usb key bootable linux?

[dbarton]

I'm looking for a very basic OS that just allows me to get on the web, and is bootable from a USB key.

All I want to do is be able to web browse now and again without booting up XP.

(Something like Xandros Presto, but on a key!)

 

[Bateluer]

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/

 

[frostedflakes]

There are many options out there, but I'm kind of a fan of Puppy Linux. Runs very well since it loads itself into RAM (assuming the machine has at least 256MB).

 

[Rifter]

I dont know if you have a ASUS board but it sounds like you need Express Gate, this is a application by ASUS that will boot in under 4 seconds(on my system) and allows internet access and some other basic functions(email, chat, etc), i dont know if other mobo companies have an equivilent or not, i thought it was just marketing BS but it works very very well.

here is a link, its slow but if you let it load the example it is actually that fast if not faster, i love it, makes last min e-mail checking before work a breeze.

http://event.asus.com/mb/expressgate/index.htm

 

[dbarton]

I wish we could just go to Staples and simply buy a key with basic Linux on it.

Any idea which of these I'd the easiest and fastest to get up and running?
Puppy instructions do look pretty easy!

(This for a laptop, so no Express Gate)

 

[lxskllr]

Puppy's very easy. It's my goto light Linux distro. Minime is also a nice distro.

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/a...b-pclinuxos-minimezip/

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Just load up Live CD, and create a bootable thumb drive from there. I used Ubuntu to do it on a 1gb drive, and it works great.

EDIT: There is a certain option you select. It isn't terribly hard to find, but if you can't find it, PM me and I'll look it up for you.

 

[dbarton]

I tried Puppy and it couldn't find my network cards driver so I couldn't use the net.

I guess I should try Minime? Is one distro better for finding more drivers?

 

[lxskllr]

Is it wireless or wired? Wireless might be a PITA with any distro. If wired, I'm a little surprised it didn't recognise it. Do you know the make and model of card?

 

[dbarton]

Intel 3945 wireless. The idea was that I'd boot to Linux when I want internet in airports, where I can't afford to have anything bad happen to my windows install.

I'm using virtual machines now to do the same, but it's so slow to boot to XP, then a VM.

 

[lxskllr]

Puppy looks like it might be a PITA, at least to this noob. My searches all lead to convoluted instructions on forums where English wasn't the native language :^D

You could give DSL a try, then follow the instructions here to get the wireless working.

Edit:
You could also use one of the Ubuntu variants, but they'll be heavier, with a longer boot time. Probably more friendly to getting things going though.

 

[compman25]

Try Unetbootin with Ubuntu.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

I really prefer Slax. Or the PCLOS minime was also easy to set up.

 

[lxskllr]

I was just playing with DSL in a VM, and it doesn't seem like the best O/S for a Linux noob. You'd probably be better off with Xubuntu, or maybe Mint.

 

[F1N3ST]

Knoppix and Ubuntu are nice Live CD's.

 

[dbarton]

Unetbootin to load Ubuntu seems to be a winning combo. Very easy to install.

Booted up first time knowing my wireless drivers and all, and worked with about 4 clicks *total* to install on my key.
Excellent.

My only question is how small a key I could have used. This 8g seems overkill.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: dbarton

Unetbootin to load Ubuntu seems to be a winning combo. Very easy to install.

Booted up first time knowing my wireless drivers and all, and worked with about 4 clicks *total* to install on my key.
Excellent.

My only question is how small a key I could have used. This 8g seems overkill.

It'll fit comfortably on a 2gb drive, especially if you do some trimming.

 

[compman25]

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: dbarton

Unetbootin to load Ubuntu seems to be a winning combo. Very easy to install.

Booted up first time knowing my wireless drivers and all, and worked with about 4 clicks *total* to install on my key.
Excellent.

My only question is how small a key I could have used. This 8g seems overkill.

It'll fit comfortably on a 2gb drive, especially if you do some trimming.

I think it will fit on a 1gb drive, that is all I had at the time and it's how I loaded Ubuntu on my laptop.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: compman25


I think it will fit on a 1gb drive, that is all I had at the time and it's how I loaded Ubuntu on my laptop.

Will the whole install fit in 1gb? I put it on my daughters Asus 700, which has 2gb of HD space, but I thought it only had a few hundred mb left after install. I'd have to look at it.

 

[dbarton]

Looks like Ubuntu 8 is 711mb on my key.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: dbarton
Looks like Ubuntu 8 is 711mb on my key.

That's not bad. It's enough room to edit some docs, and have a bit of music. You can free up additional space by getting rid of localization for the different apps, as well as uninstalling the bits you don't need. It's much better than Windows in that regard.