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

Revision [11449]

This is an old revision of InstallationFrugal made by coolpup on 2010-12-14 07:07:42.

Frugal Installations

A frugal installation is performed by extracting the contents of the container ISO or ZIP file to any FAT32, NTFS or EXT4 formatted partition.

Fastest file-system for flash memory drives: EXT4

When a frugal installation is desired it is convenient to have a LiveDVD because it can be used to install the required boot loader (either GRUB, SYSLINUX, or EXTLINUX depending on the formatting of the installation partition). Instructions are also provided below for situations when not using an optical disc drive.

First acquire the container file (either an ISO or ZIP file) of the desired Puppy Linux, e.g. Fluppy, Puppy 5 or Wary.

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

If, after performing the installation processes given below, the computer does not boot into Puppy Linux from the U.S.B. flash drive follow the instructions in Appendices 1 and 3 at LiveDVD.

Installation to an U.S.B. flash (or external) drive

with Syslinux or GRUBforDOS as boot-loader

without using an optical disc drive

From within Puppy Linux

see Appendices 1-3 below

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 U.S.B. flash drive 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 computer with U.S.B. flash drive connected

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

Installation to any partition using an optical disc drive and with GRUB as boot-loader

Flash tutorial

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

Appendix 1 [Preparing the U.S.B. device]

Download and install recent versions of: dosfstools, e2fsprogs, NTFS3G NTFS-3G, tar

Determine the correct target device name of the U.S.B.flash memory drive to work on:
```
probedisk2
```

(Optional) Verify that all existing data is destroyed, e.g. using sdb as target device:
```
dd if=/dev/random of=/dev/sdb && dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb
```

Zero the first 512 bytes of the boot partition to delete any existing M.B.R. boot code and partition table (disklabel), e.g. using sdb1 as target partition:
```
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb1 bs=512 count=1
```

Create a new partition table (disklabel) on the correct target device:
```
parted /dev/sdb mklabel msdos
```

Create new partition(s) on the correct target device: Menu > System > GParted > Partition > New

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

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

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

Appendix 2 [Installing a boot-loader to the U.S.B. device]

Use either SYSLINUX or GRUB for DOS (recommended).
Using SYSLINUX for FAT32 partitions

Download and install recent version of SYSLINUX

Install the boot-loader, e.g. using /dev/sdb1 as the target partition:
```
syslinux -i --stupid /dev/sdb1
```

Install boot code to the M.B.R. of the target drive:
```
dd if=mbr.bin of=/dev/sdb
```

Using GRUBforDOS for FAT32, EXT4, and NTFS partitions

Download, install and run the latest version of Grub4DosConfig

Download a recent version of grldr and place it at /mnt/home/

Appendix 3 [Installing Puppy to the U.S.B. device]

Click on the Puppy ISO (or ZIP) file to open its contents

Copy to the U.S.B. flash drive the files: vmlinuz, initrd.gz, and all those with the extensions .sfs, and .cfg

With SYSLINUX boot-loader

Rename the 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 U.S.B. flash drive connected

With GRUBforDOS boot-loader

The configuration file menu.lst can be created using Grub4DosConfig

Reboot the computer with the U.S.B. flash drive connected

PuppyLinux : InstallationFrugal

Revision [11449]