Hello everyone,
I just joined and am relatively new to messing with android phones in terms of de-googling them. I have some experience with trying out different distros on the PinePhone I bought a few months ago, but ultimately decided that none of the available distros are ready for use as a daily driver. I am currently trying to unlock the boot loader on two Moto G7’s (one for me and one for my mother), but keep on getting an error message in SDK tools. I have already enabled USB debugging and OEM unlocking, but when typing in adb, i get the following error message:
(bootloader) Unlock data:
(bootloader) Unlock data unavailable
(bootloader) Failed
OKAY [ 0.016s]
Finished. Total time: 0.016s
Buonasera, mi chiamo Antonio, scrivo dall’Italia, mi sono unito al gruppo perchè seguo la chat telegram. desidero cambiare windows in linux e imparare al più presto. grazie per avermi accettato. cordiali saluti Antonio
Hello everyone. My name is Thirza. I do not understand computers at all, and I’m way out of my comfort zone here. I understand about every third or fourth word of what is being said. It seems to be in English, but I can’t make any meaning out of it. Nevertheless, I despise big tech, and did long before all the stuff we are learning about them now. I had to be forced into using a computer by a job 30 years ago, never liked it, never trusted it, and never wanted anything to do with it. I was forced into using email by a college professor 25 years ago, who wouldn’t allow us to graduate if we didn’t use it. I have resisted cell phones until last year, when Windstream stopped maintaing our phone line. After a year, I can just about make a call or answer a call on that phone. That said, there is tremendous power in the internet, and I’m not giving that up, so I guess I’m going to try to learn linux. Pray for me.
@blessedandold Welcome to the first step of taking back your freedom from Big Tech. Everyone here is very helpful and the admins are great. Let us know what YOU want to do and we will help.
Right now, I don’t even know enough to know what to ask. I have a friend who sets up, maintains and repairs computers for banks, insurance companies and the like. I asked him a few weeks ago if he had any beater laptops laying around that were good enough to run Linux. He found a Fujitsu in their recyling pile and put Ubuntu on it for us. My husband and I are noodling around on it and figuring it out, but the Windows machine I’m on, which is only a couple of years old, is getting increasingly unstable and I figure I’m either going to have to convert it or get a new machine sooner rather than later. I may just wave the white flag and take it to my friend as well, but I’m trying to learn all I can from reading the forums and articles at the moment. I’m in so far over my head that I’m drowning.
@blessedandold totally understandable. What do you use your computer for? Also, do you know which version of Linux you have? (Mint, LinuxLite, Zorin, etc.) if you do not know which version type hostnamectl into the terminal.
For the basics I use Thunderbird for email and Brave for an Internet browser. To get the Brave browser follow these directions Brave Browser - Fast Install Script for Ubuntu, Mint and derivatives
Depending on whoch distro (version) you are using Thunderbird may or may not be alreday installed but will be available through your software manager, which we can get into later. The admins here as well the community in general are extremely helpful. @vasileios is the man around here and I am sure he will monitor this conversation and add his $.02 which is worth $1,000,000. Cheers!
I am a published writer, and I used to use my computer extensively for that purpose, but the publishing industry is very much in flux and I haven’t done anything in years. I do still like to be able to write, however, if the opportunity presents itself. I used social media extensively to preach the gospel and to try to awaken people, but I am now banned from facebook, instagram, and twitter. I’m just waiting my turn to get on truth social. I use youtube extensively to constantly learn new skills. I do research and shopping online. When I say “research,” I mean both political research and research for parts and materials I need. I’m a weird person who tries to do as much for myself as possible (hence my being here), even when it causes me great frustration. I very much believe in being home with my family, prepped for most situations, and able to take care of us without needing cash. Hence my doing much shopping type research. Finding parts for a 50 year old spinning wheel or a 30 year old chainsaw is not something you can just do at Walmart. Finding open pollinated heritage seeds is not something you do at Walmart.
Okay, I gotta ask. You aren’t the same BigDave that I was friends with on twitter until I got banned a week ago, are you?
Oh, as to your other question, the beater computer has ubuntu on it. So far, we’ve been able to do what we need to with it. I’m thinking I might want to put mint on this one, but I’m more than a little leery of tackling it myself. I can use a computer, but I know nothing about how to work on a computer.
@blessedandold I am not the same Dave, sorry. If it is an older computer I would hesitate to put the newest version of Mint on it, but there is no better way to learn the basics than installing a new version (either in a dual boot or a remove and replace). As the saying goes - there is nothing to it, but to do it. Make sure you have everything saved from the “beater”, if you have been saving to the hard drive. https://linuxmint.com/ will be where to get Mint and the instructions for installation. Your first step will be to download the .iso file from the website mentioned above. The Instructions from there can be found at Linux Mint Installation Guide — Linux Mint Installation Guide documentation. If it is an older laptop I have had good experience with https://www.linuxliteos.com/. If you want more options for distros (what the different distributions or flavors of Linux are called) for beginners check out Top 9 Best Linux Distributions for Beginners [2022]. What Windoze program were you using to write? If it was just MS Word than the Word Processor component of Libre Office (which comes already bundled on most beginner distros). Let us know how it goes or post a question under the questions topic. Good Luck and we are here for you. Cheers!
We only got the “beater” a week ago, and have just been noodling around on it. Hubby is satisfied with it, so I’ll probably just leave it alone. The one I’m typing on right now is the next project. It is a Dell Inspiron 15-5000 and I think I’ve had it about 2 years. It has suddenly been getting unstable when I’m on telegram in the last week, and I’m afraid Microsoft probably put something on it to make us unable to access telegram. I’m just sick of Bill Gates, and I don’t trust him further than I can throw him.
I was using whatever iteration of Microsoft Windows was around in the late nineties and early 2000’s. I don’t even remember what it was.
Thanks for the post. I started out my computer studies on a Wang computer several years ago.
I converted a Chromebook to ubuntu, now I need to install additional software. Learning ins and outs takes time for sure. Please keep in touch.
@Mr.C , I am working on G7 lake , got a similar error and had to enable wifi on the phone temporarily and then the usb debugging and the oem were available. Also, now I have an error when running "fastboot flash boot ". After some research it seams to be an error related to usb port support in my computer (swift acer3). I am having a new computer coming that I had ordered before. Will post my result then.
How’s it going? I’ve been reading a lot in the Telegram group and took the leap. Converted an old HP laptop to Linux Mint Cinnamon. Works like new. Starting to study Python to be able to do my own thing at some point. It’s amazing how much technology can be a useful tool when it isn’t controlling you!
@Cjlauterbur Welcome to the first step of regaining your digital freedom. Any questions? Just post them in the Questions topic and someone is usually around to help. @vasileios is a master of all things Linux. Cheers!
Just browsing the introductions.
It’s great to see everyone! Personally, I saw Jeff on the Steve Bannon show back in August-September. I had been on Telegram since its release and immediately came to his channel. Life changed that day. I had been retired for 6 years already from IT and after many years of 24/7/365 I never wanted to see another computer. My journey began then with all old macs that I brought piece by piece back to life with Linux. These were VERY old macs…G4 and G5 towers, G4 laptop, early Intel MacMini and a couple of Macbooks (pre-pro) with broken displays. So starting with that hot mess, I’ve graduated to a bank of HP desktop towers configured as Ubuntu servers, Dell desktop tower as general workhorse, MSI desktop tower for gruntwork, Raspberry Pi with Kodi and a new HP laptop with Win10, Mint (daily driver), Ubuntu Studio and Manjaro as boot selections. Since September I have a library of distros and have installed over 200 times on test computers and units that are for sale. I’m 68 and starting a small business instead of drifting away in retirement. If anyone thinks all this downloading and installing is too much, sit back, have a cup of coffee then take another bite. Just like you eat a bear…one bite at a time. I’ve been Linuxing for 6 months. Imagine what you can do.
Lots of new folks here. WELCOME! Tons of knowledge here folks. And unlike most forums, everyone here cares and will help you.
Have a Blessed day!
Hi, @Mr.C
I have a moto G7 lake as well. I have not gotten an alternate os working on it yet. But I did unlock the boot loader.
I had to go to Motorola to get an unlock code by searching unlock bootloader for moto g7 plus. Then go into fastboot mode.
To get it in fastboot mode, hold down the down volume button and the power button. Then, move the volume buttons until you see switch tools mode. Press the power button and then read the text above POWER OK. It should now show tools mode unlocked.
Or connect to your phone to the computer and type “adb reboot bootloader” to get into fastboot mode. You should see an android.
Next type “fastboot devices” to verify your device is connected.
Finally, get the unlock info by typing
“Fastboot oem get_unlock_data”
You will get several lines of (bootloader) ########. Copy the numbers without the bootloader text or Motorola has a tool to strip bootloader for you. Sign into Motorola and find can my device be unlocked. Enter those numbers and request unlock key. They will email you the unlock key. This will erase everything on the phone.
To continue type
“Fastboot unlock (code_from_email)”
It will ask you to repeat it to confirm.
Then type fastboot reboot.
Then proceed with flashing.
• LineageOS said I needed to flash a moto stock ROM first. Then flash the alternate OS.
• depending on the computer, I had to type ./ before adb and fastboot.
I just have not had time for the final flash.
Good luck
SRKnauper
Hi there. You will get some really good help and advice here, and lots of encouragement. While you can de-Apple macs, unfortunately i phones are currently locked too tight to do anything with. I recently sold my iPhone 11 and bought a google pixel, de-googled it and installed calyx OS. That is probably your best and easiest route to go. Good luck!
KatM