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

Revision [18214]

This is an old revision of InstallationFrugal made by coolpup on 2011-09-24 13:49:43.

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How to make a frugal Puppy installation

A frugal Puppy installation is performed by extracting the contents of the container file (either ISO or ZIP) to normally one, i.e. the same, directory residing optimally on an EXT4 formatted partition. Let that desired partition be known as the target partition since one is aiming to install to it. That partition may be located on:

either an external device, e.g. U.S.B. flash memory drive (U.F.D.) (often erroneously referred to as a memory stick) or S.D. flash memory card

or, an internal device, usually a hard disk drive (H.D.D.)

WARNING: If the target partition contains any important files copy them elsewhere if required, because they will be destroyed when the target partition is formated.

The target device is the device which contains the partition that one aims to install to, such as an external flash memory drive or an internal hard disk drive. Such a device must have a partition with a minimum storage capacity of 256MB.

The following three steps assume that one is running Puppy Linux. However, the same procedure is followed with any running Linux distribution. If one is running Microsoft Windows go to Appendix 1 below.

Step 1 - Preparing the target device

install the latest available versions of bzip2, e2fsprogs, grep, parted and tar

determine the correct device name of the target device to work on, via the command-line interface:
```
probedisk2
```

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

ensure the target device is unmounted: Menu > System > GParted > Partition > Unmount
```
umount /dev/sdX
```

create a partition(s) or, delete or resize an existing one on the target device: Menu > System > GParted > Partition

create the required file system (formatting) on the partition(s) of the target device (WARNING - all data on the target partition will be over-written (destroyed)): Menu > System > GParted > Partition > Format to

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

then optionally select FAT32 for another partition for sharing the device with non-Linux mobile devices {install dosfstools}

then optionally select N.T.F.S. for another partition for sharing the device with non-Linux operating systems {install ntfs3g, }

set the boot flag status of the device to on via Menu > System > GParted > Partition > Manage Flags > boot or via the command-line interface, e.g for partition 1 of device X
```
parted /dev/sdX set 1 boot on
```

Step 2 - Installing Puppy to the target device

mount the target device by clicking on it

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

copy from the ISO (or ZIP) directory to the target device either all the files, or, just these essential ones: vmlinuz, initrd.gz, and all those with the extension .sfs (if more than one Puppy version is to be installed ensure that they are each contained within their own directory)

Step 3 - Installing a boot-loader to the target device

A. Using SYSLINUX for EXT4 file-systems

install the latest available version of SYSLINUX

install the boot-loader configuration file syslinux.cfg by placing it on the target device (this will need editing if more than one Puppy version was installed)

install the boot-loader code to the M.B.R. of the target device X:

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

install the boot-loader system file ldlinux.sys to the target partition XY, ensuring that it is mounted first:
```
mkdir /mnt/sdXY/extlinux && extlinux -i --stupid /mnt/sdXY/extlinux
```

follow the additional instructions in Appendices 1 and 3 at LiveDVD, then re-boot the computer with the flash memory device connected

B. Using SYSLINUX for FAT32 file-systems

install the latest available version of SYSLINUX

install the boot-loader configuration file syslinux.cfg by placing it on the target device (this will need editing if more than one Puppy version was installed)

install the boot-loader code to the M.B.R. of the target device X:

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

install the boot-loader system file ldlinux.sys to the target partition XY:
```
syslinux -i --stupid /dev/sdXY
```

follow the additional instructions in Appendices 1 and 3 at LiveDVD, then re-boot the computer with the flash memory device connected

C. Using GRUBforDOS for all common file-systems

install the latest available version of helper program Grub4DosConfig

install the boot-loader system file grldr by locating it at /grldr on the target device

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

install the boot-loader configuration file menu.lst, or update an existing one, by using Grub4DosConfig: Menu > System > Grub4Dos

follow the additional instructions in Appendices 1 and 3 at LiveDVD, then re-boot the computer with the flash memory device connected

Step 4 - Creating the save file

When shutting down for the first time there will be the option to create a personal storage save file which must be chosen.

References

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=54566
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
http://www.puppylinux.com/flash-puppy.htm

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

Format the drive or partition to FAT32

Download and extract the latest syslinux .zip file to the C drive, i.e. C:\syslinux

Then go to directory C:\syslinux\win32\:
```
cd C:\syslinux\win32\
```

Then, with administrator privileges, run the syslinux command to make the target 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 target device the files: vmlinuz, initrd.gz, and all those with the extensions .sfs

Download this sample boot-loader configuration file syslinux.cfg and place it on the target device

Re-boot 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

Appendix 3 - How to run Puppy Linux from a flash memory drive on any computer already running

http://puppylinux.org/wikka/QEMUpuppy

Appendix 4

Some old Puppy versions may not boot from U.F.D. if the internal H.D.D. has been removed:

Posted on 23 Apr 2011, 22:54 by perthie
USB Install Issue?
I notice that you still haven't commented on this issue. A machine missing an internal hard drive can no longer be booted from a flash drive. The new search procedure fails to find the sfs file on the flash drive.
Posted on 24 Apr 2011, 8:20 by BarryK
Re no boot usb
I have written it down in my to-do list.

http://bkhome.org/blog/?viewDetailed=02001
http://bkhome.org/blog/?viewDetailed=02231