Recent posts
#11
Sparky Linux kernel / Re: Sparky kernel 6.12.xx-LTS
Last post by AxL - March 12, 2026, 10:57:07 PMI forgot to mention that in this news from a few days ago, it comments on the update to version 6.12.74-LTS, 
but that version does NOT exist:
Cheers !!
but that version does NOT exist:
Quote– Linux kernel updated up to 6.19.5, 6.18.15-LTS, 6.12.74-LTS, 6.6.127-LTS
[....]
– added Linux kernel 6.18 LTS to sparky repos; 6.6 LTS will be not updated any more
Cheers !!
#12
Sparky Linux kernel / [SOLVED] - Sparky kernel 6.12....
Last post by AxL - March 12, 2026, 10:39:21 PM
I would like to know, if you are going to continue updating version 6.12.xx-LTS of the Sparky kernel. (as it has not been updated from version 6.12.72-LTS)
As always, thank you very much for your excellent work.
Cheers !!
#13
Installation / How to install Sparky on LUKS+...
Last post by sparkynoob - March 09, 2026, 11:05:08 AMI want to install Sparky on a LUKS-encrypted LVM. I played around with Calamares for hours last night and couldn't figure it out. I add a new partition of type "lvm2 pv" with the Encrypt box ticked and then add a New Volume Group, but then the VG doesn't show up anywhere for me to add LVs into so I don't know how to proceed.
What I tried next was partition everything manually and mount the partitions, with a little cheat in the terminal I found online ("while true; do sudo vgchange -aay; done") to prevent Calamares from unmounting it. This resulted in what appeared to be a successful installation but on boot I was greeted with a grub error of "unknown filesystem".
What's the cheat code here? Have any of you figured this out with Sparky? I'm using Sparky 7.8 by the way, the last of the 32-bit line. Thanks in advance.
(On an unrelated note I would like to give a big thanks to the forum admins for not making it a pain in the rear to register from Tor using a non-bigtech email address. It's a rare experience these days, very refreshing and much appreciated! Definitely worth a donation in my book, if only there was a crypto address in here somewhere... hint hint)
What I tried next was partition everything manually and mount the partitions, with a little cheat in the terminal I found online ("while true; do sudo vgchange -aay; done") to prevent Calamares from unmounting it. This resulted in what appeared to be a successful installation but on boot I was greeted with a grub error of "unknown filesystem".
What's the cheat code here? Have any of you figured this out with Sparky? I'm using Sparky 7.8 by the way, the last of the 32-bit line. Thanks in advance.
(On an unrelated note I would like to give a big thanks to the forum admins for not making it a pain in the rear to register from Tor using a non-bigtech email address. It's a rare experience these days, very refreshing and much appreciated! Definitely worth a donation in my book, if only there was a crypto address in here somewhere... hint hint)
#14
Installation / Re: Calamares password
Last post by barfly - March 01, 2026, 05:50:54 PM@pavoo
Returning to attempt a Sparky install after giving up on this password thing in Feb 2020 I can't believe this is still an issue six years later.
The solution I used this time was from @verndog's post from that year deleting the users.conf file,
"EDIT: The solution for me was to remove "users:conf" file. I tried edit the libpwquality section, and could never get it to work."
Tony.
Returning to attempt a Sparky install after giving up on this password thing in Feb 2020 I can't believe this is still an issue six years later.
The solution I used this time was from @verndog's post from that year deleting the users.conf file,
"EDIT: The solution for me was to remove "users:conf" file. I tried edit the libpwquality section, and could never get it to work."
Tony.
#15
Introduction / Just a Sparky enjoyer ;)
Last post by helllinux - February 25, 2026, 07:41:01 PMWell - hi everyone :) What does one put in an introduction really? Franken-thinkpad user. I love hacking cybersecurity and dev.
I personally tend to stick to either Sparky or Arch (currently Sparky on my backup rig and Arch on my main). They may seem fairly different but they both feel minimal, feels genuine and.. has something that I just can't figure out - friction-lessness? Lack of annoyance and moments that makes me want to keep distro hopping?
Sparky is my go to recommendation for new users - I am fairly active in my community teaching IT/sec/privacy hence why I get in the situations where I can recommend things ^^ I also help giving life to old hardware - either to help the current owner, or because it's been donated to find a new home with someone who needs it.
All in all Sparky feels like the most underrated Linux distro I have ever come across - it is amazing but it is quite rarely mentioned - why?*
I hope to one day be able to contribute - even if just in a small way.
Thank you for reading and happy linuxing!
Oh and big thanks to Pavroo and everyone involved! :)
*I assume the lack of marketing - which contributes to the genuine vibe
I personally tend to stick to either Sparky or Arch (currently Sparky on my backup rig and Arch on my main). They may seem fairly different but they both feel minimal, feels genuine and.. has something that I just can't figure out - friction-lessness? Lack of annoyance and moments that makes me want to keep distro hopping?
Sparky is my go to recommendation for new users - I am fairly active in my community teaching IT/sec/privacy hence why I get in the situations where I can recommend things ^^ I also help giving life to old hardware - either to help the current owner, or because it's been donated to find a new home with someone who needs it.
All in all Sparky feels like the most underrated Linux distro I have ever come across - it is amazing but it is quite rarely mentioned - why?*
I hope to one day be able to contribute - even if just in a small way.
Thank you for reading and happy linuxing!
Oh and big thanks to Pavroo and everyone involved! :)
*I assume the lack of marketing - which contributes to the genuine vibe
#16
Sparky Linux kernel / Re: AMD's P-state driver for Z...
Last post by AxL - February 19, 2026, 04:22:34 PM To those who may be interested in this topic.I hadn't used SparkyLinux kernels in more than three years ( ... since usually, I always use the XanMod Kernels).
Today, out of pure curiosity I have installed the latest LTS version (6.12.72-sparky-lts612-amd64):
And, I've been pleasantly surprised that it works perfectly well, using amd-pstate-epp:
So, my sincere thanks and congratulations to pavroo.
Cheers !!
#17
Installation / Calamares password
Last post by pavroo - February 19, 2026, 10:24:21 AMDue to reported issues with password length and strength in Calamares, the libquality option has been disabled; as of now (20260218), Calamares accepts even 1-character passwords. To take advantage of this, update the calamares package in Sparky 8 or 9 in a live session, before running Calamares.
#18
Sparky applications / Re: [SOLVED] Empty Firefox-Spa...
Last post by AxL - February 14, 2026, 10:13:29 PMI'm glad you were able to solve your problem properly.
You're welcome !!
#19
Sparky applications / Re: Empty Firefox-Sparky Packa...
Last post by Mémé - February 14, 2026, 07:56:06 PMQuoteFirst of all, you shouldn't change SparkyLinux sources (the image above, was just an example) to testing (when you're using the Stable version / Seven-Sisters).And that was it!
And even less to mix stable sources and testing.
Actually, I'm using the rolling version of Sparky since the install a few years ago;
however, as I clumsily mentioned it before, I already had an issue with sources update.
It seems that neither "modernize-sources" nor "dist-upgrade" do modify sources as expected;
that explains the odd mix of sources you saw.
The fact remains that sources were the issue, probably causing a conflict.
I did manually update ALL the sources, according to this pavroo's note, and then, I could install "firefox-latest" and even get back my current profile!
That said, I thank you both pavroo & AxL and wish you a good evening!
#20
