ExTiX Deepin 25.8 Live based on Deepin 25.0.1 STABLE (latest) with Refracta Snapshot and kernel 6.16.0-amd64-exton :: Build 250806

NEWS 250806 ABOUT ExTiX with Deepin 25.0.1 STABLE (released 250702)
I’ve released a new version of ExTiX Deepin today (250806). The previous ExTiX Deepin version with Deepin 25 STABLE is from 250701. This ExTiX Build is based on Deepin 25.0.1 STABLE (latest version) released by Deepin Technology on July 2, 2025. Please read the Release Notes. ExTiX 25.8 uses kernel 6.16.0-amd64-exton. ExTiX 25.8 works in the same way as all other ExTiX versions. I.e. you can install it to hard drive while running the system live. Use Calamares (ExTiX) Installer or Refracta Installer for that. Deepin Installer doesn’t work in ExTiX. You can also create your own live installable Deepin 25.0.1 system with Refracta Snapshot. (Using ExTiX 25.8 as a “base system/template”). So easy that a ten year old child can do it!

Study all installed packages in ExTiX Deepin 25.8.

NEW FUNCTIONS etc. in ExTiX 25.8 Deepin
1. VirtualBox Guest Additions are NOT pre-installed. No real need for them since you can run ExTiX in full screen in VirtualBox by just changing the screen resolution.
2. You can run ExTiX from RAM. Use boot alternative 2 (load to RAM) or Advanced. A wonderful way to run Linux if you have enough RAM. Everything will be super fast. When ExTiX has booted up you can remove the DVD or USB stick. Please note that you’ll need a lot om RAM. Probably at least 10GB. The ISO file is of 5610MB. That is a lot, but the original Deepin 25 ISO is even bigger – 5880 MB.
3. You can ONLY use ExTiX (Calamares) Installer and Refracta Installer for hard drive installations. You can not use Deepin Installer. You may be able to start the program after installing it with sudo apt install deepin-installer, but the installation to hard drive will fail. That’s because my build of Deepin 25.0.1 differ from the original in some respects.
3b. You can, however, use Calamares Installer for your hard drive installation (instead of Refracta Installer) as I just mentioned. About Calamares: Calamares is an installer framework. By design it is very customizable, in order to satisfy a wide variety of needs and use cases. Calamares aims to be easy, usable & beautiful while remaining independent of any particular Linux distribution. You can even install ExTiX in your chosen language if you use Calamares (ExTiX) Installer.
4. I have installed Firefox as a replacement for Deepin’s Browser, which suddenly can be in Chinese(!?).
5. I’ve added Synaptic Package Manager. A must I think.
6. You can watch Netflix while running Firefox.
7. You can install ExTiX Deepin also in VirtualBox/VMware using Calamares Installer or Refracta Installer. Before doing any hard drive installation you should read my instruction How-to dual-boot, triple-boot or multi-boot Linux with Windows in a simple way and be happy…
NOTE1: If you already have at least one Linux system installed on your computer and use Grub as boot loader you don’t have to reinstall Grub. Just add start lines for ExTiX in /boot/grub.grub.cfg or /etc/grub.d/40_custom – see below what to add (an example of course).
set linux_gfx_mode=
export linux_gfx_mode
menuentry ‘ExTiX Deepin 25’ –class deepin –class gnu-linux –class gnu –class os $menuentry_id_option ‘gnulinux-simple-9b64b795-3d67-488e-b23e-0c5fa87fe939’ {
load_video
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root=’hd0,msdos4′
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search –no-floppy –fs-uuid –set=root –hint-bios=hd0,msdos4 –hint-efi=hd0,msdos4 –hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos4 9b64b795-3d67-488e-b23e-0c5fa87fe939
else
search –no-floppy –fs-uuid –set=root 9b64b795-3d67-488e-b23e-0c5fa87fe939
fi
echo ‘Loading Linux 6.16.0-amd64-exton …’
linux /boot/vmlinuz-6.16.0-amd64-exton root=UUID=9b64b795-3d67-488e-b23e-0c5fa87fe939 rw quiet DEEPIN_GFXMODE=$DEEPIN_GFXMODE
echo ‘Loading initial ramdisk …’
initrd /boot/initrd.img-6.16.0-amd64-exton
}
NOTE2: ExTiX 25.8 Deepin runs much better live from a USB stick or from hard drive after a hard drive installation. I mean compared to running ExTiX Deepin virtually in VirtualBox or VMware.
NOTE3: While installing ExTiX to hard drive using Refracta Installer you should keep the username user and the passwords for user and root. You can always change that afterwards. 
8. In version 250806 I’ve included Refracta Installer. Using it you will get an EXACT copy of ExTiX Deepin installed. You don’t have to “chroot” to install Grub. Just choose to “Copy Grub files” when asked to. Watch this movie and see this screenshot.

PERFORMANCE
Even though the system is BIG it runs quite fast.

Used KERNEL
My special kernel 6.16.0-amd64-exton corresponding Kernel.org’s latest stable kernel 6.16.

What’s new in Linux kernel 6.16?

Login to Deepin Desktop
Log in from the LightDM Login Screen as the ordinary user user with password live. You can’t login to Deepin as root. While logged in as user you can use Sudo to become root. Example commands: sudo su and sudo thunar. The password for root is root.

Wireless connections
Normally NetworkManager works very well in ExTiX Deepin. Just add your WiFi Network password and connect. If you, however, after a hard drive installation can’t reach the Internet you shall run the command sudo dpkg-reconfigure resolvconf and reboot your computer.

USB installation
Read my instruction. In Windows you shall/must use Rufus. Using for example Etcher won’t make the USB stick bootable.

Using Refracta Snapshot
You can create your own live installable Deepin 25.0.1 system with Refracta Snapshot. (Using ExTiX 25.8 as a “base system/template”). Install ExTiX Deepin to hard drive. Then change everything to your liking. Start Refracta Snapshot from the menu. You’ll have to make the whole thing in three (3) steps.
01: Create a snapshot (uefi enabled)
02: Re-squash and make iso (no-copy)
03: Remake efi files and make iso. (no-copy) (uefi enabled)
You’ll find your new ISO in /home/snapshot. Or change that by editing /etc/refractasnapshot.conf. Watch this screenshot…
See the Refracta Snapshot window below.

IMPORTANT NOTE
If you want to remaster ExTiX 25.8 you must install ExTiX to a really large partition. About 100GB.

Upgrade ExTiX 25.8/Deepin 25.0.1
Future upgrades are very easy to perform. Just run the command sudo apt update followed by sudo apt dist-upgrade.

UNIQUE?
Previous versions of ExTiX Deepin (for example ExTiX Deepin 23 STABLE) were unique since the original Deepin System wasn’t a LIVE System. As regards Deepin 25.0.1 STABLE you can also test run the System Live before installing to hard drive. You can, however, not make your own Deepin 25.0.1 System from the original using Refracta Snapshot. That’s because it is impossible to install Refracta Snapshot (and Refracta Installer) according to my experience. Even if you manage to install those apps you can’t use them properly, since the original Deepin 25 System is Read-Only. I.e System directories are mounted as read-only (and you can’t change that). This means (among other things) that you can’t create the necessary links /initrd.img and /vmlinuz. Read this article about it.

Please read (and watch) a full enthusiastic review of ExTiX 22.12 with Deepin 20.8…

And here is another YouTube review of ExTiX 24.1 with Deepin 23 BETA 2…

ExTiX 24.8 was very popular at SourceForge.net. The number of downloads is very high as you can see below – 5135 one week!

SCREENSHOTS
1. ExTiX 25.8 running in VMware after changing the screen resolution
2. Running Calamares (ExTiX) Installer
3. Showing the Desktop for user
4. Showing a Samba connection
5. Showing the live boot screen
6. Refracta Snapshot is running
7. Calamares Installer have started
NOTE: All wallpapers are (of course) AI-generated (by me).

DOWNLOAD
Download ExTiX 25.8 with Deepin 25.0.1 from SourceForge.net – Fast, secure and free downloads from the largest Open Source applications and software directory.

md5sum for extix-25.8-deepin25.0.1-refractasnapshot-5610mb-250806.iso

 

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