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In Firefox, if you have many tabs opened, you can close all the duplicate tabs in one go. Click on the List all tabs button in the title bar and select “Close all duplicate tabs”.
🤣 Meme of the Week
Windows weeps, Linux reaps. 😈
🗓️ Tech Trivia
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) was signed into law by US President Bill Clinton on October 28, 1998. It was, and still is a controversial copyright law that has misused by many big corporations.
The Raspberry Pi is known for its versatility, typically running Linux-based operating systems like Raspberry Pi OS.
Surprisingly, it is also possible to install Windows 10 or 11 on a Raspberry Pi, despite the Pi's hardware limitations.
This guide will walk you through the process of installing Windows on a Raspberry Pi using a tool called WoR, which is short for Windows on Raspberry Pi.
But Why?
For me, it's more like a fun experiment to push Pi to its limits and see if it's even possible or not.
I understand that installing Windows on a Raspberry Pi is not something everyone (or anyone) will need or want, but it’s an interesting challenge nonetheless.
It allows you to experience Windows in a completely different environment, explore compatibility issues, and test performance on limited hardware.
However, keep in mind that:
You will face limited support for applications due to ARM architecture.
Windows on Pi won't deliver the same level of performance as a desktop PC, of course.
You might run into issues with device drivers, especially for Wi-Fi.
Requirements
To install Windows on a Raspberry Pi, make sure you have the following:
A Raspberry Pi 4/5 (preferably with 4 GB or 8 GB RAM) or Pi 400.
Another computer running Linux (I used the Raspberry Pi OS).
Ethernet cable for network connectivity (Wi-Fi drivers are not available yet).
Installing Windows on Raspberry Pi
WoR-flasher (Windows on Raspberry) is a straightforward tool designed to simplify installing Windows on a Raspberry Pi.
It automates much of the setup, eliminating the need for complex manual configurations.
By managing all necessary files, partitioning, and downloading of Windows images, it ensures a smooth experience, even for those new to the Raspberry Pi or Windows installation.
The first step is to install WoR-flasher.
Open a terminal and run the following commands to clone the WoR-flasher repository and install it:
git clone https://github.com/Botspot/wor-flasher
and then install it using:
cd wor-flasher
./install-wor-gui.sh
The WoR-flasher graphical interface will launch, allowing you to choose the version of Windows you want to install.
Choose either Windows 10 or 11, depending on your preference:
Select your Raspberry Pi model (Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 400) & Click “Next” to proceed:
Ensure your microSD card or USB storage device is connected to your Linux machine.
Then select the storage device you want to flash Windows onto, then click “Next.”
After confirming your selections, WoR-flasher will download the necessary Windows installation files and prepare them for your Raspberry Pi.
This can take some time, so be patient. Once the process is complete, the system will flash Windows onto your chosen storage device.
After that, a small prompt will pop up on the screen, telling what to do next:
Booting Windows on Raspberry Pi
With the installation complete, eject the microSD card or SSD and insert it into your Raspberry Pi.
Connect your display, keyboard, mouse, and Ethernet cable, then power on the Raspberry Pi.
📋
The initial boot process will take approx 30 minutes as Windows sets up. Typical Windows 🤷
You may need to wait as files are extracted and the OS is installed.
Windows Setup
Once Windows boots up, you’ll be prompted to complete the setup like choose your language and keyboard layout, Set up a user account online (Wi-Fi drivers are not available yet thus you have to connect to the internet using an Ethernet Cable).
💡
You can bypass online setup, just press Shift+F10 to open up the Command Prompt and then type OOBE\BYPASSNRO & hit Enter.
My Experience
After the setup and reboot, I was greeted by the familiar Windows desktop, and to my surprise, the tools that come preinstalled, like File Explorer and Task Manager, ran smoothly.
What shocked me the most was how quickly Microsoft Edge loaded when I pressed the launch button it felt snappy, especially considering this was all running from an SD card.
I didn’t get the chance to dive into testing network or web performance, but I’ll leave that for you to explore and see how it performs in your hands. Let me know how it works out!
Performance Tweaks
Running Windows on a Raspberry Pi is impressive, but it’s essential to keep performance expectations in check.
To enhance its responsiveness, you can make a few adjustments:
Disable unnecessary startup programs like OneDrive by heading to the "Startup Apps" menu.
Optimize system performance by choosing "Adjust for best performance" under the "Performance Options" settings.
Consider overclocking your Raspberry Pi to boost speed, this is partially automated during setup, but you can tweak it further for better results.
Conclusion
And that’s how you can successfully install Windows on your tiny Raspberry Pi!
While the setup process may take some time, the WoR flasher tool makes it incredibly straightforward, even for beginners.
Once you’ve got Windows up and running, you’ll be amazed at how a full desktop OS functions on such a compact device.
Whether you're looking to experiment like me, run specific Windows apps, or just enjoy the novelty of having Windows on your Raspberry Pi, this method opens up new possibilities for what your Pi can do.
Give it a try and see what your Pi is truly capable of!
In a world where ease of usage and customization dominate the desires of most tech users, it is imperative to learn Linux.
Linux is open-source and allows you to make it work how you want it to. Considering that almost every industry uses Linux in some way, it is the ideal choice of OS right now.
The fact that even supercomputers and organizations like NASA itself rely on Linux for all their operations, speaks enough volumes to back its usefulness.
But does Linux really offer features that make it worth learning over other OSes?
In this article, I list down nine reasons for why it definitely does.
1. The World Runs On Linux
Previously, I did provide a glimpse of where Linux is used, but a glimpse was all it was. Linux is everywhere, literally.
Whether it be your smartphones or the CCTV camera in your backyard, almost every digital thing you see runs on Linux or is Linux-based. From the most advanced tech to a potato hardware, all of them can run because of Linux.
Its open-source nature, allows users to use it for whatever they want. With the help of the community, it's easier to solve problems one faces. Furthermore, Linux often requires the bare minimum hardware specifications to function.
2. Security
The easiest way to protect your system is not by installing an antivirus, but by hopping on Linux 😉
While our resources against hackers keep improving with time, it is always better to choose an operating system that is more likely to keep your data protected.
When it comes to popular Linux distributions, the source-code is public, and the entire open-source community has eyes on bugs and vulnerabilities.
Of course, that does not mean it is impenetrable. But, it is a superior platform because it receives timely patches and updates, even if a vulnerability has been uncovered. And, with LTS distributions like Ubuntu, you get updates for as long as 12 years (which is impossible with macOS or Windows).
There are also privacy-focused Linux distributions, which go a step beyond and make things crazier. They offer a greater learning curve, but if your priority lies in securing your data, you can make the choice.
Why pay for an OS when you can get a more reliable one for free? All you need to do is spend some time learning it and save a lot of money in terms of hardware (macOS hardware is expensive), Windows license, antivirus subscriptions, and others.
You also get longer software updates, for the most part, without paying a dime.
Moreover, it is easier to find free and open-source software on Linux, as the software center promotes such utilities more than the proprietary or paid ones. So, you do not need to worry about paying for software (unless you have a commercial requirement) or you depend on a special tool that charges a fee.
Because of this free-of-cost experience, Linux is a must-learn for students and other working professionals using many systems or running outdated hardware.
5. Flexibility For Curious Minds
Installing Linux provides you an endless option of distributions, unlike the monotonic nature of other popular operating systems.
Distributions like Ubuntu, Peppermint, and Fedora, each offer a new unique experience. This keeps you fresh and makes sure you always have something to learn in the world of Linux.
If you are someone who is in favor of trying something new, learning Linux is the best thing you can do.
Different desktop environments, different file managers, and various package managers. Anything you are keen to explore, you have endless choices.
6. Reviving Old Computers
Who does not want the power of resurrection? While it might not apply to life, computers can be revived and the way to do it is by using Linux.
With most users running Windows, there comes a time when the requirements to run Windows's latest version exceed that of your system.
But, you don't need to throw that computer yet!
Because of Linux's minimal hardware requirements and very efficient desktop environments like Lubuntu, it's easy to run them on old computers.
So, just replacing your operating system with Linux can very well just revive your old computer and save you a hefty amount of money.
7. No Privacy Invasion
With your data being collected and being used for various purposes like targeted advertisements and surveys, one often questions their privacy.
Microsoft's Windows is infamous for its choices when it comes to user privacy.
With Linux, it's different. While Ubuntu does collect some usage data (if you enable), you can always opt out of that. Not just Ubuntu, you will not find any hidden data collection mechanisms in any Linux distributions.
This ensures you have control of your data and that there is complete transparency with where your data is being distributed.
8. Career Opportunities
While learning Linux is beneficial for personal use-cases, it also helps professionally.
With more need for jobs, now more than ever, it is very important to keep upskilling yourself and keep yourself up to date.
Whether it's system administration, cybersecurity, server hosting, or software development, learning Linux can help you in every aspect of your career. e
These careers don't just cater to your interests but also are usually well-paid and in demand across industries. So, the skills that come with Linux will make sure you stay in the market for a long time.
9. The Community
While I have discussed the open source nature of Linux several times in this article, it is for good reason. Linux's biggest selling point is its community support.
With millions of users that work towards making the OS better, it is without a doubt why Linux is as reliable as it is. Whether we talk about its user base, or developer ecosystem, most Linux distributions have a huge community behind it. This can help you learn easily, ask for help, and present a place for you to interact with like-minded people.
The community makes Linux unique.
Wrapping Up
The reasons I listed above are only the tip of the iceberg.
Some may have said that learning Linux is only for geeks (or techies), but that's not true, and you can benefit a lot by getting familiar with it.
💬 Why do you think someone should learn Linux? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Author Info
Swayam Sai Das is a student exploring the realms of Linux as an Intern Writer at It's FOSS. He is dedicated, when trying to push ranks in FPS games and enjoys reading literature classics in an attempt of putting on an academic facade.
Second, it uses OpenRC as the init system. So, if you are someone who is not a fan of systemd, you can surely consider this one.
Third, it uses BusyBox by default, which is an interesting choice.
Now, Alpine is immensely popular as a container distro because of its small form factor. The base docker image is hardly 5 MB, making it an attractive choice.
But it doesn't mean that you can only use Alpine with Docker or it only has to be in the the server format.
In this tutorial, I'll share how you can install Alpine Linux with Xfce desktop in VirtualBox.
Sounds exciting? Let's go.
Step 1: Download Alpine Linux
Alpine Linux provides several options to download. Here, I downloaded the x86_64 Virt ISO that is made for virtual machine setups. It is around 60 MB in size. You may also use the standard edition which is ~200 MB, and an extended ISO, nearly 900 MB in size.
I have used the Virtual Machine edition since I am installing it in a VirtualBox VM.
Open VirtualBox and click on the “New” button to start creating a New VM.
Click on New
Now, choose the Guided Mode and Set the following:
Name: Alpine Linux
ISO: Choose the Downloaded ISO
Kernel: Other Linux kernel 5.x
Name Virtual Machine
Click Next. On the next screen, allocate some RAM to the VM. Usually, 2 GB is enough for Alpine, but if you could, give it 4 GB of RAM. Also, allocate some processors. Here, I have assigned 2 processors. Click Next.
Allocate RAM and CPU
On the next screen, you need to provide the storage space. You can either go with the requirement or a bit extra for efficiency. 25 GB will be more than sufficient for a test virtual machine. Change according to your need.
Allocate Disk
Clicking Next will give you an overview of the settings. Click the Finish button here.
Click on Finish
Now, select the machine, right-click on it and select the Settings option.
Select Virtual Machine Settings
Select the Display tab and put the display memory to max (128 MB). Click on OK after this.
Allocate Display Memory
Now, start the VM by double-clicking on its name.
Step 3: Text-based Alpine installation
Alpine installation is text-based. Yeah! It gives the Arch Linux vibes, I know.
When the machine starts, you will be prompted to log in. Just type root and enter. The default root user has no password. You will be ready to install the system now.
Login as root
Start the text-based installer
Once logged in as root, enter:
setup-alpine
This will start the installer.
Keyboard layout
You need to select the keyboard layout. Here, I have chosen “us”. It will ask to select the variant in US keyboard. I again enter “us” as the option.
Keyboard Layout
Hostname
Enter a hostname of your choice. The default was localhost. And then press enter.
Enter Hostname
Interface selection
Installer will ask for the network interface selection. Since, it selected the default for me, I will press Enter key. If you have other interfaces, you can select “?” for help. For VirtualBox, the default is enough.
Select Network Interface
It now asks to set the IP. I am going with the default DHCP. Also, no further manual settings.
IP Address Settings
Root password
As I mentioned earlier, the root account has no password. You have to set it up for the security purpose.
You need to type and retype the root password in this step. Needless to say that nothing is displayed on the screen when you type the password. Just type it and press enter.
Set Root Password
Timezone settings
You need to select the timezone. The default is UTC. Press “?” for listing the available timezones. As you can see, I have set it to Asia and then pressed enter.
Select Timezone
Subsequently, you have to set the region. Like before, press “?” for listing all the available area in the given timezone. I have selected Kolkata.
Select Sub-timezone
Proxy settings
If you have any HTTP proxy, enter it at this stage, I had nothing, so I skipped the step by pressing the Enter key.
Proxy Settings
NTP client
Select which NTP client to run. I am once again going with the default chrony.
NTP Client
Mirror selection
The next screen is about the mirrors. You can view several lines of mirror list. Press R to view all. Now, you need to press “f” and enter to automatically analyze and save the fastest mirror from the list.
Select fastest mirror
This will analyze and do the rest for you. Wait for a couple of minutes.
Set up a new user
You will need an additional user besides the root, for normal use cases. You can create it here, right within the installer, to avoid difficulties letter. For this, you need to enter a username (all small letters), full name for the user and type and retype the user password.
Set up a new user
Some SSH Settings
Next is some SSH related settings, and I have chosen all the default options, by just pressing the enter key.
SSH Settings
Partitioning the Disk
This step is important, as it decides the installation of the system. You need to partition the disk. It will list the available disk, and you can enter “?” for help.
Then select the disk that needs to be used by name. In my case, it is the SDA, with the storage space. This will ask how to use it. You have several options like “sys”, “data” etc. For normal use cases, you need to select the “sys” option and press enter.
It will then show a warning about erasing the data. Press “y” and enter.
After some time, you will get a notification that the installation is complete.
Partitioning the Disk
You can either reboot the system here. But I will shut down the system using:
poweroff
Then, remove the attached ISO and start the machine again to avoid booting into the live ISO.
Step 4: Post-install set up
Now, you have installed the base system, but there is no desktop installed. So, you will be logged into the console again. You will now set up a minimal Xfce desktop and LightDM display manager for our Alpine Linux installation.
So, after booting into the system, login as root. Just use the username as root and enter the root password you have set during the installation.
Ensure superuser privileges
You need an editor for editing some config files. Since Alpine is a minimal set up, you need to install an editor first. Install Nano editor using:
apk add nano
💡
In Alpine Linux, you have doas instead of sudo. But that is not used here because you are running as root.
First, make sure that the default user is added to wheel group. For me, it was added automatically. To check, run:
groups <your-username>
This will list the groups your user is currently in. Look for the word “wheel”.
User in Wheel Group
If not, you can add by using the command:
adduser <your-username> wheel
Now that the user is added to the wheel group. make sure the wheel group has its privileges by checking for the following line in /etc/doas.d/doas.conf
permit persist :wheel
Superuser privileges for User
If not, edit the file using:
nano /etc/doas.d/doas.conf
Enable community repositories
By default, Alpine Linux does not have the community repository enabled. But you should have this to install more packages. So, edit the repositories file using:
nano /etc/apk/repositories
Enable Community repositories
Now, uncomment the line that refers to community repositories, save and exit.
Step 5: Install Xfce desktop
Before installing the Xfce desktop, you need to make sure that you have xorg-base set up. For this, Alpine Linux provides a neat way. Run the code below:
setup-xorg-base
This will install the required packages for you.
Install Xfce and LightDM
Now, you need to install the Xfce and related packages. I am going to use the LightDM Desktop Manager. So, run the command below to install.
Once installation is finished, start the dbus (desktop bus) service:
rc-service dbus start
Enable dbus to start on boot:
rc-update add dbus
Add DBus Service
💡
If dbus is not running, it leads to issues like missing icons and keyboard shortcuts
Enable udev service:
setup-devd udev
Now start the LightDM using:
rc-service lightdm start
If your LightDM GUI has started and prompts a login, log in as root and open a terminal. Next, run the below command to enable LightDM to start up during boot. If not started, run the command in the same prompt.
Login as root
rc-update add lightdm
Enable LightDM during system start
Allow Users to shut down and reboot
If you want to allow the users to shut down the machine or reboot the system, you need to have polkit-elogind and elogind installed.
apk add elogind polkit-elogind
Now, reboot the system:
reboot
Running Alpine Linux
That's the end...
I understand that it is slightly different than the usual way of installing Linux in VirtualBox. But then Alpine Linux is slightly different from most other Linux distributions.
I hope you find this quick tutorial helpful in getting started with Alpine Linux. Please let me know if you have questions or suggestions.
Abhishek Prakash
Ankush Das
daniel.m.tripp
