How to install and keep up to date Slint64-14.2.1 A. Installation Step 1: download then check the ISO image found in: https://slackware.uk/slint/x86_64/slint-14.2.1/iso Don't worry about the numbering of the ISO Also, as long as you are running Slint-4.2.1 there is no need to re-install when a new ISO is provided, as it only brings new features in its installer, and upgraded package's that you can also get in an already installed system. The file name of the ISO indicated below is just an example, that you will adapt to the current name when downloading. You can get the testing ISO image and its sha256 checksum typing: wget https://slackware.uk/slint/x86_64/slint-14.2.1/iso/slint64-14.2.1.4.iso wget https://slackware.uk/slint/x86_64/slint-14.2.1/iso/slint64-14.2.1.4.iso.sha256 To check the integrity of the downloaded files type this command: sha256sum -c slint64-14.2.1.4.iso.sha256 the result should be: OK Step 2: Create the installation media (USB stick) You will need a minimum 4 GB USB stick ready for installation. a) For Windows users: 1. Download Rufus from the following website: https://rufus.ie/ 2. Open the Rufus program from where you downloaded it to run it. 3. Select Create a bootable disk using and choose ISO Image from the drop-down menu. Click the disc icon and browse to your Slint .iso file and select it. 4. To ensure the flash drive is compatible with UEFI, select FAT32 for "File System". 5. To create the flash drive with the "Press any key to boot from USB" prompt, select the Create extended label and icon files option. 6. When you are done selecting options, click Start When prompted, confirm that you want to erase the flash disk. 7. The .iso files will start copying to the flash drive (the process can take several minutes). When Rufus is done, close the program and eject and remove the flash drive. b) For Linux users: At the console run the following commands: to verify your USB drive: lsblk -o model,name,size,fstype,mountpoint Carefully review the commands to make sure that you did not type the name of a hard disk partition instead of the name of your USB key. All previous content of the USB stick or a mistaken hard disk or ssd will be LOST and IRRECOVERABLE. Following command would write the ISO on /dev/sdb. It assumes that the USB stick be named /dev/sdb but it could have another name on your machine, so replace sdb by the name of the USB key found checking the lsblk command output if it differs. cp slint64-14.2.1.4.iso /dev/sdb The copy will take a while to complete, wait patiently that you get back the prompt. This will mean that the copy is complete, the command does not output any message if there is no error. Again, check carefully the name of usb stick, maybe it is not /dev/sdb: it could also be /dev/sdc or /dev/sdd, for instance, in your computer. Alternatively, you can use a DVD as installation media, cf.: https://slint.fr/wiki/doku.php?id=en:installation Step 3: Insert your Slint installation USB stick into your system and boot from it. If need be, setup the firmware of the machine to boot off the DVD or USB stick that you have prepared The installer will first probe you sounds cards. This can help setting a working one as default, and also is used for speech during installation used by some blind users. If the installer finds more than one sound card it will say for each: press Enter to choose this sound board Press enter as soon as hear that, to confirm that the proposed sound card is working. This setting will be saved in the new system in /etc/asound.conf. At the next step, when asked you will confirm (typing s) or deny (just pressing Enter) that you want speech during installation. Braille is always available during installation. You will then choose, confirm or change the language used during installation. Then all screens will be in the chosen language if the translation into this language is complete. The main installation menu is displayed below after the next line ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to the Slint installer! (version 14.2.1) Available commands (do not type the quotes): 'doc' to know the features and usage of the installer. 'auto' to start a semi-automatic, guided installation. 'setup' to start a manual installation. We recommend that you type 'doc' first to prepare a manual installation, or if you want to encrypt the drive where Slint will be installed, or if you need to reduce the size of a partition to make room for Slint along ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We won't go into further details in this document, to know more just type 'doc' as suggested when the menu above will be displayed. B.Fist steps after installation. Most commands typed below request administrative right associated to a specific account named 'root', for which you have recorded a a password during installation. To issue a command as 'root', first type su - then give password for root and type the command. This replaces 'sudo' used in other distributions. When you are done issuing commands as 'root', press Ctrl+d or type exit to get back your "regular user" status. Packages are upgraded or added in the Slint repositories after the release of the installation ISO. To get them, after having started your new Slint system for the first time type this as root in console or a terminal: slapt-get --add-keys slapt-get --update # or just slapt-get -u slapt-get -i mkinitrd slapt-get --install-set slint dotnew # to check changes in configuration files (that you should all accept choosing the "replace" option as you didnt make any customization yet). In a graphical environment you may use dotnew-gtk instead of dotnew if you prefer a graphical user interface. C. Keep your system up to date. If you use the console or text mode, periodically run the commands below to be informed of available updates and apply them. slapt-get --update # runs automatically hourly by default slapt-get --upgrade -s # to check for available updates. slapt-get --upgrade # to actually apply the updates. Read "man slapt-get" and look at /etc/slapt-get/slapt-getrc for details. Whenever the ChangeLog here: https://slackware.uk/slint/x86_64/slint-14.2.1/ChangeLog.txt mentions that package have been added, to get them run slapt-get -u slapt-get --install-set slint In graphical environments an icon that correspond to the packages update notification applet (salix-notification-applet) will be displayed as soon as updated packages are available. A left click on the icon brings up a small window where you will type the root's password, then a window for gslapt (graphical front-end of slapt-get) will be displayed, that will let you manage the updates (but not the additions). You will be notified of changes of all packages shipped in the Slint distribution, those that are stored from this repository: https://slackware.uk/slint/x86_64/slint-14.2.1/ and those that come from Slackware, stored for instance in: https://slackware.uk/salix/x86_64/slackware-14.2/ To know more, read the docs in: https://slackware.uk/slint/x86_64/slint-14.2.1/doc/ This documentation is also available locally in your Slint system. to display the documentation menu just type in a console or terminal: slint-doc Last updated: 24 March 2021. With contribution from Pawel Loba Didier Spaier