Linux Install

• Fonts
• Themes

1. Update Brave's sync codes.

Seems that for an HP EliteBook, a custom boot is required:

1. Determine your where your boot loader is. It is probably \EFI\ubuntu\grubx64.efi, but you can check:
   1. Reboot into BIOS.
   2. Select 'F9 Boot Device Options' → 'Boot from EFI File' → 'Select File System'.
   3. There will be something like “,Acpi(PNP0A03,0/PCi(1F|2)/Sata(Port 0)…..”.
   4. Select 'EFI' → 'ubuntu'.
   5. The boot loaders will be display as '.efi. files. You want the 'grub' one.
   6. Write down the whole path. Should be something like \EFI\ubuntu\grubx64.efi.
2. Create the custom boot.
   1. Select 'BIOS Setup (F10)' → 'Advanced Settings' → 'Boot Options'.
   2. Select 'Custom boot', tick 'Add boot', fill in \EFI\ubuntu\grubx64.efi.
3. Set boot order:
   1. USB Hard Drive
   2. Custom Boot

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt install git?
sudo apt install npm

• Install fonts.
  • Download the following fonts:
    • Inter
    • Fira Code
  • Extract and copy the *.ttf files to /home/stephen/.local/share/fonts (may need to create the directory).
• Set system fonts.
  • System Settings > Font Selection.
    • Default font: Inter Regular 10 (Default: Ubuntu Regular 10)
    • Desktop font: Inter Regular 10 (Default: Ubuntu Regular 10)
    • Window title font: Inter Medium 10 (Default: Ubuntu Medium 10)
• Themes.
  • Install ocs-url.
    • Download the Debian install. Look here and download something like ocs-url_3.1.0-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb.
    • Run sudo apt install libqt5svg5 qml-module-qtquick-controls
    • Run sudo dpkg -i ~/Downloads/ocs-url_3.1.0-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb
  • Install themes from here. Try Skeuos (blue).
  • System Settings > Themes.
    • Try 'Mint-Y-Dark-Aqua'
• Calendar format: %-I:%M %p%n%Y-%m-%d
• Enable Firewall. Might be able to do this with 'ufw' command.

1. Check what version of Ubuntu your Linux Mint is based on. Currently it is 24.04.
   1. cat /etc/upstream-release/lsb-release
   2. inxi -Sx
2. Follow instructions here here, replacing $VERSION_ID with the real version, e.g. wget -q https://packages.microsoft.com/config/ubuntu/24.04/packages-microsoft-prod.deb.

Full setup instructions here.

1. Install
   1. Update: sudo apt-get update
   2. Install: sudo apt-get install smartmontools
   3. Install GSmartControl: sudo apt install gsmartcontrol
2. Command line
   1. Check availability: sudo smartctl -i /dev/sda
   2. Enable (if it isn't already): sudo smartctl -s on /dev/sda
   3. Scan time estimate: sudo smartctl -c /dev/sda
   4. Start long test (async): sudo smartctl -t long /dev/sda
   5. Test stats: sudo smartctl -l selftest /dev/sda
   6. Other report: sudo smartctl -x /dev/sda
3. Run as a Daemon
   1. Install: sudo apt install smart-notifier
   2. Install: sudo aptitude install libnotify-bin
   3. Giving up trying to get the Smart Notifier to work.

1. Settings > Content > Customise fonts
   • Standard font: Times New Roman
   • Serif font: Times New Roman
   • Sans-serif font: Arial
   • Fixed-width font: Consolas (maybe FiraCode Nerd Font?)

Note: Might be able to do this at the command line with the 'ufw' command.

1. Start → Firewall
2. [Firewall] Rules → Add a rule…
3. [Firewall, Add a Firewall Rule] Simple:
   1. Name: SendLocal
   2. Policy: Allow
   3. Direction: Both
   4. Protocol: Both
   5. Port: 53317
4. [Firewall, Add a Firewall Rule] Add
5. Takes effect straight away - no need for restart or reboot.

1. sudo apt install copyq.
2. Start → Startup Applications
   1. + → Choose Application → CopyQ
3. Start → Keyboard
   1. 'Shortcuts' tab
   2. Categories → Custom Shortcuts
   3. Add custom shortcut
      • Name: CopyQ Show
      • Command: copyq show

1. Prep:
   1. Update: sudo apt-get update
   2. Install Git: sudo apt-get install git
   3. Install GitHub: sudo apt install gh
   4. Install GitHub Copilot: gh extension install github/gh-copilot
   5. Install Flatseal: flatpak install com.github.tchx84.Flatseal
2. Get bookmarks:
   1. mkdir -p ~/Dev
   2. cd ~/Dev
   3. gh auth login
   4. git clone https://github.com/TallGuy789/bookmarks.git
3. Grant Brave permissions:
   1. Open Flatseal, Brave → Filesystem.
   2. Other files, add ~/Dev/bookmarks:ro
   3. Reboot the system (maybe restart Brave).
   4. Test by copy & paste: file:///home/stephen/Dev/bookmarks/index.html
4. Setup Brave:
   1. Brave > Settings > Appearance.
   2. Show Home button: Enabled.
   3. Configure custom home page. Likely to be something like file:///home/stephen/Dev/bookmarks/index.html
   4. New tab page > New tab page shows > Homepage.

1. Install extra codecs: sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras
2. RDP Server
   1. Install: sudo apt install xrdp
   2. Check: sudo systemctl status xrdp
   3. For more details, see here.
3. eSpeak: sudo apt install espeak

• Brave
• VLC

• Beyond All Reason
• 0 A.D
• The Battle for Wesnoth