I have a couple of questions about a customized Distro I’m making for my dad (sending him a USB to install it from) that’s easy to use (he’s always been extremely tech illiterate - he only learned how to use a computer thanks to Linux, but that version of Ubuntu he had learned on is over 10 years old now) and I can connect to via Rust Desk that has a custom icon that says “help” (using Mint 22.1)
So far, the closest to success I’ve had is using Systemback - it perfectly copied the system as set up.
But, there’s just one big problem - the installer.
The installer, despite being a GUI, is not user friendly. Not only are there a lack of instructions (making it unintuitive on what you need in order to be able to click “next” even if you are basically tech literate), but it involves manually partitioning the hard drives into 3 partitions - there’s also no “erase all and use the whole drive” option.
My question is, can I edit or replace the installer Systemback uses, for something slightly easier, or if not feasible:
Can I use the terminal in Cubic to change a program’s icon, move the panel (optional), and pin a program to the panel, as well as set up Firefox to not have AI, change the search engine, font size, and bookmarks, as well as install uBlock? (I’d install Librewolf, except that it doesn’t store browsing history by default, which he relies on).
is it possible that he can use something like puppy linux like distros (essentially live usbs, where you can make a persistent partition and make changes)? that way you can prepare a usb, and maybe teach them how to plug the usb in, and change the boot order to include usb? it would be slow (for boot times, if you use some faster usb, that would help), but does not require any fancy operation requiring him to open his computer.
Or if opening the computer/laptop and installing ssd/hdd is within scope, then maybe you can prepare a ssd with complette install, and just ship that. give him additional video/text instructions on how to open a computer, and install it. (In case their system supports ssds, then I highly recommend ssds over hdd, as they do not require special packaging, would be much faster, and ssd installations are also easier(detachhing and reattaching sata ribbon is hard imo, where as with something like nvme ssd, it is very close to like plugging in usb, and then just screwing or something similar.)) If their system is old, and does not have nvme/u.2 connectors, i would still recommend ssd over hdd, then you would also have to procure (and ship) an extra enclosure (i think they are called caddys) to fit a ssd in a husk, which after closing looks like a harddisk and connects via sata. these steps are tad bit hard, but if it is within scope, then I do not think their is a better option.
Shipping him a hard drive with the system is something I might consider too, since that night actually be easier for him to install with instructions then anything software. I remember that computer had a SATA SSD
@Lumiluz if I were you, I would:
- Install the desired distro on a physical hdd of my own.
- Add the user, do all the customization I would like him to have.
- Clone the whole disk into an image using #clonezilla.
- Write a custom bash script containing the needed command to restore that image.
- Send him both clonezilla live distro and the cloned image.
That would save you lots of headaches. I guess.
The issue I had with clonezilla is that it only works on the original hard drive.
When testing it on a second machine it had errors because it was trying to install to the exact same blocks as the original hard drive, and wouldn’t install.
Unless the bashscript can somehow ignore that?
I tried following the guide I found on their site too, which mentioned going into advance mode and checking off something to “check blocks” or such so it could be installed on any device, but couldn’t find such an option when I did it. I don’t know if that’s limited to a specific version of clonezilla
@Lumiluz are you sure the hdd you want to restore the image on is the same size or larger that the one the image was cloned on?
Maybe playing with selected options when you’re creating the image would help?
Tbh, it was long time ago since my last time I used it.
I want to make it size agnostic, because I don’t remember what size his hard drive is (and he definitely doesn’t have the ability to check), but I have the distro installed as a partition.
@Lumiluz try these:
For cloning:
sudo ocs-sr -q2 -j2 -z1p -i 2000 -sc -p true savedisk /path/to/image/dir sdaFor restoring:
sudo ocs-sr -g auto -e1 auto -e2 -r -j2 -icds -k1 restoredisk /path/to/image/dir sdaIf it doesn’t work, try using the partition image mode instead of the whole disk block
Thanks, I’ll try that, but how to I add that script when using clonezilla? When trying something in the past like that in the terminal it didn’t do anything and said it didn’t recognize this commands for some reason.
Am I supposed to start Clonezilla in a different mode?
Also, /path/to/image/dir is the partition correct? And do I have to specify which sda?
@Lumiluz in the expert mode I believe it drops you into a terminal.
In cloning:
/path/to/image/dir is the disk where the cloned image should be saved to. (You need to mount it once you’re in terminal the)
sda is which disk should be cloned
In restoring:
It’s where the cloned image is living. (You need to mount it)
sda is the disk where the image should be restored to
All the docs for Systemback are non-English, so either suffer through translations to be able to read, or start searching specifically for what you’re looking for elsewhere.
Personally, I wouldn’t be using an image from a 10 year old install, I’d be starting clean for all the benefits of what that brings to the party.
Edited to make clearer - I’m not using an image that’s over 10 years, that’s what he has installed on his PC. It can’t be updated anymore, and even Firefox on it is getting deprecated soon.
I want to send him a USB with a customized version of Mint 22.1
