Category Archives: exton

exton, Exton Linux distributions

Install Exton|Defender (upcoming Fedora 40) to a USB stick using Refracta Installer and get perfect PERSISTENCE ::: News 231214

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Install Exton|Defender (upcoming Fedora 40) to a USB stick using Refracta Installer and get perfect PERSISTENCE

Do it like this:
1. Use a USB stick of 16GB or more. Install Exton|Defender to it using Rufus 4.3 in Windows.  Start up Exton|Defender on the USB stick from RAM in Legacy mode.
2. Eject the USB stick and insert another USB stick of 16GB or more. In the example below I’m using a USB stick of 32GB.
3. Format the USB stick with GParted (pre-installed in Exton|Defender) so you will have an install partition of 14GB/30GB and a SWAP partition of 2GB – watch this screenshot…
4. Start Refracta Installer from the menu and choose to install to your formatted USB stick. In my example it is called /dev/sde1. Yours can be called /dev/sdb1 or…
Check it carefully to avoid data losses!
5. Follow the instructions given by Refracta Installer. It is pretty straightforward.
6. When asked about Grub choose to chroot and install Grub to /dev/sde – watch this screenshot…
6b. So the Grub install commands to run is grub2-install /dev/sde (not /dev/sde1) followed by grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg
7. Exit from chroot. You will then be asked about creating a user and passwords for the user and root before everything is ready.
8. Reboot your computer with the USB stick in place. If you have other Linux systems installed on your computer you will see that Refracta Installer has added start lines for them too in the Grub menu – watch this screenshot…
(As you can see I have more than seven (7) Linux Systems installed on the computer I used for this demo).
9. When I rebooted again and removed the USB stick I (of course) got back my “normal” UEFI Grub menu – watch this screenshot…
10. You can run your USB stick created with Refracta Installer on any other computer, but you can then of course only start Fedora 40/Exton|Defender. If you want to be able to boot also other Linux Systems you may have installed on the “new” computer you’ll have to create a new Grub boot menu. That is done as root with the command grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg – watch this screenshot…
11. After a reboot your new USB Grub boot menu will be changed – watch this screenshot and compare it with this screenshot…
12. Note that you will run kernel 6.7-rc4 from the USB stick! After an upgrade with sudo dnf upgrade you will get the latest available kernel (as of 231214), which is 6.7-rc5!

READ MORE ABOUT Exton|Defender…


Read about my Android-x86 Systems – 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at
andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX 11 (with GAPPS), AndEX 10 (with GAPPS) and AndEX Pie 9.0 (also with GAPPS)!
and
about my Android 13, 12, 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 4 and 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd 13 and 12 (without GAPPS), RaspAnd 11 (with GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (also with GAPPS)!

exton, Exton Linux distributions

News 231212/231211 about Exton|Defender

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News 231212/231211 about Exton|Defender based on upcoming Fedora 40 and Exton|Defender based on Rocky Linux 9.2
I had to upload new versions of Exton|Defender today and yesterday since I discovered a way to run both Exton|Defender versions from RAM also when starting Exton|Defender in UEFI mode. The previous Exton|Defender versions could only run from RAM if they started up in Legacy mode. So my advice is to run Exton|Defender SUPER FAST from RAM! The best way to run a Linux Live System! When Exton|Defender has booted up you can remove/eject the USB stick or the DVD. NOTE ALSO: In version 231212/231211 I’ve managed to change Refracta Installer and Refracta Snapshot to GUI (Graphical User Interface) apps! They are therefore even easier to handle now! IMPORTANT NOTE: On some computers Exton|Defender still can’t run from RAM in UEFI mode. Only in Legacy mode. I don’t know why. Sort of a mystery.


Read about my Android-x86 Systems – 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at
andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX 11 (with GAPPS), AndEX 10 (with GAPPS) and AndEX Pie 9.0 (also with GAPPS)!
and
about my Android 13, 12, 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 4 and 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd 13 and 12 (without GAPPS), RaspAnd 11 (with GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (also with GAPPS)!

exton, Exton Linux distributions

A new updated version of CruxEX 3.7 (CRUX 3.7) with LXDE, Refracta Snapshot, Refracta Installer and kernel 6.6.1-amd64-exton :: Build 231208

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CruxEX 2024/2022 64 bit Linux Live CD/USB is based on CRUX 3.7 (latest version, released 220926), which is all Linux enthusiasts/nerds favorite OS. (CRUX is a lightweight Linux distribution for the x86_64 architecture targeted at experienced Linux users. The primary focus of this distribution is keep it simple, which is reflected in a straightforward tar.gz-based package system, BSD-style initscripts, and a relatively small collection of trimmed packages. The secondary focus is utilization of new Linux features and recent tools and libraries. CRUX also has a ports system which makes it easy to install and upgrade applications). CruxEX 3.7 2024/2022 uses the LXDE Desktop environment. I have replaced the original CRUX kernel 5.15 with “my” special kernel 6.6.1-amd64-exton respectively 6.0.6-aufs-exton, with support for “extra everything”.

NEWS ABOUT CruxEX BUILD 231208
I’ve made a new extra version of CruxEX which I call CruxEX Linux Live CD. It is distributed as a “normal” ISO file. (Build 221031 is distributed as a Zip file only to be installed on a USB stick). I have kept CruxEX Build 221031 on SourceForge’s server because that version can run from a USB stick with PERSISTENCE. I.e. all system changes will be saved directly on the USB stick. In CruxEX Build 231208 I have managed to install Refracta Snapshot and Refracta Installer. With Refracta Snapshot you can very easy create you own CRUX Live Installable System. I mean change everything to your liking and then create a new ISO. That can be done after a hard drive installation using Refracta Installer. If you have plenty of RAM you can even create a new ISO while running CruxEX live! In that case you may have to change the place where the new ISO will be saved. Just edit /etc/refractasnapshot.conf. Watch this screenshot. Change home to (for example) /mnt/sdd2 (which has to be a Linux partition). You’ll have to mount /dev/sdd2 before starting Refracta Snapshot from the menu. Command: mount /dev/sdd2 /mnt/sdd2.

Unique
CruxEX 3.7 2024/2022 Build 231208/221031 is – as my previous CRUX-remasters – unique in the world. I.e. there is no other CRUX Live CD/USB (as far as I know). In any case, not for downloading. The good thing with CruxEX is that it is a live system (which CRUX original isn’t) and that you can run CruxEX super fast from RAM. Also that you can install CruxEX to hard drive in about 5 minutes and then have a ready-to-go CRUX desktop system. You can after that install any (extra) desktop environment you like. NOTE: You can (of course) install new Desktops environments and other stuff also when running CruxEX from a USB stick – PERSISTENCE! (Only as regards Build 221031). Note also: To make CRUX original ready for everyday use will normally take 2 – 3 days!

RUNS FROM RAM
Run both versions super fast from RAM! The best way to run a Linux Live System!

Study ALL INSTALLED packages in CruxEX 3.7
1) Build 231208
2) Build 221031

Study ALL UPDATED packages in Build 231208…

SCREENSHOTS
1. The LXDE Desktop for the live user in Build 231208

2. The LXDE Desktop for root in Build 231208

3. A Wireless connection in Build 231208

4. CruxEX running in full screen in VirtualBox – Build 231208

READ MORE…


Read about my Android-x86 Systems – 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at
andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX 11 (with GAPPS), AndEX 10 (with GAPPS) and AndEX Pie 9.0 (also with GAPPS)!
and
about my Android 13, 12, 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 4 and 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd 13 and 12 (without GAPPS), RaspAnd 11 (with GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (also with GAPPS)!

exton, Exton Linux distributions

SlackEX based on Slackware 15.0 with Xfce 4.18 as DE, Refracta Snapshot and kernel 6.6.1-amd64-exton :: Build 231129

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NEWS ABOUT SlackEX BUILD 231129 with the Xfce4 DESKTOP (DE)
A new version of SlackEX is ready. It is based on Slackware 15.0 STABLE released 220202 with Xfce4 as DE. The most important package installed is Refracta Snapshot. With that you can build your own Slackware 15.0 distribution. Xfce4 is one of Slackware’s official Desktop environments. The other one is KDE. Kernel 6.6.1-amd64-exton is used in this SlackEX Build. To be able to use Refracta Snapshot you’ll have to use said kernel. Otherwise you can (of course) replace “my” kernel with Slackware’s original kernel 6.1 HUGE – read about that here.

Study the full package LIST.

NOTE1: You’ll run SlackEX Build 231129 as the normal user user or as root. The password for root is root. The password for user is live. NOTE2: You can run SlackEX Build 231129 on UEFI and non-Uefi computers. You can also run SlackEX live super fast from RAM.
NOTE3: While running SlackEX Xfce4 in VirtualBox you can do so in full screen since VirtualBox Guest Additions are pre-installed. Watch this screenshot.

SCREENSHOTS
Screenshot 1 – user’s Desktop – Xfce4
Screenshot 2 – root’s Desktop – Xfce4
Screenshot 3 – user’s Desktop when running in VMware Player – Xfce4
Screenshot 4 – Installing kernel HUGE

READ MORE…

Read about my Android-x86 Systems – 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at
andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX 11 (with GAPPS), AndEX 10 (with GAPPS) and AndEX Pie 9.0 (also with GAPPS)!
and
about my Android 13, 12, 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 4 and 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd 13 and 12 (without GAPPS), RaspAnd 11 (with GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (also with GAPPS)!
exton, Exton Linux distributions

ExTiX 23.11 – based on upcoming Ubuntu 24.04 LTS – with LXQt 1.4, Calamares Installer (new), Refracta Snapshot and kernel 6.6.1-amd64-exton :: Build 231123

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ExTiX 23.11 LXQt – Build 231123
I have made a new version of ExTiX – The Ultimate Linux System. I call it ExTiX 23.11 LXQt Live System. (The previous LXQt version was 23.5-2 from 230530). ExTiX 23.11 is based on upcoming Ubuntu 24.04 (Noble Numbat)! Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Long Time Support) will be supported until June 2029. The best thing with ExTiX 23.11 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 2050 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 3 or Advanced options… >> load to RAM. Another big new thing in this version of ExTiX is that I have installed Calamares Installer. Calamares is an installer framework. By design it is very customizable, in order to satisfy a wide variety of needs and use cases. Calamares aims to be easy, usable & beautiful while remaining independent of any particular Linux distribution. Nevertheless I’ve kept Refracta Installer. Use the Installer you prefer.

Study all pre-installed packages in ExTiX 23.11…

THE IMPORTANCE OF ExTiX 23.11 BEING BASED ON AN UNSTABLE VERSION OF Ubuntu
Programs won’t crash or anything like that. And I’ve not discovered any “bugs”. That said you should of course be a bit careful. This version of ExTiX is for people who like “cutting-edge” software. And if you install the system to hard drive you will eventually be among the first people to run the stable version of Ubuntu 24.04!

SCREENSHOTS
1. ExTiX LXQt – root’s Desktop
2. ExTiX LXQt – user’s Desktop
3. ExTiX 23.11 running in full screen in VirtualBox
4. ExTiX LXQt Calamares Installer is ready

READ MORE…

Read about my Android-x86 Systems – 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at
andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX 11 (with GAPPS), AndEX 10 (with GAPPS) and AndEX Pie 9.0 (also with GAPPS)!
and
about my Android 13, 12, 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 4 and 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd 13 and 12 (without GAPPS), RaspAnd 11 (with GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (also with GAPPS)!
exton, Exton Linux distributions

Exton|Defender SRS based on Fedora Rawhide (fc 39/40) with Cinnamon and Deepin Desktops which you can completely change and rebuild :: Build 231109

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Description
Exton|Defender SRS is a Linux system available as a Live DVD based on Fedora Rawhide, 64bit. (Rawhide is the development version of Fedora). Exton|Defender is for administrating or repairing your system and data after a crash. Exton|Defender aims to provide an easy way to carry out admin tasks on your computer, such as creating and editing the hard disk partitions. It comes with a lot of Linux software such as system tools and basic tools (editors, Midnight Commander, network tools). Exton|Defender can, however, also be used as a normal Linux Desktop System. It requires no hard drive installation, but can easily be installed to hard drive if you want. Desktop environments: Special versions of Deepin and Cinnamon developed by Fedora.

231111: HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU!
Today I discovered (by chance) that you can install Exton|Defender Build 231109 to a USB stick with persistence! I.e. all your system changes will be saved directly on the USB stick. Even big system upgrades! That will make it unnecessary to install Exton|Defender to hard drive (which can be a bit tricky). Just run the System from a big enough USB stick and be happy! Do it like this:
1. Use Rufus 4.3 for the installation.
2. Set a Persistent partition size of about 3GB before you start the installation. Watch this screenshot…
3. Run Exton|Defender from your created USB stick. Be sure boot up the System in Legacy mode. You can run the System also in UEFI mode, but unfortunately persistence won’t be enabled then.
4. Test run Exton|Defender and change some things. For example new bookmarks in Firefox. Reboot!
5. You changes should be left if you have done what I said above. Now you can upgrade the whole system with “sudo dnf upgrade –refresh”. About 230 packages can be upgraded as of 231111. Watch this screenshot…
6. Finally you can make a new ISO (your own) if you want. Be sure to change /etc/refractasnapshot.conf first. You must see to that the new ISO file and the work environment will be created on another partition. Watch this screenshot…
7. Start Refractasnapshot in a terminal with the command “sudo /usr/bin/refractasnapshot”. Follow the instructions. After a few minutes your ISO will be ready. Watch this screenshot…

NEWS 231109 ABOUT Exton|Defender Rawhide (Fedora 39/40)
I’ve made a new version of Exton|Defender 64 bit based on Fedora “Rawhide” (the development version of Fedora). I.e. upcoming Fedora 39/40. This new version uses the Cinnamon and Deepin Desktops. Log in to the Desktop environment you prefer. Study all other installed packages.
MOST IMPORTANT CHANGE: I’ve finally managed to install Refracta Snapshot in Exton|Defender, which means that you can create your own Fedora Rawhide System! I mean change everything to your liking and then create a new ISO.
NOTE1: For Refracta Snapshot to work you have to run “my” kernel 6.5.3-amd64-exton when Refracta Snapshot is running. (It won’t work with Fedora’s kernel 6.7).
NOTE2: Version 231109 of Exton|Defender can run on really old computers. As an example I could run it on my 17 years old laptop Acer Aspire 5102 WLMi.

THE IMPORTANCE OF Exton|Defender being based on upcoming fc 39/40
Programs won’t “crash” or anything like that. And I haven’t noticed any “bugs”. That said you should of course be a bit careful. This version of Exton|Defender is for people who like to use “cutting-edge” software and the latest kernels etc. You will always have the latest Linux/Fedora software installed if you regularly run the command sudo dnf upgrade ‐‐refresh.

SCREENSHOTS
Screenshot 1 – Exton|Defender  – running in full screen in VirtualBox
Screenshot 2 – Anaconda (Fedora’s Installer) has started
Screenshot 3 – Refracta Installer has started
Screenshot 4 – Deepin DE is used
Screenshot 5 – Refracta Snapshot has started

READ MORE…

Android-x86 Custom

android-logo

Read about my Android-x86 Systems 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at
andex.exton.net latest is AndEX 11 (with GAPPS), AndEX 10 (with GAPPS) and AndEX Pie 9.0 (also with GAPPS)!
and
about my Android 13, 12, 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 4 and 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se latest is RaspAnd 13 and 12 (without GAPPS), RaspAnd 11 (with GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (also with GAPPS)!

 

exton, Exton Linux distributions

DebEX Gnome based on Debian Sid/Trixie with Gnome 43.4, Refracta Snapshot and kernel 6.5.6-amd64-exton :: Build 231106

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NEWS 231106 about DebEX Gnome – a Refracta efi Build
I have made a new extra version of DebEX, which I call DebEX Gnome Live System. It’s a pure Debian system using the testing (Trixie) and unstable (Sid) repositories. Gnome 43.4 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 Firefox ESR. It is now possible to watch Netflix movies using Firefox ESR 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 231106. DebEX Gnome uses kernel 6.5.6-amd64-exton.

THE REAL McCoy
DebEX is a pure Debian system. I.e. no traces of Ubuntu, Kubuntu etc. New releases of Ubuntu are always based on Debian Sid. So is DebEX.

SCREENSHOTS
1. The Desktop for the ordinary user user
2. The Desktop for root

READ MORE…

Read about my Android-x86 Systems – 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at
andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX 11 (with GAPPS), AndEX 10 (with GAPPS) and AndEX Pie 9.0 (also with GAPPS)!
and
about my Android 13, 12, 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 4 and 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd 13 and 12 (without GAPPS), RaspAnd 11 (with GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (also with GAPPS)!
exton, Exton Linux distributions

DebEX KDE based on Debian Sid/Trixie with KDE Plasma 5.27.8-1, Refracta Snapshot and kernel 6.5.6-amd64-exton :: Build 231030

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NEWS 231030 about DebEX KDE Plasma – a Refracta Build
I have made a new extra version of DebEX KDE Plasma Live DVD – efi. It’s a pure Debian Sid/Trixie System. There are no Ubuntu or Kubuntu elements involved in DebEX. DebEX KDE Plasma Sid uses the KDE Plasma Desktop 5.27.8-1 – latest version, released 230912 – as Desktop environment. Kernel 6.5.6-amd64-exton is used. All included packages have been updated to the latest version as of 231030. In Build 231030 I have added LURE (Linux User REpository). LURE is intended to bring the AUR to all distros. It is currently in an alpha state and may not be stable. It can download a repository, build packages in it using a bash script similar to PKGBUILD, and then install them using your system package manager. Read about how to use LURE…

Create you own Debian Sid/Trixie System using Refracta Snapshot. So easy that a ten year old child can do it!

VirtualBox Guest Additions and VMware Tools are pre-installed, which mean that you can run DebEX KDE in full screen – see the screenshots below.

SCREENSHOTS
1. Using LURE to install Thunar
2. The Desktop for the ordinary user user
3. Running in full screen in VirtualBox
4. Running in full screen in VMware

THE REAL McCoy
DebEX is a pure Debian system. I.e. no traces of Ubuntu, Kubuntu etc. New releases of Ubuntu are always based on Debian Sid. So is DebEX.

READ MORE…

Read about my Android-x86 Systems – 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at
andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX 11 (with GAPPS), AndEX 10 (with GAPPS) and AndEX Pie 9.0 (also with GAPPS)!
and
about my Android 13, 12, 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 4 and 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd 13 and 12 (without GAPPS), RaspAnd 11 (with GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (also with GAPPS)!