Category Archives: exton

ExLight 64bit, Build 171121, based on Debian Buster/Sid with Enlightenment 0.22 (latest, installed from source) and Refracta tools

NEWS 171121 ABOUT ExLight
I’ve made a new extra version of ExLight today based on Debian Buster/Sid. The “old” version from 171112 is based on Ubuntu 17.10 (alias Artful Aardvark) and Debian Buster/Stretch. Furthermore version 171112 uses Enlightenment 0.20 installed from Ubuntu’s repositories. Build 171121 of ExLight uses Enlightenment 0.22 installed by me from source.

Almost unique
Enlightenment 0.22 was released 171102. Only two (!) Linux distributions in the whole wide world (besides ExLight) uses Enlightenment 0.22 as Desktop environment.

I have kept the old version (171112) on SourceForge.net server since that version of ExLight can be considered more stable being based (mostly) on Ubuntu 17.10.

Installed packages
To be able to install Enlightenment from source I had to install a lot of extra packages. The ISO file has therefore increased from 1210 MB to 1560 MB. Study all installed packages in ExLight Build 171121.

SCREENSHOTS
1. The Enlightenment 0.22 Desktop
2. The Login Screen – LightDM. Choose between Enlightenment and Fluxbox

READ MORE…

ExLight 64 bit Linux with Enlightenment 0.20, kernel 4.13.0-16-exton and Refracta Tools (create your own Ubuntu live installable system)

WHAT’S NEW IN VERSION 171112?
NOTE: Version 171112 replaces version 170105.

1. ExLight is now based on Ubuntu 17.10 (alias Artful Aardvark) and Debian Buster/Stretch.
2. I have upgraded the Desktop environment Enlightenment (Beauty at your fingertips) to version 0.20.99.0 (from 0.19.12).
3. I have replaced kernel 4.9.0-11-exton with my special kernel 4.13.0-16-exton corresponding Kernel.org’s stable kernel 4.13.4.
4. ExLight’s ISO file is now a ISO-hybrid, which means that it can very easily be transferred (copied) to a USB pen drive. You can then even run ExLight from the USB stick and save all your system changes on the stick. I.e. you will enjoy persistence!
5. Another big improvement is that ExLight can run from RAM. Use Boot alternative 4 (load to RAM). When the system has booted up you can remove the disc (DVD) or USB stick. You’ll need at least 2 GB RAM to run ExLight that way.
6. The installation program Ubiquity (Ubuntu’s live installer) has been replaced with Refracta Installer. Very simple to use! A new user (your user) will be created during the installation process. The reason for the replacement is that Ubiquity is a bit too complicated and that the program crashes once in a while.
7. I have installed Nvidia’s proprietary graphics driver 384.98.
8. I have added seven animated wallpapers.
9. MOST IMPORTANT: I’ve added Refracta Snapshot, which make it possible for you to create your own live installable Ubuntu system. I mean change everything to your liking, fire up Refracta Snapshot and wait 3 – 5 min until your new ISO is ready!

What’s new in kernel 4.13?

Some cool things to do in ExLight Linux…

Screenshots
ExLight – running Refracta Snapshot
ExLight running in VirtualBox
ExLight running Spotify
ExLight running Samba
ExLight running in VMware

READ MORE…

Read about my Android-x86 Systems – Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at

andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX Nougat!

and about my Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd Nougat!

 

RaspArch Build 171102 :: Run Arch Linux on your Raspberry Pi 3 or Pi 2 computer :: Install using Win32 Disk Imager!

rasparch-logoThis version (171102) is my fifth build of RaspArch
The first version is from 150414. The second is from 151107. The third is from 160312 specially made for the new Raspberry Pi 3. The fourth version is from 161205. This version (171102) and version 161205 of RaspArch can of course also run on the “old” Raspberry Pi 2. RaspArch
is a “remaster” of Arch Linux ARM. The original compressed system is of 231 MB. After I have added the LXDE Desktop environment, PulseAudio, Firefox, Yaourt and Gimp the system increased a lot. RaspArch is a “ready-to-go” ARM system. It must be installed on a Raspberry Pi 3 model B or Pi 2 computer.

Most important change in version 171102: use Win32 Disk Imager for the installation
This version can be installed in Windows using Win32 Disk Imager. Previous versions could only be installed when running a Linux system. Using Win32 Disk Imager has one disadvantage though. Only about 1GB can be used as data storage no matter which card you use. The system is of 3GB and the system partition of 4GB. If you use a card of 32GB about 28GB will be unused. Yesterday a member on this site wrote about how to get rid of the 1GB limit after Win32 Disk Imager has been used:
– write the image with Win32 Disk Imager
– start up Ubuntu (or another Linux system)
– start GParted – screenshot before resizing
– resize the SYSTEM partition – screenshot after resizing
– done!
This screenshot shows that RaspArch now has about 25GB free storage.

Writing the image using Win32 Disk Imager. See the screenshot below.

Study all installed packages in RaspArch…

SCREENSHOTS
Screenshot 1 of RaspArch’s Desktop
– YouTube and PulseAudio Control running
Screenshot 2 of RaspArch’s Desktop – YouTube running
Screenshot 3 – Yaourt running (while installing Geany)

READ MORE…

DebEX Barebone, 64bit, based on Debian Buster/Sid with LXDE, Refracta tools and kernel 4.13.0-16-exton

About DebEX Barebone, DebEX Gnome and DebEX KDE Plasma Linux 64 bit
All three systems/distributions are a based on Debian Buster/Sid (upcoming Debian 10). LXDE is used as Desktop environment in DebEX Barebone/LXDE. Gnome 3.26 and Mate 1.18 are used in DebEX Gnome. KDE 4.16.08 and KDE Plasma Desktop 5:37 are used in DebEX KDE. All three DebEX systems use my special kernel 4.13.0-16-exton. (Kernel 4.13.4). The system language is English (in all three versions of DebEX).

NEWS 171030 about DebEX Barebone/LXDE – a Refracta Build
A new version of DebEX Barebone with LXDE and kernel 4.13.0-16-exton (equivalent to Kernel.org’s stable kernel 4.13.4) is ready. All packages have been updated to the latest version as of October 30, 2017. DebEX Barebone is now based on Debian Buster/Sid (upcoming Debian 10). I have replaced Google Chrome with Firefox 56.0-2 (for Netflix). Most important: The ISO has decreased from 1860 MB to 1330 MB, which makes it easier to run the system live from RAM. That ability allows DebEX LXDE to be very fast, since reading and writing data from/to RAM is much faster than on a hard disk drive.

Important about Refracta

You can use the Refracta tools (pre-installed in all three versions of DebEX) to create your own installable Debian Live DVD once you have installed DebEX to hard drive. I mean change everything and then create a whole new Debian live system. When you start Refracta it will look like this. You don’t even have to install DebEX to hard drive before you can use the Refracta tools. If you have plenty of RAM you can create a new (your own!) Debian 10 system while running DebEX from DVD or a USB stick. Please note that the whole Refracta process (creating your new ISO) will only take 10 – 50 min! You’ll find the ISO in /home/snapshots.

Screenshot of DebEX LXDE Desktop

READ MORE…

DebEX Gnome (Debian Buster/Sid) – Build 171026 – with Gnome 3.26 (latest), Mate 1.18 (latest), Refracta tools, Nvidia 387.12 and kernel 4.13.0-16-exton

About DebEX Barebone, DebEX Gnome and DebEX KDE Plasma Linux 64 bit
All three systems/distributions are a based on Debian. DebEX Gnome and DebEX KDE are based on Debian Buster/Sid (upcoming Debian 10). DebEX Barebone is based on Debian 9 (Stretch) and Debian unstable (Sid). LXDE is used as Desktop environment in DebEX Barebone. Gnome 3.26 and Mate 1.18 are used in DebEX Gnome. KDE 4.16.08 and KDE Plasma Desktop 5:37 are used in DebEX KDE. DebEX Barebone LXDE uses my special kernel 4.12.0-12-exton. (Kernel 4.12.8). DebEX Gnome and DebEX KDE use my special kernel 4.13.0-16-exton. (Kernel 4.13.4). The system language is English (in all three versions of DebEX).

NEWS 171026 about DebEX Gnome/Mate
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 (buster) and unstable (sid) repositories. Two Desktop Environments are pre-installed. Gnome 3.26 (latest) and Mate 1.18 (latest). I have also installed Nvidia’s proprietary graphics driver 387.12 in this new version of DebEX. To be able to enjoy Gnome 3.26 while running DebEX live (from DVD or a USB stick) you’ll need to have a new Nvidia graphics card installed. You can see which cards are supported here. Otherwise you’ll have to settle for Mate 1.18. (Not a bad choice btw). Furthermore I have installed replaced Google Chrome with Firefox 56.0. It is now possible to watch Netflix movies using Firefox in Linux. All other installed packages have also been updated to the latest version as of 171026. DebEX Gnome uses kernel 4.13.0-16-exton corresponding one of Kernel.org’s latest stable kernels 4.13.4.

Important about Refracta
You can use the Refracta tools (pre-installed in all three versions of DebEX) to create your own installable Debian Live DVD once you have installed DebEX to hard drive. I mean change everything and then create a whole new Debian live system. When you start Refracta it will look like this. You don’t even have to install DebEX to hard drive before you can use the Refracta tools. If you have plenty of RAM you can create a new (your own!) Debian 9/10 system while running DebEX from DVD or a USB stick. Please note that the whole Refracta process (creating your new ISO) will only take 10 – 50 min! You’ll find the ISO in /home/snapshots.

SCREENSHOTS
1. DebEX Gnome Desktop
2. DebEX Mate Desktop
3. DebEX running in VirtualBox
4. DebEX running in VMware
5. DebEX – Refracta snapshot has started

READ MORE…

DebEX KDE (Debian Buster/Sid) – Build 171023 – with KDE Plasma 5.37, Refracta tools, Nvidia 384.90 and kernel 4.13.0-16-exton

NEWS 171023 about DebEX KDE Plasma – a Refracta Build 171023
I have made a new version of DebEX KDE Plasma Live DVD. It replaces version 161001. It’s a pure Debian 10 system. (Buster/Sid). I.e.: There are no Ubuntu or Kubuntu elements involved. DebEX KDE Plasma uses KDE 4.16 and KDE Plasma Desktop 5:37 as Desktop environment. It uses kernel 4.13.0-16-exton – (4.13.4). I have installed Nvidia’s proprietary graphic driver 384.90. I have replaced Google Chrome with Firefox 56.0 (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 171023. Study the full package list.

What’s new in kernel 4.13
?

Important about Refracta
You can use the Refracta tools (pre-installed) to create your own installable Debian Live DVD once you have installed DebEX KDE to hard drive. I mean change everything and then create a whole new Debian live system. When you start Refracta it will look like this. You don’t even have to install DebEX to hard drive before you can use the Refracta tools. If you have plenty of RAM you can create a new (your own!) Debian 10/9 system while running DebEX from a DVD or a USB stick. Please note that the whole Refracta process (creating your new ISO) will only take 10 – 30 min! You’ll find the ISO in /home/snapshots.

SCREENSHOTS
1. The KDE Plasma Desktop in version 171023
2. The KDE Desktop with Netflix running
3. DebEX KDE running in VMware
4. DebEX KDE running in VirtualBox
5. Installation in VirtualBox – error to ignore
6. DebEX KDE running in VMware
7. YouTube running in DebEX KDE

READ MORE…

RaspAnd Nougat 7.1.2 for Raspberry Pi 3 – Build 171019/170805 – with GAPPS, Aptoide TV and Kodi 18.0-ALPHA1 to be installed in Linux

NEWS 171019 about RaspAnd Nougat 7.1.2 for Raspberry Pi 3
RaspAnd Nougat 7.1.2 Build 170805 can be installed in Windows using Win32 Disk Imager. This method has one disadvantage. Only about 5GB can be used as data storage no matter which card you use. I have therefore today uploaded a new version, which can be (must be) installed using a Linux system. The new system from 171019 is basically the same system as the RaspAnd system from 170805. I have only added AIDA 1.47 and replaced Google Chrome with Firefox 56.0. Kodi has been upgraded from version 17.3 to version 18.0-ALPHA1. Now say, for example, that you use Micro SD card (preferable a class 10 card) of 64GB about 56GB can be used as data storage. This is of course a big advantage. When you are done with partitioning of the card it shall look like the screenshot below shows. The needed partitions for RaspAnd are created with GParted in Linux.

Read about how to install RaspAnd 7.1.2 Nougat version 171019 in Linux…

ExTiX 17.8 – “The Ultimate Linux System” – with LXQt 0.11.1, Refracta tools, Nvidia 384.90 and kernel 4.13.0-15-exton – Build 171012

I have made a new version of ExTiX – The Ultimate Linux System. I call it ExTiX 17.8 LXQt Live DVD. (The previous version was 17.4 from 170418).

ABOUT
ExTiX 17.8 LXQt DVD 64 bit is based on Debian 9 Stretch and Ubuntu 17.10 Artful Aardvark, to be released 171019. The original system includes the Desktop Environment Gnome. After removing Gnome I have installed LXQt 0.11.1. 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.

The system language is ENGLISH.

Used KERNEL

My special kernel 4.13.0-15-exton corresponding Kernel.org’s stable kernel 4.13.4.

What’s new in kernel 4.13?

NEWS ABOUT ExTiX 17.8 build 171012 with the LXQt Desktop environment
1. ExTiX LXQt is based on Ubuntu 17.10 Artful Aardvark. LXQt 0.11.1 is used as Desktop environment. All packages have been updated to the latest version by 171012. Kernel 4.13.0-15-exton is used. (Kernel.org‘s kernel 4.13.4).
2. Firefox has replaced Google Chrome as Web Browser. It’s now possible to watch Netflix movies also in Firefox (while running Linux).
3. I have installed BlueGriffon 2.3.1 Web Editor. BlueGriffon is a new WYSIWYG content editor for the World Wide Web. Powered by Gecko, the rendering engine of Firefox, it’s a modern and robust solution to edit Web pages in conformance to the latest Web Standards. Only to be compared with Dreamweaver. (In my opinion).
4. Other included important/useful packages are: LibreOffice, Thunderbird, GParted, Brasero, SMPlayer, GCC and other compilation tools so that you can install packages from source. Furthermore “all” multimedia codecs. Everything the average Linux user could wish for I would say.
5. I have also installed Nvidia’s proprietary graphics driver 384.90 in this new version ExTiX LXQt. It has support for the following GPUs: Vulkan, GeForce GTX 1080 Ti,TITAN Xp, Quadro GP100, Quadro P4000, Quadro P2000, Quadro K1200, Quadro M6000, GeForce 920M, GeForce 930A, GeForce 930M, GeForce 940M, GeForce GTX 950M, GeForce GTX 960M and GeForce GTX TITAN X. This driver will be used automatically if your card is supported if you start up ExTiX in compatibility mode – nomodeset.

Refracta Tools
While running ExTiX LXQt 17.8 live or from hard drive you can use Refracta tools (pre-installed) to create your own live installable Ubuntu system. A ten year child can do it! Watch a slideshow below. (The slideshow is for ExTiX KDE 17.5, but Refracta tools works in the same way in ExTiX LXQt).

SCREENSHOTS
Screenshot of ExTiX 17.8 Desktop – LXQt 0.11.1
Refracta tools running while logged in as user live
Connections to Windows computers via PCManFM-qt using Samba
ExTiX running in VMware

READ MORE…

Android-x86_64 Nougat 7.1.2 – Build 170930 – with GAPPS, kernel 4.13.3-exton-android-x86_64 and the 00 Launcher for Android 0 8.0 Oreo

NEWS 170930 about AndEX Nougat 7.1.2
My new build of Android x86_64 – android_x86_64-7.1.2-nougat-gapps-kernel-4.13.3-exton-170930 can be installed to hard drive or on a USB stick. You cannot run the system live. I.e. from a DVD or a USB stick or live in VirtualBox or VMware. On some computers you’ll have to start up AndEX 7.1.2 in compatibility mode (VESA) after a hard drive installation. GAPPS and all other apps mentioned below are installed. NOTE1: You can run AndEX Nougat Build 170930 on newer laptops and Desktop computers. The video and sound performance is generally very very good. Note2: When trying to run AndEX Build 170930 live (from a DVD or USB stick) you will get all kinds or errors. When running AndEX from hard drive (also in VirtualBox or VMware) you will get no errors at all.

Screenshot – AndEX Build 170930 – the Desktop with 00 Launcher for Android 0 8.0 Oreo


MORE NEWS 170930: AndEX – Nougat 7.1.2 with kernel 4.13.3-exton-android-x86_64 and GAPPS
My new build of Android-x86_64 Nougat 7.1.2 have GAPPS pre-installed. I.e. Google Play Services, Google Play Store 8.1.29.S-all, Google Play Games, Gmail 7.9.10 and YouTube 12.36.56. Also many other apps. For example: Spotify 8.4.21.495, File Manager 2.2.0.147, Firefox 55.0.2 and Rotation Control Pro 1.1.9.

PREREQUISITE
The system can also be installed manually to hard drive. To be able to do that you must have at least one Linux system installed on your hard drive. You must also use Grub as boot loader. You can also (or alternatively) install AndEX 7.1.2 the normal way while running the system from a DVD or from a USB stick. Use preferable Rufus to create a bootable USB stick. Or burn the ISO file (android_x86_64-7.1.2-nougat-gapps-kernel-4.13.3-exton-958mb-170930.iso) to a DVD and run the system (install) from it.

ABOUT Andex Nougat 7.1.2
My compiled Android-x86_64 system (Nougat 7.1.2) can 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. I can also mention that I could run my new Nougat version without problems on a HP Pavilion 500-317no Desktop Computer. The Android-AndEX 7.1.2 system is distributed in the form of a Zip file and a ISO file. You can do a manual installation to hard drive. That can even be done to a drive where you already have another Linux system (for example Ubuntu 17.04) installed. That’s sort of a Frugal Installation (normally used by Puppy Linux).

Android Nougat 7.1.2 was released 170403.

Screenshots
Screenshot 1 – Nougat boot animation (which you must see during the boot. If not, the installation was unsuccessful)
Screenshot 2 – AndEX Nougat 7.1.2 Desktop with 00 Launcher for Android 0 8.0 Oreo
Screenshot 3 – AndEX Nougat 7.1.2 – Google Play Store running
Screenshot 4 – AndEX Nougat 7.1.2 – Google Play Store running and updating 00 Launcher
Screenshot 5 – AndEX Nougat 7.1.2 – running in VMware
Screenshot 6 – AndEX Nougat 7.1.2 – running in VirtualBox
Screenshot 7 – AndEX Nougat 7.1.2 – Desktop with Note 8 Launcher

READ MORE…

AndEX (Android-x86) Marshmallow 6.0.1 – 64bit – with GAPPS and Netflix (!) working very well – Build 170923

NEWS 170923 – AndEX 64bit – Marshmallow 6.0.1 with GAPPS and Netflix (!) working
My build of Android-x86_64 Marshmallow 6.0.1 has GAPPS pre-installed. I.e. Google Play Services 11.5.09, Google Play Store 8.1.29.S-all, Google Chrome 60.0.3112.116, Gmail 7.9.10 and more apps. For example: Netflix 4.16.1, Spotify 8.4.21.495, Firefox 55.0.2, Aptoide App Manager 8.4.1.2, Termux 0.53 and Clash of Clans 9.105.10. The ISO is called android_x86_64-marshmallow-6.0.1-gapps-netflix-970mb-170923.iso. AndEX Marshmallow 64bit Build 170923 is totally error-free (as far as I know). Everything just works! About Google Play Services – read below and see this slideshow.

Google Play Services
When you start up AndEX Marshmallow Build 170923 for the first time you will get an error message saying that “Google Play Services has stopped”. (As in my previous builds of AndEX). This is easily fixed by going to Settings – Apps – Google Play Services. Give Google Play Services ALL permissions. After that you won’t see any more error messages.

About running Netflix
Before you start Netflix you should go to Settings >> Apps compatibility >> Enable native Bridge. Watch this screenshot. (I’m not sure if this is absolutely necessary, but…). When a movie in Netflix starts the audio will be in Spanish. Change it to English, French or German. Watch this screenshot. Note: When running AndEX Marshmallow live (i.e. from a DVD or USB stick or live in VirtualBox or VMware) it can happen that you get an error message when you try to start Netflix. Just try again and/or wait a few minutes. When running AndEX from hard drive Netflix starts immediately when you want. Note also: Whatever you do don’t try to upgrade Netflix. No other version than the one pre-installed will work.

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 Marshmallow Build 170923 almost all apps and games can be installed via Google Play Store. Note also that Netflix works very well in this AndEX Build. Still not convinced? Then read my article about “How useful an Androx-x86 system can be for the average computer user“.

REPLACEMENT
Version 170923 replaces version 160922.

Screenshots
AndEX Marshmallow’s Desktop with some extra apps (Kodi 17.4 and YouTube)
AndEX Marshmallow running Netflix in VMware
AndEX Marshmallow running Google Play Store
AndEX Marshmallow running Aptoide App Manager
AndEX Marshmallow running Kodi
AndEX root session
AndEX Marshmallow running the famous game Clash of Clans (pre-installed)
AndEX Marshmallow running Spotify

READ MORE….