Linux Lite 5.4 Final Released

[Valtam]

Release Announcement

Linux Lite 5.4 Final is now available for download and installation. This is a modest release which includes updates to the Help Manual - our extensive, easy to follow Linux Lite guide, an updated Papirus icon theme, new wallpapers and a host of bug fixes and enhancements for our target audience. If you're coming from Windows, you'll find this to be a solid, stable release that will help make your transition to a linux based operating system, user friendly.



Changes:

New 'Installing Software - From a Terminal using APT' section for the Help Manual:



Updated Papirus icon theme



10 new Wallpapers of which 6 are from our resident artist [member=5059]whateverthing[/member]



Plus many other tweaks and changes.

Window Theme: Adapta
Icon Theme: Papirus
Font: Roboto Regular

How do I know if my Windows PC has UEFI?

In Windows Search, type msinfo or msinfo32 and launch the desktop app named System Information. Look for the BIOS Mode item, and if the value for it is UEFI, then you have the UEFI firmware. If it says BIOS Mode Legacy, then that’s the firmware you’re running.

Secure Boot is supported, but unless you know exactly how to handle it, it is a P.I.T.A. at best so I am going to say...you must disable Secure Boot to enable stress free computing.

Some helpful snippets from the latest Help Manual:





UEFI Support link - https://www.freecinema2022.gq/forums/uefi-secure-boot/

Details:

Kernel: 5.4.0-70 ( custom kernels also available via our Repository for versions 3.13 - 5.11 )
Firefox: 87.0
Thunderbird: 78.7.1
LibreOffice: 6.4.6.2
VLC: 3.0.9.2
Gimp: 2.10.18
Base: 20.04.2

Known Issues:

No prompt to eject Media at the end of the Legacy install, prompt is available at the end of the UEFI install.
Release Notes - not working on first installer slide.
Desktop icons - English support only.
Grub - holding shift down whilst booting in UEFI mode does not bring up the Grub menu (works in Legacy mode), waiting for Ubuntu fix.
Grub menu shows Linux Lite as 'Ubuntu'. After you install Linux Lite, you can change Grub to show 'Linux Lite':

- Open /etc/default/grub as Administrator.
- Comment out: GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian` and leave GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR='Linux Lite' uncommented.
- Should look like:
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR='Linux Lite'
#GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
- sudo update-grub

You tell me.


Upgrading

There has been some tweaks to the Lite Upgrade code from Series 4.x. Most notably, the end dialogue has been simplified and will ask you to either Reboot, Shutdown or View Log. Continue Working is no longer viewed as a sensible option. Also, Lite Welcome will no longer be displayed after a Reboot. Just look at Lite Widget to see if you upgraded successfully to 5.4 or do:

Code:

cat /etc/llver

in a Terminal, should return Linux Lite 5.4. Lastly, the upgrade log will now be stored in /var/log/lite-upgrade.log for those interested in the process. All of our code will function in the 'system space' and no longer in the 'user space'. Our overall improvements to Lite Upgrade should see people upgrading as quickly as ever with less bloat along with unnecessary dialogues and information.

> Menu, Favorites, Install Updates (you must reboot if asked to, otherwise continue to the next step)
> Set a Restore Point - Menu, System, Timeshift
> Menu, Settings, Lite Upgrade
> Reboot

PLEASE NOTE: If you do not have Menu, Settings, Lite Upgrade do:

Code:

sudo apt-get install --reinstall lite-upgrade-series5

and, or:

Code:

rm -rf ~/.local/share/applications/lite-upgrade.desktop

then try Menu, Settings, Lite Upgrade again.

Having problems upgrading? First thing to do is open a terminal, and make sure you have the latest version of Lite Upgrade.

Code:

apt policy lite-upgrade-series5

should return:

Code:

  Installed: 5.0-0030-linuxlite
  Candidate: 5.0-0030-linuxlite

If you've ran Install Updates and still don't have this version or greater you can either - wait 24 hours, or change to the default Linux Lite repository in Lite Sources.

Lite Upgrade - What it will do:

- New Lite Help Manual
- New Lite Upgrade
- New Lite Welcome
- New Lite Themes
- New Wallpapers
- Add hashalot, a program for giving sha256 sum output

Lite Upgrade - What it won't do:

- nothing to exclude

Manual removal of Adobe Flash:

Code:

sudo apt-get remove flashplugin-installer

Then perhaps use a apt-mark hold to stop it reinstalling:

Code:

sudo apt-mark hold flashplugin-installer

For any help on removing/adding any of the above, please place a Post.

There is no upgrade path to or from RC releases.
There is no upgrade path from Series 2, 3 or 4 ( 2.0, 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 2.8 | 3.0, 3.2, 3.4, 3.6, 3.8 | 4.0, 4.2, 4.4, 4.6, 4.8 ) to Series 5.

Downloads:

HTTPS:

Download 64bit from here - Linux Lite 5.4 Final 64bit
MD5SUM: 5b403da316c352ef44c12d3d10331985
SHA256: 214f99e253b367674c0ae6e6f72b5a1b5a5415e9cb9fabb9d95141a5ea945702
Size: 1.4Gb (DVD, USB)

TORRENT: (Fastest way to download the RC)

64bit Torrent from here - linux-lite-5.4-64bit.iso.torrent
Hash: 043106011b67f0280270c6b9ef105032f23e72eb
Size: 1.4Gb (DVD, USB)

International Mirrors (city specific) - https://www.freecinema2022.gq/mirrors.php (wait for page to load, some mirrors may still be syncing with us)

Live USB/DVD/VirtualBox/Vmware:

Login is automatic, no credentials are required. The image can be written to a 2gb or larger USB stick, or a writable DVD. Alternatively, you can use the dd command: sudo dd if=linux-lite-5.4-64bit.iso of=/dev/sdx bs=4M where 'x' is the letter of your usb stick. In linux to find out the letter of your usb stick, open a terminal and type: df -h It is usually listed as 'media' or similar. Please see the built in Help Manual if you require a more detailed explanation of this procedure.

A good, simple point and click USB ISO burner is https://www.balena.io/etcher/ or https://rufus.ie/
In our testing, Etcher and Rufus (for Windows only) have proven to be the most reliable. Etcher is available for Mac, Windows & Linux.

If the screen locks during Live mode, type linux into the user box and click on the Login button (no password required)

Reviewers in a VirtualBox:

Installing Updates does not function with a Live ISO. All features work as they should, once you have installed Linux Lite to hardware or a VM.
Once Linux Lite has been installed, add the following for a complete reviewing experience:

Code:

sudo apt-get install virtualbox-guest-dkms virtualbox-guest-utils virtualbox-guest-x11

Don't forget the Guest Additions too!
Also, get the Extensions pack from here - https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads


Minimum Recommended Specs:
1Ghz processor
768mb ram
8gb HDD/SD
VGA screen capable of 1024x768 resolution
DVD drive or USB port for the ISO image

Preferred Specs:
1.5GHz processor+
1024mb ram+
20gb HDD/SSD+
VGA, DVI or HDMI screen capable of 1366x768 resolution+
DVD drive or USB port for the ISO image

Login to the live desktop is automatic.

The first thing you MUST do after a fresh install of Linux Lite is run Menu, Favorites, Install Updates.


Thank you

Jerry and the team.

[trinidad]

3 successful upgrades, 1 virtual. Ran updates first then upgrade. Smooth and efficient. Thanks as always.

TC

[Şerban S.]

Release Announcement Linux Lite 5.4 Final is now available for download and installation.

Hi!
I performed the upgrade and encountered trouble...
I am using  since 2012 a Lexicon Lambda audio interface.
While in Lite 5.0 and 5.2 it was OK, now, in 5.4, stopped recognizing the device.
Here it is how it looks now:

Code:

inxi -c 0 -ACdGMNSz
System:
  Kernel: 5.4.0-66-generic x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: Xfce 4.14.2
  Distro: Linux Lite 5.4 LTS
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Dell product: Precision T1700 v: 01 serial: <filter>
  Mobo: Dell model: 048DY8 v: A01 serial: <filter> UEFI: Dell v: A25
  date: 02/02/2018
CPU:
  Topology: Quad Core model: Intel Core i7-4790 bits: 64 type: MT MCP
  L2 cache: 8192 KiB
  Speed: 1420 MHz min/max: 800/4000 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1420 2: 1336
  3: 1257 4: 1480 5: 1373 6: 1253 7: 1487 8: 1418
[...]
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio
  driver: N/A
  Device-2: Intel 8 Series/C220 Series High Definition Audio driver: N/A
  Device-3: NVIDIA GK107 HDMI Audio driver: N/A
[...]

And this is how it was supposed to look like:

Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 8 Series/C220 Series High Definition Audio
  driver: snd_hda_intel
  Device-2: NVIDIA GK107 HDMI Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
  Device-3: DigiTech type: USB driver: snd-usb-audio
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-40-generic

Second weird thing:
During upgrade, I was provided with the 5.4.0-70 kernel.
For some reason, instead of running the kernel, the system shows it in the list of removable kernels, and keeps running the the 5.4.0-66 kernel.

What went wrong?  :022:
The system said the following:

Code:

[04/01/21 17:12:44] Upgrading version:
[04/01/21 17:12:44] Linux Lite 5.2
[04/01/21 17:12:44] Checking Architecture:
[04/01/21 17:12:44] x86_64
[04/01/21 17:12:44] Executing upgrades...
[04/01/21 17:12:46] BUPETCSKEL5264
[04/01/21 17:12:50] UPDPKGS
Hit:1 http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:2 http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb stable InRelease
Hit:3 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-security InRelease
Hit:4 http://ppa.launchpad.net/inkscape.dev/stable/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:5 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:6 http://ppa.launchpad.net/maarten-baert/simplescreenrecorder/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:7 http://ppa.launchpad.net/openshot.developers/libopenshot-daily/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:8 http://repo.linuxliteos.com/linuxlite emerald InRelease
Hit:9 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates InRelease
Hit:10 http://ppa.launchpad.net/openshot.developers/ppa/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:11 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports InRelease
Hit:12 http://ppa.launchpad.net/teejee2008/ppa/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:13 http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntuhandbook1/dvdstyler/ubuntu focal InRelease
Reading package lists...
[04/01/21 17:12:52] ERASEDPKGS
[04/01/21 17:12:53] INPKCL64
E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.
[04/01/21 17:12:53] UPLSBISSUE
Linux Lite 5.4 LTS \n \l
Linux Lite 5.4
[04/01/21 17:12:55] UPDGRUB
Sourcing file `/etc/default/grub'
Sourcing file `/etc/default/grub.d/init-select.cfg'
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found background: /boot/grub_linux_lite.png
Warning: Setting GRUB_TIMEOUT to a non-zero value when GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT is set is no longer supported.
Found background image: /boot/grub_linux_lite.png
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-5.4.0-70-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-5.4.0-70-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-5.4.0-67-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-5.4.0-67-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-5.4.0-66-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-5.4.0-66-generic
Adding boot menu entry for UEFI Firmware Settings
done
[04/01/21 17:13:02] UPDPLYM
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-5.4.0-70-generic
I: The initramfs will attempt to resume from /dev/sda5
I: (UUID=6d49fba9-a49d-4f59-9b6c-5eb7d91057f0)
I: Set the RESUME variable to override this.
[04/01/21 17:13:26] Upgrade succeeded.
[04/01/21 17:13:26] Waiting for restart confirmation...
[04/01/21 17:13:26] Moving upgrade log to the /var/log/ directory... All done.

Now, let's see:

[04/01/21 17:12:53] INPKCL64
E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.
[04/01/21 17:12:53] UPLSBISSUE


The following was supposed to solve the problem:

Code:

serban@T1700:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
[sudo] password for serban:
serban@T1700:~$ ^C
serban@T1700:~$ ^C
serban@T1700:~$

As seen, nothing happened...
The only approach available for now, is revert to Lite 5.2...
What happened? Should I restart the Upgrade procedure, from Lite 5.2?
Wait for a fix?
What?

As a last resort, I issued "Fix Broken Packages" from Synaptic.
Result... Still nothing.

Best regards!

[Later edit... 19:30]
The Upgrade script went very wrong. I ended up REINSTALLING Lite 5.2, after two failed restore attempts. The problem was on USB recognition. Failed to recognize the keyboard, even though CloneZilla stated that the restore was successful.

Here is how it looks after reinstallation:

serban@Dell-T1700:~$ inxi -c 0 -ACdGMNSz
System:
  Kernel: 5.4.0-70-generic x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: Xfce 4.14.2
  Distro: Linux Lite 5.2 LTS
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Dell product: Precision T1700 v: 01 serial: <filter>
  Mobo: Dell model: 048DY8 v: A01 serial: <filter> UEFI: Dell v: A25
  date: 02/02/2018
CPU:
  Topology: Quad Core model: Intel Core i7-4790 bits: 64 type: MT MCP
  L2 cache: 8192 KiB
  Speed: 1556 MHz min/max: 800/4000 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1556 2: 1505
  3: 1551 4: 1545 5: 1564 6: 1628 7: 1445 8: 1560
[...]
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio
  driver: snd_hda_intel
  Device-2: Intel 8 Series/C220 Series High Definition Audio
  driver: snd_hda_intel
  Device-3: NVIDIA GK107 HDMI Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
  Device-4: Z-Star Micro type: USB driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo
  Device-5: DigiTech type: USB driver: snd-usb-audio
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-70-generic
[...]


The conclusion is that the script has some bug at the "GRUB" writing stage. I assume the build of the grub.cfg is somewhere wrong and when the update-grub is issued, the wrong file is written over the old one.
Hope for an easy fix...
All the best!

[trinidad]

A few comments you probably already figured out.

1) Should run updates before upgrade
2) New kernel won't load until you reboot from a successful upgrade
3) Should have unplugged USB sound system before upgrading then reinstalled it on the running new kernel
4) Should now run updates again before attempting manual changes

Possible solution: Unplug the sound system, run updates again, go from there.

TC

[Şerban S.]

A few comments you probably already figured out. [...]

Hi!
Thanks for the quick response!

Please, read the [Later edit... 19:30] section.
There is a bug in the upgrader script. It broke badly my GRUB. I have an UEFI firmware so GRUB is on the /dev/sda1 device. The "/" partition is /dev/sda2.

All the best!

[Valtam]

3 successful upgrades, 1 virtual. Ran updates first then upgrade. Smooth and efficient. Thanks as always.

TC

Cheers

[Valtam]

The conclusion is that the script has some bug at the "GRUB" writing stage. I assume the build of the grub.cfg is somewhere wrong and when the update-grub is issued, the wrong file is written over the old one.
Hope for an easy fix...
All the best!

There is no 'problem with the script' that I can see. I also have UEFI firmware and my GRUB is on  /dev/sda1 device. The "/" partition is /dev/sda2 as well. No issues here when I upgraded, when the upgrade instructions are followed to the letter.

[WytWun]

Lenovo Ideapad 100s (32bit UEFI) updated to 5.4 from 5.2 without any surprises, as did a VirtualBox VM.  Thanks!

[Valtam]

Lenovo Ideapad 100s (32bit UEFI) updated to 5.4 from 5.2 without any surprises, as did a VirtualBox VM.  Thanks!

You're welcome

[Degsy]

Newcomer to Linux Lite, started in February with 5.2. The upgrade has gone extremely well, followed the info above, thank you Jerry. Now successfully running 5.4.

Degsy