GNU Linux Debian on x86 Macbooks 😀

but they are…

Created with GIMP

Pure Beauty & Nostalgia: Apple Macbook Pro 9,2 (A1278) Mid 2012 running GNU Linux like a Pro (the perfect combo that just works)

for the windows users:

  1. download the image.img.gz
  2. unpack the image.img.gz to image.img
  3. rename image.img to image.iso
  4. use https://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager/ to “burn” the image to stick
  5. get the PC to usb boot! congratz! finished! 🙂

if the user wants to watch it on youtube, the user can.

The above video tutorial will show: how to prepare Debian GNU Linux USB Stick via Windows 7 and how to boot it. (different on every laptop, but F12, DEL and F2 should get one going)

Setup of Debian 10 is easy as pie, if internet WIFI/LAN connection works… thus:

Mr Stallman: very very very sorry: it is the year 2020 and there are not enough 100% Open Source drivers for WIFI cards… thus closed source drivers are still needed for newbies to get going… (firmware-10.2.0-amd64-netinst.iso)

why Debian?

  • easy setup
  • high quality
  • respects privacy & dataprotection (as good as possible)
  • comes with Firefox and Libre Office pre installed
  • easy to use (yes sooner or later the terminal/command line will be needed never the less)
  • the basis of Ubuntu and thus more minimalistic (UNIX K.I.S.S)

downloads:

details on the latest SanDisk Ultra 3.2Gen1 32GBytes stick

these sticks have proven to be reliable, fast & cheap (get them for currently 6€ at Amazon or same price on eBay)

but be aware! not all SanDisk Ultra in the past were bootable (the 3.2Gen1 was tested and boots just fine)

https://dwaves.de/2021/04/11/ideallinux2021-updated-optimized-bootale-gnu-debian-10-9-64bit-non-free-based-usb-stick/

howto for the gnu linux users:

WARNING! MAKE SURE TO IDENTIFY THE RIGHT DRIVE LETTER!

GIVE WRONG DRIVE LETTER MAY IRREVERSIBLY DESTROY IMPORTANT DATA!

THUS IT IS RECOMMENDED TO DO THIS PROCEDURE ON A NON-CRITICAL (NON-WORK) PC!

# download one of the image.img.gz above

# check integrity
sha512um -c ideal-linux-usbstick_32GByte_2019-06-16.img.gz.sha512sum.txt

# if it says OK continue

# DISCONNECT ALL IMPORTANT USB HARDDISK (BACKUPS ETC)

# become root
su - root;

apt update;
apt install pigz pv;
# show the harddisks so the right one can be identified
alias loop_df='while true; do (clear; echo '\''=========== looped harddisk info '\''; datum; dmesg|head -n15; echo '\''=========== where is what'\''; harddisks; echo '\''=========== harddisk usage'\''; df -h;) ; sleep 1 ; done'

loop_df

# unmount stick

umount /dev/sdX

# plug in the usb stick and watch what device is added
# unpack and write image to usb stick in one go
gunzip -c /path/wehre/image/stored/ideal-linux-usbstick_32GByte_2019-06-16.img.gz | pv | dd of=/dev/sdX

# unmount stick; unpack and write image to usb stick; sync write chache; in one go one-liner
umount /dev/sdc*; gunzip -c /path/wehre/image/stored/ideal-linux-usbstick_32GByte_2019-06-16.img.gz | pv | dd of=/dev/sdX; sync;
# make sure all caches are written to disks and flash sticks
sync;

# utilize multiple cores during unpacking
pigz -dc /path/wehre/image/stored/ideal-linux-usbstick_32GByte_2019-06-16.img.gz | pv | dd of=/dev/sdX;

# should be optional but still a good thing to do
# perform filesystem check on newly created stick
fsck -y -v -f /dev/sdX1
  • then plug harddisk or usb stick into computer and boot 🙂
    • (make sure bios is set correctly to boot from it or online search for how to select boot device for one’s computer)

hardware vendors: start publishing driver sources under GPL!!!

otherwise: Users will have to swap Laptop/Noteboook WIFI card to for example Atheros ar5b95 Wireless WiFi WLAN … in order to install install 100% Open Source GNU Linux Debian (debian-10.2.0-amd64-netinst.iso)

get it for 10 bucks at eBay!

gnu ideal linux webcam art

have phun! 🙂

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