Restore default Debian system
#1
After messing up the default Debian system, how can one restore it to the original factory settings?
#2
(11-06-2019, 11:29 PM)perceg Wrote: After messing up the default Debian system, how can one restore it to the original factory settings?

I second this! 
We should have a step by step tutorial to restore factory settings. 

This is very needed considering that by definition, we are kind of testers and most of us will mess up the software. Wink
#3
It's pretty simple! Download the latest build of the default Debian image, flash to an SD card, boot from the SD card, and let it flash to the eMMC.
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#4
(11-07-2019, 08:29 AM)fire219 Wrote: It's pretty simple! Download the latest build of the default Debian image, flash to an SD card, boot from the SD card, and let it flash to the eMMC.

would one use an iso burner to transfer the download to the sd card  ?
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#5
(11-07-2019, 08:37 AM)bcnaz Wrote:
(11-07-2019, 08:29 AM)fire219 Wrote: It's pretty simple! Download the latest build of the default Debian image, flash to an SD card, boot from the SD card, and let it flash to the eMMC.

would one use an iso burner to transfer the download to the sd card  ?

No. You need to use a raw image burner tool. Balena Etcher, Win32DiskImager, or normal old "dd" would all do the task.
Community administrator and sysadmin for PINE64
(Translation: If something breaks on the website, forum, or chat network, I'm a good person to yell at about it)

#6
(11-07-2019, 09:47 AM)fire219 Wrote:
(11-07-2019, 08:37 AM)bcnaz Wrote:
(11-07-2019, 08:29 AM)fire219 Wrote: It's pretty simple! Download the latest build of the default Debian image, flash to an SD card, boot from the SD card, and let it flash to the eMMC.

would one use an iso burner to transfer the download to the sd card  ?

No. You need to use a raw image burner tool. Balena Etcher, Win32DiskImager, or normal old "dd" would all do the task.

How does one flash it to the eMMC?
#7
(11-07-2019, 12:10 PM)perceg Wrote:
(11-07-2019, 09:47 AM)fire219 Wrote:
(11-07-2019, 08:37 AM)bcnaz Wrote:
(11-07-2019, 08:29 AM)fire219 Wrote: It's pretty simple! Download the latest build of the default Debian image, flash to an SD card, boot from the SD card, and let it flash to the eMMC.

would one use an iso burner to transfer the download to the sd card  ?

No. You need to use a raw image burner tool. Balena Etcher, Win32DiskImager, or normal old "dd" would all do the task.

How does one flash it to the eMMC?

Lets say you used "Etcher" to write the latest debian image to the SD.

Then you booted from the SD.
You will need copy that Debian Image to the SD or Download it again.

Open a new terminal on the same folder than the Debian "zipped" file is located.

Use the next command to "extract" the image file.
  • unxz pinebookpro-debian-desktop-mrfixit-190905.img.xz

That is going to extract the .img file and remove the original file. (this process takes a couple of minutes).

Then to write that image to the eMMC run the next command:
  • sudo dd if=pinebookpro-debian-desktop-mrfixit-190905.img of=/dev/mmcblk1 status=progress
You will be able to see the progress of this process.
At the end, turn off your Pinebook Pro, remove the SD.
Turn on the Pinebook again.
Done.
#8
(11-07-2019, 01:23 PM)cristobalhdez Wrote:
(11-07-2019, 12:10 PM)perceg Wrote:
(11-07-2019, 09:47 AM)fire219 Wrote:
(11-07-2019, 08:37 AM)bcnaz Wrote:
(11-07-2019, 08:29 AM)fire219 Wrote: It's pretty simple! Download the latest build of the default Debian image, flash to an SD card, boot from the SD card, and let it flash to the eMMC.

would one use an iso burner to transfer the download to the sd card  ?

No. You need to use a raw image burner tool. Balena Etcher, Win32DiskImager, or normal old "dd" would all do the task.

How does one flash it to the eMMC?

Lets say you used "Etcher" to write the latest debian image to the SD.

Then you booted from the SD.
You will need copy that Debian Image to the SD or Download it again.

Open a new terminal on the same folder than the Debian "zipped" file is located.

Use the next command to "extract" the image file.
  • unxz pinebookpro-debian-desktop-mrfixit-190905.img.xz

That is going to extract the .img file and remove the original file. (this process takes a couple of minutes).

Then to write that image to the eMMC run the next command:
  • sudo dd if=pinebookpro-debian-desktop-mrfixit-190905.img of=/dev/mmcblk1 status=progress
You will be able to see the progress of this process.
At the end, turn off your Pinebook Pro, remove the SD.
Turn on the Pinebook again.
Done.
That's exactly what we were looking for - thank you!!
#9
*
After doing all the above.... will we still be able to boot first to the sd card if one is inserted ?
* ...many Thanks
      LINUX = CHOICES
         **BCnAZ**
               Idea
   Donate to $upport
your favorite OS Team
#10
I was looking for instructions like this. Everything worked as planned until I tried to reboot. Now the machine is stuck in a loop trying to boot. It never makes it to the boot screen. I can't even run the desktop from the SD now. Any clue as to what I can do?
Thanks.


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