Setup & Repair (USB)

Setting Up or Recovering a Computer

A new computer, or one that will not start? The USB Installer handles both a fresh installation and a wipe-and-reinstall of an existing machine.

Install or Update the SystemSet up a new computer, or fix one that will not start, using the USB installer.

After booting from the USB, you will use commands to install or update the TechLit OS on the computer’s internal drive.

Identify the Internal Drive

Run this command to see all the storage drives connected to your computer:
```
lsblk
```
How to find it: Look for the main drive, which is usually much larger than your USB drive. Common names are /dev/sda, /dev/nvme0n1, or /dev/mmcblk0. This will be your Target Drive.
Choose Your Action

Choose one of the 2 actions below.

Option A: Provisioning a New Computer (tl-hw-prepare)
Section titled “Option A: Provisioning a New Computer (tl-hw-prepare)”

Use this command for a new computer or to completely wipe and reinstall an existing one.

This command will permanently erase all data on the target drive.
```
# Replace /dev/sdX with your drive and tl-xxxx with the tag
tl-hw-prepare /dev/sdX tl-xxxx
```
Option B: Update Existing System (tl-hw-update-desktop)
Section titled “Option B: Update Existing System (tl-hw-update-desktop)”

Use this command to update an existing TechLit computer without wiping its data.
```
# Replace /dev/sdX with your drive
tl-hw-update-desktop /dev/sdX
```
Finish & Reboot

Once the script finishes, you will see a success message.

Reboot the computer by typing reboot and pressing Enter.

Unplug the USB drive immediately after the computer restarts to prevent it from booting back into the installer.

Install on a computer with drive /dev/nvme0n1 and tag tl-0606:
```
tl-hw-prepare /dev/nvme0n1 tl-0606
```

Install and set the Wi-Fi name at the same time:

WIFI_NAME="TechLit Emacs" tl-hw-prepare /dev/nvme0n1 tl-0606

Update a computer with drive /dev/sda:
```
tl-hw-update-desktop /dev/sda
```
Update to a specific version on the USB:
```
tl-hw-update-desktop /dev/sda 26.6.0
```

If the installer itself is misbehaving (the USB will not boot, or a command failed), these are the fixes.

This guide helps you solve common issues that can occur during the device provisioning process.

This can happen in a few ways: the computer boots to the old OS, it gets stuck in a loop, or it shows an error like “Selected boot device failed.”

Try a different USB port. Sometimes switching from a USB 2.0 (black) to a USB 3.0 (blue) port, or vice-versa, can solve the problem.
Check the BIOS/UEFI settings. You may need to enter the full BIOS setup menu to make changes.
- Accessing BIOS Setup: The key is usually F1, F2, F10, or DEL.
- Enable USB Boot: Look for an option to “Enable USB Boot” and make sure it is turned on.
- Disable Secure Boot: If you see an option for “Secure Boot”, try disabling it.
- Switch Boot Mode: Try switching the boot mode from UEFI to Legacy/CSM or vice-versa.
- Manually Add Boot Option: Some BIOS versions require you to manually add the USB drive as a trusted boot option. Look for a “Boot Sequence” or “Add Boot Option” menu. The file to select on the USB is usually \\EFI\\BOOT\\BOOTX64.EFI.

If you made a mistake while running tl-hw-prepare or tl-hw-update-desktop, you can correct it after the install finishes.

Wrong Tag, Wi-Fi Name, or Password: Don’t worry. Let the installation finish. Once you boot into the desktop, you can easily fix these settings using the tl-sys-configure tool.

If you’ve tried the steps above and are still having issues, you can ask for help.

To get the best help, provide as much information as possible:

Computer Details: The brand and model of the computer (e.g., “HP Elitebook 840 G3”).
Commands You Ran: The exact command you used (e.g., tl-hw-prepare /dev/sda tl-1234).
Observed Behavior: What exactly happened? Note any error messages you saw on the screen or describe where the process got stuck.