Need Help Turning Broken Phone into Linux Server - No Touchscreen
Control
reddit / selfhosted

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adrianB12 · 2023-11-11 15:35

Got my hands on this old phone with a busted screen from my mom.
Instead of tossing it and adding to the e-waste, I'm thinking of
turning it into a Linux server. The catch is, I don't have root access
since it was my mom's phone, and the screen's a goner.

I'm looking for advice on installing Linux without root access, and
here's the kicker—I can't use the touchscreen. Any ideas on how to
control it without a working touchscreen? The goal is to recycle the
phone for something useful.

Has anyone dealt with this before? Also, any suggestions on a
beginner-friendly, lightweight Linux distro that'll run on older
hardware?

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arcadianarcadian · 2023-11-11 15:52

[https://maruos.com/](https://maruos.com/)

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I tried this custom ROM on my old Nexus 6P. It turns your phone into a
linux desktop through HDMI or with the help of Chromecast feature.
Also, I tried this one with a bluetooth keyboard which works. But
maybe you'll need a touchscreen feature when configuring.

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CarltonSamuel · 2023-11-11 16:19

You can use termux and run a Linux distro without root. You can
remotely SSH to update/install services so broken touch screen is not
an issue.