase try
grep
list processes
ps
Kill a process
kill
move to a different directory
cd
get back to your home directory
cd (~ is generally your home directory)
Run a command as root (Windows administrator equiv, is sort of switch user do)
sudo


Be aware some commands are specific to some Linux variants, particularly the options like
ps -ef won't work on some variants, you will need ps -al
Yep there are different background variants. RedHat derived, and Debian derived
Mint is Debian (Ubuntu based) Centos is RedHat. etc etc
You could go back to the origins with BSD and SVR4
How long have you got  :laugh:

@Axel FWIW my NVIDIA is 1080.

OK, Now I am getting a little confused ( and maybe paranoid!)

Just turned on PC and allowed to boot MINT. This had been left as the BOOT selection made last night that went totally t*ts up.
More than a little surprised to see.....
MINT desktop appeared in what looked like 3840x1220 format (which is what I had previously set when I ran the 460 NVIDIA driver).

GEM/IGOR worked fine, except that GEM window materialised 50% off the top of my monitor and I had to fish with the mouse to locate the top bar to drag into full view. IGOR booted and showed server list.

Tried Firefox and that launched OK.

Tried Driver Manager and I still had the 4 options that I have always had listed for NVIDIA drivers :-

460-recommended and selected ( appearing to work now I have new KERNEL)
Xserver.xorg - open source
Nvidia 390 - the driver that I originally found was the only one to work
Nvidia 450 - did not appear to work on original install.

Things looked nothing like the chaos that I saw last night.

So I thought, "is it something to do with the BOOT sequence?".

Selected "RESTART" from menu.

PC closed down and allowed to re-boot without interference from me.

I now have the 640x480 resolution desktop again, the message about "no hardware acceleration software" and a desktop that appears to extend way beyond my monitor display??

Firefox launches but is in large 640x480 window, which is where I am typing this.
Icons are huge.

Gem will launch and is fullsize of visible screen. Selecting IGOR button does nothing, all I get is a small black message window on the desktop, just above the taskbar icon for IGOR, which says "IGOR".

@ Matt
Given my limited knowledge of computer language, I think it better that I do not enter the world of Terminal command lines....well not yet anyway  ;)

Have re-booted again without changing anything, and I am back with the 3840x2140  resolution!!!!

No messages about missing hardware drivers
Checked NVIDIA and it shows 460 driver in use.

small icons
Gem/IGOR working.

nothing to do with command line  ;D

give it another try and if it boots into the 640 x 480

do - ctrl + alt + backarrow

now you should have the right resolution...

don't forgrt this is a test install yet ;)

re-boot and I am 640x480 again.

ctrl-alt-backarrow does not appear to do anything?? I get a message flash on screen "NO WINDOWS OPEN" and that is all.

Nothing changes with resolution.

Also Driver Manager message re  "NO hardware acceleration software" is back

I have just tried "LOG OUT" from the desktop Menu.

That ends current session and leaves a small window requesting PASSWORD to log in again.

I entered my password and  we are back to proper screen resolution and all working ICONS. I have noticed that I do not get asked for PASSWORD during BOOT sequence? could it be that MINT/CINNAMON is opening a new session and not logging me in as "CLIVE"??

grr -  the ctrl alt back kombi is what it should do too!

I have no UK keyboard and dont know the english name for the key above the enter key...

AHHH!! lol that is the "BACKSPACE" KEY in English...............that DOES work  ;D and resets PC asking for Pword. I was understanding "back arrow" as the LEFT ARROW key at bottom of keyboard  :oops:


PS.
 Is there a way of adding "shortcuts" to desktop or panel bar? I cannot find anything relating to that.

I have tried "Wine control" with wheel and shift disconnected.  The pedals are not found. So, I need to unbolt my wheel from the rig and re-connect pedals as standard Logitech format, this might happen tomorrow if I have time.

Yes backspace... ::)

this is strange, as in Bodnars description it says the cable for the pedals is plug and play in linux!

And

in linux a device is only there if it is physically connected.

so you need to do a fresh start with only pedals connected to see them in wine control

ln -s command for a soft or symbolic link. To make it on your desktop
your file manager, e.g nautilus will have an option to "make link"
if you select the file you want a desktop link to.

If you right click on a folder and "send to" gives the option to make a shortcut

BUT shortcuts to "wine" executables will not work on desktop! The run on desktop missing their environment...

what does the bodnar connection bring to the logitech pedals?

I can only say how I feel the difference in WIN10. Because the Bodnar software multiplies the number of pulses generated by the encoders, the pedals are more precise and sensitive. I find that I can balance the gas and brakes through corners . The response from the pedals to the on screen car just feels smoother?

I have just been playing around on the desktop and have discovered ...

If I use the main menu list on the bottom panel and select any of the listed APPS....right click with mouse and a small sub menu pops up with option "add to desktop".....simples ( when you know how lol) I prefer to have a list of icons on the desktop that I can see at a glance.

any success with pedals only connected?

No success with pedals only connected via Bodnar, "wine control" did not find them.

They must be connected correctly as I ran them via Win10 in the Reims race last evening, so I question the Plug & Play for Linux? But the SHIFTER is found by Wine and that works via Bodnar cable??

Tomorrow I will remove the Bodnar cable on the pedals, re-connect to the G25 wheel and try again.

Time for food now and some TV.

This afternoon I have  fired up MINT and then did CTRL-ALT-BACKSPACE  which took me to PASSWORD window, Entered Pword and desktop appeared OK.  I have checked in NVIDIA for the current settings and it is running DRIVER 460-73-01.

Checking through the various settings which I have modified before as Axel's suggestions . POWERMISER=max performance......OPENGL= high quality etc, they had reverted to default settings? I reset them and asked to SAVE CONFIGURATION, but NVIDIA does not appear to SAVE. When I QUIT it tells me I still have unsaved changes??? . I QUIT anyway and presumably changes were not saved.

G25 issues.

I have just connected my pedals back to the G25 wheel and run TERMINAL with "wine control".

Under the G25 ( event) tab I can see axis movement for wheel and all the pedals. Bodnar shifter is still OK.

I also had an email from Bodnar this morning. They appear to think that once the Pedals cable has been calibrated in WIN 10, that it should be OK in Linux? They even suggest running it without calibration in Linux, but neither of those options produced a result  :-\.

Experimented with USB2 and USB3 sockets for G25 and USB 3 are definitely better on my system, especially in GTL. USB2 gives a slight time lag between applying steering/brake etc before on screen car responds, so G25 wheel and pedals + Bodnar shifter are running via USB3 now. Tested GPL ( in Win10 and all OK ).

Fired up GEM and checked IGOR as well all looked OK.

Selected a random track/car to test controls. On previous days I was able to launch GPL and sit in car at pits ( but no controls ) Today, when I launch GPL I get a narrow graphics window, more like a mobile phone, which only shows a slice of the GPL display? I am still looking into this problem and will check back here for comments/suggestions.

Yes, the powermizer allways reverts, to auto...
(Pete has a permanent solution...)

With your other problems I have no idea how to fix, as imo there are some conflicting files of different NV versions in the system that do not work together.

I also don't understand if Christian says he did same install and had NV 460 from the first try why you had 390 only?

Please give it a second chance for a fresh install....

yes, I also think that we have to start from 0. when we have started to modify too many things and that it does not work correctly from the beginning, it is the only thing to do ... (already lived !!)

I didn't have the 460 from the start, but I changed it right away and without a problem.

Yes, from start you have the opensource nouveau  as default  ;)

I think a fresh start is the way to proceed.
I genuinely felt that GPL was close to running OK, just the BODNAR cables tripping that up with the pedals etc. Maybe as Christian suggested, the saved BODNAR calibration from WIN10 is held within the cable/plug, so when it tried to run under Linux things got confused? If that is the case, I am not sure how to get around it, but I figure that there must be a way as the SHIFTER has never been a problem, and that was calibrated in Win10 too?

But for the next day or so I am going to explore more things in the current MINT, and find my way around stuff. If I am going to do a fresh install, I cannot screw things up even if I get it wrong and anyway I have TIMESHIFT set for 4 saves per day at this moment. Once I achieve a working stable install etc, I can drop those saves to once a day/week.

A quick question for when I execute a fresh install. Is it necessary to use the original memory stick and opt for a total wipe of the SSD? or is it like Win10 where I just need to re-install the OS and leave my files etc untouched?

Not a big deal either way.

I might try a GTL install before I commit to the new MINT install, just to run through what will happen and what problems I hit.

For me it is a steep learning curve in computer stuff, so better to practice on something that I am going to wipe and restart anyway. If I think that the gremlins in the current MINT are a problem with GTL, then I will abort and start the fresh install.

Yes Clive a complete wipe of the old mint would be best as the NVidia was imo the problem.
No need to unplug the other HDD or SSD as the installer will show this in the menu ;)

You will then have a Bootmanager automatic starting to choose wten or mint

I have just been carefully checking through what I have done on this first install.

I have discovered that I have WINE 5.0 and not WINE 6.0 ??? could this be the reason for the problems? or maybe combined with the Nvidia ?

No, this is fine! the 6.0 has a bug! - the 5.0.3 is the ubuntu version and working fine for us ;)

I found the solution for the low res boot - your CPU is too fast to load the NVidia driver.
I had same with my Ryzen here...

just a 5 sec sleep in the /lib/systemd/system/lightdm.service makes it  ;)

You have to open it as root!

Hi Clive,
Where are you with your tests?

Just for information, after having had some troubles with my tests (tested several Linux ditri) I had to do something stupid (despite that linux was on an individual disk) and it was impossible for me to restart Windows, no way !! So I erased everything and installed Linux Mint alone ... ::)

There was still some work, especially for the drivers, I had to find the 450 (which is no longer accessible and which works for RFactor 2 among others!)

So I run GPL and GTL !! :thumbup2:

For the moment, Linux is the winner!  :thumbup1:   (@Axel ;))

About bodnar cables for the pedals, can you adjust the sensitivity of the brakes for GPL? (as can be done originally in GTL) I find the braking attack too abrupt in GPL

Hi Christian,

I have been kept busy in the garden by the resident officer of the fun police ( aka wife ) and need to find a couple of hours to wipe and re-install Mint. I am hoping that what I have learned from the first install will make things go easier......maybe???

The Bodnar cables do not allow for any sensitivity adjustments on the brakes, but if you use the Logitech Profiler software there is a slider adjustment to change the sensitivity of the brake pedal.
TBH, from my experience in adjusting this slider the effect is not dramatic. I find that traing your braking foot to tread lightly on the pedal and getting the brake balance % correct  is more effective.

 In GPL generally you are looking for close to 50/50 brake balance, maybe 52-53% towards the front if you find 50/50 unstable.

Clive have you tried killing the controls.cfg in GPL player folder for your pedals?

Hello,
Err I think this is my first post or one of them anyway. :laugh:
I know this is an old post but I use Peppermint Linux as my daily and have done for many years.
I too am not a great lover of Windows and have always been suspicious of what is running in the background. I do use it for gaming but not much else.
Anyway a few years ago I ran GPL on Linux and it worked great. I did have to jump through a few hoops to get it running but there are some quite detailed articles about how to do it.

I'm actually here because I started watching Turbo Racing's YouTube channel (Dimitar) and downloaded GTL and P&G.
I've been talking to him on his Discord server and he keeps telling me to join the UKGTL server and do some races.
I have never raced online before and am not particularly fast and would be mortified if I punted someone off the track.
I'll have a think and maybe try some short Races.

Fred