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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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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.

Builder/Enthusiast/Overclocker since 2012 with a focus on SFF/ITX since 2014.

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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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  • 5 months later...

we've had android and linux working on both the surface 1 and 2 arm32 bit for some time now, we've exploited the uefi firmware to launch u-boot, check out our discord for further details https://discord.gg/open-rt-710026735294349322

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  • 1 month later...

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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  • 1 year later...

I manage to find the best guide for installing kali linux OS Check it out !!!

 

Hope this helps....Forget Windows 8 & 8.1  and Windows 10

I'm running with GUI but can work even better without GUI

 

The MOST Compatible and PERFECT Kali Linux for Surface RT

 

Prerequisites:

  1. USB Flash Drive: At least 2 GB, formatted in FAT32.

  2. USB A to USB A Cable: To connect the Surface RT to another device.

Download the following files:

  1. Kali Linux Image for Surface RT: https://mega.nz/file/wIpnSSCY#jo6zwXYRZp-QNQMiyOaAx-m91isvqkFTCz5AwoSsw5A

  2. Surface RT UEFI Downstream Boot v1: https://archive.org/details/surface-rt-uefi-downstream-boot-v-1

  3. Raspberry Pi Imager (version 1.7.5): https://github.com/raspberrypi/rpi-imager/releases/download/v1.7.5/imager-1.7.5.exe

Steps to follow:

Step 1: Copy the files from "Surface RT UEFI Downstream Boot v1"

  1. Download and unzip the files from Surface RT UEFI Downstream Boot v1

  2. Copy all the extracted files to the FAT32-formatted USB drive.

Step 2: Completely power off the Surface RT

  1. Press and hold the power button to turn off the Surface RT.

Step 3: Boot from the USB Flash Drive

  1. Plug the USB flash drive into the Surface RT.

  2. Press and hold the Volume Down button.

  3. While holding Volume -, press the power button once to turn the device on.

  4. Do not release the Volume - button until text appears on the screen.

  5. Use the Volume + and Volume - buttons to navigate through the menu, and use the Windows button located at the bottom of the screen to confirm your selections.

Step 4: Select "USB Mass Storage - eMMC"

  1. In the menu that appears, use Volume + and Volume - to navigate.

  2. Select USB Mass Storage - eMMC and confirm with the Windows button.

Step 5: Prepare to Install Kali Linux

  1. Remove the USB flash drive.

  2. Connect the Surface RT to a PC using the USB A to USB A cable.

Step 6: Write the Kali Linux Image to the Surface RT

  1. Launch Raspberry Pi Imager on your PC.

  2. Select the Kali-Surface-RT.img.gz image you downloaded earlier.

  3. Choose the Surface RT as the target device in Raspberry Pi Imager.

  4. Click Write to flash the Kali Linux image directly onto the Surface RT.

Step 7: Finalize the Installation

  1. Once the flash is complete, eject the Surface RT from the PC.

  2. Completely power off the Surface RT by holding the power button until it turns off.

  3. Once it is powered off, turn it on normally by pressing the power button.

Step 8: Wait for Kali Linux to Boot

  1. The Surface RT will boot, so wait a few minutes for it to start.

  2. The Surface may reboot a couple of times to finish setting up Kali Linux.

  3. Let the device finish booting until the Kali Linux environment appears on the screen.

If the keyboard does not appear when you click on a text field, click on the Onboard program, which is yellow and blue, at the top of the panel to enable it.

Screen Power Management (Optional)

I have enabled the screen saver so that the screen turns off after 2 minutes of inactivity. If you wish to modify or disable this setting, here are the steps to follow:

A. Modify the Inactivity Time (Screen Timeout)

Open the ~/.xprofile file with a text editor:

sudo nano ~/.xprofile

You will find these lines in the file:

xset s 120
xset dpms 120 120 120

Replace 120 with the number of seconds you want for the screen timeout. For example, for a 5-minute delay (300 seconds), replace 120 with 300:

xset s 300
xset dpms 300 300 300

Save and exit the editor:

- Press Ctrl + O, then Enter to save. - Press Ctrl + X to exit.

Apply the changes immediately by running the command:

source ~/.xprofile

B. Disable Screen Auto-Off

If you prefer to disable the automatic screen turning off, you can comment out the corresponding lines in the ~/.xprofile file.

Open the ~/.xprofile file:

sudo nano ~/.xprofile

Add a "#" at the beginning of the lines related to "xset" to disable them:

#xset s 120
#xset dpms 120 120 120

Save and exit:

- Press Ctrl + O, then Enter to save. - Press Ctrl + X to exit.

Reload the configuration to disable the auto-off immediately:

source ~/.xprofile

Congratulations! You have now successfully installed and configured Kali Linux on your Surface RT.

Support the Project

Passionate about technology since my childhood, I have a true fascination with everything related to software and hardware, constantly exploring new innovations. If you found this guide helpful and would like to support the project, any donation would be greatly appreciated ! Your support helps me continue creating content, improving guides, and supporting my studies.

Support me on Ko-fi or PayPal

Thank you for your generosity and support !

Directed By Yassine Aouad

 

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