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SpiralLinux Documentation

How to create a bootable SpiralLinux USB stick

In Windows:

1. https://etcher.io
2. https://www.ventoy.net/en/index.html
3. http://wiki.rosalab.com/en/index.php/ROSA_ImageWriter

Important note: The "Rufus" and "LinuxLive USB Creator (LiLi)" tools for Windows are NOT recommended due to many reports of failure.

In Linux:

• https://etcher.io
• https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/MultiWriter
• http://wiki.rosalab.com/en/index.php/ROSA_ImageWriter
• https://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Live_USB_stick#Using_SUSE_Studio_Image_Writer
• https://www.ventoy.net/en/index.html
• Advanced users only: sudo dd if=SpiralLinux_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.iso of=/dev/sdX

Updating and upgrading SpiralLinux

Updates within a Debian Stable release lifecycle

In Synaptic, Reload the package lists and then Mark All Upgrades and hit Apply

Upgrading to a major new Debian Stable release

1. In the Synaptic Settings > Repositories interface, disable all of the repositories in the Debian Software tab
2. In the Other Software tab disable all repositories and then enable the Debian Stable (for upgrades) repository
3. Back in the main Synaptic interface, Reload the package lists and then Mark All Upgrades and hit Apply
4. After rebooting into the upgrades system, re-enable these repositories
5. If Backports are needed, re-enable the repository and update it with the new Debian release name

Switching from Debian Stable to the Testing or Unstable branch

Important: Debian's Testing and Unstable branches may work very well for some users' needs, but they do not claim to be stable releases and should only be used with extra care by experienced users.

1. In the Synaptic Settings > Repositories interface, disable all of the repositories in the Debian Software tab
2. In the Other Software tab disable all repositories and then enable the Debian Testing or Debian Sid ("Unstable") repository
3. Back in the main Synaptic interface, Reload the package lists and then Mark All Upgrades and hit Apply

Updating a Debian Testing or Unstable system

Important: Debian's Testing and Unstable branches may work very well for some users' needs, but they do not claim to be stable releases and should only be used with extra care by experienced users.

In Synaptic, Reload the package lists and then Mark All Upgrades and hit Apply

About the SpiralLinux "Builder" edition

The SpiralLinux "Builder" edition is not appropriate for most users. Unlike the other SpiralLinux editions, the "Builder" spin is not at all polished, intended instead as a base for experienced users to build on and configure according to their preferences. It basically contains a bare IceWM shell, a web browser, a graphical text editor, a few GUI configuration tools, and the Calamares installer. Many of the low-level packages and configurations are already present, leaving the experienced user to install additional programs and configure the theming.

Download SpiralLinux "Builder"

• https://sourceforge.net/projects/spirallinux/files/11.220603/SpiralLinux_Builder_11.220603_x86-64.iso/download

FAQs

• Why does the GRUB bootloader entry say "Debian (SpiralLinux...) GNU/Linux"?
  • Debian's version of GRUB for EFI is hard-coded to look for the bootloader name debian, and so the GRUB entry needs to start with the the word "Debian". The "GNU/Linux" bit is added by the Debian GRUB scripts and can not be easily removed. At any rate, SpiralLinux is Debian, so it is not a priority to remove all references to that fact.