Windows XP Look-a-Like on a Raspberry Pi

(in case I have to do this again!)

1. Download latest Q4OS (q4os-3.14-rpi.r4.zip was ~900M compressed download, 1.9G image)

   • Q4OS Raspberry Pi Setup Guide (pretty thin)

   • Q4OS Forums (very good/responsive!)

2. Flash to SD card using Etcher (or similar) - Approx 10 mins

3. Initial boot, Update and Desktop Profiler - Approx 45 min

   • Automatically resizes file system

   • <odd!? mine stopped here in terminal session - did a sudo reboot to kick it on>

   • Login as pi/raspberry

   • Forced feeds some scaling dialog - yada yada, I just hit OK

   • Detects WiFi now! Set up ssid/pass at this point as needed

   • Automatically sets language

   • Forces password change for user pi

   • Runs Desktop Profiler: Select "Full featured Desktop, Office Suite ..." Approx 30 mins
     // This took a looong time. It looked like a big update included here ... lots of packages flying by!! //

4. Some post-install cleanup (notes to self, season to taste) - Approx 5 mins

   • Raspi-config via GUI or Terminal session (Konsole)

     • System Options:

       1. Set Hostname

       2. Boot to Desktop

       3. Wait for Network at Boot
          // Mostly to avoid confusing the 90+ year old users when system appears up/ready //

       4. Enable Splash Screen

     • Display Options

       1. Set Resolution to 800x600 for my Mom (large/square LCD)

     • Interfacing Options:

       1. SSH Server on

       2. VNC Server Enabled // Optional //

     • Localization

       1. Check all options - I had to set Timezone and WiFi Country

<Forced reboot here>

Couple of post-boot config tweaks & installation of xpq4 to make it look like XP

Q4OS Config cleanup via Welcome Screen - see also User Manual

1. • Run Install Proprietary Codecs - Approx 5 mins

   • Enable Autologin

   • Make sure desktop effects are disabled

Make it look like XP or other versions of Windoze

• Download latest xpq4 (for Trinity Desktop) from https://xpq4.sourceforge.io
  // Be careful to get correct version - raspberry pi was slightly behind, Centaurus) //

• run setup_xpq4-free (or full - read license) setup wizard (5 mins)

• Control Panel->LookNFeel->XPQ4 Desktop Styles - Luna (XP for me!)

Check for any remaining Q4OS updates (orange flower in task bar)

<Reboot A Roooo>

It should come back logged in and looking like Windows XP!

Couple of tweaks via Q4OS Control Panel

1. • Appearance & Themes/Screen Saver -> Uncheck "Require Password to Stop"

   • Peripherals -> Display -> Set Power Control -> Standby/Power off timings

Software install via Q4OS Package manager (or apt)

1. Install favorite editor (nano is installed by default but Ilike joe)

2. Make sure Chromium Browser was installed
   // Firefox did not do well, it did not stream grampa's radio station, also noticeably slower than chromium //

3. Microsoft Fonts aka "ttf-mscorefonts-installer" package

4. Games - MANY to choose from!

   • A boatload of games were JUST THERE on this release ... I don't recall installing:
     Programs:/ q4os-Programs/q4os-Games!

   • sgt-puzzles - includes Blocks (aka "Same Game")

   • Snood = xbubble

   • Aisleriot Solitaire (pretty close to MS Solitaire)

5. Misc

   • xpdf - Open source pdf viewer

   • I watch over GramPi using remote.it - Raspberry Pi Install @ https://docs.remote.it/software/device-package/installation

     • apt install remoteit

     • http://find.remote.it - and Clink on Register! Nice! Much easier than it used to be!

Misc Configuration Cleanup

• Eliminate unnecessary desktop icons - Right-Click/move to trash

• Cleanup the System Tray (Right click on left arrow) - hide all except Sound & Network Manager

• Favorites - Start Button->All Programs->Programs - Right Click to Add/Remove from favorites
  (I put ALL used apps, games, email & browser in favorites)

• Right Click on Start Button - Kickstart Style menu seems best my users (bad eyesight), clean up panel
  (no unnecessary or confusing icons!)

• Browser Cleanup (Chromium)

  • Optional: I change Chromium desktop icon to firefox icon for my users, they are used to that path to the internet

  • Set Chromium as default browser via control panel->TDE Components->Default Applications ...
    I used "chromium-browser %u" (FYI: Previously used this Thunderbird fix to launch Chromium

  • // REMEMBER to move/import Bookmarks and Passwords if moving from old world //
    THIS IS HANDY:
    https://linuxconfig.org/easy-way-to-import-export-passwords-on-chrome-chromium-browser-using-flag-switches

• Email Setup (Thunderbird)

  • Setup works right out of the box with gmail account

  • Account Settings -> Empty Trash on exit

  • // REMEMBER to import/move addressbook from old world//

• GramPi has no on/off switch! Set DPMS so monitor turns off. Mod via raspi config.txt per my Note

  • Carefully edit /boot/config.txt, add one line

hdmi_blanking=1

• • Settings->Peripherals->Display: Power Control Tab. I set Standby, Suspend and Power off to be safe.

<Time for one more Reboot!>