Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

nath2omt · Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 19

I'm running Puppy 4.3.1 on Acer Extensa, carved an ext2 portion on the hard drive, put the savefile there. When I boot from CD, I can remove CD after the Puppy is up. But, when I boot from the USB key, it wants the savefile on the USB key too.

Where can I modify something to let the bootup find the savefile on HD, so I can boot from USB memory stick and when Puppy is up remove the USB key?

Thanks guys!

sunburnt · Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Posts: 4006 Location: Arizona, U.S.A.

Hi nath2omt; There`s a boot argument that makes it run without a Save file.
If not having persistent settings is ok, then this should do it.

pfix=ram
-------------- Run Puppy totally in RAM ignore saved sessions.

nath2omt · Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 19

Thanks sunburnt. I have to have a save file because I needed to make some other changes. I want the USB key to boot up the computer and not needed anymore (for easily moving the laptop around).

Béèm · Posted: Fri 05 Mar 2010, 14:48 Post subject:

Show your menu.list here.

sunburnt · Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Posts: 4006 Location: Arizona, U.S.A.

Then you need to run in ram and have the Save file on the H.D.

Béèm · Posted: Fri 05 Mar 2010, 19:11 Post subject:

Sunburnt, that's the question the OP is asking.
He specifies «when I boot from the USB key, it wants the savefile on the USB key too.» and he has a save file on the HDD.
So his issue is, why do I have to have a save file on USB, while I have one on HDD.

William (Dthdealer) · Posted: Fri 05 Mar 2010, 21:58 Post subject:

If someone could compose an initrd that makes a ram filesystem and copies the entire drive partition into that it would work.

Other than that if you computer has enough ram Puppy should copy everything to ram anyway with the pfix=copy option. I'm not sure if this loads other .sfs' however.

sunburnt · Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Posts: 4006 Location: Arizona, U.S.A.

Yes... But it only uses one at a time, the USB by default.

nath2omt · Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 19

Nothing to update, but just to clarify a little. When I boot from CD, I can save the pupsave file on HD, and at CD reboot, pup-431.sfs file and the pupsave file on HD are used. CD can then be removed. However, when I boot from USB, I can only save savefile on USB. It won't reboot without the savefile and the .sfs on USB. Beem, I don't think I have a menu.lst file.

sunburnt · Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Posts: 4006 Location: Arizona, U.S.A.

You would think that there would be a " boot from USB and run in ram or from HD ".

Puppy should be able to specify what is put where and what to use at bootup.
IE: Use SFS file on ANY drive or in ram, and use Save file on HD or USB or in ram.
The only exception for file usage is that the Save file can`t be on a CD-DVD ( read only ).
Once both files are being used from a different drive, the boot drive can be removed.

Béèm · Posted: Sun 07 Mar 2010, 03:23 Post subject:

OK let's resume.
You booted from CD
You created a save file on a HDD partition
You installed on USB
You expect when booting from USB to find the previously created save file, but it doesn't.

What are the precise steps you did install puppy on the USB stick (you are sure it's a frugal install)

Sunburnt is right in saying that save files can be anywhere.
I have save files on different devices also and I can select one of those displayed in the list.

nath2omt · Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 19

That didn't work, so

1. I booted from CD, installed puppy to 1G USB flash drive (not USB HD).
2. Rebooted from USB, tried to save pupsave file on HD, no such an option.

I noticed 1 thing: If I boot from CD, the HD portion on which the savefile is located is automatically mounted. But, if I boot from USB, it's not mounted. So, CD and USB do things differently. I guess we need to modify initrd.gz on USB.

sunburnt · Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Posts: 4006 Location: Arizona, U.S.A.

Maybe boot the Save file on the USB normally, and once booted run a script that would
ununion and unmount the USB Save file, and then mount and union the Save file on the HD.
I know UnionFS won`t do this, but I think AUFS should do it.

nath2omt · Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 19

Don't know enough about Linux to go around modify things, but I'm certain that it can be done. Just not a top priority though.

To reiterate my objectives: Once in a while, I want to use another family member's laptop for a quick go to the internet. I can put some puppy files on the computer, but don't want to boot from it. So, I want to use a USB stick to boot it AND after the puppy is up, remove the USB key (don't want to accidentally knock it off). When I'm done, just log it off. A CD can do this, but using USB is easier than CD. A good use of puppy, isn't it?

Béèm · Posted: Mon 08 Mar 2010, 12:59 Post subject:

When I asked about the precise steps, it means that you tell what happens at each panel when selecting the puppy universal installer.
What did you select there.

The way you describe it isn't good enough.