From dc6ddcbbab728537b16d35d80b8d409f07b9bbe3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Alessandro Mauri Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2021 21:28:52 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] software side of the x301 --- src/x301/software.md | 47 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 47 insertions(+) create mode 100644 src/x301/software.md diff --git a/src/x301/software.md b/src/x301/software.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9d4f2e4 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/x301/software.md @@ -0,0 +1,47 @@ +Title: Thinkapd x301 Restoration: Software +Author: Alessandro Mauri + + +# Thinkpad x301 Restoration Project: Software Side + +Of course me being me I can't just modify the hardware, I also have to do +something about the software side of things. Afterall if I just slapped +Windows 10 on it, it would just be an old slow laptop. But I want more, I want +lightning fast boot times, I want a good experience and most of all I want +freedom where I can get it. + +## [Libreboot][lboot] + +Yes! After some 5 years of dormiency the Libreboot project came out with a +[new beta release][newboot] that [adds support for the x301][xboot]. + +Basically Libreboot is a BIOS replacement, it completely replaces all of the +old BIOS stuff with a _libre_ alternative, which has many advantages: + +1. MUCH faster boot times +2. Completely respects your freedom +3. COmpletely disables the intel ME and replaces all proprietary firmware with + libre software +4. While being simpler (no menu, no live configuration, etc.) it actually + allows for much greater flexibility in th boot process + +Libreboot works by setting up a minimal environment, enough to load +[GRUB][grub], then GRUB proceeds to load the OS or other things. +Libreboot has also other _payload_ options like [SeaBIOS][sbios] or +[Tianocore][tcore] (an open-source UEFI implementation), they allow to load +other operating systems normally (not via GRUB) but generally this is slower. + +The method I will use is an hybrid, Libreboot will load GRUB, which when a key +is pressed like shift, during the boot process, will load a menu of options +containing all the operating systems, some diagnostic, Tianocore and SeaBIOS +(everything needs to boot). Otherwise when no key is pressed it should boot +straight into the first available OS. +Disclaimer: I have not seen this elsewhere and altough I think it should be +possible, I don't really know. + +[lboot]: https://libreboot.org/ +[newboot]: https://libreboot.org/docs/release/libreboot20210522.html +[xboot]: https://libreboot.org/docs/release/libreboot20210522.html#lenovo-thinkpad-x301 +[grub]: https://www.gnu.org/software/grub/ +[sbios]: https://www.seabios.org/SeaBIOS +[tcore]: https://www.tianocore.org/ \ No newline at end of file