INSTALLATION GUIDE

VOID OS 1.0.152. Before you start, check the system requirements.

Download VOID OS

Buy VOID OS on this site. After payment, the purchase page and your email give you your licence key and a link to download the VOID OS ISO (3.9 GB). The link expires after 24 hours; Recover Purchase sends a new one.

Verify the ISO

Compare the SHA-256 of the file you downloaded with the value on Verify Download. If they differ, do not use the file.

Write the ISO to an 8 GB or larger USB key

Everything on the USB key is erased.

1. On Windows, use balenaEtcher (free, from balena.io). Open it and click Flash from file. Select the VOID ISO.
2. Click Select target. Tick only your USB key (check its name and size). Never tick a drive you do not recognise.
3. Click Flash and wait until Etcher has written and checked the key (Validating). Do not unplug it. Flash Completed! means success.
4. Windows may then say “You need to format the disk” or offer to scan the key: click Cancel. Windows cannot read a VOID key. Never format it.

Boot from USB

1. Leave the USB key plugged in and shut down the computer (not Restart).
2. Switch it on and immediately tap the boot menu key several times (HP: F9; other makers: often F12, F8, F11 or Esc).
3. Choose the entry with UEFI and your USB key’s name.

Startup menu

The VOID start menu appears for 10 seconds. Use the arrow keys and Enter to choose a line.

Normal boot

Choose VOID (or just wait). After a short black screen, the VOID installer starts. Click BEGIN.

Safe Graphics

If the screen stays black for more than 5 minutes: hold the power button until the computer switches off, start from the USB key again and choose VOID (safe graphics).

Show Startup Messages

If that also stays black: start again and choose VOID (show startup messages). Text scrolls on the screen. When it stops moving for 5 minutes, take a photo of the screen and send it to admin.voidoss@gmail.com.

Select keyboard layout

YOUR KEYBOARD: choose the layout printed on your keyboard (type in the box to check it), then click NEXT. For a Canadian French keyboard choose Français (Canada).

Select installation destination

WHERE SHOULD VOID GO? lists the choices for your computer. Nothing on your drives is changed until you confirm on the last screen. VOID needs at least 40 GB (80 GB recommended).

• Install VOID on a drive: for an empty drive.
• Erase a drive and install VOID: everything on that drive is erased.
• Use free space on a drive.
• Install beside Windows (or another system): that system is made smaller; the screen shows what it keeps and what VOID gets.

Encrypt VOID’s partition (optional): a disk passphrase (at least 8 characters) is asked each time the computer starts, before VOID.

Windows / dual-boot considerations

• Windows keeps its used space plus 20 GB free.
• If Windows uses BitLocker, the installer cannot make it smaller: suspend BitLocker in Windows (Settings > Privacy & security > Device encryption), then run the installer again. Keep the BitLocker recovery key at hand: starting Windows from VOID’s start menu can make Windows ask for it once.
• If Windows was not shut down fully (Fast Startup or hibernation): in Windows, turn off Fast Startup and shut down, then run the installer again.

Installation

1. YOUR NAME ON THIS COMPUTER: lowercase letters and digits, starting with a letter.
2. DISK PASSPHRASE (only with encryption): type it twice.
3. READY TO INSTALL shows exactly what will happen. Click INSTALL VOID. Once it starts, the installation cannot be stopped safely. Do not remove the USB key.
4. At the end, create your password (at least 12 characters) and confirm it. VOID then restarts.

First boot

VOID starts from the computer’s drive. With encryption, the disk passphrase is asked first. Then enter your password to reach the VOID desktop.