I'm working at this health company; it's my first IT job, and I've been here a little more than half a year so far. I do appreciate the opportunity I was given, but man, this place is kind of a wreck. The boss didn't want to upgrade the Windows 7 computer that's sitting on the network and utterly refused to do so. Even with everything that was shown that it could be upgraded, he was pissed, and it took six months to finally upgrade it to Windows 11 with the necessary software we have.

Another crucial issue is that literally the people who work on the floor have FULL ADMINISTRATOR ACCESS to install any programs they want. I brought this up to him, and he said, "We have bigger battles to fight." The computers are literally just "Password" or the start date of the employees. So literally all someone has to do is ask when they started working here, and boom—they have access to their account. We also had local accounts sitting on every computer. He does not want to change any of this.

I am capable of switching jobs. I have talked one-on-one with big figures in the field like Richard Stallman before. I do testing and help port hardware for coreboot/Libreboot. I am also looking into getting my Linux+ (currently only have my A+). What should I do?

(My boss and I are the only two IT people)

I'm deeply concerned about the future, everyone I know is using non-free software and firmware, and relying on SaaS like ChatGPT. These companies are collecting and storing our thoughts and personal data, and I suspect they're sharing it with agencies like the NSA. Our cell phones track our every move, listen to our conversations, and record our activities. Google probably logs our search history forever, and Windows can access all of our files. Non-free firmware and the Intel Management Engine can even spy on us, capturing our screen activity and keystrokes. Cameras watch everywhere you move. It's a daunting battle to fight, and it's disheartening to see that even when we try to discuss these issues, many people are quick to dismiss our concerns. What are your thoughts on mass surviellence?

The following boards have been added since the Canoeboot 20240612 release:

Sony PlayStation (PCSX Redux Open BIOS) Dell Latitude E4300 (courtesy of Nicholas Chin) Dell OptiPlex 780 MT support Dell OptiPlex 780 USFF support The OptiPlex models are X4X/ICH10 platform, while the E4300 is GM45/ICH9. Both run 100% blob-free, with the Intel ME firmware completely removed, by using modified Intel Flash Descriptors similar to that seen on ThinkPad X200/T400.

E4300 has the same installation procedure as the E6400.

Hello,

I have my A+, I use GNU/Linux a lot and I was wondering, should I go after my Linux+ certification? I have been using Linux for about 3 years daily for everything. I feel like I have pretty good knowledge, but people have said to do Network+, Security+, and then Linux+. I would still say I'm intermediate, although I want to mainly take this certification to learn more so I can start getting on the more advanced side of things. I would also like to move onto a Linux-based job.

Edit: I received my CompTIA A+ certification one year ago, and have had a job in IT for nearly a year so far.

People keep saying this and I personally don't really believe it, I think there could be a couple riots, but not like a full on civil war. What does everyone think?

Hello, I'm having trouble unlocking my PinePhone Pro. I went through the introduction / tutorial, set a password, connected to my WiFi, and rebooted. But ever since then, its just been this spinning circle. I tried swiping up, down, left, right, nothing. I mean I can drag down the top menu or switch to my camera, but that's about it.

How do I unlock it?

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for a guide on how to bypass anti-cheat such as BattleEye in my Windows 11 virtual machine. I'm currently running Proxmox VE as my host with GPU passthrough enabled. I just recently got kicked from a Rainbow Six Siege game because I was using a VM. I'm not looking to cheat, I'm only using a virtual machine because anti-cheat software is very invasive. TIA!

I'm looking to test out Windows, but I don't want to download it without my VPN. I'm trying to use it in a virtual machine with GPU passthrough so I can play all my games. I also obviously don't want to pay for a copy. TIA!

Hello everyone,

I've been wondering, why has no one built an entirely free (as in freedom) computer yet? For humans to be unable to share each other's knowledge to build one of the most important technologies ever created for society, how is it that we have yet to have full knowledge about how our systems operate?

I get that companies are basically the ones to blame, and I know there are alternatives like the Talos II by Raptor Computing, but still, how do we not have publicly available full schematics for just one modern computer? I'm talking down to firmware-level stuff like proprietary ECs, microcode, hard drive/SSD firmware, network controllers, etc. How do we not have a fully open system yet?

Hello everyone,

I'm interested in gathering thoughts and perspectives, particularly from the trans community, regarding trans women's participation in women's sports. This is a topic that often sparks debate, and I want to understand the various viewpoints better.

My question is: What are your opinions on biologically male trans individuals competing in women's sports? Do you think there should be separate categories for trans athletes, or should they compete in accordance with their gender identity? I am looking for thoughtful, respectful discussions, as my intention is not to discriminate but to understand the complexities of this issue better.

Thank you for sharing your insights!