GNU/Linux Installfest

Concurrent with this year's LibrePlanet - the FSF's yearly Free Software event, this year at the Boston Convention Center - we will be running an Installfest!

Are you interested in liberating your computing device(s)? We will be available with installation media and expertise to help users new to GNU/Linux operating systems. Get your computer up and functioning on software that respects your freedom.

Anyone interested in doing an install on their system should:
- BACKUP anything you need from your system.
- Bring your laptop. Hopefully this was very obvious. If you really want to/are capable of bringing an entire desktop system, you could do that too (do not expect monitor/keyboard/etc to be available).
- Check for compatibility, as much as you are able. Wifi and video devices are the most likely to be issues. MicroCenter in Cambridge does have some USB wifi devices that will work with GNU GPL2.0 licensed Linux drivers.
- If determining compatibility is difficult for you, please try to identify your system components as much as possible (for example, please know your HDD type/size, amount of RAM, CPU model, system vendor, video device, and so on).
- BACKUP anything you need from your system. Yes, I already said this, but it is that important: we will not have anywhere to keep backups for you.

Anyone attending this event with the plan to install GNU/Linux on it, should come with the expectation that while our best effort will be made, you may very well leave with a non-functioning (or partially functional) computer. While many of us have performed many successful installs: there are no guarantees!

Again, you should expect that all data on your sytem will be erased! Resizing/moving partitions and the like can take considerable time - given our limited time for the event, we will not undertake such efforts to support this or other more advanced options such as dual-booting.

To receive help, you will be required to sign a waiver and you are expected to be responsible for keeping track of your equipment at the event.

While this event is listed as a "Birds of a Feature" at LibrePlanet, attendance to/registration at LibrePlanet itself is not a requirement (but certainly recommended!)