For anyone who comes across this in the future looking for an answer, I went with MX Linux KDE, which is based on Debian, and has great customization features and a native program to essentially clone and install the system elsewhere.
this post was submitted on 13 Aug 2025
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is it possible that he can use something like puppy linux like distros (essentially live usbs, where you can make a persistent partition and make changes)? that way you can prepare a usb, and maybe teach them how to plug the usb in, and change the boot order to include usb? it would be slow (for boot times, if you use some faster usb, that would help), but does not require any fancy operation requiring him to open his computer.
Or if opening the computer/laptop and installing ssd/hdd is within scope, then maybe you can prepare a ssd with complette install, and just ship that. give him additional video/text instructions on how to open a computer, and install it. (In case their system supports ssds, then I highly recommend ssds over hdd, as they do not require special packaging, would be much faster, and ssd installations are also easier(detachhing and reattaching sata ribbon is hard imo, where as with something like nvme ssd, it is very close to like plugging in usb, and then just screwing or something similar.)) If their system is old, and does not have nvme/u.2 connectors, i would still recommend ssd over hdd, then you would also have to procure (and ship) an extra enclosure (i think they are called caddys) to fit a ssd in a husk, which after closing looks like a harddisk and connects via sata. these steps are tad bit hard, but if it is within scope, then I do not think their is a better option.
Shipping him a hard drive with the system is something I might consider too, since that night actually be easier for him to install with instructions then anything software. I remember that computer had a SATA SSD
ideally do not send a hard drive, as shipping might corrupt data. if you do, please package it with good care - hard disk inside sponges inside softer thermocol insider harder thermocol inside cardboad. it is overkill, but hard drives really do not like to be shaken, and stuff in courier is often shook violently.
@Lumiluz if I were you, I would:
- Install the desired distro on a physical hdd of my own.
- Add the user, do all the customization I would like him to have.
- Clone the whole disk into an image using #clonezilla.
- Write a custom bash script containing the needed command to restore that image.
- Send him both clonezilla live distro and the cloned image.
That would save you lots of headaches. I guess.
The issue I had with clonezilla is that it only works on the original hard drive.
When testing it on a second machine it had errors because it was trying to install to the exact same blocks as the original hard drive, and wouldn't install.
Unless the bashscript can somehow ignore that?
I tried following the guide I found on their site too, which mentioned going into advance mode and checking off something to "check blocks" or such so it could be installed on any device, but couldn't find such an option when I did it. I don't know if that's limited to a specific version of clonezilla
@Lumiluz are you sure the hdd you want to restore the image on is the same size or larger that the one the image was cloned on?
Maybe playing with selected options when you’re creating the image would help?
Tbh, it was long time ago since my last time I used it.
I want to make it size agnostic, because I don't remember what size his hard drive is (and he definitely doesn't have the ability to check), but I have the distro installed as a partition.
@Lumiluz try these:
For cloning:
sudo ocs-sr -q2 -j2 -z1p -i 2000 -sc -p true savedisk /path/to/image/dir sda
For restoring:
sudo ocs-sr -g auto -e1 auto -e2 -r -j2 -icds -k1 restoredisk /path/to/image/dir sda
If it doesn’t work, try using the partition image mode instead of the whole disk block
Thanks, I'll try that, but how to I add that script when using clonezilla? When trying something in the past like that in the terminal it didn't do anything and said it didn't recognize this commands for some reason.
Am I supposed to start Clonezilla in a different mode?
Also, /path/to/image/dir is the partition correct? And do I have to specify which sda?
All the docs for Systemback are non-English, so either suffer through translations to be able to read, or start searching specifically for what you're looking for elsewhere.
Personally, I wouldn't be using an image from a 10 year old install, I'd be starting clean for all the benefits of what that brings to the party.
Edited to make clearer - I'm not using an image that's over 10 years, that's what he has installed on his PC. It can't be updated anymore, and even Firefox on it is getting deprecated soon.
I want to send him a USB with a customized version of Mint 22.1