#1 2023-01-18 17:11:41

1eth1lambo

Member

Registered: 2023-01-18

Posts: 13

Possible to BYPASS formatting(random data) when doing a fresh install?

Hi everyone

So I'm installing Bunsenlabs Beriyllium onto a 16GB USB flash drive.  I've been using the GUI installer, and specified for the installer to use the whole amount of the USB drive, with an encrypted LUKS LVM partition.  I've noticed that it takes quite a while for the installer to format(and write random data) over the empty USB drive.

I was wondering if there was any way to someone SKIP this step, and I'm not too worried about the information. These are USB's that I use for TESTing distros. I'm planning on making a BL install on the 16GB and then exporting it out into a VTOY file to use on an Easy2Boot multi-boot USB.  Atm I've been using Arch, but I've found you need to be constantly updating it literally every day.  My Arch USB is actually running OpenBox,  Polybar, Tint2, Thunar so I'm really liking this Bunsenlabs distro.

(I've come from doing a base 'Arch' cli install, so I usually just use gdisk /dev/sdb and then do the mkfs.ext4 etc on that which is very quick.  I'm just not used to waiting a good 15-20mins to format a 16GB drive)

On the screen there is ONLY the option button to CANCEL it.
Is another method a quicker way to bypass the formatting portion of the install?  The text says that it's formatting to generate random data to over write the old data.

johnraff

nullglob

From: Nagoya, Japan

Registered: 2015-09-09

Posts: 12,654

Website

Re: Possible to BYPASS formatting(random data) when doing a fresh install?

Hi 1eth1lambo, welcome to the community!

If you hit CANCEL on the formatting stage, the encrypted LVM install will continue.
(I've just confirmed this on a virtual machine.)

---

...elevator in the Brain Hotel, broken down but just as well...
( a boring Japan blog (currently paused), now on Bluesky, there's also some GitStuff )

Introduction to the Bunsenlabs Boron Desktop

1eth1lambo

Member

Registered: 2023-01-18

Posts: 13

Re: Possible to BYPASS formatting(random data) when doing a fresh install?

Hey John!
Thank's a bunch for the update!

I just gotta say this distro absolutely rocks!!
I've been playing around with it the past week since my last post, and this is a really really nice setup.  I've configured it perfectly to the way I want it running now :-)

rbh

Moderator

From: South of Lapplands inland

Registered: 2016-08-11

Posts: 1,921

Re: Possible to BYPASS formatting(random data) when doing a fresh install?

On the screen there is ONLY the option button to CANCEL it.
Is another method a quicker way to bypass the formatting portion of the install?  The text says that it's formatting to generate random data to over write the old data.

You can choose "Advanced install options" => Graphical or Text installer => "Expert install".
When coming to partioning, choose "Manuell".

Now you can choose create partition, where to mount partions, and what partitions to format.
Usefull if you have multiboot installation and share the swap or if you want to keep data partition.

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// Regards rbh

Please read before requesting help: "Guide to getting help", "Introduction to the Bunsenlabs Lithium Desktop" and other help topics under "Help & Resources" on the BunsenLabs menu

1eth1lambo

Member

Registered: 2023-01-18

Posts: 13

Re: Possible to BYPASS formatting(random data) when doing a fresh install?

Ok! Thanks for that.  I haven't really done many installs of Bunsenlabs, probably only 3 now.  I do the installs on USB drives and not on SSD/M2's or in a VM.  I will have to have more of a play around with it.  (my prior Linux exp was mainly doing a 'base' cli install of Arch; mainly following YouTuber 'EF Linux" as he used to do them every month, but different variations which I think is a good learning experience)

An interesting thing I found on my last install was that I chose BTRFS filesystem, but as an encrypted LUKS volume.  When I go into KDE partition manager, it shows up as an EXT4 partition which was kind of interesting.