So basically, my dad doesn’t have any tech literacy, like at all.

The only reason he learned how to ever use a computer was thanks to Linux (in my experience the elderly find it easier to use than Windows btw).

However, I moved to a different country long ago, and his old Ubuntu installation is getting extremely old. Not only that, but I forgot to install something like Rust Desk before I left, which means his browser etc hasn’t been updated in years (he forgot how to do updates and lost the page with instructions).

So, my solution now that I know he needs an updated system is to send him a USB drive and detailed printed instructions on how to install it with pictures by mail.

I’m planning on sending him Linux Mint, because I wanted to use the OEM install option in order to pre-install some programs (freetube, signal, and especially Rust Desk) using it in a virtual machine, and then turn that into an iso/img that I could flash to a USB so that it’s ready for him to just install once he gets it. I also need to be able to preemptively rename Rust Desk and change the icon to something he can easily identify so that if he needs help, he can easily find the program, ideally already pinned in the panel or with a desktop shortcut.

Problem is, I can’t figure out how to do that. I’ve been trying for 3 days. I tried converting the vdi into a img file using qemu but that causes errors when trying to run the img or iso (I think it’s still raw?). I even got desperate enough to try ChatGPT by it gave me a very advanced answer that I didn’t understand that involved calculating memory, or to use Cubic (which can’t modify Rustdesk), and it also gave me a solution that didn’t work.

I also noticed that the vdi is much bigger than the initial mint iso - I guess because everything has been unpacked in the virtual machine. Shrinking it so it can fit in my spare 8gb drive would be the next step of I even made it that far.

  • sga@lemmings.worldEnglish
    1·
    22 hours ago

    I do not think it is a good idea to prepare a vm image and install it as iso. it can be done afaik, but not a great idea. Assuming he (your dad) already has a ubuntu system (presumably some lts, i am asssuming something like 1604, 1804 or 2004) then it is easier to just upgrade the system. I know you said that he has forgotten to upgrade, so i would ask him to somehow send you a photo of what he has installed right now (can be hard, but maybe just asking what animal is present on the wallpaper (if he uses the default one that ubuntu uses) can help. even look of top bar or icons can help to get the age. Afaik, ubuntu upgrade paths are relatively stable, so once you know what version he uses currently, then you can install that version, and upgrade it to newest install on your system and record instructions. This would be long and tedious task. I do not use ubuntu, so i do not know what jumps can be taken (i know you can jump from 1 lts to another, something like 1804 to 2004, but can you jump 2 lts versions? some ubuntu forum or wiki post can help regarding this). Once you complete upgrades, you can record instructions and send them.

    This can be a easier for following reasons -

    • he would not have to plug in usb and boot into installer mode - this can be hard if he does not know what key to press, or if he does not press it fast enough

    • you would still be using some standard installation, rather than your “custom” iso - not a big thing, but upgrades are more certain in a standard installation

    • ubuntu has snaps - I am not a big fan of snaps, but it is a good thing for likes of your dad, who would prefer to have there apps (like web browser) auto updated in background. Mint has flatpak, but by default stuff is installed as deb packages, upgrading them requires sudo password, which can be hard for your parent.

    the virtual image is much larger than iso, because it is uncompressed. Isos are you compressed by something like squashfs, which prepares something like a tar or zip file, which is also mountable. Also your intial virtual file system allocated size might be larger (which would largely be empty, this would be “sparse” file). From my prior experience, you can sometimes have sparse file errors, which can cause errors at bootup, these can be benign, but may seem strange to your father.

    Someone else mentioned, you can also possibly install it on a laptop, and then ship that to your father, or buy a prebuilt laptop with linux preinstalled. Nowadays, some big brands like hp/dell/lenovo also have options in there build configurators to select the operating systems, and there are also linux specific vendors (more expensive). But this option in general is expensive (because there is a laptop cost).

    Also, where does your father live? If he lives somewhere maybe close to me or someone you know who can go and upgrade / install new system for him. This can be hard for logistaical reasons, or you may not be able to find someone trustworthy.