+- PINE64 (https://forum.pine64.org)
+-- Forum: Pinebook Pro (https://forum.pine64.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=111)
+--- Forum: Linux on Pinebook Pro (https://forum.pine64.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=114)
+--- Thread: Window Maker Live for Pinebook Pro (/showthread.php?tid=20098)
Window Maker Live for Pinebook Pro - vajak - 12-01-2025
As was just verified, the arm64 UEFI variant of the Window Maker Live Linux distribution based on Debian/Trixie boots just fine on towboot enabled Pinebook Pro. This also includes the graphical debian installer routine, avoiding the need to bother with the awkward serial console for installations. I didn't complete a full installation yet on my own bare metal PBP because the machine needed for development is not suitable also for testing, and all installation testing has been done only in qemu so far.
See https://wmlive.sourceforge.net for more details and descriptions, screenshots, and download options.
Before you start downloading the ISO image for trying it out yourself, be aware that with the exception of the freely usable i386 version, the ISO images for both arm64 and amd64 are distributed as encrypted 7z archives which require a password to unpack them. Due to personal circumstances i am currently not in the position to just give away the fruits of my time and efforts investment without asking for a return. Until it will finally be publicly disclosed at the end of this year, this password is therefore provided only to people who are donating some cash to the project.
On the other hand, the sources to enable people to build any variant of the ISO themselves are, of course, readily available. So if you can't afford even any minimal donation and don't want to wait for the public password disclosure at the end of the year, you can simply create your own custom ISO image.
For interested people who are contributing any publicly accessible open source work themselves, the password will be freely provided without any donation requirement. Please contact me privately if this is of interest for you.
RE: Window Maker Live for Pinebook Pro - vajak - 12-10-2025
With the support and some helpful hints by the fine people on the pine64 discord, i have finally verified on my own that both installation and operation of wmlive on the PBP using the aforementioned installation media work as intended and without the risk of bricking it.
Of course, the actual merit belongs to the Debian developers who managed to enable the debian-installer to finally do the right thing also on ARM based hardware like the PBP.
Compared to the many hoops still needed to jump through years ago when trying to install a Debian on the PBP using Daniel Thomson's Pinebook Pro Debian Installer, this basically behaves like a normal Debian installation procedure as we are used to on other hardware platforms.
In any case, i am very happy now that finally wmlive also installs and runs fine on the Pinebook Pro. So there is almost no difference anymore between my trusty old Thinkpads and the PBP, leaving aside the superior Thinkpad keyboards and track point and lack of software (torbrowser is sorely missing).
Here is some recent press coverage regarding wmlive: https://www.theregister.com/2025/12/09/microsoft_windows_maker_live_132/
The wmlive project has recently been introduced on the puppet linux forum and the much larger presentation and discusion there might be useful to better understand the main ideas and motivation behind wmlive: https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?t=16063
If you are interested in testing wmlive on your own PBP and don't want to wait until the password to unpack the 7z archive containg the required ISO image is revealed in about tree weeks, please feel free to get in touch.
RE: Window Maker Live for Pinebook Pro - vajak - 12-24-2025
Instead of waiting until the end of the year for the disclosure of the passphrase to unpack the encrypted 7z archives of the amd64 and arm64 variants of wmlive, the Christmas holidays are probably the best time to enjoy playing with it already.
So here is the passphrase: ThanksForYourSupport
Downloads are available from https://wmlive.sourceforge.net/
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you!
RE: Window Maker Live for Pinebook Pro - vajak - 01-12-2026
An new wmlive version matching Debian/Trixie point release 13.3 has been made available, this time without any donation requirements.
Check it out at https://wmlive.sourceforge.net/
The former requirement for a donation has been dropped as it didn't generate any sufficient increase in donations, and rather resulted in wasting even more time with donator access management.
RE: Window Maker Live for Pinebook Pro - wdt - 01-12-2026
I tried..... but I have a mrfixit uboot (bsp) and got no boot
I have that uboot version (on emmc) to have a GOOD sleep (STR, 14d)
I did try the x86 version on another laptop, certainly different
I did have to use the 'hard power off' (6-7s press) to reboot (to emmc), on pbp
RE: Window Maker Live for Pinebook Pro - vajak - 01-14-2026
(01-12-2026, 09:25 PM)wdt Wrote: I tried..... but I have a mrfixit uboot (bsp) and got no bootApparently the only way to boot the ISO is by dd'ing it to an SD card and boot it from there.
Trying the same with a USB pendrive didn't work for me.
RE: Window Maker Live for Pinebook Pro - wdt - 01-15-2026
It was a SD card,,,, in a bit I will blank emmc uboot and try again
ie,, save mbr, save 1st 16M, zero 1st 16M, restore mbr