Multiarch iso with DE and non-free firmware

huntantr · 05-03-2021, 07:02 AM

I have an Asus T100 that I am trying to get Debian up and running on. I have tried many different iso's with varying success. The ISO I use must be multiarch as this device has a 32bit EFI and 64bit processor, and needs to have non-free firmware due to it's wifi adapter and other hardware.

I can successfully run the amd64 live iso off of a usb, runs great, but when I go to install it fails because it can't install the 32bit version of Grub.
I can successfully install the firmware-non-free-amd64-i386 iso, but none of the firmware I need to get the wifi working is installed. Not sure if I did something wrong during the installation. I was hoping that I could then just manually install a DE since there isn't one in this iso.

Is there a different I can try to get this working, or an option in the setup that will get it going?

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks.

shruggy · 05-03-2021, 07:53 AM

See 6.4. Loading Missing Firmware in the Debian Installation Guide.

heathcliff36 · 05-06-2021, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntantr

I have an Asus T100... this device has a 32bit EFI and 64bit processor,

You see, that just sounds weird.
The Asus T100 laptop comes with Windows 8.1.
Windows 8.1 was launched in 2013.
Intel upgraded EFI to UEFI in 2005.
If you have a T100 laptop it has UEFI bios.

Quote:

I can successfully run the amd64 live iso off of a usb, runs great, but when I go to install it fails because it can't install the 32bit version of Grub.

GRUB is neither 32-bit or 64-bit.
You have no idea what you're talking about.

Quote:

I can successfully install the firmware-non-free-amd64-i386 iso, but none of the firmware I need to get the wifi working is installed.

Debian does not install all the drivers under the sun on the 'non-free' iso.

Quote:

Not sure if I did something wrong during the installation. I was hoping that I could then just manually install a DE since there isn't one in this iso.

Really?
Debian says you have to personally OPT-OUT of all versions of their DE during install.
And if you do, installing a DE is as easy as installing a debian package.

Quote:

Any help is appreciated.

You have successfully installed Debian onto an 8-year old laptop.
You can't get wifi to run.
Be specific. Be honest.

huntantr · 05-07-2021, 06:58 AM

I can't believe that is how you talk to users that ask for help. I am sorry I am not using all of the correct wording, as I am new to this. I have enough technical knowledge to get work through problems but got stuck. Thought the community would be a great place to look for help. Guess not.

By the way, your "help" is incorrect. The Debian install does not ask what DE I want to install. I am also not expecting it to install all non-free firmware under the sun, just the same firmware that it does when I run any live iso. So was surprised when the multiarch non-free iso didn't behave the same as all of the other non-free isos I tried.

"Be Honest" is your response. Thanks. I am being honest. Kind of hard to get help if I'm not.

Good-bye.

hazel · 05-07-2021, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heathcliff36

GRUB is neither 32-bit or 64-bit.
You have no idea what you're talking about.

Sorry but that makes no sense either. The link shown deals with the installation of the first stage of GRUB2 into the MBR. This is indeed neither 32-bit nor 64-bit because it is a boot-sector program. But the version of GRUB2 that you install onto an ESP is a normal program in PE32+ format. The OP needs a 32-bit version for this if his EFI chip is 32-bit. However I don't think he needs multiarch for his system unless he wants to run things like wine. Once the kernel has booted, you're not using EFI/UEFI any more so it doesn't matter what bitness it uses.

heathcliff36 · 05-07-2021, 01:42 PM

Have you already visited the debian site for installing debian onto a T100?: https://wiki.debian.org/InstallingDebianOn/Asus/T100TA.
It looks like it has really useful info.

It says:

Code:

The WiFi card is difficult to configure from the Debian Installer 
environment, it is recommended to use a standard CD/DVD 
Debian Installer image (or use a supported WiFI USB 
dongle if the internet is really required during the installation);

This link shows how you can install Ubuntu onto a T100: https://github.com/5bentz/linux-asus...100TA_guide.md

The tutorial is from 2018 and refers to installing Ubuntu 18.04.
What you could do is install Ubuntu 18.04 as per the tutorial.
After that I think Ubuntu allows for upgrading to the latest version.

Alternatively, you could just use the tutorial to install the latest Ubuntu 21.04 and see if that works.