Get Placidus

So you want to take the plunge? Fantastic! Most software projects have neat little packages. Because the Placidus Project is still young and we lightly customize existing software, setup is more complicated. Even so, it's not hard if you take your time and know something about computers.

Assumptions

This guide assumes that you are willing to learn a new skill and that you are prepared to embark on a journey of discovery. By using the software on the Placidus platform, you will inevitably have questions, doubts, and you may need to learn slightly different ways of working. In some ways, it is like visiting a different country which speaks the same language: the way of life is different and takes some adjustment. The new ways of working will be better, but change is hard even when it's good.

If you read through this highly-detailed guide and decide the process may be too difficult, you may have a friend or relative who might be willing to help out.

Preparation

Note: If you are new to Linux or inexperienced with computers, do not, repeat, DO NOT attempt this if you only have one computer. Because this will be a learning process, you will almost certainly make mistakes, and you don't want to be without a working computer.

You will need:

  • A 4GB or larger flash drive (or a blank burnable DVD if your computer has a DVD drive). Make sure that there isn't anything important on it because it will be completely wiped in the process.
  • Time. With a good Internet connection the process generally takes about an hour.
  • A computer to do the preparations on. Because it's (unfortunately) everywhere, we will assume that it uses Microsoft Windows.
  • A spare computer to install the Placidus software on. It should have at least 4GB of RAM. It shouldn't be more than 10-ish years old. If it has a Windows Vista, 7, 8, or 10 sticker on it, you should be OK. Copy off any important files because it will be completely wiped in the process.
  • If your Placidus computer will be connecting to the Internet wirelessly, you will need to know the name of your wireless network and password (if any).

Software Download and Media Prep: Linux Mint

  1. First, we will prep the flash drive (or DVD) which you will use to do the initial installation. This will only need to be done once even if you want to reinstall later on.
  2. Go to the Download section of the Linux Mint website, https://www.linuxmint.com/.
  3. Click on the link for the 64-bit Cinnamon edition and then click a link for a download site close to you. The file is quite large (about 1.75GB), so it will take a while to download. For reference, the current version is 18.3.

Creating the Linux Mint Install DVD (Windows 7)

  1. Click on the Start Menu and then on your account name at the top right corner of the Start Menu
  2. In the next window, double-click on the Downloads folder
  3. Click once on the Linux Mint file you downloaded to select it and then click the Burn Disc Image link from the toolbar at the top.
  4. Check the box marked 'Verify disc after burning' and then click the Burn button.
  5. Insert the disc into the machine to receive Linux Mint and reboot the computer to start it from the Linux Mint disc. If your computer has Secure Boot turned on (usually PCs which came with Windows 8 or 10 loaded on them), you will probably have to go into Setup and turn it off. Unfortunately, this is different on every computer, so we can't help with more details on that part.

Creating the Linux Mint Installer on a Flash Drive (Windows 7 and later)

  1. We will use the utility Etcher to prepare the flash drive.
  2. Go to the Etcher website and click the Download link.
  3. Run the installer, taking all the defaults. Etcher will start when installation finishes.
  4. Click Select Image and then double-click on the Linux Mint file that was downloaded.
  5. Plug in the flash drive and wait a few minutes to make sure Windows has it set up properly
  6. Etcher should find the drive automatically. Click the Flash! button and wait for the process to finish.
  7. When it finishes, insert the drive into a port on the PC to receive Linux Mint and reboot that machine to start it from your Linux Mint flash drive.

Installing Linux Mint on the Computer

  1. Once you have started your computer from the install media, it will take a few minutes to load. Eventually it should come up to the desktop.
  2. Double-click on the icon on the left marked Install Linux Mint
  3. Welcome screen: choose your preferred language and click Continue.
  4. Preparing to Install Linux Mint screen: check the Third Party Graphics option and click Continue.
  5. Installation Type screen: select Erase Disk and Install Linux Mint and click Install Now
  6. A pop-up window entitled 'Write the changes to disks?' will appear. Click Continue.
  7. Where are You screen: Select your time by clicking on your location on the map if it didn't automatically choose the right one and click Continue.
  8. Keyboard Layout screen: choose what kind of keyboard you have. If you live the United States and don't know what to choose, keep the defaults English(US)/English(US)
  9. Who are You screen: fill in the form according to the information below and click Continue.
    • Your name box: the name you want displayed for your account, such as your full name or a nickname
    • Your computer's name box: what you would like the computer to be called. Keep the name limited to one word (no spaces) with lowercase letters and numbers. If you can't think of anything in particular, use myplaciduspc or mylinuxpc.
    • Username box: the name for your account. Like the computer name, do not use spaces, punctuation, or other special characters. If you used your first and last name in the Your Name box, this defaults to your first name.
    • Choose a Password box: pick a password for this account, write it down, and keep it somewhere safe. This will be used to install software and updates and also make changes affecting all users of the computer.
    • Login preferences: It is up to you whether or not the computer logs in with this account automatically. If it does not, you will need to enter your password to use the computer.
  10. Wait a while for Linux Mint to be loaded onto your computer. You can watch the slides during installation or just go get a cup of coffee.
  11. When installation is complete, click the Restart Now button.
  12. Your computer should reboot. If installing from DVD, the tray should eject. Remove the DVD or flash drive and press Enter. If it doesn't reboot, just hold the power button until it shuts off and then turn it back on.

Customizing Linux Mint

At this point, you could easily just start using your computer, but one of the main reasons the Placidus Project does what it does is to make using Linux Mint even better.
  1. At the Welcome screen, uncheck the box at the bottom right (Show this dialog at startup) and close the window with the X button at the top right.
  2. To open Firefox, single-click on the orange and blue icon near the bottom left corner of the screen.
  3. The Linux Mint homepage will be displayed. Click in the white box near the top of the window with some text starting with 'https://www.linuxmint.com".
  4. Erase all the text in the box using the Delete or Backspace keys and type in placidusproject.sourceforge.io to go to the Placidus website.
  5. Click on the link to the Project Page @ Sourceforge in the Main Menu at the right and then the large button marked 'Browse Code'.
  6. Click on the Download Snapshot link. It will generate the snapshot, which may take a bit.
  7. Click the Save File button in the download window which will pop up.
  8. Click the Down Arrow in the toolbar at the top of the window and click on the entry that begins with placidusproject.
  9. A new window will show up with an entry beginning with 'placidusproject-code-' and a bunch of numbers. Click the Extract button.
  10. Select the Desktop entry from the list at the left and then click the Extract button in the bottom right corner.
  11. When you receive the 'Extraction completed successfully' message, close out all windows, including Firefox.
  12. Right-click on the folder on the desktop marked 'placidusproject-code-' with a bunch of numbers and choose Rename from the menu. Change it to 'placidus' and press Enter to complete renaming it.
  13. Start Terminal using the black and white icon beside the Firefox icon you clicked earlier.
  14. Enter each of these commands exactly as written and press Enter afterward. Capitalization and spacing count.
    • cd Desktop/placidus
    • chmod +x PPCPrep.sh
    • ./PPCPrep.sh
  15. After typing the last command, it will ask for your login password. Type it in and press Enter. Nothing will appear on the screen to show that you have typed it, but that's OK. If you make a mistake, you can repeatedly press the Backspace key and try again.
  16. A lot of text will scroll by. During this process, settings will be customized, updates will be applied, programs will be installed, and much more. If the process takes a while, you may have to enter in your password a second time. When finished, you will see the message "Installation complete." At this point you can safely close the Terminal window with the X button in the top right corner.
  17. You are done! There will be a new wallpaper, icons on the Desktop, and new programs available to you. Enjoy!
© 2017 The Placidus Project