Getting started

1. Download the latest version from our FTP repository.

2. Burn the ISO image to a DVD or write it with UNetbootin to a USB memory stick.

   DVD:

   Download the current version of elmiX. Start your favorite burning application. Choose the "Burn ISO image" (or similar) option. Start the burn process. Done.

   USB memory stick:

   Download the current version of elmiX. Get UNetbootin from its home page or install it from your Linux distributor's package repository. If you want to have full persistence (see also section "Enabling full persistence"), create at least 2 partitions on your USB memory stick. Make sure that both are big enough to hold the data. Format the partitions afterwards with the FAT32 file system (not NTFS). If it is not already attached, i.e. if you did not perform the optional step 3, insert your USB memory stick (both OSes) and mount the first partition if necessary (Linux only). Use UNetbootin to write the ISO image to the first partition of your USB stick: (a) Check the "Diskimage" radio box, choose "ISO" from the combo box and load the elmiX ISO image. – (b) Set the type to "USB Drive" and choose the first partition of your USB memory stick (e.g. D: under Windows or /dev/sdb1 under Linux). – (c) Press "OK" and follow the instructions. Done.

3. Insert the DVD into the DVD drive or plug your USB memory stick to a USB slot and restart the computer.

   Make sure that the computer allows to boot from the DVD drive/USB memory stick. Most modern computer systems have a shortcut to bring up a boot menu where you can choose the drive to boot from (e.g. [ESC], [F10], [F12], etc). If your computer does not have this functionality, you must change the boot device priority sequence in the BIOS. For information how to change the BIOS settings check the following links: BIOS-Keys, a how-to video.

4. When the boot screen of elmiX appears on your monitor, hit [RETURN] for immediate start of the GNU/Linux system or wait for the automatic start up after 30 seconds.

   

   If you are not familiar with GNU/Linux you may feel confused by the numerous system messages during the boot process - relax, that's normal.

5. A successful launch of elmiX shows a desktop similar to the one on the screen capture below.

   

   If Linux remains in text mode and stops with a request for login or if you end up with a black screen, your computer has obviously a problem to initialise the X Window system. In these very rare cases, please contact the elmiX developer team for help.

   If the booting fails completely, you can try to launch elmiX with the failsafe boot menu entry. If this does not help, please also contact the elmiX developer team.

Using the elmiX desktop

At the bottom of your desktop you find a panel with several short cuts that allow to adjust and customize elmiX

Clicking on the main menue icon on the left side of the panel gives you access to the installed software packages on the live system (see screen shot below).

Enabling full persistence

elmiX comes with the ability to save your changes permanently. There are two supported methods (first one is recommended):

1. You can enable full persistence by copying a file named "live-rw" to one of the non-NTFS partitions of your hard drive(s) or USB memory stick. The file has to be formatted with the ext2 file system. Such a file (unpacked size: 1 GB) is provided with elmiX and can be extracted to a partition by choosing the "Enable full persistence" item in the "First Steps" dialog. elmiX will store all changes you apply to the system in that file.

   Further information about this method and how to produce files that are smaller or bigger can be obtained here.

   There is also a video tutorial online (and also shipped with elmiX) that shows step-by-step how to enable full persistence.

2. You can create a partition formatted with the ext2 or ext3 file system labeled "live-rw". This partition will then be recognized on start-up and used to store all changes.

   Further information about this method can also be obtained here.