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Alternative Operating System for Microsoft Surface RT

Anthony L M
By Anthony L M
in Phones and Tablets
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Posted

I was recently given a Microsoft Surface RT running the Arm processor. Given that there is no longer support for Windows 8.1 nor access to the Microsoft Store on it, I am looking for information on an alternative operating system that will allow me to use this device.

 

Additional specs is that it is 1516 model with 2GB of memory and 32GB of storage. I am looking to use it for a light web browsing and video streaming as the only issue with the device is that it lack of software support or being able to install anything with the current o/s.

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outside of linux, you're not gonna find much that's gonna run on the RT.  

I remember those, I'm shocked any are still running

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18 minutes ago, Anthony L M said:

I was recently given a Microsoft Surface RT running the Arm processor. Given that there is no longer support for Windows 8.1 nor access to the Microsoft Store on it, I am looking for information on an alternative operating system that will allow me to use this device.

 

Additional specs is that it is 1516 model with 2GB of memory and 32GB of storage. I am looking to use it for a light web browsing and video streaming as the only issue with the device is that it lack of software support or being able to install anything with the current o/s.

Surface RT has been practically dead since 2015. The Surface 3 (non-pro) even ran full Windows with a 64 bit Atom instead of RT on an ARM CPU, so it was only a two generation product.

 

I'd recommend looking at replacing the device than trying to flash anything like an unlocked firmware and different OS to get anything other than the factory OS. Otherwise the only reasonable option appears to be Android, but good luck.

Ryzen 7950x3D Direct Die NH-D15

RTX 4090 @133%/+230/+500

Builder/Enthusiast/Overclocker since 2012  //  Professional since 2017

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RTs have locked bootloaders and for many years there was no way to run an alternative OS. That might have been solved by now but you'll have to poke around XDA-developers. At best it will be a slow Android tablet.

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I own a Surface RT as well, and I still use mine from time to time. I wouldn't bother with trying to get another OS to work on it. Years ago it wasn't possible, but even if someone has managed to get another OS on it the hardware is just so terribly slow that it wouldn't be a good experience. Unfortunately you're pretty much stuck with an old version of Internet Explorer. RDP does work on the Surface RT, so you could just use that to connect to a more powerful computer elsewhere. That probably wouldn't be too ideal for videos, but it'll be better than running things on the Surface itself. 

Phobos: AMD Ryzen 7 2700, 16GB 3000MHz DDR4, ASRock B450 Steel Legend, 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070, 2GB Nvidia GeForce GT 1030, 1TB Samsung SSD 980, 450W Corsair CXM, Corsair Carbide 175R, Windows 10 Pro

 

Polaris: Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2, 32GB 1600MHz DDR3, ASRock X79 Extreme6, 12GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, 6GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, 1TB Crucial MX500, 750W Corsair RM750, Antec SX635, Windows 10 Pro

 

Pluto: Intel Core i7-2600, 32GB 1600MHz DDR3, ASUS P8Z68-V, 4GB XFX AMD Radeon RX 570, 8GB ASUS AMD Radeon RX 570, 1TB Samsung 860 EVO, 3TB Seagate BarraCuda, 750W EVGA BQ, Fractal Design Focus G, Windows 10 Pro for Workstations

 

York (NAS): Intel Core i5-2400, 16GB 1600MHz DDR3, HP Compaq OEM, 240GB Kingston V300 (boot), 3x2TB Seagate BarraCuda, 320W HP PSU, HP Compaq 6200 Pro, TrueNAS CORE (12.0)

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It's definitely being tried!

 

https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/wip-secure-boot-and-linux-for-surface-rt.3653848/

 

The way to avoud these issues is research the hardware and ability to have an open bootloader before you buy or pick up something second-hand.

: JRE #1914 Siddarth Kara

How bad is e-waste?  Listen to that Joe Rogan episode.

 

"Now you get what you want, but do you want more?
- Bob Marley, Rastaman Vibration album 1976

 

Windows 11 will just force business to "recycle" "obscolete" hardware.  Microsoft definitely isn't bothered by this at all, and seems to want hardware produced just a few years ago to be considered obsolete.  They have also not shown any interest nor has any other company in a similar financial position, to help increase tech recycling whatsoever.  Windows 12 might be cloud-based and be a monthly or yearly fee.

 

Software suggestions


Just get f.lux [Link removed due to forum rules] so your screen isn't bright white at night, a golden orange in place of stark 6500K bluish white.

released in 2008 and still being improved.

 

Dark Reader addon for webpages.  Pick any color you want for both background and text (background and foreground page elements).  Enable the preview mode on desktop for Firefox and Chrome addon, by clicking the dark reader addon settings, Choose dev tools amd click preview mode.

 

NoScript or EFF's privacy badger addons can block many scripts and websites that would load and track you, possibly halving page load time!

 

F-droid is a place to install open-source software for android, Antennapod, RethinkDNS, Fennec which is Firefox with about:config, lots of performance and other changes available, mozilla KB has a huge database of what most of the settings do.  Most software in the repository only requires Android 5 and 6!

 

I recommend firewall apps (blocks apps) and dns filters (redirect all dns requests on android, to your choice of dns, even if overridden).  RethinkDNS is my pick and I set it to use pi-hole, installed inside Ubuntu/Debian, which is inside Virtualbox, until I go to a website, nothing at all connects to any other server.  I also use NextDNS.io to do the same when away from home wi-fi or even cellular!  I can even tether from cellular to any device sharing via wi-fi, and block anything with dns set to NextDNS, regardless if the device allows changing dns.  This style of network filtration is being overridden by software updates on some devices, forcing a backup dns provuder, such as google dns, when built in dns requests are not connecting.  Without a complete firewall setup, dns redirection itself is no longer always effective.

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38 minutes ago, E-waste said:

It's definitely being tried!

 

https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/wip-secure-boot-and-linux-for-surface-rt.3653848/

 

The way to avoud these issues is research the hardware and ability to have an open bootloader before you buy or pick up something second-hand.

It was given to me by an old college friend that was left behind when an ex moved out. They were unsure of the specs nor that tech savvy. So I did not have a chance to review the hardware until I got it back to my place and started it up.

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Posted

Could you run Tiny11 on it? as the minimum requirements are 2gb ram and it supports arm and the microsoft store works fine on it. i think it would be perfect for using as a primary os as i use Tiny11 on my main computer so i wont have to get another computer for another few years. my laptop is only 8 years old and it runs smoothly with my specs being 16gb ddr4 ram with an intel core i3-7100U CPU @ 2.40GHz with only 2 cores. and i dont notice any stutter unless i was playing computer games. i recommend it for if you would like to use this modified windows ISO for Kiosks. However a con is that it will only come with the Enterprise edition, so you may need to make sure you have a licence for it. far as i know Tiny11 supports ARM Processors

I think this guide may be helpful https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/install-tiny11-for-arm64-on-raspberry-pi-4

I am aware that it is for raspberry pi's but i am sure it uses the same software for it to run windows Arm or Arm64.

I Hoped this helped you with what you are trying to find. there will be your pros and cons with using tiny11 but there is very little distance to tell that your using tiny11. You cannot use the component store on tiny11 though. but it should be great for your debugging programs and using it as a kiosk and i happen to use it as my primary os and can run Microsoft Office without any issues.

 

Have a nice day.

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