Cloning the existing PureOS Crimson image, installing postmarketOS Plasma image

[amarok]

I initially tried to live-boot postmarketOS (pmOS) from the microSD card in my Librem 5, but due to some issue was unable to launch it.

So I decided to:

• clone my Librem 5’s drive, with its existing PureOS (Crimson) install, all my applications, settings, and configurations
• save the cloned drive to my computer for safekeeping
• do a full install of pmOS on the Librem 5, replacing the PureOS install
• boot pmOS, poke about, and have a look-see
• then restore the cloned PureOS drive, returning everything back to the way it was

Cloning the existing PureOS install
I used the Disks application on my computer (running Linux Mint). Using the dd command in the terminal is an alternate method, but Disks is an easy GUI method, for those who prefer that.

1. I launched Disks without any other drives attached, just to make sure I know how my computer drive is labeled. (Wouldn’t want to ruin that!).
2. Then, I went to this guide. I already had uuu installed, and jumpdrive set up, so I skipped the first section, opened the terminal on the computer, navigated to the jumpdrive directory, and connected the Librem 5 to my computer to expose the Librem 5’s filesystem. The phone’s screen then displayed the “jumpdrive is running” notification.
3. Returning to the Disks application on my computer, I selected the Librem 5 eMMC, then from the 3-dot menu in Disks, I chose Create disk image. In the resulting pop-up dialog, I selected a storage location on my computer, then started writing. That took about 30 minutes.

Installing postmarketOS

4. With the cloning done, I was ready to install pmOS on the Librem 5. Back in the Disks application, I made sure the Librem 5 eMMC was selected, went back to the 3-dot menu, and chose Restore disk image (although this was going to be a new OS install, not technically a restoration).
5. I selected my (previously downloaded) postmaketOS image, which was located in my computer’s Downloads directory, and started writing the image to the Librem 5 eMMC. That took 15 minutes or less.

Testing postmarketOS

6. Next, on my computer I exited the terminal, disconnected the Librem 5, and after shutdown, restarted the phone.
7. After pmOS started, it came to this screen:
   
   
   
   then swiping up:
   
   

I entered the default pmOS password, which is 147147;

then the home screen displayed, with web browser, dialer, and messaging app:

and I started familiarizing myself with the OS.

Pre-installed apps:

Drop-down menu (screenshot happened before it fully dropped):

Main settings:

Open applications:

Dolphin files browser:

Chat settings:

===
Using the Plasma UI is… weird. At least, it seems weird now that I’m used to phosh. And every action seems to come with a slight delay.

I’ll play around with it for a day or so, then restore PureOS.

[amarok]

The drop-down quick settings again; swipe down for page 1:

Swipe right to left for page 2:

I don’t see a setting for VoLTE, so I wonder if one just needs to install BM818 Tool, as in PureOS.

If I were familiar with Alpine Linux or KDE, I might like this UI better… but I’m not, so I don’t really.

There are postmarketOS images for GNOME Mobile, phosh, and sxmo/sway as well.

[amarok]

Now back to PureOS and phosh…

Open terminal on computer, change to the jumpdrive directory, then launch the script:

Connect the Librem 5 to the computer, according to the guide:

Open Disks on computer, click the Librem 5 eMMC from the list at left, select “Restore Disk Image” from the top menu, and then navigate to the saved image that is to be restored:

Restore in process:

When restoration is finished, exit terminal, shut down the L5, and reboot. Done! Everything back to the way it was:

[sethf]

Great post, thanks for the copious screenshots. I think I might do the same if I can’t get Postmarket to boot from the sdcard.

[amarok]

You’re very welcome. If the live-boot is even slower than the full install, which seems sluggish to me, it will be frustrating.

I’ve only tested the Plasma version, though, so one of the others might be more responsive.

[tendays]

Really nice, thank you. I’m using KDE on all my other computers (not counting the Raspberry Pis, I guess) so it all looks familiar and attractive to me

However I don’t feel ready to start even more experimental things on my “daily driver” device yet. Crimson is plenty experimental as it is.

Any chance we can ever apt install plasma-mobile-desktop or something like that on plain PureOS for people like me who prefer KDE?

[amarok]

@tendays

desktop

It would be convenient, for sure. Especially if it didn’t require learning a different package management system and different terminal commands.