Exton|Defender Super Rescue System (SRS) Files

Exton|Defender (SRS) version 251104 based on Fedora stable (fc43) with the Cinnamon 6.4.1-4-fc43 Desktop Environment and version 261029 based on Fedora Rawhide (upcoming fc44) with Gnome 49 as DE 

ABOUT Exton|Defender BUILD 251104 (fc43), which replaces BUILD 251026 (fc42)

Exton|Defender SRS - based on Fedora 43 stable, 64 bit - is a Linux system available as a Live USB/DVD for administrating or repairing your system and data after a crash. It aims to provide an easy way to carry out admin tasks on your computer, such as creating and editing the hard disk partitions. It comes with a lot of Linux software such as system tools and basic tools (editors, Midnight Commander, network tools). Exton|Defender can, however, also be used as a normal Linux Desktop System. It requires no installation, but can be installed to hard drive if you like. Desktop Environment: A special version of Cinnamon made by Fedora. Used kernel when running the System LIVE is 6.17.4-amd64-exton. After a hard drive installation Fedora's original kernel 6.17.5-300.fc43.x86_64 can be used. NOTE: Just two days after I released Exton|Defender - based on Fedora 42 stable - I found out that Fedora 43 was released (251028). I therefore simply HAD TO make an Exton|Defender version based on fc43.

MORE NEWS 251104 ABOUT Exton|Defender (Fedora 43)

NOTE 251104: I've replaced Build 251102 with Build 251104 after I discovered some minor errors in Build 251102.

I've made a new version of Exton|Defender 64 bit based on Fedora stable. Fedora 43 stable was released 251028. This new version uses the Cinnamon Desktop (6.4.1-4.fc43). Study all other installed packages: https://defender.exton.se/fc43-251102/exton-defender-fc43-installed-packages-251104.txt
MOST IMPORTANT CHANGE: I've installed Refracta Snapshot in Exton|Defender, which means that you can create your own Fedora 43 System! I mean change everything to your liking and then create a new ISO.
NOTE1: For Refracta Snapshot to work you have to run "my" kernel 6.17.4-amd64-exton when Refracta Snapshot is running. (It won't work with Fedora's kernel 6.17.6-300.fc43).
NOTE2: Version 251104 of Exton|Defender can run on really old computers. As an example I could run it on my 19 years old laptop Acer Aspire 5102 WLMi. 
NOTE3: This version of Exton|Defender uses GDM Login Manager. It means that you can log in to Cinnamon as root (if you want to).
NOTE4: I have finally managed to install Calamares Installer. It means that you can install Exton|Defender in any language. Many well-known Linux distributions use Calamares as well. 

PASSWORDS
You can log in to Cinnamon as root (Super User) with password root or as liveuser with password live. When logged in as root you won't have sound.

IMPORTANT NOTE
After installing Exton|Defender to hard drive it can be time to upgrade Fedora's original kernel to (for example) kernel-6.17.7-300.fc43. You will then notice that such an upgrade is impossible without uninstalling "my" kernel first. You can download my kernel (https://defender.exton.se/KERNEL-exton-25.zip) so that you can reinstall it (if you want to use Refracta Snapshot). Inside the folder KERNEL-exton you'll find instructions about the whole thing.

############################################################

ABOUT Exton|Defender Build 251029
Exton|Defender - based on Fedora "Rawhide" (upcoming fc44), 64 bit, is an extra version built mainly because I finally found a way to install Calamares Installer in Fedora 44 and make it work. This build is not really a "Defender SRS" system. You can, however, install all the rescue tools you may need also when running this version live. (I.e. from a USB stick or a DVD).  Fedora 43 was released in a stable version on October 28, 2025. So Exton|Defender fc44 (being based on upcoming Fedora 44) should be very "unstable". I have, however, not noticed anything special. I.e. programs won't crash or anything like that. One "bug" though: You can't change wallpaper the "normal" way. I.e. by clicking on the Desktop. You can, however, open your desired image with gThumb and set your image as wallpaper.

REFRACTA SNAPSHOT
You can create your own Fedora Rawhide system using Refracta Snapshot, which is pre-installed. I.e. change everything to your liking and then create a new ISO. That can be done after a hard drive installation. If you have plenty of RAM it is also possible to create a new ISO while running Exton|Defender Rawhide live. Your new ISO will be ready in a few minutes in /home/snapshot.

CALAMARES INSTALLER
Calamares is very simple to use. Just start it from the menu and follow the instructions. If you are installing Exton|Defender on a UEFI computer you should read my general install instructions in advance: https://www.exton.se/how-to-multi-boot-linux/
If you want to make your own Fedora distro (with Refracta Snapshot) you should install Exton|Defender on a partition of about 40 GB and use a SWAP space of about 2 GB. Do not create special home or boot partitions. When Calamares runs in VirtualBox it can look like this: https://defender.exton.se/fc44-251029/exton-defender-fc44-calamares-vbox-251029.jpg. If you want to use Calamares in your own distro you'll have to reinstall it (after a hard drive installation). That is done with the command "sudo dnf install calamares". Be sure also to delete the file /linux. Otherwise Calamares will complain about dracut in the end of a new installation: "will not override existing initramfs (/linux) without --force".

KERNELS
While running live "my" kernel 6.17.4-amd64-exton will be used in both builds . After a hard drive installation you can use Fedora's original kernel, which right now is 6.17.5-300.fc43.x86_64/6.18.0.rc3.30.fc44.x86_64.

IMPORTANT NOTE
After installing Exton|Defender to hard drive it can be time to upgrade Fedora's original kernel to (for example) kernel-6.17.7-300.fc43. You will then notice that such an upgrade is impossible without uninstalling "my" kernel first. You can download my kernel (https://defender.exton.se/KERNEL-exton-25.zip) so that you can reinstall it (if you want to use Refracta Snapshot). Inside the folder KERNEL-exton you'll find instructions about the whole thing.

###########################################################

231111: HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU!
Today I discovered (by chance) that you can install Exton|Defender Build 231109 (now 251102/251026) to a USB stick with persistence! I.e. all your system changes will be saved directly on the USB stick. Even big system upgrades! That will make it unnecessary to install Exton|Defender to hard drive (which can be a bit tricky). Just run the System from a big enough USB stick and be happy! Do it like this: 
1. Use Rufus 4.7 (https://rufus.ie/en/) for the installation.
2. Set a Persistent partition size of about 3GB before you start the installation. Watch this screenshot: https://defender.exton.se/usb-persistence/exton-defender-rufus-4.3.jpg
3. Run Exton|Defender from your created USB stick. Be sure boot up the System in Legacy mode. You can run the System also in UEFI mode, but unfortunately persistence won't be enabled then.
4. Test run Exton|Defender and change some things. For example new bookmarks in Firefox. Reboot!
5. You changes should be left if you have done what I said above. Now you can upgrade the whole system with "sudo dnf upgrade --refresh". About 230 packages can be upgraded as of 231111. Watch this screenshot: http://defender.exton.se/usb-persistence/exton-defender-dnf-upgrade-231110-4.jpg
6. Finally you can make a new ISO (your own) if you want. Be sure to change /etc/refractasnapshot.conf first. You must see to that the new ISO file and the work environment will be created on another partition. Watch this screenshot: http://defender.exton.se/usb-persistence/exton-defender-refractasnapshot-231110.jpg
7. Start Refractasnapshot from the menu. Follow the instructions. After a few minutes your ISO will be ready. Watch this screenshot: http://defender.exton.se/usb-persistence/exton-defender-refractasnapshot-finished-231110.jpg
NOTE1: For Refracta Snapshot to work you have to run “my” kernel 6.12.1-amd64-exton when Refracta Snapshot is running. (It won't work with Fedora's kernel 6.11). 
IMPORTANT NOTE: Actually you CAN run Fedora's original kernel 6.11 and still use Refracta Snapshot. Just don't uninstall/remove my kernel 6.12.1-amd64-exton before running Refracta Snapshot. And don't remove the links /vmlinuz and /initrd.img to my kernel. Your new ISO will then be created without problems. When running your new ISO live (i.e. from a USB stick/DVD or in VirtualBox/VMware) my kernel will be used. If you install your new Fedora/Exton|Defender System to hard drive Fedora's kernel 6.9-rc1 (now 6.11.10-300.fc41) will be used. Watch this screenshot: https://defender.exton.se/build-240331/exton-defender-gnome-liveuser-240331.jpg

ABOUT the Cinnamon Desktop Environment
Cinnamon is a "free and open-source desktop environment for Linux and Unix-like operating systems, deriving from GNOME 3 but following traditional desktop metaphor conventions". Read more about Cinnamon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamon_(desktop_environment)
And a review of Cinnamon 6.2: https://9to5linux.com/cinnamon-6-2-desktop-environment-released-heres-whats-new

SYSTEM TOOLS INCLUDED (not in Build 251029)
NTFS-3g, GParted, Shred, Sfdisk (util-linux-ng), Rsync, Ddrescue, FSArchiver, TestDisk and Midnight Commander. Other programs (among many others): Emacs, NetworkManager, Firefox, Gimp, Parole Media Player, Samba, kernel headers and many compilation tools. Study all installed packages:https://defender.exton.se/fc43-251102/exton-defender-fc43-installed-packages-251102.txt

INSTALL Exton|Defender to a USB STICK 
Use Rufus in Windows. About persistence - see above.

PASSWORDS and LOGIN
The password for user/liveuser is live. The password for root is root. If you (for some reason) want to run Exton|Defender as root you can do so from GDM's login screen. Choose "Other" and then root. Or directly Super User. 

CONFIGURING X
X is auto-configured during the boot from the DVD disc or USB stick. If not you'll end up in console mode. Run the command sudo X -configure followed by sudo mv xorg.conf.new /etc/X11/xorg.conf. Then run startx. 

SAMBA
In Exton|Defender version 251102 you can use PCManFM (file manager) to connect to your Windows computers in your Home Network. Watch this screenshot: https://defender.exton.se/fc43-251102/exton-defender-fc43-samba-conn-251102.jpg

WIRELESS connections
NetworkManager makes it easy to configure wireless connections. Give your WEP/WAP password and connect. That's it! You'll find the NM-applet to the right in the panel.

DEFAULT LANGUAGE
The default language (locale) is set to English in all versions. 

The ISO-file for Fedora Rawhide (fc44), Build 251029, is of 3080 MB, the ISO for Fedora 43 stable, Build 251102, with Cinnamon is of 3910 MB. (A lot of packages are pre-installed). 

FEEDBACK
Fedora 43/Rawhide is at least as "good" as Ubuntu/Linux Mint and/or OpenSUSE Tumbleweed. (In my opinion). Tell me what you think of Exton|Defender SRS in combination with the Cinnamon Desktop. Did you find the included System Tools useful?

THE IMPORTANCE OF Exton|Defender Build 251029 being based on Fedora Rawhide (upcoming fc44)
Programs won't "crash" or anything like that. And I haven't noticed any important "bugs". That said you should of course be a bit careful. Version 251029 of Exton|Defender is for people who like to use "cutting-edge" software and the latest kernels etc. You will always have the latest Linux/Fedora software installed if you regularly run the command "sudo dnf upgrade".

READ MORE - especially about how to use Refracta Snapshot and Calamares/Refracta Installer in all Exton|Defender SRS versions - at https://defender.exton.se

READ also ABOUT my OTHER Linux systems: https://www.exton.se/download/

READ ABOUT MY OTHER BUILDS WITH ANDROID
https://andex.exton.net - Run Android on PC's 
- latest is AndEX 11 (Android 11)
https://raspex.exton.se - Android for Raspberry Pi 
- latest is RaspAnd 16 (Android 16)

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linuxexton


exton /251104