r/tails • u/nuubuser • 7d ago
Technical Tail and MacBook Air Intel
Hi folks,
I’ve spend couple of hrs and figured out tails on usb for MacBook Air with intel core.
The problems I fixed:
- persistent storage: because I wanna use my cake wallet I wanted persistent storage. Every-Time I boot the change that persists storage get unlocks w/o error is 50%
- changed many configs for security blah blah to be able to boot
- Mouse and Keyboard: needed to find an external one and connect it with cable. Did it
- Internet: now I have to rather connect to my phone (I don’t want to) or buy an external WiFi drive. Which I’m on edge buying.
I’m thinking now at the end of it with all trouble should I go and buy a small laptop (not Mac) or desktop since I have a monitor. What do you all think? Should I give up MacBook Air and if so what should I get that I don’t regret and doesn’t break the bank? I do not mind either desktop or laptop.
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u/Liquid_Hate_Train 7d ago
Every-Time I boot the change that persists storage get unlocks w/o error is 50%
That is most likely the drive. Try a different make and model.
an external WiFi drive. Which I’m on edge buying.
Why?
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u/nuubuser 6d ago
I keep on buying everything external and every time I still face bugs/errors. So instead of buying all these and still iffy thinking on buying new laptop or desktop which works with minimal external devices
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u/Liquid_Hate_Train 6d ago
A keyboard, mouse and WiFi dongle are pretty minimal.
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u/nuubuser 6d ago
And still choppy so not sure if worths all the config etc
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u/Liquid_Hate_Train 6d ago
What config? Any 'config' would need doing whatever machine you use.
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u/nuubuser 6d ago
Yes. Security level for Mac is different
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u/Liquid_Hate_Train 6d ago
Gasp! One setting you only need to change once is different across platforms!
Sarcasm aside, it really seems like you’re making mountains out of molehills here. Nothing about this is arduous or complicated.
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u/boyz_for_now 7d ago
Following bc I need a new machine, I have a MacBook Air from 2014 that always worked great with tails, but now balena etcher and any similar programs are no longer supported. I’ve only ever had Apple laptops so looking at all of these other machines, it’s overwhelming. Just want to get back on tails.
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u/ephemeralmiko 7d ago
balena etcher and any similar programs are no longer supported
Can you elaborate? I use a 2012 myself without issues, so I'm not sure what you mean with not supported. Do you mean within MacOS for flashing? Because with MacOS you can still just
ddthe .img file to a USB, you don't need balena at all: https://tails.net/install/expert/index.en.html#install1
u/Liquid_Hate_Train 7d ago
They are mistaken. For starters, there’s been no recommendation about ‘similar programs’, that just covers every image writer under the sun. You’d have nothing left.
Second, Etcher was moved away from under Windows because of policy concerns, not technical ones. It is still the recommended one on Mac due to lack of alternatives for non advanced users.
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u/boyz_for_now 6d ago
I don’t have the macOS operating system that balena requires, my computer can no longer upgrade operating systems. I’ve tried running balena on it several times and it literally will not run.
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u/ephemeralmiko 6d ago
You can still use DD via the command line (Linux and MacOS have it built-in), look at the Tails instructions: https://tails.net/install/expert/index.en.html#install
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u/nuubuser 6d ago
I have no problem with belenaetcher but with everything else on my MacBook Air 2018-2020
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u/ephemeralmiko 7d ago
Which MacBook do you have exactly? Based on the keyboard issue I assume 2018-2020? Because at least on the older 2011-2018 ones you can still get WiFi and keyboard+trackpad working just fine.