12.23 Studios

Base Camp Journal

Fulsome Fall

(09/20/25)

Ok, the journal this month is covering an operation I'll talk about in a podcast episode next month...

To cut to the chase, Windows 10 will reach 'End of Service' on Oct. 14th, but my 7-yr-old Dell laptop (the big one I can't take bikepacking) is working just fine, and I'm saving the Windows 11 laptop exclusively for bike travel. I'm not going through the hassle of upgrading the Dell or installing a different OS, but I decided to use the Linux OS Zorin, said to be one of the latest 'Windows replacement' distros, just for browsing online.

The podcast episode, No. 47, will summarize the project - The Zorin Caper - but I'll go over the messy details here...

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To run Zorin on the Dell, I'll install it on a bootable USB thumb drive and use the Dual Boot method to switch to it when I want to go online. So, first thing is to get two thumb drives - a 4-8GB thumb drive to be the installer, and a 64GB drive to hold the Linux OS. I wanted to use Zorin Lite, but it's gonna be phased out in the near future, so I'm using Zorin Core. The other software needed is a free Windows utility app called Rufus, used to create a bootable USB Flash Drive with the Zorin ISO.


A couple days ago I went to the Best Buy and got a SanDisk 64GB 3.0 Flash Drive, but the smallest thumb drive available was 32GB, including the sometimes sketchy PNY drives, so I got that SanDisk as well...

Before doing anything else, I checked out videos on creating the installer, the installlation process, and what the Zorin OS looks and acts like, then I downloaded the Rufus app and setup the installer USB.

I had the current show to work on, then after putting it out I downloaded the Zorin ISO file and burned it on the installer...


The Zorin Core OS, the free version for basic use. I chose it over the other contender, Linux Mint, for esthetic reasons. I'm still watching 'overview' videos on it before I take the next step in the process. And yeah, I went to ChatGPT and had it whip up a step-by-step installation guide...


Zorin Core apparently has apps like Firefox and Libre Office on it, but just in case I need Windows apps that don't work on Linux, I'm adding Wine, an emulator that lets me run them in Zorin...

So that's what I'm doing this weekend - chilling, watching my weekend animes (the Summer shows are winding down and the Fall shows will start up in a couple weeks), doing more research, and trying not to raise my blood pressure over the latest fascist moves of the thin-skinned dictator...

(09/21/25)

Ok, the Autumn Equinox is here...

I'm beginning another intensive weeklong blood sugar check to measure my levels, hoping to get a better result than the 7.0 I got from last time...

On the Zorin front, I'm taking note of what apps I use when curating songs, downloading media, and doing research online, to see which ones I might need the Wine emulator for. Thankfully, I'm told that my text, image and MP3 files are accessible in either OS, so I don't have to make transfer copies, but I'll work that out after I do the install and test the system. Right now, I have three weeks to get it going before my current system is more vulnerable to security exploits, which just might be enough time to feel comfortable...

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One additional step I have to take may make this whole caper moot...

In the late morning I went to get a few groceries, and when I returned I opened up the Dell I left on standby and was shocked to see the screen displaying a sickening shade of pink. I checked the graphics controls, restarted it, and finally checked the screen itself, found a plastic corner was slightly ajar, popped it back into place and the screen went back to normal. I shut it down, closed and re-opened the lid, booted up again and it looked fine.

I'm well aware that this is how my previous Windows 7 laptop went bad, and I might have no choice but to use the Windows 11 PC full time after all, and I haven't gotten a single flicker since, but the Dell has all my files and folders while the Win11 only has a few backed up copies. So, I'll need to practically clone my stuff to the Win11 PC just in case...


One of the easiest ways to transfer files from laptop to laptop is via an Ethernet cable. Luckily, I have a Cat 5 patch cable that's only a few years old. Before I take another Zorin step I'm gonna spend a couple days moving the important stuff over - I need to be able to produce my show in Zorin AND Win11 by the Win10 EOS...

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(09/27/25)

The latest episode of the show is done, so most of the weekend is intended for backing up my stuff to the Win 11 PC.

First I listed the apps and files/folders I normally use and access when doing show-related work. The files/folders can be directly copied over, and the apps can be freshly installed and customized. Next is to fire up the Win 11 unit, top off the battery, and install the apps before setting up the network.

...And the damn thing doesn't have an Ethernet port (serves me right for not pulling the unit out for a good while...) Anyway, I transferred my files/folders using the USB external HD I have for backups, finished topping off the unit's battery, and that part is done...

I tried quite a few times to boot from the black Install USB and setup the red OS USB, but it wouldn't work, so I'm left with the only other Dual Boot option - create a partition on the main HD and install Zorin there. I setup a 30GB 'Z' drive in the new partition and called it a night. Tomorrow it'll either work, or I'll switch to the Win 11 unit and air gap the Dell and use it till it craps out.

The clock is ticking; Win 10 EOS is about two weeks away. I'd like to produce one episode on Zorin and the other on Win 11, then I'll be satisfied...

(09/28/25)

Well, during the process to install Zorin on the 'Z' drive I got stuck at the same damn place, but in frustration I decided to try the red USB install one last time, and I managed to get it done. Zorin Core is up and working, and I have access to all my files on Win 10. Cool...

(09/29/25)

Monday was kind of a showdown with this process; clearing the next big hurdle by wrestling with a software and driver update and further tweaking the damn boot settings to get the wireless adapter to work. After a few hours of frustration, I finally got that part done.


Here's the Zorin up with the WiFi working and my website displayed on Firefox...

I still have odds and ends of customizing to do (like installing my podcast production apps and getting Firefox the way I like it), but I got work to do on the next episode...

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(10/03/25)


A birthday present I didn't ask for...

One of the doctors on my medical team said I should start recording my BP at least a couple times a week as a 'just to be safe' measure because of my age - not the ideal way to be reminded that I'm 69...

Anyway, with the latest show put to bed, I'm taking it easy today and will finish up customizing Zorin on Saturday...

(10/06/25)

I'm not totally done, but the new system is good enough to go online with. I won't be curating next week's show on Zorin, not even producing it on the OS; I never intended to run Audacity on it anyway. I will be curating and producing Episode 48 (and maybe 49 too) on the Win 11 travel laptop, just to make sure that setup is good to go. I should spend some time as well getting used to Zorin and see how it goes...

(10/12/25)

Ok, the 'Zorin' episode of the show (No. 47) is put to bed, and this weekend I'm working on the Win 11 laptop. I copied over the files for the next two shows, got the Audacity in shape, and spent a few hours updating the OS.


The Dell with the desktop minus icons. I have one last day to go online with it, then I'll disconnect Win 10 from the WiFi...

(10/17/25)

The latest episode has been put to bed, I thought I could take it easy for the rest of the day, but I just caught up with my messages and got the horrible news of the passing of a friend in Chicago a few days ago. I'm still processing as I try to get on with it...


I got nothing but minor petty stuff going on right now, like going on my afternoon walk, stopping at the secondhand store and getting a small Asian soup bowl to use as a smaller portion cereal bowl, doctor's orders...

(10/18/25)

I don't know what else might happen during No Kings' Day around the country, but I went to Ocean Beach for the Human Banner Event...


Waiting at McAllister & Van Ness for the bus to the beach. Being at City Hall reminded me to get my 'Yes' ballot in for Prop 50...


The ocean waves were gorgeous as I approached the gathering, with not a MAGA hat in sight; to be honest, I have yet to see one since Election Day. Makes me kinda proud of the city...


When it came time to stand and deliver, there were more than half a dozen camera drones flitting about, the anticipated chopper for the official photo, there was even a vintage biplane overhead, dipping and waving for the crowd...


Oh, where was I? Standing near the top of the 'G' spot, waving at the drones and aircraft...

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