All posts by exton

Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

Exton|OS 64 bit with Mate and kernel 4.0.0-4-exton :: build 150719

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Exton|OS build 150719 is based on Ubuntu 15.04 64 bit (released April 23, 2015) and Debian Jessie (Debian 8). Exton|OS’s ISO file is a ISO-hybrid, which means that it can very easily be transferred (copied) to a USB pen drive. You can then even run Exton|OS from the USB stick and save all your system changes on the stick. I.e. you will enjoy persistence! I’ve found two scripts which make the installation to USB very simple. The scripts are quite ingenious. My tests show that they work flawlessly on USB installations of all normal Ubuntu systems. Read my INSTRUCTION how to use the scripts.

NEWS 150719
A new and much better version of Exton|OS is ready. I have replaced kernel 3.19.0-14-exton with kernel 4.0.0-4-exton – Kernel.org‘s kernel 4.0.7. With kernel 4.0 there is no real need to use Nvidia proprietary graphic drivers since this kernel has better support for the open-source Nvidia driver Nouveau than any other older kernel. The Mate Desktop is upgraded to version 1.8.2. I have also replaced Ubuntu’s installation program Ubiquity with Exton|OS Installer, which is a clone of Debian Live Installer. The installation to hard drive is now so simple that a 10 year old child can do it. Watch a SLIDESHOW of the hard drive installation process.

Feature OVERVIEW for the Linux 4.0 kernel

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Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

MeX 64 bit Linux (build 150714) based on Linux Mint 17.2 “Rafaela” with Cinnamon 2.6.13

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mex-logo-smallestNEWS/CHANGES 150714
All packages in MeX Linux have been upgraded to the latest version by 150714. Cairo-Dock has been replaced by Docky. The most important change is that I have replaced the install program Ubiquity with MeX Installer. The installation to hard drive is now so simple that a 10 year old child can do it. Watch a SLIDESHOW of the hard drive installation process. Also: Linux Mint 17.2 Rafaela is based on Debian and Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty Tahr. MeX build 150714 is based on Debian 8 Jessie, Ubuntu 15.04 Vivid Vervet and Linux Mint 17.2. I have replaced kernel 3.19.0-5-exton with kernel 3.19.0-22-generic (Ubuntu’s latest).

Who can benefit from MeX/Mint?
All who like Debian/Ubuntu and want a system that is easy to use and maintain. Regarding MeX also those who want to run a Linux system super fast from RAM and/or like to run Linux from a USB flash drive. And those who want the latest stable Ubuntu kernel – 3.19.0-22.

Screenshot  – Cinnamon 2.6.13 Desktop with Netflix running

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Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

SlackEX 64 bit with KDE, kernel 4.1.1, Nvidia 352.21 and Google Chrome (for Netflix)

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SlackwareA new version of SlackEX is out today (150708). I have now included Nvidia’s Graphic driver 352.21, VirtualBox 4.3.28 and Google Chrome (for watching Netflix movies).

Used kernel
4.1.1-x86_64-exton.

What’s new in kernel 4.1? (Linux 4.1 is a major update to the Linux kernel)

Slackware is the first widely-used Linux system, which is still developing. Slackware has existed since 1993. Gammal är äldst (The older the fiddle the sweeter the tune) as we say in Sweden.

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LINUX, Raspberry systems

RaspEX (Edition 150706) for Raspberry Pi 2 based on Debian 8, Ubuntu 15.04 and Linaro :: Free download

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raspberry-logoNEWS 150706 ABOUT RaspEX
My first version of RaspEX is from 150318. I have now upgraded the whole system. RaspEX is a Linux ARM system for Raspberry Pi 2. It is based on Debian Jessie (Debian 8), Ubuntu Vivid Vervet (Ubuntu 15.04) and Linaro (Open Source software for ARM SoCs). In this new version (150706) I’ve installed Wicd Network Manager and added support for Adobe Flash in Chromium (so you can watch YouTube).

Softpedia review
RaspEX version 150508 was reviewed by Softpedia 150509.

Why shall I use RaspEX?
Eight Operating Systems are recommended by Raspberrypi.org. Among them Noobs, Raspbian (Debian Wheezy) and Snappy Ubuntu Core. RaspEX is faster (“fast as lightning”), more useful and more fun to use. (In my opinion). One member on this site thought that running RaspEX was like running Raspberry on “steroids“.

Screenshot of RaspEX’s Desktop while Wicd is running (for configuration of a wireless connection)

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Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

Run your Slackware 64 bit system with the latest stable kernel – 4.1.1!

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SlackwareI have compiled a very useful (as I think) 64 bit kernel for Slackware 12.0 – 14.1 and/or all Slackware derivatives. For example Slax, Zenwalk and SlackEX. The kernel is compiled exactly the same way as Slackware’s latest kernel huge. “My” kernel 4.1.1-x86_64-exton has even more support for new hardware, etc. Kernel 4.1.1 is the latest stable kernel available from Kernel.org. Released 20150629.

What’s new in kernel 4.1? (Linux 4.1 is a major update to the Linux kernel)

If you want to install my kernel in your Slackware 64 bit system, do this:

1. Download linux-kernel-4.1.1-x86_64-exton.txz – md5sum
2. Install it with the command installpkg linux-kernel-4.1.1-x86_64-exton.txz
(The kernel is packed just like Slackware’s original kernels so that everything ends up in the right place)
4. If necessary, change your Grub Legacy/Grub2 configuration
5. If you have an Nvidia graphics card in your computer, you may need to look over your files in /etc/modprobe.d before restarting the computer. That is remove the “blacklisting” of Nouveau’s kernel module in the appropriate files blacklist.conf and nvidia-installer-disable-nouveau.conf. With “my” kernel functions the Nouveau “free” driver works just fine.

NOTE: When you run the command installpkg linux-kernel-4.1.1-x86_64-exton.txz vmlinuz will be “created” in /boot. If you have /boot/vmlinuz already that file will be overwritten. In case you want to switch back to your old kernel you should make a backup of /boot/vmlinuz before you run the just mentioned command.

Restart your computer and enjoy!

linux-logo-exton-black-white-bg-www

Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

Exton|Defender mga (Mageia 5) 32 bit build 150701 with Cinnamon 2.4.5

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exton-defender-mga5-screenshot-smallMy second version of Exton|Defender is a remaster of Mageia 5, released in June 2015. Mageia has been the third most popular Linux system in the world for some time now (according to Distrowatch.com).

My changes of Mageia 5
I have removed the Gnome Desktop environment and installed Cinnamon instead. Furthermore I have installed the following rescue and repairing tools: NTFS-3g, GParted, PartImage, Sfdisk (util-linux-ng), Rsync, Ddrescue, FSArchiver, TestDisk and Midnight Commander. Other programs (among many others): NetworkManager, Firefox, Gimp, Google Chrome (for Netflix), Emacs, Safecopy, kernel headers and many compilation tools. Study the full list of installed packages. The system language is ENGLISH.

Who is Exton|Defender mga 32 bit Cinnamon for?
Exton|Defender mga aims to provide an easy way to carry out admin tasks on your computer, such as creating and editing the hard disk partitions. There is also no official live Mageia 5 ISO with Cinnamon for downloading. (Only with KDE and Gnome). Exton|Defender can also be useful for people with older 32 bit computers who like to run an eminent Linux system (Mageia) live with some speed.

See this screenshot of the Cinnamon 2.4.5 Desktop in Exton|Defender mga

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Android, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

A very informative and positive test report re. my KitKat 4.4.4 build 6

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One member on andex.exton.net wrote this today about my KitKat 4.4.4 build 6 of 150606.

I’ve been testing the 4.4.4 Kitkat version 6 on my Asus Vivobook with Intel HD Graphics and touchscreen. The touchscreen works perfectly and supports multitouch. Finally a build that works great with with games. I played Clash of Clans with no hassle. I ran most of the graphics benchmark apps available.

I had a persistent “Unfortunately, your app has stopped” error problem with Dominations. Another Clash of Clans type popular RTS game with civilizations/age of empires/rise of nations looking graphics. This game is relatively new and has lots of nasty bugs and performance issues. I got the same issues on any device, including native ARM devices. So it’s not related to the build. I managed to fix the crashing bug after wiping the data with Titanium Backup. Wiping the data and cache with the standard app manager couldn’t solve it. I don’t know why. I should add that after the fix, I had a very stable game experience and way much less random crashes than my tablet and my phone.

It’s the best Android x86 version I’ve tested so far. You need to be a little patient at the beginning and update “Google Play Services” asap. It’s pretty stable and satisfying. It’s one tick away from being perfect, if mx player with the x86 codec pluging had worked. But that doesn’t work with the Android-x86.org version either. [REQUEST] It would be great to have that working as it is one of the most popular media players. I tried several other well known media players but no luck, except VLC for Android, which is still in development and has artifacts while playing videos.

Everything else works like a charm. This is my best experience with Android-x86 so far. I extremely recommend it especially if you want to play your Android games on your PC.

Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

SlackEX 64 bit with KDE, kernel 4.0.4, Nvidia 346.72 and Google Chrome (for Netflix)

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SlackwareA new version of SlackEX is out today (150612). I have now included Nvidia’s Graphic driver 346.72 and Google Chrome (for watching Netflix movies).

Slackware is the first widely-used Linux system, which is still developing. Slackware has existed since 1993. Gammal är äldst (The older the fiddle the sweeter the tune) as we say in Sweden.

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Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

AndEX (Android-x86) 5.1.1 Lollipop with GAPPS and kernel 4.0.3 – Build 150611

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andex-apps-20150610-smallNEWS 150611 – AndEX – Lollipop 5.1.1 with kernel 4.0.3 and GAPPS
My new build of Android-x86 Lollipop 5.1.1 has GAPPS pre-installed. I.e. Google Play Services, Google Play Store, Maps, YouTube and more apps. For example: Facebook, OfficeSuite 8 and Pool Break Lite (3D game). The ISO is called android-x86-5.1.1-lollipop-kernel-4.0.3-exton-GAPPS-556mb-150611.iso. AndEX 150611 is totally error-free. (This Lollipop version was released April 27, 2015). When running AndEX live you will get some error messages during the setup of your wireless connection and logging into your Google account, but nothing serious. For installing new apps you shall always use Google Play Store in AndEX build 150611. Only use Aptoide App Manager (which is also pre-installed) if you can’t find the app you are searching for in Google Play Store.

About AndEX
My compiled Android–x86 system (Lollipop 5.1.1) can run live (from CD or a USB stick) or be installed on almost all laptops (and some Desktop computers). For example Acer (Aspire), HP, Samsung, Dell, Toshiba, Lenovo, Thinkpad, Fujitsu, Panasonic and Asus laptops. The Android system is distributed in the form of an ISO file as the rest of my Linux distributions. I.e. you must (as usual) burn the ISO file to a CD if you want to run the system live on your computer or install it to hard drive. Read about how to burn ISO files. Or skip that. Just use ImgBurn. Nothing can go wrong.

More about AndEX
Lollipop 5.1.1 is the latest version of the Android mobile operating system developed by Google. I call my remaster of it AndEX Lollipop Live CD. It uses “my” special kernel 4.0.3-exton-android-x86 with some extra features. I.e. extra drivers. My Android-x86 KitKat 4.4.4 build from 2015-06-06 will also cost you 9 $. I has two advantages over the Lollipop version: You can run the system in VirtualBox and the system can be used also on older laptops. Read more about the KitKat 4.4.4 version 150606 or DOWNLOAD it instantly.

Installing 3D games
I wrote an article 150608 about installing 3D games in my KitKat 4.4.4 Build 6. The same games can be installed in AndEX Build 150611. I have also tested Cars: Fast as Lightning and Trials Frontier in AndEX. Those apps ran without problems.

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 version 150611 almost all apps and games can be installed via Google Play Store. Still not convinced? Then read my article about “How useful an Androx-x86 system can be for the average computer user“.

NOTE/WARNING
You must use a fairly new/modern computer. Android-x86 Lollipop won’t run (even start) on older computers. My other Android remaster KitKat 4.4.4 build 150606 will run also on older computers.

Screenshots
Screenshot 1 – AndEX Desktop with Rain Live wallpaper (pre-installed)
Screenshot 2 – AndEX showing all apps
Screenshot 3 – AndEX running Pool Break Lite in 3D
Screenshot 4 – AndEX running Cars: Fast as Lightning
Screenshot 5 – AndEX running Trials Frontier

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Android, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

Many games (3D and others) can run on my Android-x86 KitKat 4.4.4 Build 6

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Installing Game apps on Android-x86 KitKat 4.4.4 build 6 with GAPPS, kernel 4.0.0-exton-android-x86 and Mesa 10.5.4
A member on andex.exton.net said this yesterday: KitKat Build 6 has indeed great 3d performance, I tested some games and all run VERY fast:
Clash Of Clans
Max Payne
Grand Theft Auto 3

To verify that I did test installations today of some games: Clash Of Clans, Max Payne, Grand Street Auto 5, Juventus Fantasy Manager 2015, Shoot The Chicken Pro, Candy Crush and Angry Birds. See this slideshow.

All those games ran without problems. Many more can be installed of course. Maybe this is interesting for all game enthusiasts…