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This tutorial was completely valid for Squeeze, and was written in a time when I had both an AMD card and Debian as my OS of choice. I no longer have either one of them, so while the methods will probably work, I have no way of checking. If someone wants to take over, I'll gladly offer what little assistance I can offer.
Terminology
radeon - this is the open source driver for 99 percent of the cards. It does 2D and 3D, KMS, is extremely stable, works out of the box for pretty much everything once you install the package firmware-linux-nonfree. It has crappy power management, so it runs about 10 degrees Celsius hotter than the proprietary driver.
radeonhd - this is the older version of the open source driver. It doesn't have 3D support. There may be a card or two that uses it still, but it's pretty much a ramnant of the past. You're highly unlikely to see it.
Catalyst - that's the official name of the priprietary driver, it's the same as in Windows, only the driver is worse.
fglrx - it's the Linuxed version of the name, not the driver itself. It stands for FireGL and Radeon for X. Catalyst and fglrx are the same thing. It used to be that every distro named the prepackaged driver in the repositories fglrx, but some are changing that policy. You're completely right not to care about it.
Is my card supported?
AMD has recently dropped support for everything under the HD5xxx line. If you have an older card, my best suggestion is to install a distro with Catalyst 12.4, or use the legacy driver (it's on AMD's site and in various repositories). The problem with the legacy driver is that it requires xorg 1.12, so you will be having to work with downgrades.
Prerequisites
In general, stick to the open source driver, this is just for those who can't afford to, because their laptop is burning hot and stuff like that. Else, if you want the latest driver, you need Xorg 1.10 (that's from backports) or higher, and kernel 2.6.39 or higher. Don't even try to do this if you have the "stable" version of #! (kernel 2.6.32 and Xorg 1.7). Stick to the open source driver, buy an Nvidia card or a new laptop.
smxi
For real, save yourself the trouble and let smxi do the work for you. It couldn't be easier. If you have a wireless card, edit your connection, tick the box that says "Available to all users" and "connect automatically". Now drop to a tty, and run this:
sudo -i
cd /usr/local/bin
apt-get install unzip dkms linux-headers-$(uname -r)
wget http://smxi.org/smxi.zip
unzip smxi.zip
smxiIt will ask you to stop the X server and will test your internet connection. if it can't connect, hook up an ethernet card, or follow this guide: http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic … upplicant/
smxi will do some configuring, you'll get to a screen that has the option to take you to the graphics install. Make it so and select "current fglrx". Nothing else. Seriously, don't even look at the other options. smxi will isntall everything you need, and the driver, and then fail, because the open source driver is still running (this is the genius of Debian). So reboot, you'll have a very basic setup, run smxi again, select to install the driver again and reboot. dkms will rebuild the kernel module for the driver on further kernel upgrades. if it doesn't, run smxi again.
Manual, for the masochists
OK, so maybe you spent too much time on Arch and don't like "abstractions", or you're just paranoid or whatever, and wanna do it yourself. Fine by me.
gksudo geany /etc/default/grubThis:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet"needs to be changed to this.
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet nomodeset radeon.modeset=0" Save, then run
sudo update-gruband reboot to a very basic desktop. This is the same thing smxi does, it prevents the kernel to use the radeon driver (the open source driver for the AMD cards) to use kernel mode setting (the pretty resolution on the ttys). Seriously, if you don't reboot now and come complaining, I'm gonna send Black Ivan to your house to kill you dead.
Now, prepare everything.
sudo apt-get install dkms linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential libstdc++6 libgl1-mesa-glxGo to the AMD website, fill out the form, download the driver (same caveats apply as above). I'm assuming the driver is in downloads.
cd downloads
sudo sh ati-driver-installer-xx-yy-x86.x86_64.runxx and yy are the year and month. You don't need to input them, just hit Tab after ati. Follow the install. Agree to the license, do not under any circumstances select the "build distribution specific package", just use the default route. Reboot. I'm serious. Ivan is right under your window. Open the Catalyst Control Center (Centre for you Brits), it's invoked with amdcccle. Enable Tear Free Destkop. dkms will rebuild the kernel module in the future. If not, you need to uninstall and install the driver again. Keep a copy of a working installer. it's used to do the new install after uninstalling. So, how do you uninstall?
Uninstall the driver
Use smxi, it will do everything. You can use smxi even if you didn't use it to install the proprietary driver. just select the Xorg driver option. You don't wanna use smxi? OK. in case you wanna revert to the open source driver, remove the nomodeset radeon.modeset=0 from the Grub line and:
sudo sh /usr/share/ati/amd-uninstall.sh #let is finish its job
sudo mv /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorgconf-old
sudo update-grub
sudo rebootThat's it. Now, mods, make this a sticky please, and everybody else advising on AMD cards,That's it. Now, mods, make this a sticky please, and everybody else advising on AMD cards, point the people here. I take responsibility for maintaining this guide and advising everyone who follows it on best point the people here. I take responsibility for maintaining this guide and advising everyone who follows it on best
If you're just doing a quick uninstall to install a new version of the driver, download the driver to the directory:
sudo sh /usr/share/ati/smd-uninstall.sh
sudo rebootGo to the folder where the AMD driver is
cd downloads
sudo sh ati-driver-installer-xx-yy-x86.x86_64.runThere's a lot of rebooting, but I'd rather you overreboot than have stuff break.
Last edited by el_koraco (2013-02-25 11:56:07)
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High quality guide, el_koraco! 
Here's another way of removing the ati-driver:
sudo aticonfig --uninstall
sudo reboot#! Chrome Extension
Uh... I'm supposed to share my deep insights here, right?
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I've had amdcofig fail on uninstall. It works most of the time, but it has failed me, so I'm not recommending it. Just input the full path to the uninstall script.
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Props!!
We'll build a memorial for you one day. Such is the magnitude of your sacrifice.
*doffs hat*
Point & Squirt
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Now that's a guide! Nice job!
If you can't sit by a cozy fire with your code in hand enjoying its simplicity and clarity, it needs more work. --Carlos Torres
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great guide mr koraco. i like your style. will be having bad dreams about Black Ivan tonight 
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Don't praise me, make this a sticky 
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hey, i've suggested making it a sticky with my fellow 'powers that be'. i've never stickied anything before and not 100% certain about the policy and whatnot. i'm still new, so don't wanna go run around stickying stuff. i'm all for it but we'll see what everyone else has to say.
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^ I am no powers that be, but I am all for stickying. This is really important for (new) people with ATi cards that don't know how to do this. They could just search Google, but this is guaranteed to work whereas Google's solutions may or may not, or may just half.
Last edited by Unia (2012-02-18 16:13:19)
If you can't sit by a cozy fire with your code in hand enjoying its simplicity and clarity, it needs more work. --Carlos Torres
Github || Deviantart
Online
Sticky it! I think it is important and then we can pass this "RTFDM (read the 'you know what to insert' Debian manual).
The best part:
...I'm gonna send Black Ivan to your house to kill you dead...
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ok i decided to just sticky it. hope philip doesn't come and kick my ass now 
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^ Cool!
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If you have something ancient, like an R9200, go buy an Nvidia card.
Nope i will not buy an nvidia card
i used it with opensource radeon driver, works beautifuly in some configs.
In stable statler with UMS and Mesa 7.5.2, in statler backports with KMS and mesa 8.0.1 or from git.
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Hi everyone, the smxi dont install the Fgrlx 12.1 for me, im new with CrunchBang but not in Linux, really is a good distribution, but actually i have some problems, before i used Arch, but now i buy a ati amd radeon hd 6950, in windows the normal temperature is 48º with ATI Catalyst 12.1 but now, in a new install of CrunchBang 64 bits bpo, because my processor is a Athlon64, and surprise for me, the temperature is 60º in normal mode. This dont be a big problema if the fan of the graphic card that be so noisy with this temperature. For this, i have the hope that with fglrx in crunch the temperature be similar on windows. Therefore, i read this stick for a solution and do the process with smxi, but when the smxi download the driver and go to install, the program give me this error.
Im very lost, some help will be very appreciate, thanxs guys.
=========================================================
START sgfxi LOGGING:
=========================================================
Script started: 2012-03-03-01:58:38
Video Card Information: ATI Technologies Inc Device 6719
Video Card Type: 1002
Video Card Number: 6719
Xorg Version: 1.10
Installing driver to kernel: 3.2.0-0.bpo.1-amd64
sgfxi script version: 4.17.80
sgfxi start options: -r -j 1 -! 120 -X -P apt-get
SYSTEM_BASE: debian
SYSTEM_CODENAME: stable
DISTRIB_CODENAME: stable
DISTRIB_ID: debian
DISTRIB_RELEASE:
FG_DISTRIB_CODENAME: squeeze
FG_DISTRIB_ID: Debian
APT_TYPE: apt-get
=========================================================
X is Running: false
Current Runlevel: 2
Connection is live (0=true): 0
=========================================================
INSTALL_TO_KERNEL:
KERNEL_FULL: 3.2.0-0.bpo.1-amd64
KERNEL_BASE: 3
KERNEL_NUMBER: 3.2
KERNEL_MATH: 2
B_IS_XEN: true
Function: create_x_conf - Primary: Start
xorg is present, no xorg.conf file
Function: x_is_running - Utility: Start
xIsRunning: false
Function: x_is_running - Utility: End
Function: x_is_running - Utility: Start
xIsRunning: false
Function: x_is_running - Utility: End
X.Org X Server 1.10.4
Release Date: 2011-08-19
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Linux 3.0.0-1-amd64 x86_64 Debian
Current Operating System: Linux walrus 3.2.0-0.bpo.1-amd64 #1 SMP Sat Feb 11 08:41:32 UTC 2012 x86_64
Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-0.bpo.1-amd64 root=UUID=84058d7e-bbed-414f-8984-539c216b6aa2 ro quiet splash
Build Date: 28 August 2011 09:39:43PM
xorg-server 2:1.10.4-1~bpo60+1 (Cyril Brulebois <kibi@debian.org>)
Current version of pixman: 0.24.0
Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
to make sure that you have the latest version.
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Sat Mar 3 01:59:02 2012
List of video drivers:
mach64
voodoo
i128
nouveau
chips
mga
ati
neomagic
tdfx
siliconmotion
savage
apm
s3virge
tseng
radeon
sis
vmwlegacy
cirrus
intel
sisusb
trident
r128
openchrome
vmware
s3
ark
rendition
fbdev
vesa
(EE) Failed to load module "vmwgfx" (module does not exist, 0)
(EE) vmware: Please ignore the above warnings about not being able to to load module/driver vmwgfx
(EE) vmware: Unexpected failure while loading the "vmwlegacy" driver. Giving up.
(EE) Failed to load module "vmware" (a required submodule could not be loaded, 0)
(++) Using config file: "/root/xorg.conf.new"
(==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
(II) [KMS] No DRICreatePCIBusID symbol, no kernel modesetting.
Number of created screens does not match number of detected devices.
Configuration failed.
xorg.conf created and mv to /etc/X11/
xorg xorg.conf file generated
Function: create_x_conf - Primary: End
Function: check_supported_driver - Utility: Start
Function: check_supported_driver - Utility: End
Function: set_cpu_data - Utility: Start
BITS: 64 - arch: amd64
Function: set_cpu_data - Utility: End
Function: set_driver_install_version - Primary: Start
Function: check_supported_driver - Utility: Start
Args: last-check
Function: check_supported_driver - Utility: End
Function: print_information_continue - Utility: Start
Args: standard The graphics installer will be installing the fglrx driver: 12-1
Function: print_information_continue - Utility: End
Installing this driver: 12-1
Function: set_driver_install_version - Primary: End
Function: driver_support_tests - Utility: Start
Args: supported-driver
Function: driver_support_tests - Utility: End
Function: check_kernel_headers - Utility: Start
Function: check_package_status - Utility: Start
Args: linux-headers-3.2.0-0.bpo.1-amd64 i
Package Version: 3.2.4-1~bpo60+1
Function: check_package_status - Utility: End
Function: check_package_status - Utility: Start
Args: linux-headers-3.2.0-0.bpo.1-amd64 c
Package Version: 3.2.4-1~bpo60+1
Function: check_package_status - Utility: End
headerName: linux-headers-3.2.0-0.bpo.1-amd64
headerInstalled: 3.2.4-1~bpo60+1
headerAvailable: 3.2.4-1~bpo60+1
headerFile:
Function: check_kernel_headers - Utility: End
nvidiaPackages:
fglrxPackages:
Function: check_run_package_tools - Primary: Start
Function: check_run_package_tools - Primary: End
Function: set_download_info - Primary: Start
download url: http://www2.ati.com/drivers/linux/ - driver file: amd-driver-installer-12-1-x86.x86_64
Function: set_download_info - Primary: End
Function: download_extract_driver - Primary: Start
Args: http://www2.ati.com/drivers/linux/ amd-driver-installer-12-1-x86.x86_64
Function: pre_extract_clean_set_up - Utility: Start
Args: amd-driver-installer-12-1-x86.x86_64
Function: pre_extract_clean_set_up - Utility: End
Creating directory fglrx-install-12-1
Verifying archive integrity... All good.
Uncompressing AMD Catalyst(TM) Proprietary Driver-8.93.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Function: download_extract_driver - Primary: End
Function: set_install_directory - set to: /usr/src/sgfxi-downloads/fglrx-install-12-1
Function: run_driver_patches - Primary: Start
Function: run_driver_patches - Primary: End
Function: x_start_stop_master - Primary: Start
Args: stop
Function: x_start_stop_master - Primary: End
Function: check_driver_install_tools - Primary: Start
Function: check_package_status - Utility: Start
Args: module-assistant i
Package Version:
Function: check_package_status - Utility: End
Function: check_package_status - Utility: Start
Args: module-assistant c
Package Version: 0.11.3
Function: check_package_status - Utility: End
Function: install_package - Utility: Start
Args: module-assistant
Function: update_package_manager - Utility: Start
Args: update
Update apt-get successful
Function: update_package_manager - Utility: End
Install command for apt-get: install - Extra args:
Function: install_package - Utility: End
Function: check_package_status - Utility: Start
Args: build-essential i
Package Version: 11.5
Function: check_package_status - Utility: End
Function: check_package_status - Utility: Start
Args: debhelper i
Package Version:
Function: check_package_status - Utility: End
Function: check_package_status - Utility: Start
Args: debhelper c
Package Version: 9.20120115~bpo60+1
Function: check_package_status - Utility: End
Function: install_package - Utility: Start
Args: debhelper
Function: update_package_manager - Utility: Start
Args: update
Function: update_package_manager - Utility: End
Install command for apt-get: install - Extra args:
Function: install_package - Utility: End
Function: check_package_status - Utility: Start
Args: dpkg-cross i
Package Version:
Function: check_package_status - Utility: End
Function: check_package_status - Utility: Start
Args: libstdc++5 i
Package Version:
Function: check_package_status - Utility: End
Function: check_package_status - Utility: Start
Args: libstdc++5 c
Package Version: 1:3.3.6-20
Function: check_package_status - Utility: End
Function: install_package - Utility: Start
Args: libstdc++5
Function: update_package_manager - Utility: Start
Args: update
Function: update_package_manager - Utility: End
Install command for apt-get: install - Extra args:
Function: install_package - Utility: End
Function: check_package_status - Utility: Start
Args: libstdc++6 i
Package Version: 4.4.5-8
Function: check_package_status - Utility: End
Function: check_driver_install_tools - Primary: End
Function: prep_install - Primary: Start
Function: install_package - Utility: Start
Args: libgl1-mesa-glx reinstall
Function: update_package_manager - Utility: Start
Args: update
Function: update_package_manager - Utility: End
Function: check_package_status - Utility: Start
Args: libgl1-mesa-glx i
Package Version: 7.10.3-4~bpo60+1
Function: check_package_status - Utility: End
Install command for apt-get: install - Extra args: --reinstall
Function: install_package - Utility: End
Function: prep_install - Primary: End
Function: preinstall_cleanup - Primary: Start
Pre Remove: nvidia.ko files:
Function: list_installed_packages - Utility: Start
Args: nvidia (modalias|libvdpau|nvidia-bl-dkms|nvidia-cg-toolkit)
packageList:
Function: list_installed_packages - Utility: End
Post Purge/Remove: nvidia.ko files:
Function: remove_module - Primary: Start
Args: nvidia
operation outcome: unset
Function: remove_module - Primary: End
Function: list_installed_packages - Utility: Start
Args: fglrx modalias
packageList:
Function: list_installed_packages - Utility: End
Function: remove_module - Primary: Start
Args: fglrx
operation outcome: unset
Function: remove_module - Primary: End
Function: clean_dkms - Primary: Start
Function: clean_dkms - Primary: End
Function: preinstall_cleanup - Primary: End
Function: run_driver_installer - Primary: Start
driver: 12-1
direct fglrx install - no debs: options: 12-1 --install
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Error logs from fglrx install:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
No error logs found from the run package installer!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ERROR: (245) The fglrx installer exited with the error: 3
A copy of this driver installer error log is also here: /var/log/sgfxi/sgfxi.logOther problem, when i do a lspci, the system dont show the device of graphic card good, in arch he do it. He show me that is a ATI 6950,,etc, but in grunch show this and i dont know if dont install the driver for this or what.
00:00.0 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation MCP61 LPC Bridge (rev a1)
00:01.0 ISA bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP61 LPC Bridge (rev a2)
00:01.1 SMBus: nVidia Corporation MCP61 SMBus (rev a2)
00:01.2 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation MCP61 Memory Controller (rev a2)
00:02.0 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation MCP61 USB Controller (rev a3)
00:02.1 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation MCP61 USB Controller (rev a3)
00:04.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP61 PCI bridge (rev a1)
00:05.0 Audio device: nVidia Corporation MCP61 High Definition Audio (rev a2)
00:06.0 IDE interface: nVidia Corporation MCP61 IDE (rev a2)
00:07.0 Bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP61 Ethernet (rev a2)
00:08.0 IDE interface: nVidia Corporation MCP61 SATA Controller (rev a2)
00:08.1 IDE interface: nVidia Corporation MCP61 SATA Controller (rev a2)
00:09.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP61 PCI Express bridge (rev a2)
00:0b.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP61 PCI Express bridge (rev a2)
00:0c.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP61 PCI Express bridge (rev a2)
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] HyperTransport Technology Configuration
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Address Map
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] DRAM Controller
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Miscellaneous Control
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Device 6719
02:00.1 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc Device aa80Last edited by hanssen (2012-03-03 01:40:01)
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I did the driver install using the smxi script - it all went well, but now I cannot logout of the openbox session properly - I get a black screen and the sweet need to hard reset my Toshiba Satellite laptop.
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Other problem, when i do a lspci, the system dont show the device of graphic card good, in arch he do it. He show me that is a ATI 6950,,etc, but in grunch show this and i dont know if dont install the driver for this or what.
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Device 6719 02:00.1 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc Device aa80
Update pciids for that:
sudo update-pciidsOffline
Thanxs smoki, i can install the driver 12.1 manually. Now i see the model with lspci, gratitude.
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hey guys, I'm new to Crunchbang and when installing this driver using smxi I always get the error:
"Dkms part of installation failed"So the driver actually is installed but there is no 3d acceleration and I cannot watch videos with vlc or xine. My Graphics Card is Mobility Radeon HD 4650 and Im using backports crunchbang x86.Help is very much appreciated.
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So the driver actually is installed but there is no 3d acceleration and I cannot watch videos with vlc or xine. My Graphics Card is Mobility Radeon HD 4650 and Im using backports crunchbang x86.Help is very much appreciated.
I got the same thing just doing the sh adm*.run, and realized I hadn't updated my linux-headers; have you made sure you've updated yours? (That's this, from above: )
sudo apt-get install linux-headers-`uname -r`Offline
nice howto!
however it fails on my ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics card.
the sgfxi.log tells me that:
ERROR: (226) The driver you selected: 12-4 does not support your current Xorg version: 1.12
If this is wrong, please let the script maintainer know.
You can override this test with -! 6 option. If install works, let maintainer know.maybe that's because i'm on waldorf?
should i try to downgrade to Xorg 1.11 as it says that
Xorg 1.12: Should be supported around 12-5 or maybe a month later
Xorg 1.11: Supported as of 11-10.
Xorg 1.10: Working: fglrx 11-4 or newer
Xorg 1.9: Working: fglrx 10-10 or newer. No support for cards older than hd2000
Xorg 1.7: Working: 10-4 or greater. No support for cards older than hd2000
Xorg 1.6: Working: 9-4 or greater, BUT: 9-4 supports only > hd2000 cards.
radeonhd in Xorg >= 1.6 now supports (2d) R7xx cards, and improved support for r4-6xx cards.
Unsupported older cards less than hd2000, use radeon or radeonhd, or do: sgfxi -n
it works out for you.?
We are a nice, friendly community here and I hope we stay that way.
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You should wait it out. 12.5 will be released soon, if it isn't already (smxi sometimes takes a couple of days to update fglrx).
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ok, cool.
12.5 means: may 2012 i guess, so it might be out in june then ("or maybe a month later"), right?
well, no problem - i can wait with that.
it's easy when you have such a nice how-to... 
thanks again el_koracao!!!
We are a nice, friendly community here and I hope we stay that way.
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Not June, end of May, maybe beginning of June.
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It should appear in a week. On average, it appears between 20-25th of the month. I'm looking forward to it as well, as it's said to bring xorg 1.12 support.
If you can't sit by a cozy fire with your code in hand enjoying its simplicity and clarity, it needs more work. --Carlos Torres
Github || Deviantart
Online
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