you may find that when you boot, you don't see the libreboot boot menu. this may be because the monitor you're using doesn't support text mode or framebuffer output on that particular input. one indicator this is happening is that the monitor may display something like "input not supported" for a few seconds, and then boot successfully

i had to use two monitors and try various combinations of VGA, HDMI, and displayport dongles before i found a way to see the boot menu. and notably VGA was not it, which shocked me. but once i got to where i could see it, everything worked perfectly

I know this sounds like a stupid question but how do you update libreboot on a t60 because I flashed the 2016 version and now want to update to the newest

Was thinking of trying to make the most secure/libre computer i could make however, I’m not sure whether to use canoeboot or libreboot. Is there stuff I lose when using canoeboot on an x60 rather than libreboot that really makes a difference or does it really not matter? Also, I’ve heard libreboot automatically runs me_cleaner when you flash. Is that true and I don’t have to run me_cleaner after installing libreboot or is it good practice to run it after flashing libreboot.

I know Libreboot removes the Intel IME, but does it also remove the AMD PSP ?

I just know about libreboot, and gonna buy a thinkpad x220 or x230, i was wondering which one is good for libreboot

This is my first time installing libre boot. And I'm doing it on a Thinkpad x200 with a raspberry pi 5 and a ponoma5252(as it has a soic16 chip).

When I run "sudo flashrom/armv71/flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev10.0,spispeed=512"

It tells me that my flash chip is only 2mb with the name "W25Q16.v", and I can't find a 2mb rom for the Thinkpad x200.

Is it over or am I just being stupid?

I was interested on the prebuilt desktops sold by Minifree, and I found out they are doing clearance sales on multiple products.

Let's take their Dell 9020 SFF desktop as our example. They have listed two variants: one with an i5, and other with an i7-4790K in it.

I thought that CPU's from 2006 and greater weren't supported neither by Libreboot or by IntelME Cleaner, as they already have the MinixOS and too many blobs in them.

Even my X220 can have it fully disabled, like a X200, how could a pretty much modern i7 have it disabled?

I'd also like to ask about the RJ45 port. Is it safe to use the board RJ45 port once you get Libreboot installed? Or is it better to stuck just with Libre Wi-Fi cards like the AX210? (as the original Ethernet port isn't listed in any Libre Hardware lists)

I found it strange that they sell Librebooted desktops but with modern CPU's.

So I have had this thing sitting around for years, now I find myself in the couch, using it as a remote client.

I think I need a better wlan-card. Been reading a bit about the flash(es), but...

Are the 64bit x60 compatible with those roms?

Read that, its only some ram sticks are compatible, but I have not found any info on the "some" part?

Any pointers in these matters, would be highly appreciated.

Thanks.

Greetings.

Sorry if my question is common knowledge, but I can not find any explicit information about it. Are there any discrete graphics cards supported in Libreboot? Like, if I install Libreboot in a ThinkPad T440p with a NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M, or in a ThinkPad W541 with a NVIDIA Quadro K2100M or in a ThinkPad T430 with a NVIDIANVS 5400M, will these dGPU work at all? As an example, the installation guide of the HP EliteBook 8470p explicity states that the AMD Radeon HD 7570M will NOT work on Libreboot, but there is not similar statement in the guides for the ThinkPad T440p or W541 orT430 as far as I can tell, neither affirmative nor negative. I am looking towards buying an old ThinkPad to install Libreboot on it, and I would like to know if models with dGPUs are even an option to consider. All the available models in the minifree store are without dGPUs so I would put my bet on a negative answer but I want to be sure.

Thank you in advance for your patience.

Check out this offer on this nice machines! Grab a nice librebooted Dell 9020 SFF for a bargain. And support the project in the meantime.

https://mas.to/@libreleah/113442232510754128

Hi there, I have been looking into Libreboot as a project for about 3 weeks now, I have never used it but I will be (hopefully) doing so by December - January time, with which I will boot NetBSD, Arch Linux and Windows 10 / 11, the later on Windows really depends as I need it on behalf of freelance programming. Anyways, does anyone have any advice and / or tips before I get into this? Maybe some headsup to take into consideration? Also how does NetBSD do with all of this? I'm pretty sure it defaults to BIOS which I don't know how much Libreboot supports it anymore...

Thanks everyone!

Key question about flashing Libreboot onto HP EliteBook 2570p:

Possible via a «live» session from Kubuntu 24.04.1 LTS or any other recent Linux distro?

Issues around a «refurbished» HP EliteBook 2570p.

From Bas Roufs, in The Netherlands, 14 November 2024.

For Libreboot expert users and developers - via Reddit, by IRC and by e-mail.

Dear Each one who wants to read this message.

Recently, I bought a refurbished HP EliteBook 2570p - along with 960 GB SSD and 16 GB RAM - 2 memory banks of 8 GB each. It has come with Windows 10, which I do not want to use as primary OS. Ever since October 2024, I have done numerous attempts to get installed Kubuntu 24.04.1 LTS - a recent version of a well-known Linux distro.

Around 8 October 2024, installation attempts failed altogether.

Ever since 15 October 2024 up to recently, each installation attempt DID SUCCEED, apparently. However, each of such attempts ends up like this:

«(...)

Boot Device Not Found

Please install an operating system on your hard disk.

Hard Disk - (3F0)

F2 System Diagnostics

For more information, please visit: www.hp.com/go/techcenter/startup

(...)»

The core issue is seemingly a bios problem: the firmware bios that comes with the HP EliteBook 2570p apparently cannot «see» an installed recent Linux distro. That firmware «system bios» is hopelessly insecure, inadequate and obsolete. When following the above link, I get instructions how to install again Windows 10, which I do not want.

More about my installation attempts:

https://basroufs.eu/From-Win10-to-Kubuntu-24.04-LTS-&-Libreboot-at-HP-EliteBook-2570p.pdf

My intention has been so far to first install Kubuntu 24.04.1 LTS, after which I wanted to «flash» Libreboot. However, I keep getting stuck with a bios that does not «see» the installed Linux distro. Apparently, something goes wrong in the interaction between Linux and the HP bios firmware.

At some Ubuntu related forum at Reddit, I read about the experience of someone with a HP EliteBook 820. This person had the same problems and took recourse to a previous LTS: in his or her case Ubuntu 22.04.5. He or she did manage to install it. After that, he or she has upgraded the system to version 24.04.1.

I wanted to follow the same strategy. However, it did not work out. I got stuck in exactly the same way. The net result so far is a laptop without a working OS and with a dysfunctional firmware bios.

As a matter of consequence, I need to find some other strategy. That is why, I am consulting you. Here below, I summarise the strategy I have in mind now:

X Step 1 - preparing the bios for booting from my Ventoy USB stick;

X Step 2 - partitioning the SSD via Gparted;

X Step 3 - launching a «live» session of Kubuntu 24.04.1 LTS - the recent distro I want to use.

X Step 3a - «flashing» Libreboot onto the laptop, from a terminal in the same «live» session.

X Step 3b - manual install of Kubuntu 24.04.1 LTS, started from still the same «live» session.

Here below, I work out those 5 steps in more detail. Do you think such a strategy can work - with or without adaptations?

!! Check also my key question at the very end of this document!!

X Step 1 - preparing the bios for booting from my Ventoy USB stick.

===================================================================

Step 1 is aimed at preparing the bios to boot from my Ventoy stick - one 128 GB USB stick with different ISO's.

I change the settings in such a way that it first boots from this Ventoy stick, before doing anything else. Before switching on the laptop I refer to, I'll insert in one of the USB ports this Ventoy USB-stick.

Two of the ISO's at this Ventoy USB-stick contain the latest version of «Gparted Live» and Kubuntu 24.04.1 LTS. The latter is the Linux distro I want to use as a main OS. I am using the same system at the laptop I am using now.

More information about Ventoy:

https://www.ventoy.net/en/index.html

X Step 2 - partitioning the SSD via Gparted.

============================================

Step 2 is aimed at partitioning the SSD via the GParted live ISO at the Ventoy stick, in a first work session. The first ISO I want to launch is the latest version of «Gparted Live». I want to prepare the partitions to be used by Kubuntu 24.04 LTS at the 940 GB SSD. For info about the partitions I want use, check the pages 4 and 5 of this booklet:

https://basroufs.eu/From-Win10-to-Kubuntu-24.04-LTS-&-Libreboot-at-HP-EliteBook-2570p.pdf

After shutting down the laptop and restarting it while booting from the Ventoy stick, I want to carry about the steps 3, 3a and 3b, as summarised here below.

X Step 3 - launching a «live» session of Kubuntu 24.04.1 LTS - the recent distro I want to use.

==========================================================================

I want to do this from the same Ventoy USB.

X Step 3a - «flashing» Libreboot onto the laptop, from a terminal in the same «live» session.

=========================================================================

Step 3a is aimed at launching the terminal within the same Kubuntu 24.04.1 «live session». I have understood that such a terminal is necessary for writing the scripts necessary to flash Libreboot. Am I right? Of course, I'll take into account all security caveats mentioned at Libreboot.org.

I have understood that there is a tailor made version of Libreboot specifically for my laptop

- a HP EliteBook 2570p:

https://libreboot.org/docs/install/hp2570p.html

X Step 3b - manual installation of Kubuntu 24.04.1 LTS, started from still the same «live» session.

==========================================================================

Let's presume, the answer to the below key question is «yes». In such a case, I want to use, as far as I can see now, the partitions prepared in step 2, Gparted. Check the pages 4 and 5 of this booklet:

https://basroufs.eu/From-Win10-to-Kubuntu-24.04-LTS-&-Libreboot-at-HP-EliteBook-2570p.pdf

Now, I arrive at my key question about flashing Libreboot onto HP EliteBook 2570p.

=========================================================================

Is it possible to get my HP EliteBook 2570p flashed with Libreboot in the way I summarise here: via a «live» session of, in my case, Kubuntu 24.04.1 LTS, or of any other recent Linux distro? Can I do so before actually installing the latest Kubuntu LTS or any other recent Linux distro?

I know it's not exactly relevant to the subreddit , but I don't know where else to ask.

So my acer laptop tends to randomly reset BIOS during startup, lately it has become frustrating so I did my own research

I noticed Intel CSME Manufacturing mode is unlocled, but I couldn't find any info online at all, until one day I found you can download a tool called FFT and run -closemnf to lock manufacturing mode...

Well I did that, restarted and now BIOS during boot shows up this message

BIOS is unable to access EC region data, please check master access descriptor setting Press [S] to skip message.

Pressing S still boots into Windows/Linux, and I can still access BIOS, but I worry I might have broken something in background

Can I be saved from this? What actually happened?https://ibb.co/S5gDFnY

Hello, for some reason when I try splitting my rom file using the dd if=libreboot.rom of=top.rpm bs=1m skip=8 I get an error no such file or directory, how do I split the rom? I need 4 and 8 for 2 chips

Hello, can anyone help me resolve this error? I was following the guide on libreboots website for flashing my t440p, at the beginning of the guide It mentions injecting vendor files into the rom I downloaded the appropriate rom for my laptop, and typed into terminal ./vendor inject /downloads/libreboot-20240612rev1_t440plibremrc_12mb.tar.xz The code runs then I get a series of error before it ends,

Error Script/trees: 26p: cmake: not found

Error ./mk: excnd: script/trees -b uefitool

Error ./vendor: ./mk -b uefitool

Error ./vendor: unhandled non-zero exit: ./vendor download t440plibremrc_12mb

I am cc into ~/lbmk, anyone know what's causing these errors?

Request for advise - Kubuntu 24.04 LTS & Libreboot at HP EliteBook 2570p.

From Bas Roufs in The Netherlands, 7 November 2024, for:

+ «Kubuntu Help and Users Discussions», kubuntu-users@lists.ubuntu.com

+ Libreboot at Reddit and directly by e-mail.

Hello Everybody.

Ever since about one month, I am wrestling with difficulties to get installed Kubuntu 24.04.1 LTS at a refurbished HP EliteBook 2570p Notebook PC -along with 960 GB SSD and 16 GB RAM. The company who sells it, delivers it together with Windows 10 -an OS I do not want to use. That's why, I do want to install Kubuntu 24.04.1 LTS at it.

A core issue is a bad interaction between a fresh install of this OS and the "system bios" firmware of this device. Even after installing the OS, the "system bios" does not "see" it. It keeps prompting for the installation of an OS.

I still do want to get installed at this laptop Kubuntu 24.04.1. LTS. However, at some point, I also want to replace the firmware system bios by "Libreboot", which is reportedly perfectly possible at the HP EliteBook 2570p.

Download please this file via Firefox or some other internet browser:

https://basroufs.eu/From-Win10-to-Kubuntu-24.04-LTS-&-Libreboot-at-HP-EliteBook-2570p.pdf

You'll find here all my questions, technical details and screenshots.

Thanks!

Yours.

Bas.

Is it possible? I run the one with the I7 4600U

I have not understanding the guide, i am lost. How do I extract and inject vendor blobs?

I have a classic thinkpad keyboard now, however I see online that you need to do the EC ThinkPad flash before libreboot, however when I bought the motherboard replacement for this x230 it came with coreboot and so I do not have the original bios, is there any way for me to flash the EC internally?

Any help is much appreciated.

Hi all. First time doing librebooting and bought the lenovo thinkpad X60 specificaly for ease of flashing. Have tried to flash from usb flash drive OS but got access errors. Then did it from internal sata drive and the first flash seemed to work. Only problem now is that libreboot doesnt find internal sata but does find usb flash drive OS. Since its written on website that second flash is a must because when CMOS battery empties the bios wont boot anymore. Please help out been at it for days. Thanks :D

Why does flashprog showing me all tbe feature required?

Attached output - https://ibb.co/dgDBXzR

1. when using lbmk to create a x200 rom is the ime still compiled into the rom even tho its not needed and if so how do i remove it

2. can the libreboot load microcode during startup without a kernel effecting it

3. how do i tell lbmk to create a seabios with grub x200 rom

4. are there any advantages to having the ime blobs

im trying to get my computer to a point where im happy with it ive already put alot of work into it and id appreciate some help

As the title says, I am trying to make sure I am getting the right rom for flashing a thinkpad t440p purchased from amazon linked below. https://a.co/d/5FrPIzP

In the repository located at stable/20240612/roms is a rom called libreboot-20240612rev1_t440plibremrc_12mb.tar.xz is this the correct rom for the laptop?

There are several other roms that say t440p besides this one but with .sig at the end, is there a difference between them?

I cannot find a way to install flashprog in debian. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I'm a linux noob

Last few testing releases for 8MB X200 ThinkPad have a roughly minute delay booting Linux Mint. Is this a feature or a flaw?

I get this error when trying to make flashprog:

tobi@Tobi-ThinkPad-X220:~$ cd /home/tobi/flashprog
tobi@Tobi-ThinkPad-X220:~/flashprog$ make
Replacing all version templates with p1.2-4-g768cfc4.
Building flashprog version p1.2-4-g768cfc4
C compiler found: cc (Ubuntu 13.2.0-23ubuntu4) 13.2.0
Target arch: x86
Target OS: Linux
Target endian: little
Dependency libpci found: yes 3.10.0
  Checking for old "pci_get_dev()": no
  CFLAGS: -I/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu 
  LDFLAGS: -lpci -lz -lresolv -ludev 
Dependency libusb1 found: yes 1.0.27
  CFLAGS: -I/usr/include/libusb-1.0 
  LDFLAGS: -lusb-1.0 -ludev 
Dependency libjaylink found: no
Dependency NI-845x found: no
Dependency libftdi1 found: no
Dependency libgpiod found: no
Checking for header "mtd/mtd-user.h": yes
Checking for header "linux/spi/spidev.h": yes
Checking for header "linux/i2c-dev.h": yes
Checking for header "linux/i2c.h": yes
Checking for header "sys/utsname.h": yes
Checking for function "clock_gettime": yes
Checking for external "librt": yes
The following features require libftdi1: CONFIG_FT2232_SPI=yes CONFIG_USBBLASTER_SPI=yes
The following features require libgpiod: CONFIG_LINUX_GPIO_SPI=yes
The following features require libjaylink: CONFIG_JLINK_SPI=yes
You can disable individual features with CONFIG_feature=no in your make command.
make: *** [Makefile:973: config] Error 1

Currently trying to set the MAC adress on a Latitude E6400, with supposedly intel ME disabled by dell from the factory, for internal flashing.

Therefore i compiled flashprog and am advised to extract the "internal region" using "sudo flashprog -p internal -r rom.bin" which errors out with "flash descriptor ... readonly" and "ME region ... locked" see here: https://pastebin.com/raw/0EbVpZ3a

My grub config has "iomem=relaxed" set - any advice on what to do here?

Edit: also advised "https://flashprog.org/ME" 404's

Edit2: do i first need to use "dell-flash-unlock"? Counterintuitive as its advised for use later - dont wanna experiment with this - rather stick to the guide.