History This is what I wrote on December 3, 2016: I have made a new version of ExTiX – The Ultimate Linux System. I call it ExTiX 16.5 LXQt for the Intel Compute Stick. Build 161203 is only for Intel Compute Sticks. I.e. you can’t run the system on other computers. Build 161203 uses “my” kernel 4.8.0-26-exton-IntelAtom with special patches, which I have Linuxium to thank for. READ MORE…
Kernel patches isn’t needed anymore, which means that any Linux system can be installed to the stick. For example ExTiX LXQt and AndEX 10.
About AndEX 10 I knew from before that ExTiX runs very well on the Compute Stick. Today I decided to test it with AndEX 10. And guess what? Also AndEX works very well! You can run it live (from a USB stick) or install it (which I did).AndEX 10 Build 200108 has GAPPS (Google Play Store etc), Aptoide App Manager, F-Droid, Spotify, Angry Birds and many other apps pre-installed. Those apps are fun to run on a BIG TV screen.
History
This is what I wrote on December 3, 2016: I have made a new version of ExTiX – The Ultimate Linux System. I call it ExTiX 16.5 LXQt for the Intel Compute Stick. Build 161203 is only for Intel Compute Sticks. I.e. you can’t run the system on other computers. Build 161203 uses “my” kernel 4.8.0-26-exton-IntelAtom with special patches, which I have Linuxium to thank for. READ MORE…
Kernel patches isn’t needed anymore, which means that any Linux system can be installed to the stick. For example ExTiX LXQt.
Kernel 5.5 If you already have a Ubuntu/Debian system installed on your stick you can download and install “my” kernel 5.5.0-exton.
About Kodi 18.5
Kodi runs very well on the stick. On a web site called FireStickTricks you can find instructions how to install 27 (?!) extra Kodi Builds with their own repositories and skins. The article is called Best Kodi Builds February 2020. I have tried four of them myself. Titanium Build, No Limits Magic, Diggz Xenon and Innovation. They are very easy to install and work very well. Perhaps you’ll find your own favorite!
NEWS 200119 about exGENT (Gentoo) 64 bit I’ve made a new version of exGENT with only a few necessary packages pre-installed. It uses LXQt 0.14.1 as Desktop environment and kernel 5.3.7-aufs-exgent. The ISO file is of 1720 MB. Despite this exGENT version 200119 runs surprisingly fast from DVD or USB. Even in VirtualBox and VMware. Faster than most other Linux live systems. I call my new version exGENT 2020 LXQt Live DVD/USB. It replaces version 180414, 170407 and 170412. Those versions were too old for upgrading. I had to start over and build version 200119 from “scratch”. All installed packages in exGENT have been updated to the latest available version by 200119. Study the full package list.
What’s new in exGENT Build 200119? The boot loader Grub Legacy has been replaced by Grub2. In exGENT versions before 170309 the file system wasn’t writable when running exGENT live (from DVD). Now you can emerge (install) new programs/packages even while running the system from a DVD or USB stick. If you do that and later decide to install exGENT to hard drive all your changes will follow! (That is if you use the install scripts in /root/install). Furthermore you can install/transfer exGENT to a USB stick with the dd command in Linux or use Rufus or Etcher in Windows. Such installations were impossible before. NOTE: I have not installed Google Chrome. It’s not needed anymore, since Netflix nowadays runs very well in Firefox. About the LXQt Desktop environment: LXQt is a lightweight Qt desktop environment. It will not get in your way. It will not hang or slow down your system. It is focused on being a classic desktop with a modern look and feel. MOST IMPORTANT: Now you can install exGENT to hard drive in two ways. You can still use the install scrips in /root/install. That is the best way to install exGENT on non UEFI computers for example VirtualBox and VMware. The second way is to use Calamares Installer- see below.
Calamares Installer In exGENT Build 200119 I’ve also included the Calamares Installer version 3.2.17.1 (latest). Use it preferably if you need to install Grub on UEFI computers. You can, however, also use Calamares in VirtualBox and VMware. See a slideshow below when I have used Calamares on a UEFI computer to install exGENT on a USB stick.
If you can’t watch the slideshow in your browser watch this animated GIF.
exGENT Build 200119 is a non Systemd system exGENT uses OpenRC 0.42.1 init system instead of Systemd. Comparison of different init systems: Read this article.
exGENT Build 200119 unique? If you have a look at Gentoo’s download site you will notice that the latest Gentoo live system is from 20160704 (!?). Furthermore there are only a few other distros based on Gentoo. The most well-known are Funtoo Linux and Sabayon Linux. Funtoo isn’t a live system. Sabayon is a live system distributed with different Desktops variants. (Not with LXQt though). I have tried some of them on the computers I have access to. None of Sabayon’s variants could run live. Not even in VirtualBox and VMware. My guess is that exGENT has better hardware recognition than Sabayon.
WHO IS exGENT/Gentoo FOR?
Experienced Linux users or those who really want to learn Linux. (Perhaps also for people who are bored with mainstream distributions like Ubuntu).
About all DebEX systems All four DebEX systems/distributions are a based on DebianBuster (10) and Debian Bullseye/Sid (upcoming Debian 11).Budgie Desktop 10.5 and Enlightenment 0.23.1 are used as Desktop environments in DebEX Barebone/Budgie/Enlightenment. Gnome 3.34 is used in DebEX Gnome. KDE Plasma Desktop 5:14 is used in DebEX KDE. LXQt is used in DebEX Build 191209 – 32 bit. The system language is English (in all four versions of DebEX).
NEWS 191220 about DebEX Gnome
I had to replace yesterdays version of DebEX Gnome with version 191220. VirtualBox Guest Utils couldn’t be installed in yesterdays version. Something was wrong with the kernel configuration. I therefore had to compile a new kernel (5.4.4 – latest!) today. Now everything works also in VirtualBox. Another good thing with version 191220 of DebEX Gnome is that it can be installed without problems in VirtualBox. I.e. you don’t have to chroot into the install partition and install Grub – screenshot.
NEWS 191219 about DebEX Gnome – a RefractaUEFI Build I have made a new extra version of DebEX, which I call DebEX Gnome Live DVD. It’s a pure Debian system using the testing (bullseye) and unstable (sid)repositories. Gnome 3.34 (latest) is used as Desktop environment. I have removed the Mate Desktop, since Gnome now can be used on all kind of computers. Also when running DebEX in VirtualBox and VMware. No need for Nvidia’s proprietary graphics drivers when running this new version of DebEX. You can of course install such drivers if you want to.Furthermore I have replaced Google Chrome with Iceweasel. It is now possible to watch Netflix movies using Iceweasel (Firefox) in Linux. I have also replaced Refracta Installer with Calamares Installer, which makes it possible to install DebEX Gnome in any language. You can even use Calamares in VirtualBox and VMware – i.e. non-efi computers. All installed packages have been updated to the latest version as of 191219. DebEX Gnome uses kernel 5.4.3-exton corresponding Kernel.org’s second latest kernel 5.4.3.
ExTiX 19.10 LXQt – Build 191023
I have made a new version of ExTiX – The Ultimate Linux System. I call it ExTiX 19.10 LXQt Live DVD. (The previous LXQt version was 19.5 from 190508). The best thing with ExTiX 19.10 is that while running the system live (from DVD/USB) or from hard drive you can use Refracta Snapshot (pre-installed) to create your own live installable Ubuntu system. So easy that a ten year child can do it! One other very good thing with this version of ExTiX is that it is quite light. The ISO file is of only 1200 MB, which means that you can run the system super fast from RAM. When the boot process is ready you can eject the DVD or USB stick. Use Boot alternative 2 or Advanced options… >> load to RAM. Nvidia’s proprietary Graphics driver 430.50 is pre-installed in ExTiX 19.10. It will automatically be used if your computer has support for it
ABOUT
ExTiX 19.10 LXQt DVD 64 bit is based on Debian and Ubuntu 19.10. The original system includes the Desktop Environment Gnome. After removing Gnome I have installed LXQt 0.14.1. LXQt is the Qt port and the upcoming version of LXDE, the Lightweight Desktop Environment. It is the product of the merge between the LXDE-Qt and the Razor-qt projects: A lightweight, modular, blazing-fast and user-friendly desktop environment. NOTE: This ExTiX LXQt Build is for installation to UEFI-enabled computers. You shall use Refracta Installer for that.
ABOUT my MX Linux Remix 191018 MX Linux (based on Debian) is by far the most popular Linux system in the world according to DistroWatch.com. I tested MX Linux two days ago and noticed immediately that one can change the MX system and create a new ISO with MX Snapshot.
So today I quickly made a remix of MX Linux 18.3 (released in May 2019) using MX Snapshot.
My changes of the original MX system
1. All packages are upgraded from Stretch (Debian 9) to Buster (Debian 10). Study the full LIST.
2. The original kernel 4.19 is replaced by “my” kernel 5.3.6-exton. You can download my kernel if you want to use it in another MX/Debian/Ubuntu/Mint system.
3. Some cosmetic changes. I.e. new wallpapers.
Everything in my remix works very well. You can of course make your own MX remix with my remix as “groundwork”.
Login
Login to the Xfce4 Desktop as live with password live or as root with password root – screenshot.
OSTechNix has written an excellent article about How to create persistent live USB on Ubuntu.
I’ve tried Mkusb today and it works perfectly well. Unfortunately not on my derivatives of Ubuntu. I.e. all ExTiX versions. That’s because they are made with Refracta Snapshot. You’ll have to use an Ubuntu original ISO image. I myself used eoan-desktop-amd64.iso (Ubuntu 19.10). As promised I could save all system changes directly on the stick. Persistence! Watch a slideshow below showing the install process.
Slackware is the first widely-used Linux system, which is still developing. Slackware has existed since 1993. In comparison with for example Ubuntu and Linux Mint, many people believe that Slackware is “difficult”. Any novice can quickly learn to use Ubuntu they say. My remaster of Slackware Current (14.2), which I call SlackEX 14.2/Current 64 bit Linux Live DVD, is however just as easy to use as Ubuntu and/or Linux Mint. Some tend to complain that the Program Management in Slackware is awkward. That was perhaps earlier the case, but not anymore. Now we have the Application Managers Slackpkg and GSlapt – a GTK version of slapt-get. They are a piece of cake to use! Users of Synaptic will feel at ease with GSlapt.
New features in version 191007 of SlackEX
I have replaced kernel 4.14.8-x86_64-efi-exton with kernel 5.3.0-exton so that Refracta Snapshot can be used. Using Refracta Snapshot you can change everything and create your very own live installable Slackware system. Read more about Refracta below. Xfce 4 is used as Desktop environment. Furthermore I have installed Grub2, which can be used as boot loader (if you want) after a hard drive install using Refracta Installer. A lot of other Slackware packages are pre-installed. Study the full package LIST. Note: I have replaced Wicd with NetworkManager. It works better.
NEWS 190923 about DebEX KDE Plasma – a Refracta Build I have made a new version of DebEX KDE Plasma Live DVD – efi. It replaces version 190407. It’s a pure Debian system. (Unstable/Experimental). I.e.: There are no Ubuntu or Kubuntu elements involved. DebEX KDE Plasma uses the KDE Plasma Desktop 5:14 as Desktop environment. Kernel 5.3.0-exton (5.3) is used. I have replaced Wicd with NetworkManager. It works better. I have replaced Google Chrome with Iceweasel 52.9 (for Netflix). I’ve also added SMPlayer – an alternative to Vlc. (SMPlayer is a free media player for Windows and Linux with built-in codecs that can play virtually all video and audio formats. It doesn’t need any external codecs. Just install SMPlayer and you’ll be able to play all formats without the hassle to find and install codec packs). All other installed packages have also been updated to the latest version of 190923. Study the full package list. MOST IMPORTANT CHANGE: I have added Calamares 3.2.13-1 Installer Framework. Now you can choose language when the installation starts. When it’s ready everything will be in your chosen language! You can even use Calamares in VirtualBox and VMware – i.e. non-efi computers if you follow my INSTRUCTION for non-efi computers. You can also use Refracta Installer. Preferably in VirtualBox/VMware (non-efi computers).
NEWS 190912 about AndEX Pie 9.0 with GAPPS A new build of AndEX Pie is ready. It has GAPPS (Google Play Store etc), Aurora Store, F-Droid, Netflix and many other apps pre-installed. My new build of Android x86_64 – andex_x86_64-pie-9.0-gapps-netflix-1600mb-190912.iso can be installed to hard drive or on a USB stick. You can also run the system live. I.e. from a DVD or a USB stick. On some computers you’ll have to start up AndEX 9.0 in compatibility mode (VESA) though. The sound and video performance is generally very very good. Google Play Store works very well in this build of AndEX Pie. So does the Netflix and Spotify app. I’ve also included two extra app stores – Aurora Store and F-Droid. Use them if you can’t find the app you’re looking for using Google Play Store. NOTE: Doing a manual installation is not necessary as regards AndEX Pie Build 190912. The system’s install function work very well.
Screenshot – AndEX Pie Build 190912 – the Desktop with many nice apps pre-installed.
MORE ABOUT AndEX Pie
My new compiled Android-x86_64 system (Pie 9.0) can run and be installed on almost all newer laptops (and some Desktop computers). For example Acer (Aspire), HP, Samsung, Dell, Toshiba, Lenovo, Thinkpad, Fujitsu, Panasonic and Asus laptops. You can (of course) also run AndEX in VirtualBox and/or VMware. I can also mention that I could run my new Pie version without problems on a HP Pavilion 500-317no Desktop Computer. You can very easy do a “normal” or manual installation to hard drive. A manual installation can also be done to a drive where you already have another Linux system (for example Ubuntu 19.04) installed.
What’s the point?
Well, if you like your Android phone and all the apps you have installed on it I’m sure you will also like to run apps from your laptop. Bigger screen and better sound etc. Also: In AndEX Pie Build 190912 many new apps and games can be installed via Google Play Store, Aurora Store or F-Droid. You can even install very big games (of 1GB or so), but unfortunately almost all such games need a touchscreen. Still not convinced? Then read my article about “How useful an Androx-x86 system can be for the average computer user“.
Screenshots Screenshot 1 – AndEX Pie 9.0 Desktop 190912 with GAPPS Screenshot 2 – AndEX Pie 9.0 running Google Play Store Screenshot 3 – AndEX Pie 9.0 running Aurora Store Screenshot 4 – AndEX Pie 9.0 running F-Droid Screenshot 5 – AndEX Pie 9.0 running Netflix
AndEX 10 (Android-x86) Build 200108 with GAPPS (Google Play Store etc.) runs very well on the Intel Compute Stick. See how it looks (photo) when I use a 55 Inch TV.
