Linux Mint 19.1 “Tessa” MATE – BETA Release

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This is the BETA release for Linux Mint 19.1 “Tessa” MATE Edition.

Linux Mint 19.1 Tessa MATE Edition

Linux Mint 19.1 is a long term support release which will be supported until 2023. It comes with updated software and brings refinements and many new features to make your desktop even more comfortable to use.

New features:

This new version of Linux Mint contains many improvements.

For an overview of the new features please visit:

“What’s new in Linux Mint 19.1 MATE“.

Important info:

The release notes provide important information about known issues, as well as explanations, workarounds and solutions.

To read the release notes, please visit:

“Release Notes for Linux Mint 19.1 MATE”

System requirements:

  • 1GB RAM (2GB recommended for a comfortable usage).
  • 15GB of disk space (20GB recommended).
  • 1024×768 resolution (on lower resolutions, press ALT to drag windows with the mouse if they don’t fit in the screen).

Notes:

  • The 64-bit ISO can boot with BIOS or UEFI.
  • The 32-bit ISO can only boot with BIOS.
  • The 64-bit ISO is recommended for all modern computers (Almost all computers sold since 2007 are equipped with 64-bit processors).

Upgrade instructions:

  • This BETA release might contain critical bugs, please only use it for testing purposes and to help the Linux Mint team fix issues prior to the stable release.
  • It will be possible to upgrade from this BETA to the stable release.
  • It will also be possible to upgrade from Linux Mint 19. Upgrade instructions will be published after the stable release of Linux Mint 19.1.

Bug reports:

  • Bugs in this release should be reported on Github at https://github.com/linuxmint/mint-19.1-beta.
  • Create one issue per bug.
  • As described in the Linux Mint Troubleshooting Guide, do not report or create issues for observations.
  • Be as accurate as possible and include any information that might help developers reproduce the issue or understand the cause of the issue:
    • Bugs we can reproduce, or which cause we understand are usually fixed very easily.
    • It is important to mention whether a bug happens “always”, or “sometimes”, and what triggers it.
    • If a bug happens but didn’t happen before, or doesn’t happen in another distribution, or doesn’t happen in a different environment, please mention it and try to pinpoint the differences at play.
    • If we can’t reproduce a particular bug and we don’t understand its cause, it’s unlikely we’ll be able to fix it.
  • The BETA phase is literally a bug squashing rush, where the team is extremely busy and developers try to fix as many bugs as fast as possible.
  • There usually are a huge number of reports and very little time to answer everyone or explain why a particular report is not considered a bug, or won’t get fixed. Don’t let this frustrate you, whether it’s acknowledged or not, we appreciate everyone’s help.
  • Please visit https://github.com/linuxmint/Roadmap to follow the progress of the development team between the BETA and the stable release.

Download links:

Here are the download links for the 64-bit ISO:

A 32-bit ISO image is also available at https://www.linuxmint.com/download_all.php.

Integrity and authenticity checks:

Once you have downloaded an image, please verify its integrity and authenticity.

Anyone can produce fake ISO images, it is your responsibility to check you are downloading the official ones.

Enjoy!

We look forward to receiving your feedback. Many thanks in advance for testing the BETA!

46 comments

  1. I am running this beta as a test machine. If something goes really wrong, I will just do a re-install, so I won’t be using the System Snapshots. That means the prompt to set up the System Snapshots in the Update Manager is just a nuisance. It would be nice if there were an option to disable the prompt.

    Reply

  3. MATE: Yellow folder color NOT available. Under 18.3 and Mint-X it is …. go figure…
    1. Software Manager cant be resized to liking on 1368×768 screens (top to
    bottom limit)
    2. Problem with encrypted media mount: diverse error code ie quark 0,
    operation not permitted
    3. No yellow color folder option

    5. Bad icon sizing (100 to 66, no slider, no setting in between) 😗
    Tue 04 Dec 2018 01:54:52 AM CET
    6. Calibre tray icon STILL not working 😠
    Tue 04 Dec 2018 05:41:53 AM CET

    Reply

    1. Hi,

      1. I can’t reproduce this. It fits fine for me in 1024×768 with a 40px panel.
      2. That’s just an observation, I can’t do anything about this.
      3. We’re planning to review the various color deviations, but this will happen in 19.2.
      4. Where’s issue number 4?
      5. I’ve no idea where this is.
      6. Calibre has no statusicon support, only indicator support. You can enable this in Cinnamon in System Settings -> General.

    2. 4. was solved, hence omitted but numbering kept for internal statistics

      1. Software Manager cant be resized vertical (top to bottom, bottom to top), only left and right
      2. LVM/luks encrypted disks CANNOT be mounted, hence error message …. BAD … problem due to same naming scheme (/dev/mint-vg/swap_1, /dev/mint-vg/*) . Casual users need a feasible simple solution to rename crypt partitions temporarily, NOT the mess that s out there.

      Trying to mount despite same naming convention may destroy install on other disk or render it useless and unsolvable for the casual user.

      3. Zooming steps not handy, file manager allows only switch from 100 to 66% nothing in between
      6. I’m on MATE, I don’t like cinnamon … I have to use this stupid work around w calibre (alltray) since LM18

    3. whoknows, thanx for your post. I did mentioned problem with Software Manager very first day of LM19.1 was release. Clem as you see I’m not the only one with this problem. Any fix any time soon?

  6. The ideal solution would be for everyone to agree on how to load the cpu firmware. (Arch loads it via grub, everyone else loads it some other way so they do the wrong thing when updating grub with an Arch installation in place.) But failing that, a simple search reveals that it is supposed to be possible to start the Mint installer from the command line as “ubiquity -b” to not install grub. Does this not work?

    Reply

  7. Sorry, but I’m afraid I’m discouraged. The New Features list doesn’t include fixing Auto-update. [Auto-update does not notify the user when a reboot is required. This is a serious shortcoming, given the modern preference for Suspend and Hibernate instead of Shutdown – it makes Mint’s Auto-update a security flaw.]

    I’ll install 19.1 to the crash-test-laptop to test where we are with the broken hibernation, and with other issues new & old, but it’s already certain that 19.1 like 19.0 cannot migrate to my daily machines or into the friends’n’family loop.

    … the Old Kernel panel is a nice step, but half-cocked. It needs to be part of Auto-update now that we have Auto-update. Hope that’s on your map already. Seems we are off to a very slow start with 19.x. It’s feeling like a return to the Death By Paper Cuts from a while back.

    Anyway, cheers folks. Have a good one this holiday.

    Reply

    1. Please create issues for these on github/linuxmint/mintupdate. Describe how you’d like the notification system to work.

  9. I install this beta version in Acer Aspire A717-72G-72PV:
    After boot by usb flash(live cd), when i execute shutdown(Menu->Shitdown or Terminal-> init 0), result hang each time without shutdown.

    This situation also occure after I action to menu->control center->displays or action to webcam software “cheese”.

    If I installed this version, after I input username and password and press login, hang without any display(dark screen) let me to do next step. this sutiation also occure in version 19.0.

    Above situation always occured.

    Wifi connect hang problem fixed in this beta version, very thanks.

    I very like linux mint, very thanks linux mint team all members.

    Reply

  10. LM19.1 Mate beta
    My password is not accepted by update sudo etc. is there a way to redo the password without a re-install?

    Thanks

    Reply

  11. I envision an opportunity to include yelp and xman in the Welcome Screen. Both are graphical applications. I believe they would be an additional means of introducing Linux newcomers to the documentation that is already present within the current ISOs (just not readily available from the menus). Then the newcomers would not think that help was limited to online Web Forums, nor IRC Chat Rooms, thus encouraging them to help themselves. I add both of these when building an OEM installation for Linux newcomers.

    Also, as I recall, yelp was previously included in one of the previous LM 18x series releases with a help icon (might have been under the panel add-ons). In my experience, Linux newcomers more readily grasp the vast extent of the man pages when I show them the graphical xman application.

    Reply

  12. I am experiencing a major improvement in responsiveness in 19.1 compared to 19 and 18.3. Even network manager manager flows better. In both 18.3 and 19 I always had a several second delay when making openVPN connections. With 19-1 it’s a click and I’m instantly connected. No delay. Also firefox is noticeably faster. Overall everything is. I really like the feel of 10.1. I didn’t in 19 and utilized 18.3 m0st of the time.

    I did notice that 19.1 has difficulty transferring large amounts of files off of encrypted backup drives. I rsynced 65 gigs of data into my new install. The rsync connection from the drive was dropped 3 times and I had to reconnect and run the rsync again. However transferring 72 gigs off an unencrypted backup went smoothly. I tested the encrypted transfer in both 18.3 and 19 and the transfers worked flawlessly. 19 is on the same machine as 19.1.

    Other than the file transfer situation I’ve experienced no other difficulties so far but I have not worked extensively with the new install yet. I can already feel much improvement over 19 though.

    Reply

  13. Been using Mate Beta, for several hours now. Really can’t find any fault. I would agree with other posters though, 19.1 certainly feels snappier & more responsive than 19. Being inquisitive I would love to know why, & what’s changed.

    Reply

  14. Rodolfo. I can understand your frustration, but the problems You’re facing could well be peculiar to You & your hardware. For me & perhaps 1000s of others, you’re problems aren’t ours.
    For me 19.1 beta installs & runs flawlessly.
    Reading the release notes may help your boot problem, & Switching to Compiz may help your Screen Tearing.

    Reply

  15. on my Acer E-732 the network manager does not function properly The network manager claims to be connected to my Wi-Fi-modem, but Firefox can not load a single page. The Cinnamon version does not have that problem, that is why I am testing that.

    Reply

  16. Ref: My previous post
    I was having connection difficulties between 19.1 and an encrypted drive I was offloading from. The drive kept disconnect during rsync. Installed 19.1 on another machine and the offload from the encrypted drive works flawlessly. In other words – my newest and best machine apparently has a usb problem.

    Reply

  17. Is there any way that you would consider releasing an upgrade path right from the get-go for future point beta releases? In order to properly test this beta against my normal system, I personally would have to spend a day reinstalling and re-configuring the basic install in order to match my system setup and requirements. It would give the beta a far better workout if I could upgrade my current 19 system to 19.1 and then see how it all works. In general, providing an upgrade path from the start would mean that the beta would be tested against more complicated and richer real-life setups. And, of course, with TimeShift, a user could revert the system back to 19 at any point.

    Reply

    1. Hi Pete,

      I’m not convinced it’s a good idea, but you do raise a good point. We could make this upgrade available in Romeo I suppose. We can consider this for the next time around.

    2. There already is. simply edit the sources and replace thea with tessa.
      Working flawlessly here 😉

  18. Had to run ‘sudo system-config-printer’ from a term in order to configure my printer. If I utilize the Administration printer setup from the custom Menu Bar it keeps asking for username and password and I don’t have anything to give except my own username and password, which gets rejected.

    Reply

    1. Hi Trapper,

      system-config-printer does not require elevated privileges, it’s a user app. You shouldn’t use sudo with it, and the menu desktop item shouldn’t require pkexec or the like.

  20. Hi Clem
    Have successfully installed 19.1 on my Surface 3 (Non Pro). I reduced the Widows partition to enable installation alongside Windows 10. I did refer to the YouTube posting at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J25_nhzpJQY There was no need to install the Peter Hunt packages referred to in the presentation.
    Internet connection was available via wifi, although I did not take the 3rd party software option (should I have?). I did have to change the screen resolution to see the desktop in readable format.
    Sound works most of the time, battery icon does not show power remaining, touchscreen is operational, but not screen rotation (I need this for my Ukulele song sheets to be read in portrait in full screen!) Internet connection tends to fail quite easily – re-connection doesn’t seem to work well, if at all.
    1. How is progress on the rotation issue? and 2. would I have done better to have loaded Cinnamon rather than Mate?
    So far a pretty good experience – if anything else proves problematic as I get more use for the Surface I’ll let you know.
    Thanks to you and the team for all the hard work.

    Reply

    1. Hi Bill,

      Yes, MATE and Xfce are good for most computers but if you need support for recent services (online accounts) or devices (wacom, accelerometers, etc..) you should consider a more modern/complete DE (Cinnamon, GNOME or KDE).

      Now when it comes to screen rotation (in Cinnamon), there are three settings daemon at play:

      – csd-xrandr: This handles changes in “Display Settings” and screen rotations when rotations buttons are pressed. We fixed touchscreens rotations (which didn’t map the display rotation) in cinnamon-settings-daemon 4.0.3.
      – csd-wacom: This handles wacom devices. We added a configuration option in cinnamon-settings-daemon 4.0.3 and cinnamon-control-center 4.0.1 to choose whether or not your wacom device rotates when the display is rotated.
      – csd-orientation: This reacts to accelerometer movement (that info comes iio-sensor-proxy) and asks csd-xrandr to rotate the display when your screen/laptop is rotated. This wasn’t changed in 4.0 and it’s disabled by default in System Settings -> General.

  21. There ‘s a bug in Mint MATE (64 and 32 bit) since version 18 or 18.1 (not quite sure anymore, when it began):
    To change the volume, you can point to the volume tray icon and scroll the mouse wheel.
    There you see a tool tip showing the percents of the volume.
    When scrolling, it should count like this:
    Upwards
    Mute, 5, 10, 15, 20, …, 90, 95, 100.
    Downwards
    100, 95, 80, 85, …, 10,5, Mute.

    But it counts like this:
    Upwards
    Mute, 4, 9, 14, 19, …, 89, 94, 99, 100.
    And downwards
    100, 94, 89, 84, …, 14, 9, 4, Mute.

    And in Mint 18.2 and 18.3 there’s another bug.
    The tool tip of the volume tray icon disappears instantly as soon as you point to the volume tray icon and begin to scroll the volume. So it’s not possible to see what value you have, unless you move the mouse away and return to the icon again.
    I also tried Mint 19 MATE (32 and 64 bit) on a live stick and there, I had the same issues.

    Of course, you might argue, you can set up the volume according to what you hear, but that doesn’t make sense, if you work much in the audio section, because you need reliable values which do not differ from one another.

    So I wonder, if this has been fixed in 19.1 now?
    In case, it is not been done already, could you fix it, please?

    Reply

    1. I also find this annoying… in LM18, and now, in LM19. Not so much the “off by one”, but the lack of a numerical value which corresponds to the slider position. Petty, but annoying.

  22. Can’t boot when i install padoka/oibaf ppa for newest mesa and open source graphics drivers , do you think its time to make your own repository for these things ?? people are gaming on linux too 🙂

    Reply

  23. SORRY, but Unetbootin under LM 18.3 Mate 64 bit does NOT install a bootable image for LM 19.1 BETA Mate 64 bit. ??? I would like to test it if I could.

    Blessings in abundance,
    Art in Carlisle PA USA

    Reply

  24. Greetings, i have a problem with usb cant mount automacally, when I conect a usb device (drive or mouse, etc) but it has detected through lsusb, when restart the pc, the devices are available but if I disconnect and reconnect it is not available, I reinstall usbmount dont work.i have another pc with Linuxmint Rosa works perfect, thanks for the help.

    Reply

    1. hi Leonardo Jaimes

      One solution could be, that your usb-device nees ubs3.0-port instead of usb2.0-port. I had the same issue with an external drive (Toshiba). I switched it to an usb-3.0-port since then and the issue dissapeared. The problem also is with LM 19.

  25. Hi all. Thanks for the hard work. Skypeforlinux shows two icons on the panel on the right side near the time. Can this be easily fixed? Also the font size of the time on the panel is way too small and hard to see for we oldies!

    Reply

    1. Also, you can’t change the Application Icon with “Edit menu”. Choosing a different icon image has no effect, nothing changes!

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