How to make a GNU/Linux frugal installation with copy-to-R.A.M. mode system: PuppyLinux

Revision [11973]

This is an old revision of InstallationFrugal made by coolpup on 2011-01-11 03:30:05.

A Puppy frugal installation is performed by extracting the contents of the container ISO or ZIP file to one, i.e. the same, directory on any FAT32, NTFS or EXT4 formatted partition.

If the target partition or drive contains any personally important files copy them elsewhere if required, because they will be destroyed when formatting.

If, after performing the installation processes described below, the computer does not boot follow the instructions in Appendices 1 and 3 at LiveDVD.

The next three steps assume that one is running Puppy Linux and the target drive is an external flash memory device, however, the target drive or partition could just as well be an internal one. If running Microsoft Windows go to Appendix 1 below.

Step 1 - Preparing the flash memory device

Download and install latest available versions of: bzip2, dosfstools, e2fsprogs, grep, ntfs3g, tar

Determine the correct target device name of the flash memory device to work on:
```
probedisk2
```

(Optional) Verify that all existing data is destroyed on target partition Y or target device X:
```
dd if=/dev/random of=/dev/sdXY && dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdXY
```

Zero the first 512 bytes of the boot partition Y to delete any existing M.B.R. boot code:
```
dd bs=512 count=1 if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdXY
```

Create a new partition table (disklabel) on the target device X (WARNING: access to all existing data on X will be lost):
```
parted /dev/sdX mklabel msdos
```

Ensure the target device is unmounted: Menu > System > GParted > Partition > Unmount

Create, delete or resize partition(s) on the correct target device: Menu > System > GParted > Partition

Create the required file system (formatting) on the partition(s) of the target device: Menu > System > GParted > Partition > Format to

select EXT4 for all partitions if possible {fastest file-system for flash memory devices}

or select FAT32 for sharing the device with non-Linux mobile devices

or select N.T.F.S. for sharing the device with non-Linux operating systems {FAT is too limited}

Set the boot flag on the device: Menu > System > GParted > Partition > Manage Flags > boot

Step 2 - Installing Puppy to the flash memory device

Mount the target device X:
```
mount /dev/sdX
```

Mount the the Puppy ISO (or ZIP) file by clicking on it

Copy to the flash memory device the files: vmlinuz, initrd.gz, and all those with the extensions .sfs, and .cfg

Step 3 - Installing a boot-loader to the flash memory device

Using SYSLINUX for EXT4 partitions

Download and install the latest version of SYSLINUX

Install the boot-loader code to the M.B.R. of the target drive X:

dd conv=notrunc bs=440 count=1 if=/usr/lib/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sdX

Install the boot-loader file ldlinux.sys to the target partition Y:

mkdir /mnt/sdXY/extlinux && extlinux -i --stupid /mnt/sdXY/extlinux

Rename the boot-loader configuration file isolinux.cfg to syslinux.cfg

Edit syslinux.cfg in a text editor: change "pmedia=cd" to "pmedia=usbflash"

Reboot the computer with the flash memory device connected

Using SYSLINUX for FAT32 partitions

Download and install the latest version of SYSLINUX

Install the boot-loader code to the M.B.R. of the target drive X:

dd conv=notrunc bs=440 count=1 if=/usr/lib/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sdX

Install the boot-loader file ldlinux.sys to the target partition Y:
```
syslinux -i --stupid /dev/sdXY
```

Rename the boot-loader configuration file isolinux.cfg to syslinux.cfg

Edit syslinux.cfg in a text editor: change "pmedia=cd" to "pmedia=usbflash"

Reboot the computer with the flash memory device connected

Using GRUBforDOS for NTFS partitions

Download and install the latest version of Grub4DosConfig

Install the boot-loader code to the M.B.R. of the target drive X:
```
bootlace.com --time-out=0 /dev/sdX
```

Install the boot-loader file grldr:

wget -c --directory-prefix=/mnt/home http://www.smokey01.com/coolpup/grldr

The boot-loader configuration file menu.lst can be created or updated using Grub4DosConfig: Menu > System > Grub4Dos

Reboot the computer with the flash memory device connected

References

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=46129
http://www.puppylinux.org/main/index.php?file=Manual-English05.txt
http://aronzak.wordpress.com/2008/10/07/usb-linux-howto-puppy-41/
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=54826
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/put-lucid-puppy-on-usb-flash-drive-from-windows/#more-4392 (see next reference also)
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=458818#458818
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=54360
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=43203
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=37368

Appendix 1 - Installation to any external flash memory device, from within Microsoft Windows

Format the drive or partition to FAT32

Download and extract syslinux to a folder, e.g. C:\syslinux

Then go to directory C:\syslinux\win32\ by entering into the command-line interface:
```
cd C:\syslinux\win32\
```

Then run the syslinux command to make the drive bootable (where X: is the drive letter for the target drive or partition)
```
syslinux.exe -m -a X:
```

Open the Puppy ISO (or ZIP) file to view its contents, using e.g. 7-zip, (it is important that the original file names be kept)

Copy to the flash memory device the files: vmlinuz, initrd.gz, and all those with the extensions .sfs, and .cfg

Rename isolinux.cfg to syslinux.cfg

Edit syslinux.cfg in a text editor: change "pmedia=cd" to "pmedia=usbflash"

Reboot the computer with the flash memory device connected

Appendix 2 - Installation to any Microsoft Windows partition and using GRUBforDOS as boot-loader

Installing the boot-loader to the internal hard disk drive (where Microsoft Windows resides)
http://www.icpug.org.uk/national/linnwin/step1-xp.htm
http://puppy.b0x.me/lin-n-win
Installing the boot-loader to an external drive
http://shino.pos.to/linux/lupq/puppydualboot.html