7 Jan
2024
7 Jan
'24
8:15 p.m.
Last week I flashed the last of the chromebooks. (At least all the ones in
the cabinet -- Maybe Peter has another stack.)
Now they all have an unlocked bios firmware and ready to take an OS.
Most of the chromebooks are Google "Candy" (have the plastic bezel around
the screen) with a
few of Google "Wolf" (all glass screen) Both are 4GB ram and 16GB storage
soldered in place with no upgrade.
16GB makes Windows impossible. And even for Linux it is hard to get a
modern experience.
Linux: (on Candy, I haven't checked Wolf)
You can get some of the media keys working if you change keyboard layout to
"chromebook"
(Volume works but I don't think screen backlight control works)
Sound: Works in full featured distros but then you run out of space in the
16GB emmc.
Minimal distros miss some things that are needed for sound:
Need the sound chip firmware. On Debian it is sof-firmware so "sudo apt
install sof-firmware"
Even after installing the firmware many times the speakers are muted
Run alsamixer from terminal ("sudo apt install alsa-utils" if alsamixer is
not available) By default the Intel digital audio is selected. F6 to
change soundcard but on the chromebook the F keys are shared with the media
keys. Depends on the layout but either search (key with mag glass icon) or
right ALT key is the Fn key. Hold Fn key (search or R ALT) and press
"lower backlight" (small sun icon or count 6 from ESC) When the right
sound card is selected press arrow keys until "Left speaker left dac" and
press "m" to unmute then "Right speaker right dac"
Should work now.
Unless you have a minimal Linux distro without an audio server installed.
Then "sudo apt install pulseaudio pavucontrol" Some distros need
pulseaudio-alsa (Arch) Some desktop environments may need plugins for the
GUI (XFCE need xfce4-pulseaudio-plugin)
Disk space: This is a tough one because we have only 16GB. There are many
very small Linux distros but they are not easy for the noob or non-expert
Linux user. And if you start small and try to add you end up chasing the
stuff that doesn't work. (like Try to install wifi gui but wpa-supplicant
is not automatically installed?) You can start with something a little too
big like Lubuntu then "sudo apt purge" to free space (purging Libreoffice
gets Lubuntu to around 8GB)
I will try some more distros and have some recommendations soon.
Thomas
8 Jan
8 Jan
10:41 a.m.
Firstly; Tom: Heartfelt appreciation for your all your efforts in
getting the expired Chromebooks ready to be repurposed as general
purpose laptops.
For those of you who are interested in why Sudoroom/Fixit Clinic is
doing this: school systems are sending Chromebooks by the millions to
e-waste when we could be keeping them in our communities to increase
digital literacy, digital equity, and digital inclusion. The Oakland
Unified School District e-wasted 8400 Chromebooks two years ago and is
scheduled to e-waste many thousands more this spring. (And OUSD's
Chromebooks have 32Gb storage not 16Gb)
Read this backgrounder for more information:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JSbGXhJFJeABWVOn1wO4M6bPT-gPBLV4oQ85xMy…
, including a proposal for substituting the internal 16Gb of storage
with a 128Gb stubby USB 3.1 drive.
ATM I'm in contact with OUSD, Piedmont Unified School System, San
Leandro Unified School District, and Fremont Unified School District
about teaching students how to modify their expired Chromebooks to get
them back into service in the community: it'd be great to have as many
Sudoers as possible involved in this initiative as it ramps up.
Happy Monday, -Peter
On 1/7/2024 8:15 PM, tom r lopes via sudo-discuss wrote:
Last week I flashed the last of the chromebooks. (At
least all the
ones in the cabinet -- Maybe Peter has another stack.)
Now they all have an unlocked bios firmware and ready to take an OS.
Most of the chromebooks are Google "Candy" (have the plastic bezel
around the screen) with a
few of Google "Wolf" (all glass screen) Both are 4GB ram and 16GB
storage soldered in place with no upgrade.
16GB makes Windows impossible. And even for Linux it is hard to get a
modern experience.
Linux: (on Candy, I haven't checked Wolf)
You can get some of the media keys working if you change keyboard
layout to "chromebook"
(Volume works but I don't think screen backlight control works)
Sound: Works in full featured distros but then you run out of space
in the 16GB emmc.
Minimal distros miss some things that are needed for sound:
Need the sound chip firmware. On Debian it is sof-firmware so "sudo
apt install sof-firmware"
Even after installing the firmware many times the speakers are muted
Run alsamixer from terminal ("sudo apt install alsa-utils" if
alsamixer is not available) By default the Intel digital audio is
selected. F6 to change soundcard but on the chromebook the F keys are
shared with the media keys. Depends on the layout but either search
(key with mag glass icon) or right ALT key is the Fn key. Hold Fn
key (search or R ALT) and press "lower backlight" (small sun icon or
count 6 from ESC) When the right sound card is selected press arrow
keys until "Left speaker left dac" and press "m" to unmute then
"Right
speaker right dac"
Should work now.
Unless you have a minimal Linux distro without an audio server
installed. Then "sudo apt install pulseaudio pavucontrol" Some
distros need pulseaudio-alsa (Arch) Some desktop environments may need
plugins for the GUI (XFCE need xfce4-pulseaudio-plugin)
Disk space: This is a tough one because we have only 16GB. There are
many very small Linux distros but they are not easy for the noob or
non-expert Linux user. And if you start small and try to add you end
up chasing the stuff that doesn't work. (like Try to install wifi gui
but wpa-supplicant is not automatically installed?) You can start
with something a little too big like Lubuntu then "sudo apt purge" to
free space (purging Libreoffice gets Lubuntu to around 8GB)
I will try some more distros and have some recommendations soon.
Thomas
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To unsubscribe send an email tosudo-discuss-leave(a)sudoroom.org
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6:34 p.m.
New subject: Computer on a thumb drive for $20 (was) Chromebooks
*
The 256Gb version of the 128Gb Samsung USB 3.1 thumb drive I recommend
for low-memory Chromebooks is on sale for $20 right now:
- at Samsung’s website:
https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/usb-flash-drives/usb-3-…
<https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/usb-flash-drives/usb-3-1-flash-drive-fit-plus-256gb-muf-256ab-am/>(I
think shipping is free)
- at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D7Q41PM?tag=slickdeals09-20&ascsubtag=7471…
<https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D7Q41PM?tag=slickdeals09-20&ascsubtag=7471241aae9211eead04266c2775f9cb0INT&th=1>(free
shipping with Prime)
When plugged into a USB 3.0 port these Samsung USB 3.1 thumb drives
benchmark faster than the low-quality eMMC memory used in most Chromebooks.
Install the Linux OS of your choice on this and boot from it using any
unlocked Chromebook -- or any computer that will allow booting from a
USB port for that matter. Keep your entire computing environment with
you at all times on a tiny thumb drive (please keep it backed up too, of
course.)
**
*You could have two entirely separate OSes for different purposes and
personalities: a lightweight one installed on the 16Gb in the Chromebook
and a full-fledged one installed on the thumb drive.*
**
(When installing Linux I recommend creating a separate /home partition
on the USB thumb drive as you install, I can show you / tell you how to
do this.)
-Peter
*
-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: [sudo-discuss] Re: Chromebooks
Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2024 10:41:51 -0800
From: Peter Mui via sudo-discuss <sudo-discuss(a)sudoroom.org>
Reply-To: Peter Mui <petermui(a)sonic.net>
To: sudo-discuss(a)sudoroom.org
Firstly; Tom: Heartfelt appreciation for your all your efforts in
getting the expired Chromebooks ready to be repurposed as general
purpose laptops.
For those of you who are interested in why Sudoroom/Fixit Clinic is
doing this: school systems are sending Chromebooks by the millions to
e-waste when we could be keeping them in our communities to increase
digital literacy, digital equity, and digital inclusion. The Oakland
Unified School District e-wasted 8400 Chromebooks two years ago and is
scheduled to e-waste many thousands more this spring. (And OUSD's
Chromebooks have 32Gb storage not 16Gb)
Read this backgrounder for more information:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JSbGXhJFJeABWVOn1wO4M6bPT-gPBLV4oQ85xMy…
, including a proposal for substituting the internal 16Gb of storage
with a 128Gb stubby USB 3.1 drive.
ATM I'm in contact with OUSD, Piedmont Unified School System, San
Leandro Unified School District, and Fremont Unified School District
about teaching students how to modify their expired Chromebooks to get
them back into service in the community: it'd be great to have as many
Sudoers as possible involved in this initiative as it ramps up.
Happy Monday, -Peter
On 1/7/2024 8:15 PM, tom r lopes via sudo-discuss wrote:
Last week I flashed the last of the chromebooks. (At
least all the
ones in the cabinet -- Maybe Peter has another stack.)
Now they all have an unlocked bios firmware and ready to take an OS.
Most of the chromebooks are Google "Candy" (have the plastic bezel
around the screen) with a
few of Google "Wolf" (all glass screen) Both are 4GB ram and 16GB
storage soldered in place with no upgrade.
16GB makes Windows impossible. And even for Linux it is hard to get a
modern experience.
Linux: (on Candy, I haven't checked Wolf)
You can get some of the media keys working if you change keyboard
layout to "chromebook"
(Volume works but I don't think screen backlight control works)
Sound: Works in full featured distros but then you run out of space
in the 16GB emmc.
Minimal distros miss some things that are needed for sound:
Need the sound chip firmware. On Debian it is sof-firmware so "sudo
apt install sof-firmware"
Even after installing the firmware many times the speakers are muted
Run alsamixer from terminal ("sudo apt install alsa-utils" if
alsamixer is not available) By default the Intel digital audio is
selected. F6 to change soundcard but on the chromebook the F keys are
shared with the media keys. Depends on the layout but either search
(key with mag glass icon) or right ALT key is the Fn key. Hold Fn
key (search or R ALT) and press "lower backlight" (small sun icon or
count 6 from ESC) When the right sound card is selected press arrow
keys until "Left speaker left dac" and press "m" to unmute then
"Right
speaker right dac"
Should work now.
Unless you have a minimal Linux distro without an audio server
installed. Then "sudo apt install pulseaudio pavucontrol" Some
distros need pulseaudio-alsa (Arch) Some desktop environments may need
plugins for the GUI (XFCE need xfce4-pulseaudio-plugin)
Disk space: This is a tough one because we have only 16GB. There are
many very small Linux distros but they are not easy for the noob or
non-expert Linux user. And if you start small and try to add you end
up chasing the stuff that doesn't work. (like Try to install wifi gui
but wpa-supplicant is not automatically installed?) You can start
with something a little too big like Lubuntu then "sudo apt purge" to
free space (purging Libreoffice gets Lubuntu to around 8GB)
I will try some more distros and have some recommendations soon.
Thomas
8:28 p.m.
New subject: Computer on a thumb drive for $20 (was) Chromebooks
Actually I am going to attempt an emmc swap.
I got some 32GB and 64GB Kingston emmc.
Test out the IR bga rework station that Sudoroom has.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/R4RvAYFdqwsAd28RA
Thomas
On Mon, Jan 8, 2024 at 6:35 PM Peter Mui via sudo-discuss <
sudo-discuss(a)sudoroom.org> wrote:
* The 256Gb version of the 128Gb Samsung USB 3.1 thumb drive I recommend
for low-memory Chromebooks is on sale for $20 right now: - at Samsung’s
website:
https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/usb-flash-drives/usb-3-…
<https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/usb-flash-drives/usb-3-1-flash-drive-fit-plus-256gb-muf-256ab-am/>
(I think shipping is free) - at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D7Q41PM?tag=slickdeals09-20&ascsubtag=7471…
<https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D7Q41PM?tag=slickdeals09-20&ascsubtag=7471241aae9211eead04266c2775f9cb0INT&th=1>
(free shipping with Prime) When plugged into a USB 3.0 port these Samsung
USB 3.1 thumb drives benchmark faster than the low-quality eMMC memory used
in most Chromebooks. Install the Linux OS of your choice on this and boot
from it using any unlocked Chromebook -- or any computer that will allow
booting from a USB port for that matter. Keep your entire computing
environment with you at all times on a tiny thumb drive (please keep it
backed up too, of course.) You could have two entirely separate OSes for
different purposes and personalities: a lightweight one installed on the
16Gb in the Chromebook and a full-fledged one installed on the thumb drive.
(When installing Linux I recommend creating a separate /home partition on
the USB thumb drive as you install, I can show you / tell you how to do
this.) -Peter *
-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: [sudo-discuss] Re: Chromebooks
Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2024 10:41:51 -0800
From: Peter Mui via sudo-discuss <sudo-discuss(a)sudoroom.org>
<sudo-discuss(a)sudoroom.org>
Reply-To: Peter Mui <petermui(a)sonic.net> <petermui(a)sonic.net>
To: sudo-discuss(a)sudoroom.org
Firstly; Tom: Heartfelt appreciation for your all your efforts in getting
the expired Chromebooks ready to be repurposed as general purpose laptops.
For those of you who are interested in why Sudoroom/Fixit Clinic is doing
this: school systems are sending Chromebooks by the millions to e-waste
when we could be keeping them in our communities to increase digital
literacy, digital equity, and digital inclusion. The Oakland Unified School
District e-wasted 8400 Chromebooks two years ago and is scheduled to
e-waste many thousands more this spring. (And OUSD's Chromebooks have 32Gb
storage not 16Gb)
Read this backgrounder for more information:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JSbGXhJFJeABWVOn1wO4M6bPT-gPBLV4oQ85xMy…
, including a proposal for substituting the internal 16Gb of storage with a
128Gb stubby USB 3.1 drive.
ATM I'm in contact with OUSD, Piedmont Unified School System, San Leandro
Unified School District, and Fremont Unified School District about teaching
students how to modify their expired Chromebooks to get them back into
service in the community: it'd be great to have as many Sudoers as possible
involved in this initiative as it ramps up.
Happy Monday, -Peter
On 1/7/2024 8:15 PM, tom r lopes via sudo-discuss wrote:
Last week I flashed the last of the chromebooks. (At least all the ones
in the cabinet -- Maybe Peter has another stack.)
Now they all have an unlocked bios firmware and ready to take an OS.
Most of the chromebooks are Google "Candy" (have the plastic bezel around
the screen) with a
few of Google "Wolf" (all glass screen) Both are 4GB ram and 16GB
storage soldered in place with no upgrade.
16GB makes Windows impossible. And even for Linux it is hard to get a
modern experience.
Linux: (on Candy, I haven't checked Wolf)
You can get some of the media keys working if you change keyboard layout
to "chromebook"
(Volume works but I don't think screen backlight control works)
Sound: Works in full featured distros but then you run out of space in
the 16GB emmc.
Minimal distros miss some things that are needed for sound:
Need the sound chip firmware. On Debian it is sof-firmware so "sudo apt
install sof-firmware"
Even after installing the firmware many times the speakers are muted
Run alsamixer from terminal ("sudo apt install alsa-utils" if alsamixer is
not available) By default the Intel digital audio is selected. F6 to
change soundcard but on the chromebook the F keys are shared with the media
keys. Depends on the layout but either search (key with mag glass icon) or
right ALT key is the Fn key. Hold Fn key (search or R ALT) and press
"lower backlight" (small sun icon or count 6 from ESC) When the right
sound card is selected press arrow keys until "Left speaker left dac" and
press "m" to unmute then "Right speaker right dac"
Should work now.
Unless you have a minimal Linux distro without an audio server installed.
Then "sudo apt install pulseaudio pavucontrol" Some distros need
pulseaudio-alsa (Arch) Some desktop environments may need plugins for the
GUI (XFCE need xfce4-pulseaudio-plugin)
Disk space: This is a tough one because we have only 16GB. There are
many very small Linux distros but they are not easy for the noob or
non-expert Linux user. And if you start small and try to add you end up
chasing the stuff that doesn't work. (like Try to install wifi gui but
wpa-supplicant is not automatically installed?) You can start with
something a little too big like Lubuntu then "sudo apt purge" to free space
(purging Libreoffice gets Lubuntu to around 8GB)
I will try some more distros and have some recommendations soon.
Thomas
_______________________________________________
sudo-discuss mailing list -- sudo-discuss(a)sudoroom.org
To unsubscribe send an email to sudo-discuss-leave(a)sudoroom.org
More options at
https://sudoroom.org/lists/postorius/lists/sudo-discuss.sudoroom.org/
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tom r lopes