Quirky Xerus 8.1.4 for Raspberry Pi2 and 3

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amj · #616 Post by **amj** » Thu 09 Mar 2017, 19:35

In my opinion fd-arm is considerably inferior to QX814. Credit to Don570 for doing a good job on packaging it and making it easy to install.

Having a save file is a pain. Installing to a partition is much better.

fd-arm was designed for a specific purpose - to run on hand-held devices. I trust it does that job well. But the original purpose of fd-arm and RPi are not a good match. If I remember rightly you can't swap the mouse buttons over on fd-arm. For a hand-held device that's irrelevant functionality. It was designed to be a largely closed system and it's not compatable with any major repository.

don570 · #617 Post by **don570** » Sat 11 Mar 2017, 18:56

Berryboot has a special version of Quirky Xerus 8.1.4 for Raspberry Pi2 and 3 available.

I downloaded and will test it this weekend.
http://berryboot.alexgoldcheidt.com/download/126/

Berryboot install instructions

don570 · #618 Post by **don570** » Mon 13 Mar 2017, 16:49

Tested and it works fine.
Some notes:
There is a good assortment of wifi drivers preinstalled.
Samba is preinstalled so a connection to a windows server can be created quickly.
DropBear isn't installed by default. But it is easy to install.
http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/quirky ... -armv7.pet
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Here are instructions
https://www.howtogeek.com/141325/how-to ... berryboot/

If you are installing from a Thumb drive...

You must decompress the .tar.gz file first to create the img file.

To add the operating system to your card, you must hold down the icon
labelled 'Add OS' and then you select your img file located on the thumb drive.

config.txt is automatically created from the berryboot config.txt file.
It is easy to modify if you wish.
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TeX Dog · #619 Post by **TeX Dog** » Mon 13 Mar 2017, 19:10

don570 wrote:Berryboot has a special version of Quirky Xerus 8.1.4 for Raspberry Pi2 and 3 available.

I downloaded and will test it this weekend.
http://berryboot.alexgoldcheidt.com/download/126/

Berryboot install instructions

Dang Don can I best you at anything. Found out about this a few days ago and testing its limits. Very solid and fast ( as fast as full install)

Its like old school Puppylinux sfs main file < as Alex states recompressed SFS for speed of decode then xz compresses that image > with new save folder idea in a EXT4 full sized single partition not the horrible divide into many like before.

After xz decompression the QX814 image is right at 500M
BerryBoot has its own lookup timer function so best to leave the QX set time function unchecked at QX main firstrun setup.

The BBoot Kernel works great so far no issues, also holds promise that CEC, BlueTooth keyboards, and a few other not fully finished in QX814 could be made functional

I am running on a USB hardrive and BerryBoot it did reformat it completely, but I copied files to a different USB harddrive and changed the config.txt file to point to the correct EXT4 and all did fine ( no forced reformat ), so if you want to run QX814 and the many dozen more images offered with an existing USB harddrive, format a spare- usbflash first and copy install.

Good or bad BBoot doesnot hide or lock the layered drives data so becarefull snooping about.

also pro-tip the .img files are same as our .sfs renaming image files to .sfs allows QX814 to snoop into other 'donor' OSs

TeX Dog · #620 Post by **TeX Dog** » Wed 15 Mar 2017, 04:15

new added stuff with berryboots kernel ( added temp and lightingbolt )
did not know what device was placing a yellow bolt of lighting in upper right part of screen. was using new BBoot and media OS with that projector that has caused issues before. Turns out the newer kernels have updated firmware to change the confusing square power/temp onscreen with real useful icons. Also found out that there is a feedback on HDMI for its 5v level. The Projector and a long power line to RPi2B+ was causing low power conditions.
Also learned that you can control HDMI power feeds and sdcard speeds,

looks like fun ahead.

Downloading PixelOS image to test next. Should be able to test my Pi3 tomorrow left it, expecting to return, a week of rains kept me from getting back to it.

There is a version for PCs as well, may try that.

TeX Dog · #621 Post by **TeX Dog** » Sat 18 Mar 2017, 18:11

Not impressed with Jessie-PIXEL. Does look nice IF your system doesn't have overscan. My first test HDMI TV (first gen, actual CRT tube type) has extreme overscan due to age/technology use.
Could not see menubar at all and the menu with mouse click did not offer a path for a fix. Background graphic I could change, why a lonely blacktop road with a thunderstorm on the horizon was its default I never can tell, but the 'guy' who made the choice needs some serious counseling. The Symbology alone is unsettling but also foretelling, First Blush it looks nice 'clean new road' nice hills, but also that distant storm already over the road. Pixel looks nice, but offers less useful GUI, no default icon 'run' programs for the stuff I had on the test disk, no root,sudo or method that sticks to change permissions.
Horrible video playback, alpha blend methods removed (acts more like this QX814, then past versions without Pixel ) did not even have ffmpeg or the forked renamed version.
QX814 has multiple options for video, that only jittery webbrowser <its suppost to be the best > and omxplayer and it still preformed worse same everything else, verses the version on QX814.
I am going to snag some nice desktop backgrounds from PIXEL and call the review over.

SHORT VERSON: stick with QX its still better then the others newest 'best'

BarryK · #622 Post by **BarryK** » Sun 19 Mar 2017, 01:05

Right now I am compiling SeaMonkey 2.46 on the Pi3, running Quirky Xerus 8.1.4.

It has been chugging along for about 20 minutes, but many hours to go...

Just a little note, I plan to get Easy Linux running on the Pi2 and Pi3.
Same Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus 64-bit DEBs as in Quirky 8.1.4, but Easy uses the layered filesystem, and has "q.sfs" with all of the filesystem in it -- like in Puppy.

However, there is no "save file", which I consider to be too much of a hassle. You can read how Easy works here:

http://barryk.org/easy/how-easy-works.htm

EDIT:
Finally got there: http://barryk.org/news/?viewDetailed=00518

don570 · #623 Post by **don570** » Mon 20 Mar 2017, 23:26

Note to Barry..

Don't forget to include 'Dropbear' for SSH clone
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Sylvander · #624 Post by **Sylvander** » Thu 23 Mar 2017, 12:42

1. Using THIS POST for guidance...
a. I did all of the necessary to extract the berryboot files to my 32GB mmc, 1 partition formatted as FAT32.
b. Put it correctly into my RPi2 mobo , [it's connected to my newly swapped-in Virgin Hub 3.0 using 2 "Devolo Powerline Adapters"].
c. Powered it on, and did all the necessary.
d. Chose to install both Raspbian and OpenELEC, with OpenELEC as default.
The necessary files were auto-downloaded from the internet, and the OS's installed [NICE ].
e. Eventually managed to get Kody to work [NICE , stuff is BIG in Kody , so it can be read on my 32-inch Sony Bravia smart TV from 12-feet away].

So...
2. What should I do to additionally install the "special version of Quirky Xerus 8.1.4".
I don't see it offered on the berryboot "Add OS" window.
Perhaps I need to look at that again.

don570 · #625 Post by **don570** » Thu 23 Mar 2017, 20:19

The way I do it ....

Download...

https://sourceforge.net/projects/berryb ... z/download

Then decompress to get the img file.

I put it on a thumb drive and stick it in my raspberry pi 2.

The Pressing on 'Add OS ' icon should show img file if you wait for 10-15 seconds. (It's slow to show thumb drive contents

)

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shadower_sc · #626 Post by **shadower_sc** » Thu 23 Mar 2017, 20:35

don570's way of doing it is how you "side load" an image downloaded from here: (The Latest Quirky Xerus 8.1.4 is in the list.)
http://berryboot.alexgoldcheidt.com/images/

decompress command example from berryboot homepage:

Code: Select all

tar -xf name-of-the-image.img.tar.xz

How to install os images:
http://berryboot.alexgoldcheidt.com/how ... os-images/

Sylvander · #627 Post by **Sylvander** » Thu 23 Mar 2017, 23:21

don570 wrote:I put it on a thumb drive and stick it in my raspberry pi 2.

The Pressing on 'Add OS ' icon should show img file if you wait for 10-15 seconds. (It's slow to show thumb drive contents )

When I do this, to install the Puppy OS, will it copy the contents of the image [held in the .img file] to the mmc [micro memory card?]
And can I then dispense with the use of the USB Flash Drive?

I may find time to try it before you reply.

So far I've extracted the img to a single partition formatted FAT32, on a spare Flash Drive.
Tried booting the RPi2 with the Flash Drive and mmc both in place, and they work as they aught.
Quirky Xerus 8.1.4 installed, rebooted and the newly installed Puppy booted OK. rebooted again without the Flash Drive and the Puppy still booted OK.
All good.

don570 · #628 Post by **don570** » Mon 27 Mar 2017, 19:46

When I do this, to install the Puppy OS, will it copy the contents of the image [held in the .img file] to the mmc [micro memory card?]
And can I then dispense with the use of the USB Flash Drive

Yes! The purpose of berryboot is to install several OS's on one card.
After you install there will be a list of OS's when you boot up
and you choose the OS you want.

There is a modification that allows part of the OS to installed on a thumb drive but that isn't too useful.

Sylvander · #629 Post by **Sylvander** » Tue 28 Mar 2017, 01:22

My RPi2 appears to have no led indicating when it's powered on.

Any thoughts?

Sage · #630 Post by **Sage** » Tue 28 Mar 2017, 08:42

Any thoughts?

Insufficient power? Incorrect USB connection/hub design? SD card not pushed home? Incompatible HDMI arrangement? - are just a few of the issues I've encountered!
Try powering it from pins 4 & 6 on the GPIO with an independent old AT or ATX PSU - you can use the small Molex(for FDD) directly if you unhook the 12V (yellow) and adjacent 0V (black) leads. [let me know if you need a dozen or so, but it may be easier & quicker to lift one from your roadside skip.]
Disconnect your USB hub - only USB2/3 ones work and if you try to power them (not necessary with RPi2) you can get conflicts. When/if reconnecting later after fault discovered be sure to connect board microUSB via the USB-B on hub and not one of the USB-A slots.
Use an HDMI - VGA adapter in the first instance as not all nativeHDMI s on TVs and monitors are compatible - or their leads. There may be nothing you can do about that.
There are plenty more possible issues including you've blown it, blown a fuse, bad cable, you-name-it.
Either way, please be sure to report back when you sort it so that it will help legions of others struggling ...

Sylvander · #631 Post by **Sylvander** » Tue 28 Mar 2017, 11:41

@Sage

1. "Insufficient power?"
Perhaps.
Remember, the RPi2 works just fine, except there is no power LED displaying.
I'm using a power unit [5-volt-DC, 1.3-amp] identical to the one for my wife's mobile phone [Nokia Lumia 610 methinks].
I see no obvious signs of inadequate power to the RPi2.
I have an 10-port multi-USB power hub somewhere [Trust 5-volt-DC, 2.0-amp].
RPi needed power supply
Is my Nokia 1.3A power unit ok?

2. "Incorrect USB connection/hub design?"
I very much doubt it.

3. "SD card not pushed home?"
I always make sure it's properly pushed home.
Got it wrong once [the mmc was in at the correct orifice, but angled toward the outer casing; might this have done irreversible damage?], and removed and re-inserted to make sure it was properly located and all the way home [the little ridge on the end of the mmc is located between the internal cover/hood and the outer edge].

4. "Try powering it from pins 4 & 6 on the GPIO with an independent old AT or ATX PSU..."
Eh, what?

I wonder if I even know what that means.
I don't have any spare PSU's about.
Aren't they HUGE?
I fitted a replacement one once to an old PC.

5. "Disconnect your USB hub - only USB2/3 ones work and if you try to power them (not necessary with RPi2) you can get conflicts."
The hub [not yet used for RPi2] is USB-2.0 and 1.1.
Not sure what the Lumia power unit is [USB 2.0?]
See: Genuine Nokia AC_50X (1.3AMP) USB Mains Charger Wall Adapter

6. "There are plenty more possible issues including you've blown it, blown a fuse, bad cable, you-name-it."
I very much doubt all of these, except as in 3 above.
Everything is NEW, and appears to work OK [except no power LED display].
Looks like my son fitted it in an old case [doesn't look new]...
Might the case be obscuring the LED?

7. "please be sure to report back when you sort it so that it will help legions of others struggling ..."
Will do.

Sage · #632 Post by **Sage** » Tue 28 Mar 2017, 18:03

4. "Try powering it from pins 4 & 6 on the GPIO with an independent old AT or ATX PSU..."
Eh, what? :?
I wonder if I even know what that means.
I don't have any spare PSU's about.
Aren't they HUGE?
I fitted a replacement one once to an old PC.

Along the back (front?!) of your board there is a row of 40 pins - for connecting a range of inputs and outputs, both (digital)signals and voltages. This is the General Purpose Input/Output bus (short for busbar). They run in pairs, odds down one lane, evens the other (outside) lane. Pins 2 & 4 are +5V, pin 6 is ground/earth/0V.
On old PSUs (and some new ones), the smallest power plug is to drive the Floppy Drive and has four sockets - red/black/black/yellow for +5V 0V 0V & +12V. If you remove (use a pin) the yellow and adjacent black (tape them up separately in insulating tape) you have a socket with two live connections. This will fit exactly over pin4 and pin6 to power the unit.
HUGE is pejorative. I have a couple of modern ones in 10cm cubes and another 6x6x100cm. Enough power to run a dozen Pi s, perhaps?!
When working with RPi s remember that, like the BBC Bit, they were intended to teach about coding, robotics and engineering control, never for surfing or distro hopping.
There are a plethora of (over-priced) add-ons sold for A-D and D-A conversion, GPIO extensions and a host of projects stuff, but also including music converters, etc.
And finally, don't believe what you read elsewhere. Don't put your Pi in one of those cute little plastic boxes. Do fit a heatsink on the cpu, esp. for RPi 3.
Hope this helps.

don570 · #633 Post by **don570** » Tue 28 Mar 2017, 20:38

Green led always blinks when booting.
If it doesn't then the usual reason is a card that doesn't have bootable
fat32 partition. In other words you screwed up the installation.
The board itself could be fine. Let's hope so.

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your board there is a row of 40 pins - for connecting a range of inputs and outputs, both (digital)signals and voltages. This is the General Purpose Input/Output bus (short for busbar). They run in pairs, odds down one lane, evens the other (outside) lane. Pins 2 & 4 are +5V, pin 6 is ground/earth/0V.

Yes, Checking the voltage is easy with a voltmeter.
you should look at diagram first.
There are several pins that act as ground.
The voltage dips under 5 volts during booting because of the high current that is drawn, but it should stay above 4.7 V.

Sage · #634 Post by **Sage** » Wed 29 Mar 2017, 06:11

The voltage dips under 5 volts during booting because of the high current that is drawn

Best reason to use a 'proper' PSU (also gives an on/off mains switch!). I found the tip on one of the many Pi Fora.
[Nice picture don, he has an RPi2 with 40 pins, also try https://www.rasberrypi.org/documentation/usage/... et seq. and ...//pinout.xyz/#]
That GPIO can, of course, be used to advantage for projects with QX8.1.4 via the CLI as well as all the soft apps installed.
A good place for hobbyists to start is with switching things ON&OFF, although might need a simple DAC chip and/or dc-dc converter (99p/eBay)+ relay (eg OmronG2VN -ubiquitous). Always fancied a more advanced project of a weather station, but the add-ons are outrageously priced and looking outa-da-window is quicker and cheaper!
In extremis, this might help:
http://pksato.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/re ... ry-pi.html

Incidentally, since don is showing the pin-outs, keenest coders will note that v2 &3 have I^2C connections on pins 3 & 5. This is the code used to reset counter chips on, inter alia, laser printers (possibly inkjets?). Apart from that fact, I know nothing more, apart from being aware that there is an expert printer buff and coder amongst us, rcrsn.

amj · #635 Post by **amj** » Wed 12 Apr 2017, 08:21

In January I made a post on page 37 of this thread saying that I'd experimented with installing the new vlc-plugin-qt from the Debian sid repository. I made a fresh installation of QX814 and installed the plugin, not really expecting it to work. Having made the experiment, I put the micro-SD card in a drawer and moved to something else.

Today I retrieved that micro-SD card, popped it into a RPi2 and launched vlc from the console because I wanted to play some music. After a string of warning messages, up popped the QT interface.

I'm not sure why that did not happen when I made the original experiment and equally unsure why it did work today. But I now have an installation of QX814 with a full vlc running. I've made a desktop icon for vlc and when I click it, up pops the familiar vlc QT interface. And it's working.

(old)Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

(old)Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

Quirky Xerus 8.1.4 for Raspberry Pi2 and 3

uncompress command example from berryboot homepage