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.
Oh my god, you are so lucky. I was in the same position as you and the fact that they don’t have any tech literacy means that the transition will be easier, but yet it won’t be because they have no tech literacy. Just keep telling them. “Remember, you didn’t know how it worked on windows or Mac. So maybe it’s you the user that are having difficulties. But yet I am patient and I am here to help.”… Switching cost is propaganda. These tech companies offer nothing but slop and ignorant users. Just remember to be patient. Take things one step at a time. I would also try to figure out a way to get remote access to his computer and do a FaceTime thing on your phone. And only do this like on the weekends when you have the time to speak to him slowly. The Elderly will just get frustrated and give up on it. Which I can relate. Shit, if I knew where he lived and I was close enough, I would just, you know, compensate me, but I would do it. I think one of the biggest issues is understanding how they use their computer and the services and the pathways they go about doing their business. Like, if they choose to close down the browser, instead of just opening a new tab i mean, lose the battle win the war. If it works, it works. Fuck it. One day, they’ll listen and then you’ll be surprised. But if you charge at them like a bull, it isn’t gonna help. Frustration, cognitive decline, leads to aggression. It’s gonna happen to all of us, hopefully we build a better world. [email protected]
Need help switching Dad to Linux
i know linux is good and all, but i suspect it wouldn’t measure up well to replacing your father altogether.
You’re not my read dad, Linus!
eons ago I heard and internalised an awesome phrase: “don’t analyze the problem - solve it”.
in that vein, install it yourself and ship the laptop to him. don’t matter what it cost, it’s not like it’s gonna bankrupt you and it’s not like you’re gonna do this multiple times per year.
you’re 100% in control of everything and that’s the next best thing to being there and doing it for yourself. you’re gonna figure out how to remotely do half of the things you mention across CGNATs and whatnot? I am sure you got better things to do; I know dad has.
You might want to try using an auto updating bootc based solution instead, such as universal blue with customized images. They have instructions on how to do image customization.
But more importantly: send him something like a NanoKVM along with the USB!
Also extremely useful to know, and a good idea. Universal blue is Fedora though right? How does that do on older desktops compared to Debian based systems?
Well the image is based on fedora linux and the tooling was developed by fedora, I believe. I put Aurora Linux on my dad’s aging PC around christmas, because it doesn’t qualify for Windows 11 and 10 ends support soon. In my experience it boots pretty slowly on physical machines (with n=2, fine on VMs though), and it doesn’t reliably wake from suspend, but other that that, it’s completely fine. I did not try to install any other Linux for comparison though
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 -
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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
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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
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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.
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Maybe it’s easier to use another tool to create an install USB stick, like FAI or a preseed file or another method of doing an unattended install. At least Debian used to have those. Though I haven’t done it for a long time.
This might be exactly what I need. I will definitely be trying it first thing tomorrow
It might be easier to install a remote administration program on his computer and just do these things for him.
I’m in another country, how would I install it while also updating his OS?
Maybe you can send him an appimage of one? Those are easy to install. Then connect to his computer and update it
He forgot how to use email. Once on the phone, after he finally figured out how to see my video call (he couldn’t figure out how to start his) I walked him through step by step on trying to just get rust desk - which is in the Ubuntu repository already - installed, and failed at that.
Not only to him, but to a lot of elderly people, software is essentially magic. They don’t even quite understand the concept of “installing”. It took me awhile of explaining, with pictures and such, that a Google search isn’t run by people bringing up the information you’re looking for.
That’s why I’ve already typed and printed detailed step by step instructions on just the installation process for the OS, so that he can follow that. He does a lot better with physical mediums, like paper, USB, and so on. He even managed to install an SSD (with my direct in person supervision) and kind of understand what that was.
But software? Magic essentially.
There are 2 types of old people now:
- those who see it as magic
- those who made the magic
That’s hard. Another solution, if it’s a laptop, is to have him mail it to you. Mailing a computer internationally 2 ways (a) will take a long time and (b) requires very, very good packing
I have a tech illiterate mother in law who I switched to Zorin OS (an Ubuntu fork).
I installed a wireguard VPN client on her laptop and did drills over the course of 3 days to make sure that she understood how to connect. Anytime she needs help, I can tunnel through my wireguard server and log on with my own account - Heck, as long as she doesn’t change her password, I can log on as her as well.
That has made remote troubleshooting significantly easier as she is located about a a 23-hour drive away.
Did drills hahahah. That is so true!!!
Yup, problem is I’m now too far to set that up. I’m about an 18 hour flight away, assuming small layovers.
I’m not sure how to do what you want with customizing Mint directly, but a possibly simpler alternative solution is to just send two clearly distinguishable USB drives (e.g. label them “1” and “2” with a label maker or get two drives with very different colors) and tell him to install (unmodified) Mint from the first and then have him run a program you provide on the second after that’s done to make the other changes.
Don’t know how to help you with those vdi problems, but here is an out of the box thinking: tell him to ask a neighbor.
I have a similar situation so i got a hetzner VM and set up wireguard connections from both ends, so that vm serves as a hub/router. Then you can just ssh into the machine via vpn and do an update, upgrade or whatever.
If you stick with Ubuntu lts, it will require very little maintenance.
He had LTS, but that was 8 years ago.
The neighbors wouldn’t work, since on one side is an empty house and the other has also very tech illiterate people (and in the case of the parents of the neighbors, actually fully illiterate).
I like the idea to have though for the future
For Windows users it might be simplest to start with Debian MATE. There is an install image on debian.org. No idea about Mint.
