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I have seen https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LiveUsbPendrivePersistent but it's a mess.

What methods support persistent drivers as well as files and settings and don't screw up lifespan of the flash drive?

I'd like to see your personal recommendations on say, Portable Linux, USB Creator, Remastersys + Unetbootin, etc

Backstory:

I have a Inspiron 1525 that's hard drive has been slowly dying. I want to switch to a live USB/CD/DVD system until I can get it repaired but my laptops internal wifi device requires a network connection by another means for Xubuntu to let it work, and then I have to enter my Wifi key again, and THEN I have to reinstall Skype etc... I'd be damned every time I have to shut the laptop down.

I'm ok with making a shell script for installing apps and copying settings as required but a good persistent install should make this old hat and slow and it doesn't take care of drivers.

The last time I tried making an ISO with Remastersys it didn't seem to copy all the required settings.

quack quixote
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Luke Stanley
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1 Answers1

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Recient USB-2 flash-drives are fast and robust enough to boot and run linux directly. It is not necessary to use a 'live' or cow (copy on write) system. You can install Linux on the USB/flash drive just like is was an internal ide/sata drive.

A $20-$30 flash drive (4-32 GB) should work fine. I've been using an 8GB flash-drive for Debian Lenny for several months now. It's nice because I can carry my entire environment around in my pocket.

Of course, your bios has to be capable of booting from USB (your Inspiron 1525 is probably ok). Depending on your installer, you might have to fiddle a bit to get grub installed correctly on the MBR of the USB drive.... grub

device (hd0) /dev/sdb

root (hd0,0)

setup (hd0)

I like the ram-disk idea. I will try that (on a machine that has at least 2GB). I forgot to mention the noatime option on your root filesystem. This can significantly improve performance because flash-drive are slow to write.

Community
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Gregor
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