eMMC boot linux distros for Pinebook.

[frank-zappa]

Are Xenial Mate and AOSC the only linux disros available to flash to the eMMC on the Pinebook?

I recently bought a 64Gb eMMC and could not flash Xenial Mate to it. I just got a "No eMMC detected" message. I opened a ticket on the support forum and they advised me to try and install Android 6. This worked but I want a linux on my Pinebook.

Also I do not want to boot from a Micro SD.

Can anyone help

[tllim]

Are Xenial Mate and AOSC the only linux disros available to flash to the eMMC on the Pinebook?

I recently bought a 64Gb eMMC and could not flash Xenial Mate to it. I just got a "No eMMC detected" message. I opened a ticket on the support forum and they advised me to try and install Android 6. This worked but I want a linux on my Pinebook.

Also I do not want to boot from a Micro SD.

Can anyone help

Try Q4OS, it boots up from SD and dd image over to eMMC.

[frank-zappa]

Are Xenial Mate and AOSC the only linux disros available to flash to the eMMC on the Pinebook?

I recently bought a 64Gb eMMC and could not flash Xenial Mate to it. I just got a "No eMMC detected" message. I opened a ticket on the support forum and they advised me to try and install Android 6. This worked but I want a linux on my Pinebook.

Also I do not want to boot from a Micro SD.

Can anyone help

Try Q4OS, it boots up from SD and dd image over to eMMC.

How easy is that to do?

[zaius]

I would back up anything on the eMMC I would want to save, then look here:

http://wiki.pine64.org/index.php/NOOB#Fl..._a_SD_Boot

I don't have a Pinebook yet, but I'm thinking you also could put the image on a USB drive, boot from the microSD, then enter something like "sudo dd if=/path/to/distro.img of=/dev/mmcblk2" on the command line.  Don't just copy and paste that.  I'm used to BSD and MacPorts, so I would search this forum to find the correct the Linux command for a Pinebook.

[soupbowl]

[...] but I'm thinking you also could put the image on a USB drive, boot from the microSD, then enter something like "sudo dd if=/path/to/distro.img of=/dev/mmcblk2" on the command line.  […]

This is generally how I do it since they're all full OS images.

[frank-zappa]

Thanks for your recent posts soupbowl and zaius.

I posted this thread because I had issues getting Xenial Mate to install on a new eMMC.

I have started a new thread that better explains my situation.
I would be grateful if you'd take a look at it as you both sound like you know your stuff.
https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=7278

Thanks again. I will be "rating" you both positively. As I do with anyone whop responds in a helpful manner.

[FrancisTheodoreCat]

I had no issue installing Armbian Stretch to my Pinebook 14's eMMC chip. Just use the armbian-config utility-- when you have the utility open in a terminal, the install to eMMC option is under Armbian, then Install.

Also, unless you use Armbian Bionic, I believe you have to install your own desktop window manager. Since I'm using Armbian Stretch, I installed Xfce and set it to startup on boot, again with armbian-config.

[frank-zappa]

I had no issue installing Armbian Stretch to my Pinebook 14's eMMC chip. Just use the armbian-config utility-- when you have the utility open in a terminal, the install to eMMC option is under Armbian, then Install.

Also, unless you use Armbian Bionic, I believe you have to install your own desktop window manager. Since I'm using Armbian Stretch, I installed Xfce and set it to startup on boot, again with armbian-config.

So, just to clarify.
I boot Armbian Bionic from the MicroSD? Would I find the "armbian-config utility" in the menus?
I'm not a total noob but i am not exactly a tech savvy linux user either? This is still a bit of a learning curve for me?

[armhfadillo]

I had no issue installing Armbian Stretch to my Pinebook 14's eMMC chip. Just use the armbian-config utility-- when you have the utility open in a terminal, the install to eMMC option is under Armbian, then Install.

Also, unless you use Armbian Bionic, I believe you have to install your own desktop window manager. Since I'm using Armbian Stretch, I installed Xfce and set it to startup on boot, again with armbian-config.

So, just to clarify.
I boot Armbian Bionic from the MicroSD? Would I find the "armbian-config utility" in the menus?
I'm not a total noob but i am not exactly a tech savvy linux user either? This is still a bit of a learning curve for me?

INSTALL ARMBIAN to eMMC

1) Download Armbian bootable disk image; https://www.armbian.com/pinebook-a64/#co...et-5-0-0-0

2) Use Balena Etcher to write the image onto a micro-SD card

3) Insert SD card into slot of Pinebook (may have to push it in with a small blunt tool.)

4) Boot to Armbian and go to [Applications] -> [Settings] -> [Armbian-Config]. A terminal window will open.

5) Then in that terminal window; [System] -> [Install] -> [Boot from eMMC]. Warning - this will erase everything previously on the eMMC.

The rest should be automatic.

[frank-zappa]

I had no issue installing Armbian Stretch to my Pinebook 14's eMMC chip. Just use the armbian-config utility-- when you have the utility open in a terminal, the install to eMMC option is under Armbian, then Install.

Also, unless you use Armbian Bionic, I believe you have to install your own desktop window manager. Since I'm using Armbian Stretch, I installed Xfce and set it to startup on boot, again with armbian-config.

So, just to clarify.
I boot Armbian Bionic from the MicroSD? Would I find the "armbian-config utility" in the menus?
I'm not a total noob but i am not exactly a tech savvy linux user either? This is still a bit of a learning curve for me?

INSTALL ARMBIAN to eMMC

1) Download Armbian bootable disk image;   https://www.armbian.com/pinebook-a64/#co...et-5-0-0-0

2) Use Balena Etcher to write the image onto a micro-SD card

3) Insert SD card into slot of Pinebook (may have to push it in with a small blunt tool.)

4) Boot to Armbian and go to [Applications] -> [Settings] -> [Armbian-Config].  A terminal window will open.

5)  Then in that terminal window;  [System] -> [Install] -> [Boot from eMMC].   Warning - this will erase everything previously on the eMMC.

The rest should be automatic.

Many thanks. 
I am currently on vacation but will give that a try when I return. 

Are there still issues with Armbian regarding sound?