Linux on a Neo Z64W

LuisSousa

New member
Hello, everyone. I'm wondering if anyone has made the transition from a windows install to a linux install.

But not as proof of concept or boot from flash disk, really install it in internal flash and use it on a daily basis. And if it really works for you guys.

I have one of these mainly for netflix and kodi, but win10 keeps getting larger and hungrier, and I'm really thinking in installing a LXDE flavored distro (ubuntu or manjaro), but I would like to know if it is really usable. I've read about the issues and solutions, but my curiosity is if as anyone done it and as been using it as mediacenter/file server/whatever...

Thanks
 
Hello.
I did this a few years ago, but it still works. Remember it is a 64 bit processor, the bootloader is also listed as 32 bit but starts 64 bit system.
You can also install Android-x86 or Phoenix OS or LineageOs on an SD card or hard drive, it must be gpt formatted, then you can boot almost anything.
I used Grub2Win as the boot loader, so install and boot from Windows. But then I think it works with Grub customizer in Linux, as you want. Grubwin also starts 64bit systems in 32bit mode.
You can then boot and install systems in Linux or Win at the same time in Linux Virtual Win too. But with Win you have to take the 32bit variant, but I think 64bit systems also boot.
It worked for me. Mint Mate and Ubuntu are all on one card and can be booted, android and Phoenix too.
Bit of work, but with a happy ending. Maybe you can find something better. I can only help you like I did.
Do not forget to create a swap with little memory the z64 needs to run a 64bit well.

SM

http://hwswbits.blogspot.com/2015/03/getting-linux-on-minix-neo-z64.html
 
Thanks for the reply. I've already managed to install mint mate with the instructions from the link you mentioned, and it is running smoothly. A turn off was Chrome and Brave browsers stuttering on Netflix. Had to stick to firefox, which runs it flawlessly (not my favorite browser, it gets chubby overtime). Kodi is perfect as always, even in 1080. Only downside until now is it doesn't power off, instead it always reboot. Not even hibernation. Only suspension works.

I did really tried android-x86, but it didn't have any sound...

I'm curious about Manjaro, but up until now haven't been successful in booting it. I must be missing something.
 
Thanks for the reply. I've already managed to install mint mate with the instructions from the link you mentioned, and it is running smoothly. A turn off was Chrome and Brave browsers stuttering on Netflix. Had to stick to firefox, which runs it flawlessly (not my favorite browser, it gets chubby overtime). Kodi is perfect as always, even in 1080. Only downside until now is it doesn't power off, instead it always reboot. Not even hibernation. Only suspension works.

I did really tried android-x86, but it didn't have any sound...

I'm curious about Manjaro, but up until now haven't been successful in booting it. I must be missing something.


Hello, it's me, On Android you should check whether you have audio jack.
Then you can choose whether car or jack 3.5 or HDMI.

I don't know Manjaro, but you can read the correct boot on Android or other Linux distros. Unzip and read out in the folder boot config, txt.
But I like to use the Grub2Win bootloader, which has many specifications and is very simple, you can also boot from Partitio, it then looks for it itself.
Take a look at it. So far I have managed to start everything, if you read the boat you can write it yourself.
 
Last edited:
Me again, I can fix some problems by editing the sources list, I entered third party software. Like Cannoncial?
 
But you can also go to an older version Android-x86 that is still supported with security updates.
Please pay attention to the ending, rc stands for test release and r for stable release.
Bluetooth almost always goes audio.
 
If you have any questions, maybe I can help? I have been working with this bootloader for over 4 years.
cu SM
 
A little tip, I work with Android 6.0 x86.
With z64w everything works with me, that's enough for me.
Go to the first page of the Android port, in the top left of the three line menu and click Share. Create a partition and extract it.
If you can't boot that with Grub2Win, write custom code

Hard drive, partition

linux /android.-6.0-r3/, kernel root = / dev / ram0 androidboot. hardware = android_x86_64 src = / android-6.0-r3

initrd /android-6.0-r3/initrd. img

You need to create a partition for data. img make it so big that the unpacked system also has space.
I have 4096MB + 1024MB = 5120MB
Data is enough. img in ext. 3 You can create this in Windows with toporesize.
You can get the play services, play store, from apk. Mirror in the network.
So just a suggestion, that's how it works for me for over 5 years.
I made Android 8.1 for my mother, there I have a live USB installation stick, during the installation I ignore the bootloader installation, just the data. img and boot with Gru2Win.
She hasn't had a problem in 10 weeks. A little tip with Paragon Linux File Manager in Windows that you can edit in Windows Linux img.
 
Ok, this as been a ride. My mint install suddenly crapped out when I unplugged the power supply. The uefi bios defaulted to factory values and when it booted the windows boot manager crapped all over. I got tired of it all and reverted to win 10.

There I installed grub2win. Very nice, but not very easy to add entries. Couldn't add an iso to boot from, not linux nor Android. And there aren't many tutorials on it.

Found a youtube video teaching to install Android x86, where i have to create a ext4 partition and copy manually the files. Gonna try it maybe over the weekend.

Thanks for the help ?
 
Ich Android-x86 Installation mit Grub2Win

Hallo an dich, ich werde dir so schreiben wie ich, ok. Leider kann ich Ihnen keine Garantie geben. Bitte lesen Sie diese zuerst sorgfältig durch, indem Sie die Reihenfolge der Briefe festlegen.
Es ist nicht so schwierig.

Installieren Sie also zunächst Folgendes in Win 10

Rufus
Minitool Partitiosn Wizard
Testversion des Linux Paragon File Manager
Installieren Sie Grub2Win mit Efi-Modulen.

Zur Sicherheit benötigen Sie außerdem zwei USB-Sticks Fat 32.

Ok Lass uns anfangen,
Zunächst erstellen Sie eine weitere Partition mit Minitool. Diese ist für mich unter Android 6.0 5120 MB groß und unter 8.1 müssen Sie
Erstellen Sie 6144 MB, nennen Sie diese Partition Android-x86

Formatieren Sie diese Partition mit Mini Tool im ext4-Format.

Erstellen Sie jetzt einen bootfähigen Installationsstick von Android mit ISO und Rufus.

Starten Sie den PC neu und starten Sie von diesem Stick.

Wählen Sie "Android auf Festplatte installieren".

Wählen Sie Ihre erstellte Partition aus.

Format in Format = Nrext4

Installieren Sie den EFi-Eintrag = Nr

Installiere Grub2 Eintrag = Nr

Erstellen Sie img read-write oder lesen Sie einfach, read-write = root mode = yes oder no root = no

Img versucht zu installieren und geht bei 100 Prozent auf 90 Prozent zurück,

Es zeigt Img Größe 512 MB, löschen Sie diese mit Zurück-Taste und setzen Sie es mit 4096 (MB) zurück.

Jetzt schreibe nochmal.


Booten Sie jetzt mit Grub2Win.

Starten Sie Windows und gehen Sie zu Grub2Win

Zuerst können Sie Ihre Partition unter PartList auslesen,

Gehen Sie zum Erstellen des Eintrags Verwalten des Startmenüs und fügen Sie einen neuen Eintrag hinzu. Oben links können Sie die Standardeinstellungen der Betriebssysteme auswählen, einen kleinen Pfeil daneben eingeben, Titel, die Sie benennen können, und Grfik, Sie können Ihre Auflösung über den Bildschirm eingeben.
Ich denke es ist nicht so schwierig.

Gehen Sie zu Android, es zeigt Ihnen den Bootcode von 8.1 oder 9.0.

Gehen Sie zur Kernelauswahl rechts und gehen Sie zu Ihrer Partition, um den Kernel zu speichern.

Für 8.1 muss als Bootcode androidboot.selinux = permissive nach dem Root-Eintrag angegeben werden, das müssen Sie anpassen.

Bis zur 6.0-Version 64bit lautet der Bootcode androidboot.hardware = android_x86_64 src = / android-6.0-r .... Release-Version.

Dies können Sie sehen, wenn Sie es selbst in meinem Abschnitt zum Anpassen schreiben.

hd0, gpt3
linux /android-6.0-r3/kernel root / dev / ram0 androidboot.hardware = android_x86_64 src = / android-6.0-r3
initrd /android-6.0-r3/initrd.img

hd = Ihre feste Spalte
Nach dem Koma geben Sie Ihre Partition ein, auf der sie installiert ist.
android-6.0-r3 ist der Ordner, in dem Android installiert ist und der SRC Quellcode ist und in dem Sie den Kernel zum Booten von Grub2Win finden.

Auch für 6.0 und 8.1,

Auf der Partition muss sich ein Ordner befinden. Android-8.1-r5 oder 6.0-r3 in diesem Ordner ist Ihr installiertes System.
Wenn nicht, erstellen Sie es auf der Partition und verschieben Sie das System hinein. Dann funktioniert der benutzerdefinierte Startcode.
Sie können dies alles mit Paragon Linux File Manager unter Windows tun und die Testversion herunterladen, da Sie sie testen können. Die Leute wissen jedoch nicht, dass Sie sie nach Ablauf der Testphase weiterhin mit reduzierter Geschwindigkeit verwenden können und bearbeiten Sie Linux-Partitionen.

Also weiter, in g2w haben Sie jetzt den Kernel zum Booten ausgewählt. Für die Version 6.0 gehen Sie in das große, breite Fenster, in dem sich der Boot-Code von 8.1 befindet.
Löschen Sie die oberste Zeile und geben Sie dort 6.0 root = / dev / ram0 androidboot.hardware = android_x86_64 src = / android-6.0-r3 ein und speichern Sie sie.
Jetzt sind Sie wieder auf der Startseite von g22w. Wenn Sie Ihren Hintergrund oder Ihre Schriftfarbe ändern möchten, klicken Sie einfach auf das Bild in der oberen rechten Ecke. Dort finden Sie einige Standardeinstellungen, die Sie anpassen müssen.
Ok, wenn Sie den Booloader eingerichtet haben, setzen Sie ihn als Standard, also starten Sie Ihren PC mit diesem Bootloader.
In der zweiten Pause können Sie die Anzeigezeit des Booloaders einstellen. Je kürzer, desto schneller können Sie den Booloader starten. Starten Sie den PC neu.
Ich arbeite seit vielen Jahren damit und am Anfang war es sehr schwierig, ein Handbuch zu finden.

Selbst wenn Sie es installiert haben, können Sie Windows separat über das EFi-Startmenü F10 oder F11 starten.

Wenn der Start erneut ausgeführt wird, können Sie den Windows-Installationsstick mit Reparatur- und Administratoreingabeaufforderung von diesem Start aus verwenden und bearbeiten.

Eingabe = Diskpart
show = lis dis
Wählen Sie Ihre feste Spalte, in der Windows mit = sel dis 0?
Geben Sie nun Ihre Partitionen ein = lis vol
Wählen Sie nun die EFI-Partition in der Regel um 99 bis 100 MB = sel vol ...
Wenn es keinen Buchstaben hat, weisen Sie ihm einen neuen zu = weisen Sie einen Buchstaben zu = p
Beenden Sie dann Diskpart = exit
Schreiben Sie jetzt Win Boot new = bcdboot C: \ Windows / s P: / f UEFI in diese Partition C: = Windows-Installation und P: ist die Efi Start-Partition.
Dann konnte ich wieder booten.
Daher kann ich keine Garantie geben, damit es für mich funktioniert.

Phoenix OS bootet ähnlich, verwenden Sie einfach Android als PhoeniOS als benutzerdefinierten Code.

SM
 
Last edited:
If you work with Linux on the z64 A to W. I run a virtual machine in Linux. If you put together a small Windows with Aomei WinPE Builder, i.e. your own, this would also have to run in the Linux system x86, x86_64. If you don't want to do without it. I have also created a paging swap. But take a look for yourself, you will be surprised what everything works there. This PC wasn't that bad for the time, and it isn't bad either. Since it has good qualities, the external USB memory would now also be attached, I love this PC. In times of uhd 8k 16k etc. If you build the usb ram you would invest your money well in the long term and the performance of the usb ports would be sufficient?
 
p
Ok, this as been a ride. My mint install suddenly crapped out when I unplugged the power supply. The uefi bios defaulted to factory values and when it booted the windows boot manager crapped all over. I got tired of it all and reverted to win 10.

There I installed grub2win. Very nice, but not very easy to add entries. Couldn't add an iso to boot from, not linux nor Android. And there aren't many tutorials on it.

Found a youtube video teaching to install Android x86, where i have to create a ext4 partition and copy manually the files. Gonna try it maybe over the weekend.

Thanks for the help ?

So if you use grub in linux, I recommend installing Grub Customizer in linux.
Sudo apt-get ....
Windows can also be booted separately in EFI via F11.
Or via Bios Schell.
Blk ...: ls display,
Search for, BLK: ... EFI \ Boot \ bootia32. Choose efi, drive and write in the same way as there is also large small letters.
 
Thanks for the reply. I've already managed to install mint mate with the instructions from the link you mentioned, and it is runnin

I did really tried android-x86, but it didn't have any sound...

I'm curious about Manjaro, but up until now haven't been successful in booting it. I must be missing something.

When installing the Z64 W Linux, the Grub2Win bootloader makes it easier. You don't need to install or add anything as described. Grub2Win is installed in Windows on the z64 and starts x86 and 64 systems. Simply enter the partition or PUUID, if you have pre-installed windows on the z64, the installation is done in an hour and just a few clicks of the mouse, no fear of it is not difficult at all.
g smoothly. A turn off was Chrome and Brave browsers stuttering on Netflix. Had to stick to firefox, which runs it flawlessly (not my favorite browser, it gets chubby overtime). Kodi is perfect as always, even in 1080. Only downside until now is it doesn't power off, instead it always reboot. Not even hibernation. Only suspension works.
 
Hello everybody, I have a z64w, flashed into a z64a and I am trying several linux distros...ubuntu, lubuntu, mint and then sparkylinux.
I can't turn off my minix: it simply restarts! This happens with both bios and every linux distro.
I have modified grub with acpi=force but does not work....
any ideas pleas?
 
Hello everybody, I have a z64w, flashed into a z64a and I am trying several linux distros...ubuntu, lubuntu, mint and then sparkylinux.
I can't turn off my minix: it simply restarts! This happens with both bios and every linux distro.
I have modified grub with acpi=force but does not work....
any ideas pleas?



Am I not looking completely??? From w to a??? Why don't you leave w??? With Grub2Win, everything always worked for me. Look in the forum under w Installations and start with grub2Win. is older post but worked. The Grub2win starts almost everything? Is something ago but it also worked to switch off??? The problem I had back then was the initram boot. I found that as long as you didn't plug anything else in, USB, everything booted without problems, or just from the stick.
 
Am I not looking completely??? From w to a??? Why don't you leave w??? With Grub2Win, everything always worked for me. Look in the forum under w Installations and start with grub2Win. is older post but worked. The Grub2win starts almost everything? Is something ago but it also worked to switch off??? The problem I had back then was the initram boot. I found that as long as you didn't plug anything else in, USB, everything booted without problems, or just from the stick.

I was throwing this PC in the junk, I've thought to give it a second chance with Linux. I flashed the android firmware because it's 64 bit
 
Mmm, with the windows firmware I had to add a 32 bit UEFI boot on linuxliveusb.
This is not the problem: with both bios android or window, with every Linux distro my PC Simply does not shut down, if I install android or windows it works! Why?
 
Back
Top