- bios/dual boot/usb boot you know, boot???
- Win11 privacy turn permissions off
- Useful Programs Better Apps
- Edge -> Inernet Explorer
- Virtualbox Linux
- WSL2/WSLG OpenSuse Tumbleweed
- Android subsystem Android on Windows
- sshfs to mount remote drive
- automate the sshfs remote drive mount
- vnc remote access to the box
- screenshot
- Nextcloud and VPN
USB Boot Enable is shown in the manual, but does not show up in the bios. Why not??? Grrr...
Plan was to dual boot (with OpSu Linux, like all my boxes. May be due to BIOS security settings, not going to experiment.
This could be problematic if ever need to reinstall Win11 ??? (Hello, Dell ...)
Extremely tedious to turn all of the permissions off, first in admin account and then in user account. Settings>Privacy & Security>[tab after tab], and naturally you have to keep scrolling down from the top. Settings>Apps>[App after App]>advanced settings>change "Let this app run in background" to "never".
Remember I did this, in case sometime, ever, I actually need one of these "Apps" to run in the background.
User account login should NOT be connected to Microsoft account. We do not need one drive, sync, or any of that other stuff that puts everything on MSFT servers. The bigger question is what have we forgotten to turn off, and is "off" really off.
One admin account is Microsoft connected, because I can't figure out any other recovery mode for crashed system/dead hdd, etc.
Apps to remove -- not that they are ever "gone".- OneDrive
- Xbox
- Office trial
- Adobe [whatever] link/sign-up/trial
- Bleachbit
- Brave Browser
- Ccleaner
- Clocx
- FreeClipViewer
- Linkbar64
- nana7zip
- neorouter
- Nextcloud
- Saladin
- Thunderbird
- TigerVNC - vncviewer.exe only
- UltraVNC
- Veracrypt
- VirtualBox
- download opensuse tumbleweed iso
- create new machine using virtualbox wizard
- I used 50gb virtual drive and 8 cpus. (Data can be stored on shared drive set up later.)
- Wizard will have you select the install iso as a virtual live cd/dvd.
- Opensuse install goes very quickly, about 10 min.!
- under system>acceleration, select "minimal"
Select "plasma on wayland" at user login in opensuse. Icewm also works and possibly other desktops. / update 2022-06-06
Finding right settings took a lot of trial and error. The clue was when I discovered wslg2 display is called "XWAYLAND" and seems to be a Wayland running on X. I also tried "default", "kvm" and "hyper-V" on the Virtualbox system>acceleration tab. Earliest efforts were too slow to be useful and low resolution. I do not know what changed or why.
Seamless OpenSuse Tumbleweed installed on the windows linux subsystem. Programs can be run from the linux command line, or from lxqt-panel/icons/menu. I wish this wasn't mostly gibberish, I attempt to document the evolving changes, which sort of breaks some of my previously posted info...
How to install WSL2/WSLG?
WSL2 and its GUI component WSLG are currently part of Windows11. But, not necessarily fully functional.There is a major change in Windows11 2024H2 -- wsgl.exe moved from System32 to
c:\Program Files\WSGL\wsgl.exe. This broke most of my links and batch files.
It is not entirely clear [to me] how to get it working, because there is some trial and error, and several "do-it-agains" (for no apparent reason). In addition, the process is hampered by Microsoft's
insistence that all users be connected to a Microsoft Account and the preferred software source is Microsoft Store. Because, of course they do. This link for Ubuntu install in Windows 11 is helpful.
- If necessary, turn on Virtualization in the BIOS. You should be able to get to the BIOS settings by hitting F11 or F12 while computer is powering up, otherwise
- enable Linux subsystem and virtual platform: Control Panel>Programs>Turn Windows Features On and Off
- Install windows linux subsystem from Microsoft Store.
- Open Terminal (administrator), such as by: rightclick start>click Terminal (Admin). You will need some wsl.exe commands, such as "wsl.exe --help", and as follows (mostly you can leave off '.exe'):
- wsl --status --> this will indicate whether wsl is running, which version (1 or 2, we want 2) and any active linuxes.
- wsl --list --online --> this will list the easy to install linux distros that are available. If you want, say, OpenSuse Tumbleweed, this is installed via the store
- wsl --list -->this will list the installed distros. *Unless you have installed one via a standard account that is not logged into Microsoft store, in which case you might have a functional distro that wsl seemingly does not know about.
- wsl install [distro] -->Or alternatively, you can find a distro in Windows Store and it will install it. *At least my version of Windows11 now requires reinstallation of anything that was installed via Microsoft Store in each user account. Example: Brave Browser installed from store in admin account does not appear in my standard account. Whereas, Brave Browser installed via a regular installer downloaded from the Brave Browser website installs and becomes available for each user. Or, for example, Alienware Command Center software,must be "reinstalled from Windows Store" in each user account. And further, Microsoft then requires that the user create at least a "Microsoft Account" for the purpose of reinstalling the Alienware software THAT IS ALREADY INSTALLED. And additionally annoying, the Microsoft store installer may say it's already installed, while Alienware keeps trying to have you reinstall it. But, have fun with that ... (There is an easy to overlook link that allows the Microsoft Account to be used "for Microsoft Apps Only" when logging in, otherwise it will just generally log the user in to the Windows metaverse, where some of us would rather not be. Also, once installed, Alienware Command Center will actually function if the user skips over the nagging pop-ups demanding to log into your Microsoft Account and install more Alienware).
- Sadly, I do not remember the rest of the steps ... (lol)
Anyway, WSL2 is apparently running a form of Wayland on X, so my virtual display was reported as XWAYLAND1. The lxrandr display software will adjust the screen resolution, but not higher than 1920x1080.
By happenstance, I selected LXQT as "a lightweight desktop" -- and so my initial tests went pretty well. (Apparently, the WSL system is Qt friendly. LXDE did not work out for me.) "startlxqt" will get it running once the components are installed. I think I merely ran "zypper in lxqt".
My "goal" was to get KDE Plasma running. Could not. I use LXQT for remote access to my Linux box, so I have some familiarity with it.
I tried to change the resolution with arandr/lxrandr/xrandr. These do not work. Maybe Wayland resolution change will work, but I am not familiar with it and gave up on the desktop idea. LXDE comes up awkwardly (due to resolution mismatch, I think), with the taskbar on a second window or something. I have two "solutions" for running a launcher for linux apps: (1) lxlauncher (C:\Windows\System32\wslg.exe ~ -d openSUSE-Tumbleweed lxlauncher) -- this provides a tabbed window with launchers for the installed openSUSE/linux apps. (2) lxqt-panel. (The expected wsgl.exe command doesn't work, but it can be launched from lxqt-runner -- which launches from C:\Windows\System32\wslg.exe ~ -d openSUSE-Tumbleweed lxqt-runner -- or by launching lxqt, and then closing the lxqt desktop "window" from the taskbar, which will leave the panel running. Unfortunately, it is a big random where it appears on the desktop, but it can be conveniently raised when needed by clicking on it in the windows taskbar. I make panel launchers for each of the wslg.exe [whatever] commands, and put them on the linksbar panel. (
I tried to run Icewm, but could not replace the windows manager. I also could not start a plasma session.
More random notes:
- Linux programs that work successfully for me: see items in bold, further below on the page.
- IMPORTANT POINT I THOUGHT I FORGOT!!! Windows icon .lnk file can be created to launch linux applications. The format for the link is as follows: "C:\Windows\System32\wslg.exe ~ -d openSUSE-Tumbleweed dolphin". As of the 2024H2 Win11 update, this syntax changed, the correct syntax is now: ["C:\Program Files\WSL\wslg.exe" -d openSUSE-Tumbleweed --cd "~" -- dolphin]. But, the comparable bat file syntax turns out to be different: [start c:\"Program Files\WSL\wslg.exe" -d openSUSE-Tumbleweed --cd "~" -- konsole su]. In other words, the leading quote moves from outside the "c:\" to just before "Program Files" All of these seemingly undocumented changes created a lot of work to update my desktop.
- Yast2 Software Manager -- (complicated to get it working, I'm not certain which files are actually necessary, I just kept adding more of the software I wanted from Linux , and then finally it started working. However, it seems I have to start it from an admin or sudo command line.) However, it will work correctly from the lx-panel. But, even this is complicated because I have found multiple ways of starting lx-panel. It will only launch the sudo dialog, and then Yast2 sw_single IF I have launched lx-panel by launching lxqt desktop (I can then close the desktop window and the lxqt-panel will remain. If instead I launch lxqt-panel via lxrunner, user level apps will run from the menu, but not ones that require sudo privileges.
- lxpanel-very useful to have a launch bar with a cascading menu to launch the linux programs, as it is tedious to find them in windows start>all apps>openSuse -- and windows only provides icons for some of the installed programs.
- lxqt desktop (fyi -- startup command from command line is "startlxqt") There is an interesting problem -- the lxqt panel either comes up in the middle of the desktop, or on a separate window. I use the configuration menu to move it to the top, or if it is already configured to the top (but stuck in the middle), move it around until I get it where I want it.(But the "desktop" is not really useful since the lxqt-panel will run independently of the desktop.)
- sshfs/fuse/etc. No matter how many times I do this, it is difficult. The rsa file must be in the .ssh folder, the privileges must be limited to owner. Until everything necessary is set up, the dreaded "server reset by peer" comes up. I found it helpful to first be sure an ssh session to the remote server can be established: ssh -p [port] [user]@[IP address]
Here are some programs that I have tested and are working well for me:
- dolphin
- gscan2pdf -- very happy about this, because it's my main scanning program. Also, the brother drivers installed correctly, by downloading the rpms and installing via zypper. (Note: the brother installer script did not work.)
- tigervnc/vncviewer. This is important, because Linux tigervnc does a very good job of resizing the window when connecting with a tigervnc server, which Ultravnc does not. But, TigerVNC SERVER is no longer maintained for Windows. So, in typing this, I am using a remote LXQT desktop in full screen mode resized to match my local screen.
- gwenview - I think I called it up to check it is running, but I haven't used it for anything.
- okular - Now I can read the Dell/Alienware pdf manual!
- Brave Browser - interestingly, the speedtest and latency on my brave browser running in the linux subsystem is faster than the one running simply under Windows 11. Then on the other hand, DRM does not work, even though Google Widevine downloaded and installed. Is the Windows linux subsystem blocking DRM content, or do I have an install error? Don't know. (update: the only thing I tested is NBA.com -- and I am having the same issue in my regular Linux install, with both Brave and Chrome.) OTOH, Youtube works fine and sound does work.
- brother linux printer/scanner drivers
- krita
- Not Working:Audacity - If I run setup on the lxqt panel sound mixer, it shows options for "Alsa" and "PulseAudio" and is running PulseAudio. It also gives the name of a (pseudo) interface. But, I don't have PulseAudio installed, and pavcontrol can't access it. Initially, Audacity did not recognize any device or audio setup. After installing ALSA and pavcontrol (and dependencies), I am able to "set up" Audacity, but so far I have not been able to record anything.
Sshfs is running under the WSL opensuse install, connecting via the opensuse console command line.
Install sshfs via Yast2. The rest of the process is a bit complicated, especially if your remote server uses rsa_id login. Use command line or dolphin to create hidden directory .ssh in your user directory. Sshfs will look there for keys. My hosting company provides tools for creating the private/public pair key and downloading them. A config file can provide aliases for easier command line execution. I copied the .ssh files from a working linux install. PROBLEM: permissions must be set only for owner. (This can be done via dolphin>file properties>permissions>advanced.) Syntax is something like "sshfs -p [port] [user]@[host]:/home/[user] [mnt point]". An empty directory must be created for the mount point - I created "lan2" in my home directory, and so [mnt point] is ~/lan2. If it mounts correctly, the remote directories will be found in the lan2 folder until the connection is disconnected (or disconnects.)Very useful for things such as typing this webpage!
The windows drives are found in /mnt, so using dolphin I created a symlink to my windows user Document folder as "windocs" in my home directory, so I have easy way to drag'n'drop files between the opensuse file system and the windows 11 one.
Ultravnc server is running on win11. I access via tigervnc running on linux. The screen will resize if the options are correctly selected in tigervnc and also both machines can set to the same resolution. (The quad density on my windows11 monitor does not match the quad density on my laptop, so I had to select a 16:9 resolution they both could set to.) The resolution resets to match my laptop when I trigger "full screen" via tigervnc and reverts (most of the time) when I disconnect.
I would prefer to have a second display and not mess with the running display0, eg. display1.I read something that suggested it the laptop could be treated as a secondary display under windows 11, but I haven't managed to get the settings right to trigger this.
Automated mounting of remote server
Icon (windows shorcut) > linux bash script > sshfs [remote ssh account]. Need some linux programs, installed from distro that is being used:
- ssh
- sshfs
Android Subsystem
Android subsystem works. Due to lag time between when I installed it and now (when writing this) I don't fully recall the steps -- and it was a bit difficult to find them. Something like:
- install android from windows store. This will walk you through the "android subsystem install."
- once installed, you have access to some android games via windows store.
- turn on "developer mode" in the android subsystem. I had some trouble finding this. It's a page that is part of, or similar to, windows 11 settings
- install your android source of choice. I don't know if google play will work and did not try it. My choice is F-droid, which is installed from the apk found at the f-droid website
- now install useful android apps via F-droid (and F-droid will thereafter manage updates). There are other possible 3rd party installers, such as apkpure, etc. (Use at your own risk, of course.)
Edge -> Internet Explorer
MSIE (Internet Explorer) mode of EDGE works and runs activeX. Non-intuitive, it's necessary to both "open with" and also "activate" Internet Explorer mode. And, if you want activeX write privileges, the site will have to be in the local or trusted zone. IE options are still available via the old windows "control panel", which still does exist in Windowx 11. (For instance, old version Night Owl security system access is via MSIE ActiveX plugin.)
Nextcloud (and VPN)
I used a Nextcloud/Ubuntu virtualbox image to install Nextloud. By selecting a "bridged adapter" in Virtualbox, the machine shows up on my local lan.
OTOH, I could not figure out how to install Nextcloud into my WSGL openSUSE install, so I am wasting CPU power running Virtualbox. But, for the most part, I have plenty of overhead to spare.
Originally, I was using a neorouter vpn connection. However, neorouter does not seem to be currently maintained. Although very simple to use, I really have no idea who is behind Neorouter. I wish
OpenVPN worked as easily, but nooo... However, my latest router (Netgear Nighthawk) has built-in OpenVPN and "walks you through it". The walk-through was a nightmare to figure out because of some inaccuracies and lack
of clarity. Ultimately, I discovered the "smartphone"
download works in the Linux>openSuse>KDE>NetManager(rather than the "non-windows" download. Also because it uses "tun" (or is it "tan"), my OpenVPN connection can see the local lan. The OpenVPN website says the "other"
mode is preferable, but at least for now I'm (naive) and happy. It was very useful to be able to access everything via iPad from 2500 miles away as though I was right here at home. I had trouble getting it to work
on the iPad and it was one of those situations where it wasn't working ... and then it was. So, I have been able to access my home LAN via Linux, Windows10, Android and iPad. All good, only 15 years in the making. (Now if
only I had a phone that can connection to the hotel tv HDMI, I would be truly happy. I've been trying to travel with just a phone and a bluetooth keyboard since my Droid3 & Droid4 but I'm still not there.)