Common Questions

This section has answers to common questions about using TechLit computers.

Software & System FAQ

My computer is slow/laggy after updating

Switch or enable a GPU hacks in reconfigure

Login as admin

Log in as the admin user when a step needs administrator access.

su admin
# pass: <admin password>

# if you want clean env vars
su - admin
su -l admin

Component not installed

Create the missing component directory under /srv/. See Admin Scripts for the tl-comp-* component tools.

mkdir /srv/component_name

How do I switch between the graphical desktop and a TTY?

You can switch to Admin Mode (TTY2) if the graphical desktop is frozen or for admin tasks like updating.

• To switch to TTY2:
  • On most computers: Ctrl + Alt + F2
  • On Apple computers: CMD + Option + F2
  • In rare cases: FN + Ctrl + Alt + F2
  • As admin: sudo chvt 2

Tip

If the key combinations don’t work, try connecting an external USB keyboard. Sometimes, a built-in keyboard might be broken or unresponsive.

• To switch back to the graphical desktop (TTY1):
  • Exit fbterm with exit then use Ctrl + Alt + F1.
  • You can also use Super + Alt + ←.
  • As admin: sudo chvt 1.

My computer hostname is mismatched with the tag

If the computer’s name does not match its tag, set the correct name with the Settings Menu (tl-sys-configure).

Fix storage issues (“Disk Full” Error)

Use tl-comp-manage to remove old Btrfs Snapshots and free up space.

Hardware & Device FAQ

My computer fails to boot or drops to a shell

If your computer fails to boot properly and drops you into a command-line shell (often called a “rootfs shell”), it may be because the bootloader is broken or misconfigured.

To fix this, you must first boot from your TechLit USB drive. Once you have booted into the USB environment, you have 2 options:

1. Reinstall the bootloader: This is the quickest method. Open a terminal and run the following command:

   sudo tl-hw-update-bootloader /dev/sdX

   Device Drive

   Replace /dev/sdX with the correct device name for your computer’s Target Drive (e.g., /dev/sda). Use lsblk to identify it.

2. Run a full desktop update:

tl-hw-update-desktop. See the updating guide.

How do I identify my USB drive?

Run lsblk to list the connected drives, then match the USB by its size.

lsblk

1. Check by Storage Size

   The USB drive’s total size is a good indicator. It will almost always be significantly smaller than your computer’s internal storage (hard drive or SSD).

2. Check by Mount Points

• On the TechLit Desktop OS: The main system partition is typically mounted at /. Your USB drive will likely not be mounted, or mounted elsewhere.
• In TechLit ISO (Recovery Mode): The system boots from the USB, so its partitions will be mounted on key system directories:
  • The 4th partition (e.g., /dev/sdb4) is mounted at /srv.
  • The 3rd partition (e.g., /dev/sdb3) is mounted at /.

How do I mount my USB drive?

Identify the drive first, then mount its 4th partition to /mnt.

# Identify the USB drive (say usb is /dev/sda)
lsblk

# Mount the 4th partition of the USB drive
sudo mount /dev/sda4 /mnt

Wi-Fi Issues

How do I stop the firewall temporarily?

Stop the firewall only while you need it off, then start it again.

Security Risk

Only disable if necessary. Re-enable immediately after.

rsv stop nftables # Stop the firewall
rsv start nftables # reactivate the firewall

I am unable to turn on my Wi-Fi

Work through these checks in order:

• Run rfkill list to see all your network devices.
• If your card is listed as soft blocked, run sudo rfkill unblock wifi to turn it on.
• If it is hard blocked, look for a hardware switch on your computer and turn it on.
• If none of these work, try a different Wi-Fi option in the Settings Menu (tl-sys-configure).

Device-Specific Guides

Dell

Dell boot fixes

This section provides solutions for common issues encountered with Dell

Invalid Partition Table Error on Boot

1. Switch to UEFI Boot Mode

   • Restart the computer and press F2 or F12 to enter BIOS setup.
   • Navigate to General > Boot Sequence.
   • Change the boot mode from Legacy to UEFI.
   • Save changes and exit BIOS.

2. Press Enter to ignore the warning and proceed booting.

USB Boot Failure

If you encounter the error “Selected boot device failed. Press any key to reboot the system,” follow these steps:

1. Try a different USB port. A simple port change can often resolve the issue.
2. Manually add the boot option in BIOS:
   • Restart the computer and press F2 or F12 to enter BIOS setup.
   • Navigate to General > Boot Sequence.
   • Click Add Boot Option.
   • Select your USB device and navigate to the \EFI\BOOT\BOOTX64.EFI file.
   • Save your changes and exit BIOS. You should now be able to select the USB drive from the boot menu.

USB 3.x Drive Not Detected

If your system fails to detect a USB 3.x drive, you may need to adjust the boot mode settings in the BIOS.

1. Enter BIOS setup by pressing F2 or F12 during startup.
2. Locate the boot settings and change the boot mode from BIOS/Legacy to UEFI.

HP

HP boot fixes

This section provides solutions for common issues encountered with HP devices.

USB 3.x Drive Not Detected in Boot Menu

Some older HP models may not automatically detect a bootable USB 3.x drive. Here are 2 methods to resolve this:

1. Switch Boot Modes

Changing the boot mode in the BIOS can often force the system to recognize the USB drive.

1. Enter the BIOS setup (usually by pressing F10 or ESC during startup).
2. Locate the boot options or system configuration.
3. Change the boot mode from UEFI to Legacy, or from Legacy to UEFI.
4. Save the changes and restart. See if the USB drive appears in the boot menu.

2. Boot From EFI File

If switching boot modes doesn’t work, you can manually select the boot file. This is the most reliable method.

1. Enter the BIOS setup.
2. Find the boot menu and look for an option like “Boot From EFI File” or “Select UEFI File as Trusted for Executing”.
3. Navigate to your USB device and select the \EFI\BOOT\BOOTX64.EFI file.
4. Save the configuration and restart. The USB drive should now be a bootable option.