120 lines
4.6 KiB
Markdown
120 lines
4.6 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Get GNU Boot
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...
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Buy a computers with GNU Boot
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=============================
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The FSF maintains a [certification](ttps://ryf.fsf.org) for computers
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that mostly work without nonfree software.
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Some (not all) of the computers that received the certification are
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compatible with GNU Boot. In the case of
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[Technoetical](https://ryf.fsf.org/vendors/Technoethical), the
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computers that are compatible already come with GNU Boot installed.
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As companies listed by the certification are business they are also
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supposed to take care of things behind the hood such as testing
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against hardware defects to make sure that all the hardware work with
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free software (by replacing the WiFi card), make sure the hardware
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really work, etc, and it might be the easiest way for non-technical
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users to get GNU Boot.
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See the [GNU Boot status page](../../status.md) for which RYF
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computers are compatible with GNU Boot.
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If you are a hardware vendor that is or was listed in
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https://ryf.fsf.org/vendors/ and that you sold computers that are
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compatible with GNU Boot, please [contact the GNU Boot
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project](../../contact.md): we are looking for information on the
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product being sold (flash chip size, customization, etc) to best
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support them.
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GNU Boot install parties
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========================
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Sometimes there are install parties that can help you install GNU Boot
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and/or install it for you on a computer supported by the install party
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(and GNU Boot).
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It can be cheaper than buying a computer with GNU Boot, but the
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install parties typically don't take care of everything.
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First you will obviously need to find a compatible computer and doing
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so without running nonfree software (like nonfree JavaScript) is
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complicated.
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Then install parties don't have replacement for batteries, WiFi cards
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to get WiFi that work with free software, etc, and they work with the
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hardware you bring to them. So if the hardware has defects they won't
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be able to fix it.
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Known install parties:
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* In May 2024 there was a GNU Boot install party at the Libreplanet
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conference. Since this conference happens every year, you might want
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to check next year(s) if there is a GNU Boot install party there.
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Installation instructions
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=========================
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There are various instructions to install GNU Boot yourself or to help
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each other to do it together (this could be easier and faster).
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When reading or following such instructions it's important to keep in
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mind that:
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* You always need to look at the [status page](status.md) to find out
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if the image you are about to install is known to work.
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If the image is not known to work, it could prevent your computer
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from booting. To fix that you will most likely need to disassemble
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your computer and use another computer and a flash programmer to
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recover it. This is exactly how people who test untested images do
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when things go wrong.
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There are also instructions to recover from non-booting computers on
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the GNU Boot website. Make sure to consult them first if you want to
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help the GNU Boot project to test images and that you are not
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familiar yet with how to recover a specific computers (the
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difficulty can vary a lot depending on the computer and your
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existing skills).
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* You also need to make sure to use the right image for the computer.
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An image for the T400 will probably not work on the X301, and there
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is also the risk of breaking the computer for good if you use the
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wrong image because in some cases the code in the images is also
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responsible for setting the right voltage. It's also a important to
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know the version of GNU Boot you are installing because you need
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that to check the status page.
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* Before installing or upgrading (to) GNU Boot, it is important to do
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a backup of what is in the flash chip you are about to
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override. This way if things are worse in the new image, you can
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still revert to the previous image.
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If you are testing images that were not tested before, it is also a
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good idea to put the backup somewhere that you can easily access if
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the computer doesn't boot anymore.
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Upgrade yourself from an existing installation
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----------------------------------------------
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There is [general purpose documentation](install.md) for technical
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users that can help you upgrade to a newer GNU Boot version.
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Installation
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------------
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There is [general purpose documentation](install.md) for technical
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users that can help you install GNU Boot.
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Downloads
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---------
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The [Downloads](../../download.md) page has documentation on how to
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download GNU Boot in various ways.
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However if you want to install GNU Boot, it is very strongly advised
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to use the install or upgrade documentation, as it contain tips that
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help you avoid to breaking your computer. |