[Chromebooks] nabil2000:
Arch Linux 4.19-LTS & 5.0.8 nasty bug

Testing Arch Linux on Chromebook

Arch Linux 4.19-LTS & 5.0.8 nasty bug

but for those using Arch Linux, avoid kernel 4.19-LTS & 5.0.8 like the plague,

both damage Arch Linux by disabling usb input devices, trackpad, mouse, keybooard, touch...

I had to put my rant somewhere, it damaged a 3 year Arch Linux USB stick for me :(

Since I am here, might as well post for reference my experience with getting a new USB loaded with Arch Linux

not doing it from scratch, too much effort...

found this - quite good too, Live USB persistent -

Arch Linux USB OS https://sourceforge.net/projects/arch-linux-usb-os/ …

It saves the trouble of building Arch Linux OS from scratch.

Uses Kernel 5.0.5 -

Linux robot 5.0.5-arch1-1-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Wed Mar 27 17:53:10 UTC 2019 x86_64 GNU/Linux

if allowed to upgrade to 5.0.8 will bork the input, so only upgrade to 5.0.7 maximum (linux-rt), which I built through aur.

upgrading through aur to linux-rt 5.0.7

$ uname -a

Linux robot 5.0.7-rt5-1-rt #1 SMP PREEMPT RT Mon Apr 22 14:42:29 CEST 2019 x86_64 GNU/Linux

to get to boot with this kernel needs to replace linux with linux-rt in loader settings.

to stop kernel from upgrading -

ArchLinux is updated to the newest version with the command:

pacman -Syu

To stop it from updating the kernel (until they get their **** together) add

IgnorePkg = linux linux-headers

into /etc/pacman.conf

stuff / thingies

bot@robot ~ $ cd /run/archiso/bootmnt

bot@robot bootmnt $ ls

arch EFI loader

bot@robot bootmnt $ ls arch/boot

amd-ucode.img grub intel-ucode.img intel_ucode.LICENSE x86_64

bot@robot bootmnt $ ls arch/boot/x86_64/

initramfs-linux.img initramfs-linux-rt.img vmlinuz-linux vmlinuz-linux-rt

notes -

original shipped linux version is 5.0.5

upgraded linux version though aur is linux-rt 5.0.7

so needed to copy vmlinuz-linux-rt & initramfs-linux-rt.img to /run/archiso/bootmnt/arch/boot/x86_64/

cannot be done from a running instance, so had to boot from another live usb to copy it over from

bot@robot bootmnt $ ls /boot

amd-ucode.img initramfs-linux-rt-fallback.img syslinux

grub initramfs-linux-rt.img vmlinuz-linux

initramfs-linux.img intel-ucode.img vmlinuz-linux-rt

to automate replace loading linux with linux-rt, modify

/run/archiso/bootmnt/loader/entries/

bot@robot entries $ ls

Archlinux.conf Archlinux-terminal.conf uefi-shell-v2-x86_64.conf

Archlinux-copytoram.conf uefi-shell-v1-x86_64.conf

example

Archlinux.conf original

title Arch Linux UEFI

linux /arch/boot/x86_64/vmlinuz-linux

initrd /arch/boot/intel-ucode.img

initrd /arch/boot/amd-ucode.img

initrd /arch/boot/x86_64/initramfs-linux.img

options archisobasedir=arch archisolabel=USB-BOOT cow_label=usb-save loglevel=3

change to:

title Arch Linux UEFI

linux /arch/boot/x86_64/vmlinuz-linux-rt

initrd /arch/boot/intel-ucode.img

initrd /arch/boot/amd-ucode.img

initrd /arch/boot/x86_64/initramfs-linux-rt.img

options archisobasedir=arch archisolabel=USB-BOOT cow_label=usb-save loglevel=3

to be able to modify bootloader files

do above from a separate linux usb (mine is Ubuntu 18.04)

$ mkdir efi

$ sudo mount /dev/sdb1 efi

$ cd efi

$ ls

arch EFI loader

... etc as above.

News - Arch Linux released Kernel 5.0.9 - still has the nasty bug - do not upgrade, if you did, downgrade by installing the downgrade script from aur...

How to downgrade a Linux kernel...

https://arcolinux.com/how-to-downgrade-a-linux-kernel/

Borking my 3 year arch linux USB was a blessing in disguise, made me look for a persistent USB alternative...

the one described above boots Acer Chromebook C720P well, it works great, with kernels 5.0.5 & 5.0.7 -

I tested it on the modded full ROM MrChromebox firmware, but believe it will work as well in Seabios legacy mode.

notes to myself ;)