FULL install on usb key

What would you recommend to install FULLY (not live usb) on a usb key? I need everything like mp3, flash, java...... What runs the fastest on the key? I have a 8gig key...

Thanks so much!

 

SuperUbuntu will do it all and will fit easily on an 8gb key. But first I'd try Puppy 4.1. It will leave almost your entire 8gb for "stuff" and will probably do everything you want.

 

Hi


I was confrontated to this question a few years ago: unlike a well known HIPS dev. of this area i am not ready to take a laptop to the sea...

So i post a few links of non popular distributions that might help travellers for the next summer...

In fact many distro can be installed on a 8 Go USB stick; and there is tools and scripts that can help for that purpose:

UNebootin: http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

FUSBi: http://aligunduz.org/FUSBi/

Major distributions like Ubuntu and Fedora have their own USB installer.

An interesting and easy how to:
make any pc your own withlinux on a usb key:

http://www.custompc.co.uk/features/602451/make-any-pc-your-own-with-linux-on-a-usb-key.html

Non popular distribution for live USB:

Gufi http://webpath.net/gufi/index.php :for those who do not wish to forget Windows...

Macpup derivative PuppY with a looks like mac design desktop http://macpup.org/

PureOS: a recent distro;
http://pureos.org/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=35&func=view&id=1158&catid=28

Slitaz : http://slitaz.org/en/ Really need to be known!

Geekbox; media oriented: http://www.geexbox.org/en/index.html

http://www.mcnlive.org/index.html

http://www.faunos.com/ Based on one of my favourite distribution: ArchLinux

If you want to save time more than money then i suggest the fresh PureDyne:
http://code.goto10.org/projects/puredyne/wiki/GetPureDyne

Not tested yet but seems interesting:

http://www.igelle.org/

As we see UNIX/LINUX is freedom...

rgds

 

Xp too can be installed on 8 gb usb.

 

Nice list Kareldjag
Good to see you posting in this forum

Had not seen GUFI or PureOS previously

Unfortunately, although FaunOS will still work, devt has ceased
From raymano: http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=55524
Really sad. I liked it a lot.

Suggestion from me re USB Install : Wolvix
http://www.wolvix.org/
Instructions ( now ood ) here:
http://wiki.wolvix.org/USBFlashDriveInstall
and here:
http://forums.wolvix.org/index.php/topic,1048.0.html

Note that Wolvix 1.1 has the remarkable Wolvix control panel with GUI for USB install.
Mrk's run through:
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/install_wolvix.html
Attached shows the Control Panel

 

Thanks, I installed puppy 4.2

I am impressed with puppy. On my USB key, it is PERFECT! Thanks

 

Does this apply to older machines or only the newer ones with Bios booting? Incidentally do the regular Live "Unix" boot up on older machines ?

 

Unix or Linux ...? Big difference.
Mrk

 

I was thinking of "Damn Small Linux" or other very small distro.

 

Hi,

-Puppy is a “made simple” distro and an excellent choice for USB install.
The portable eeZos ( http://www.eezos.com/index.php ) is Puppy based and is designed to work with the eeOS web OS .

-Windows XP, like any MST desktop OS (Seven included), can technically be installed on USB key.
But Microsoft OSes are not designed for that purpose (technical limitations by default).
I’m not aware about all MST jurisdiction protections, but I guess that there is licensing issues for such install, as it is suggested in BartPe pages: http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/#licensing

-Tks Lonboard. If I can practise my English and try to help by the same time...(especially in this Nix area, not polluted by viral marketing...)
Not tested Wolvix (I focus mainly on forensic and security distros) but I have no doubt about its potential.
FaunOS is not maintained anymore.Unfortunately.
But as one of the most exhaustive portable non MST desktop, its presence on the list was quite necessary, as a kind of homage...
But as you know the Arch community is active; and the new baby is Larch which can also be installed on USB devices: http://larch.berlios.de/

-"Unix linux big difference? Euh...yes if we consider these photos: http://www.levenez.com/unix/
Unix is designed by bearded men and Linux by a shaved man
More seriously: why loading this out off topic remark? doest it help?
Most of all : what exactly prove that I compare Unix and Linux or that I mean they are the same?
“Unix/Linux is freedom” : I just mean the Nix Open Source world in comparison to Microsoft world, less portqble by default.
And this blog, especially the last comment is the exact image of my thoughts:
http://trainofthoughts.org/blog/2007/09/26/unix-vs-linux/
And the slash between Linux and Unix is just generic as it used in this Sysadmin site:
http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/understanding-unixlinux-file-system-part-i.html

In an absolute way,claiming there is a difference between Unix OSes and Linux OS is a pure truism!
Two things not exactly similar are ipso facto different!
In this case all Linux distros are different from each others, Idem for Unix OSes.
Conclusion: as no OS can be the same as an other one, all OSes are therefore different from each others.
But this is here playing with words and concepts!

Seriously i am not agree with the adjective or terminology «big»: Linux is considered as an Unix-like OS; because designed under Unix inspiration by an Unix user.
So there could not be technically so much differences.
And this conclusion raises from many studies like this IBM overview:
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/aix/library/au-unix-difflinux.html
My experience of Unix systems is limited to Solaris, Mac OS, BSD families;and Minix.
And in comparisons to Linux, i have noticed more similarities than differences.
But there is no right or wrong opinions about this subject.

Even if for MRK there is a big difference between Unix and Linux, i am convinced that Unix (OSes) is freedom too:
Minix, OpenSolaris like its derivative distros can be installed on USB key:
http://www.opensolaris.org/os/project/livemedia/
http://blogs.sun.com/clayb/entry/creating_opensolaris_usb_sticks_is
Milax and Belenix, two excellent OpenSolaris distro:
http://www.milax.org/?p=20
http://www.belenix.org/
http://www.minix3.org/downad/

More over, with Nexenta, Linux (Ubuntu) and Unix (OpenSolaris) can be "mixed" in the same OS:
http://www.nexenta.org/os

I suggest to Mrk to avoid unnecessary comments if there is any doubt about a wrong interpretation of some sentences (especially with non native English speakers).
If i was not on another sphere of motivation and philosophy, i could also begin to satisfy my ego by correcting some Mrk wrongness and mistakes in some recent firewall posts.
Parenthesis closed.And sorry for the blah blah...

In order to complete my previous, i have not mentioned some interesting tool, site and distribution
The portable and recent Linux project that helps in building a portable Linux environment:

http://rudd-o.com/new-projects/portablelinux/

Pendrivelinux, devoted for Linux portability: http://www.pendrivelinux.com/

And an interesting french distribution project that i might choose for a charity project.
cOOPERATION icw:
Education version: http://www.cooperation-iws.eu/CMS/?p=483
USB install: http://www.cooperation-iws.eu/CMS/?page_id=44

Rgds

 

All I thought was that the user was contemplating between trying Unix compared to Linux ... and here, hardware compatibility plays a major part for home users, that's all.
Mrk

 

Kareldjag:

Thank you for the plentiful sites and info. I have my reading cut out for me.

Mrkvonic:

Thanks for your warning about possible problems between Unix "proper" ans Linux "proper".

Again many thanks,
cortez

 

Linux Format mentioned Fedora too. January issue i think.

 

Just a word of warning.
It is not reccomended to install to a flash drive, because the large amount of writes created by temp and logs files will drastically shorten the life of a flash drive.
Besy option IMO is to create a LiveUSB disc and have a seperate partition to store files.