mirror of
https://git.savannah.gnu.org/git/gnuboot.git
synced 2025-01-30 02:59:36 +01:00
Denis 'GNUtoo' Carikli
972e93d80f
We ship images for computers like the Gigabyte D945GCLF2D which are not working. All the SeaBIOS images are also not working in the GNU Boot 0.1 RC4. And many of the images were never tested. In the 0.1 RC4 the images were removed from the FTP as keeping them would increase too much the risk of users breaking their computer. However to make the removal of images really work, the people responsible for the release would then need to test all the images themselves to be really sure that things are working, or to somehow build a procedure where some users privately get the images before the release. This doesn't work because it would put too much burden on the actual maintainers: it would require too much time for testing all the images and this is not automated. In additions the current maintainers don't even have all the supported computers and the GNU Boot project relies on all users that can test to test the images. In addition, releasing the images as part of the release procedure is easier for everybody: the testers can also get the full source code easily, they don't need to use custom images, anyone can test, etc. Because of that it was decided that it was better to teach users to minimize the risk themselves by looking at the status before upgrading GNU Boot. Signed-off-by: Denis 'GNUtoo' Carikli <GNUtoo@cyberdimension.org> Acked-by: Adrien 'neox' Bourmault <neox@gnu.org>
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4.6 KiB
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---
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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. |