A GNU/Linux Distro Needing Windows To Install?

dgun writes "I recently put together a new PC. When I purchased the motherboard, I noticed that it came with an instant-on OS, a small GNU/Linux distro called Splashtop. I assumed that the OS was on a ROM chip on the motherboard. To my great annoyance, when I tried to boot to this OS, a message said that it was not installed. It turns out that motherboard comes with an install disk for this GNU/Linux OS — that you can only run from Windows, to install Splashtop on the hard drive. First of all, doesn't installing it on the hard drive defeat the point of having an instant-on OS? If I wanted to dual-boot a small GNU/Linux OS, there are plenty that I could choose from. Second, if distributing GPL'ed software by means that completely preclude it from being used without Windows is not a violation of the GPL, should it not be?"

Gimmic; but not sinister

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

Splashtop is available in ROM(well, almost certainly flash, not actual ROM) on certain motherboards; but that involves actual components, and raises the cost. Presumably, the maker of the motherboards has some sort of bulk licence with the Splashtop guys, so providing the HDD version is virtually free, and adds a bullet point. Pretty useless; but you can see why that happens.

Port the code then

[eggman9713]

I'm sure quickly enough someone will port it to be installable without Windows. I'm sure it was meant to be for the typical user who has windows installed first, and just wants the instant on one for when they just need the browser quickly and the computer is not on. Someone, anti-MS or not, will port it, I'm sure. Isn't open source great?

Bad Article. Poster didn't bother to RTFA.

[LurkerXXX]

The poster of the story didn't even bother to read the link he provided... You can install it from a USB drive from the source. Asus simply doesn't provide that installer on their install CD.

This is a non-story. The distro doesn't need windows to install. The distributor was just being cheap.

I don't see the point about GPL

[iamacat]

As long as you provide the source code on demand, it doesn't matter if the binary only works for Windows or even if you are charged $1000 to get a copy. Splashtop is designed as a secondary system for Windows. Other installers are probably not their priority.

I got a motherboard for this "feature" as well

[JackieBrown]

Fortunately, I read the customer reviews at newegg so I was expecting it.

I installed windows then splashtop. Splashtop is pretty but was not worth the time for the installation of windows.

I was hoping I would at least be able to update my bios through it.

It can't update the bios and cannot read any of my partitions.

I changed my bios setting pretty quick to skip it from asking me to load splashtop.

Re:Port the code then

[JackieBrown]

kano from kanotix has made some nice scripts for customizing it.

http://techgage.com/news/splashtop_hacked_functions_on_non-asus_motherboards/ [techgage.com]

Re:Which motherboard was it?

[Anonymous Coward]

Though I dont know the OP, probably the ASUS boards. A lot of them come with at least the software for "ExpressGate" as they call it. My board; the P5Q-SE2, had the install software on the DVD, but I had to manually install to the hard drive, the higher priced boards have basically a USB flash drive attached to the MB. Though I did uninstall the ExpressGate software within a few hours of messing with it.

Re:Not to mention

[a09bdb811a]

This isn't such an annoying issue anymore. Most BIOSes these days have a built-in flasher, and can read the BIOS from any local FAT filesystem, including a USB drive. If not, you can format a USB flash drive so that it appears as a floppy and boots DOS normally. You definately don't need a real floppy or CDROM drive anymore (praise Vishnu).

Re:Yep.. nothing new.

[countach]

Back in my pre-Mac days when I could be bothered with all this stuff, I always assumed as my starting point that nothing works with Linux, until proven otherwise with sufficient research on the internet. Like it or not, the computer parts industry is still basically a Windows world. Nothing works outside Windows unless proven otherwise.

Re:give me a break

[UncleTogie]

byw, I have read on Ubuntu forums that Express Gate source is available on ASUS' website, but as yet have been unable to find it.

That's 'cause these folks [splashtop.com] make Splashtop, not ASUS. You can find the sourcecode at their page here... [splashtop.com]

Re:give me a break

[Darkness404]

But did they attempt to contact Asus?

d) Convey the object code by offering access from a designated place (gratis or for a charge), and offer equivalent access to the Corresponding Source in the same way through the same place at no further charge. You need not require recipients to copy the Corresponding Source along with the object code. If the place to copy the object code is a network server, the Corresponding Source may be on a different server (operated by you or a third party) that supports equivalent copying facilities, provided you maintain clear directions next to the object code saying where to find the Corresponding Source. Regardless of what server hosts the Corresponding Source, you remain obligated to ensure that it is available for as long as needed to satisfy these requirements.

That seems to allow them to have it hosted on Splashtop's site. If they didn't even attempt to contact Asus, much less Google Splashtop and look at their site, I don't see how you can call it a violation.

Re:Bad Article. Poster didn't bother to RTFA.

[wild_berry]

DiskPart is the Windows tool, found in Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Computer Management -> Disk Management in XP. It's comparable to PartEd and GPartEd on Linux, but I prefer the GPartEd live CD because of its hardware drivers (now using Kernel 2.6.30) and rsync and dd for imaging.

Re:give me a break

[RockDoctor]

It's in the open source definition and/or the free software definition, don't remember exactly.

[SIGH] Well, having just spent a half hour looking for "discriminatory" commentary in GPLv3 and in discussion on v2 ... and not finding it. It's your assertion ; defend it or drop it.

I goofed previously. I referred to my PDP-11's "magnificent 128MB of core memory" ; that was, of course, a typo for "128kB of core memory". About as much as could be fitted on one of the 8" diskettes.