Thank you TrueOs

Thank you TrueOs

I have been fiddling with my son’s laptop (he does not us it) and i erased its Windows operating system.

It did not allow dual booting with Linux.

It has a UEFI script that prevented booting Linux.

Additionally F2 was blocked with a password.

I bought this laptop in Singapore for a very good offer and did not anticipate or checked its problems (I was in a hurry).

I thought erasing Windows it would allow me to install Knoppix.

Knoppix took over the hard disk but it could not boot up with GRUB boot record.

Windows script kept coming on saying no boot media.

Tried Debian it could not, even after creating an ESP partition new.

Finally I allowed TrueOs to destroy everything and install TrueOs.

Then I looked up the partition table to see it had unallocated (Big Thank YOU) the Windows UEFI partition and another 60 odd GiB I made as an alternative UEFI/FAT to boot Debian.

Mind you I tried Ubuntu but it could not bypass the script.

I tried to resize the tank partition (Open Solaris terminology) using Gparted for me to install Debian but it did not allow resizing.

Finally I deleted the HUGE tank partition and installed Debian in one third of the capacity. 

Now it boots up Debian with TrueOs Theme Logo.

If it had allowed me to resize the home/tank partition I would have both TrueOs and Debian in the laptop.

Thank TrueOs for been ruthless to Windows UEFI.

My attitude of never Give Up has come good at last.

If I could have located the Windows Boot Script partition, I would have done it myself.

Windows and OEM guys own your equipment and YOU rent it for an enormous price.

Worth it?

Using Linux and Installing

Using Linux and Installing

I get lot of silly questions at Quorora.

I give a blunt answer instead of saying YOU STUPID.

Immediately the moderator deletes my comment (that is my wish).

By the way, my comments are time tested and valid.

My intention is, not to have any questions directed at me and say Good Bye to Quorora but like Facebook they keep my registration.

Mind you they make money on the side.

Warning!

If you paid lot of money for an equipment please do not try to modify it.

The OEM guys have secret agreement, specially with Microsoft to install BIOS/UEFI based software and even Linux, Debian in my case cannot overwrite this file often very small 3 MiB in size.

I have found a way around it but I won’t state it here (very destructive).

I have lot of spare gadgets collected over 20 years and I am found of playing round OEM tricks.

It is time consuming.

I use Knoppix and even Knoppix haven’t fount a utility to erase OEM software.

Installing Linux

Very brief instructions here but in my blog site I have many options and instructions which I have tried.

Do not try them and blame me.

Visitors from Russia (no Chinese, by the way) to USA to UK.

Go to www.distrowatch.com and read its comments.

First 30 Linux distributions are time tested.

1. Pick your choice.

2. Download and write the iso to a DVD (all are above except Puppy Linux and few more less than 700 MiB).

3. Try a live session to see it has the components you need.

4. Look at your hardware profile and disk space.

5. You may have to partition it.

6. Use Gparted for partition.

7. Install Windows first.

8. Install Linux (follow its manual’s instruction, if there is no manual do not use that distribution-very unlikely).

9. Make sure GRUB file is in the master boot record.

10. Do not try SSDs they have problems with writing the GRUB file.

11. The GRUB file is very instructive boot record and mount (copy) its configuration on a text file and read it.

12. Linux is very precise, even a single missing file might give you problems.One can download the extra software after the basic system (ideally graphic) is installed out of over 66,000 packages.