!!!Win-dohs!!!!!!Win-dohs!!!!!!Win-dohs!!!!!!Win-dohs!!!!!!Win-dohs!!!!!!Win-dohs!!!!!!Win-dohs!!!!!!!!!Win-dohs!!!


Hello Everyone,

I tried to load a Linux Mint over the old files on the HD. I like Cinnamon also. I am able to log into the UEFI/BIO, No admin pass set. Then I am a little confuse because of all of the setting and not really sure what some of them do.
If I know any from experience if you get in there and don't know what you are doing, you can make a pretty great paper weight. "BRICK".

So I have been doing some research and upon that take I came across another rabbit hole "which of course I had to follow".
Coreboot and Libreboot, and flashing chips with Raspberry Pie and a chip clip/jumper thing. Has anyone here tried this? I understand that this is a long way off of just installing LibreOffice. However, I have been trying to experiment with the best and most fees-able way to recycle older computers using only free software from fsf.org.

I am looking at using the same laptop. I don't know if I should wipe the drive, or buy a new one. Of course I have a old version of Mint on there, and yes forgot the password. So I am in the process of reading up on the UBCD and how to use it. On the way to an attempt flash of chips on the board, thought I might as well test it on the old Dell.

The goal of this is to take a computer and do my best to get any type of proprietary software/firmware/ME/win-dohs off. Clean canvas... I hope. If not brick it and try to fix it.

In the future I plan on being able to help and teach others that are less fortunate repair devices that may have been salvages. Recently the Right to Repair was pass in my state. I am not sure if this might help reuse older discarded technologies, but I think it will help.

You'll rock

D

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You can’t brick your system by changing settings in the BIOS.
If you flash the BIOS with an incorrect BIOS version, for example, one that is intended for another motherboard, you can brick your system.
Also, if the power goes out, you brick the system.

With the previous BIOS (not UEFI), if a certain portion of the BIOS was intact, it was still possible to reflash the BIOS with a good BIOS version.
I don’t know if UEFI has such a feature.

I don’t know if it is a good idea to install Coreboot or Libreboot. I haven’t tried it.

Right to repair is mostly about manufacturers that want to build throw away devices (iphone, LG cellphone, refrigerator, oven, radios, cars, etc)
In the case of circuit boards, they don’t want to give you the components, they don’t want to give you the schematics.
In some cases, like John Dear farm tractors, use software tricks to prevent people from fixing their own tractor. Right to repair is about dealing with such tactics.

So can I simply use the UBCD and write over everything and start from scratch? M.2 500 GB SSD TPM supported. With UEFI, the process is typically done through a built-in firmware recovery mechanism, which can be triggered by pressing a specific key combination during boot-up.

I know that depending on the manufacturer and model of the motherboard. It's essential to consult the documentation for a specific motherboard to understand the recovery process and any associated risks.

Still wanting to get away from the proprietary code that controls the hardware on "MY MACHINE" as with the old John Deer tracker "oh I mean tractor" that the frugal farmer tries to fix him/her self. I consider a computer to be a tool. Many tools these days have code, and since people like to be self sufficient they should be able to know what and how a product it built, if it is vulnerable.

I've installed Linux, sometimes BSD, sometimes Haiku, to old machines, & only one have I needed to replace the BIOS, & that was a Chromebook.

You should be able to just overwrite the disks in them with Linux.

Good to hear more people willing to recycle old machines.

Tried implies failure so what happened? Did you get any error/warning messages? Which installation option did you select? There should be an Erase disk and install Mint option. Do you want to keep the old Mint? Which version is it? The link below explains how to recover lost password on Mint.

https://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/339

If the disk is GPT and UEFI capable, it is best to boot in UEFI mode and install that way. You should see the UEFI option under Boot Options in the BIOS for the installation USB.

What are you trying to recover? It seems you only want to install Mint? Are you having problems accessing your BIOS?