Complete HOW-TO Linux Mint 18.1 32/64 RTAI or PREEMPT with RIP install or deb

HI -

This is a great tutorial. But I am a noob to some of this and a bit lost.

I am trying to work my way the kernel build.

i have x86 not 32 and I not sure what this note means:

CAUTION: In the xconfig step you MUST select the proper kernel if 64 bit, Very first option! If 32 bit you can leave this blank, the build will default to 32bit.

I mean I get its meaning -- i don;t know what to do about it.

is xconfig a file? or do I change the command ?

i found this:
unix.stackexchange.com/questions/41446/h...rom-32-bit-to-64-bit

but not sure how it helps me.

sorry this is probably really basic -- thanks for any advice you can share.

steve

I am new too this and struggling a bit so very grateful for advise. I originally had Linux Mint and loaded LinuxCNC. This wiped my hard drive of Mint and used Debian in which it installed and I have managed to run LinuxCNC, so far so good.
I created partitions on my drive and reintroduced Mint. I am using Inkscape and have been able to create a g-code file which I copy to a flash drive and then reopen in Debian a time consuming exercise.
I have followed, several times, all the methods to get LinuxCNC on to Mint. I have managed to create a LinuxCNC directory ( dev.
.) and another containing the rtai-module-4.1.0-1. I can get LinuxCNC to load it’s first page by going into the dev and launching through scripts. I get the first page and able to create a desktop shortcut.. As soon as I then attempt to select an option the program collapses with a multitude of errors. Attempting to start using the shortcut immediately create the errors.
On boot up I have selected the rtai-module-4.1.0-1option in Mint and again program collapses.
When I followed the load procedures, at the beginning of this post and, not fully understanding what I have been doing, I got error messages suggesting “broken??, abort” “multiple copies” but carried on.
Although I feel I am so near I am considering wiping the drive and starting from scratch to ensure a clean slate.
Any advise will be very much appreciated. Many others have succeeded and I am sure I will get there with a little prod.

I bit the bullet and partitioned and still have Mint, complete. Hopefully this dummies post will be of use to somebody

Well I tried to do this "easy" install and obviously I am doing something very wrong. Got as far as

"sudo apt-get install libgnomeprintui2.2-dev python-support tcl8.4-dev tk8.4-dev?

and then

"

---

sudo apt-get install libgnomeprintui2.2-dev python-support tcl8.4-dev tk8.4-dev
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11: Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?"

Very much appreciate some assistance as many have installed so why am I having problems?

E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?"

You have a package manger open. Therefore you can not use apt via the console. Close package installer and/or software manager.

Thanks very much and I did have package manager open as I was trying to resolve further problems. Got a few step further on but then

Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:

The following packages have unmet dependencies.
python-imaging-tk : Depends: python-imaging (= 1.1.7-4) but 3.1.2-0ubuntu1.1 is to be installed
python-pil.imagetk : Breaks: python-imaging-tk (< 1.1.7+2.0.0-1.1)
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.
Which I think I was trying to resolve. I am not all that clued up so just try things possibly incorrectly so your guidance much appreciated