Fossapup on hdd: installed programs are not saved

[Jon]

So... I thought that I installed fossapup to the hard drive of my virtual machine but it doesn't have any of the programs I installed when I shut it down and restart. What do I do? I would like it to maintain changes on the hard drive but I am also testing it out for the purpose of eventually making a persistent usb so, any advice on how to make a persistent usb would be very helpful to me as well.
Thank you,
-Jonathan

[bigpup]

How did you install Fossapup64 to the virtual machine HDD?
How is the virtual machine HDD setup?
When you shutdown are you being asked to make a save?
.
.
USB drive installs:
If you use the installer programs in Fossapup64
There are several that can do installs to USB.

Stickpup installer is the easiest to use. But gives you no options.
It does a single install to a USB, deleting everything on it, and only ending up with one single version of Puppy Linux on it.

I like to use the Frugalpup Installer. (it is already in Fossapup64 9.5)
Have only one Puppy version on it or can have multiple Puppy versions installed and ability to boot each one.
viewtopic.php?t=337
This is how to use it:
viewtopic.php?p=1887#p1887

Do you need help using Gparted program, to setup the USB drive?

[Jon]

Um, it was a format "VDI" virtual disk, fixed size, at 30GB. I remember that I couldn't get it to install without making the disk a single vfat partition, otherwise it wouldn't install grub. And Frugal install seemed to be the only option with the graphical installer. I don't really remember if I used the option with UEFI sopport or the one without. Sorry... Also, I don't really care about having multiple Pups. I just want it to install like a normal distro... Especially once I install it to a usb as it is my ultimate goal to make my own Puplet that I can tailor to my own system administration, system restore and even windows rescue needs.

[bigpup]

When you shutdown are you being asked to make a save?
If yes.
Make one and reboot using the save.
Now try to install stuff.

Note:
Puppy uses a save file or save folder to store anything that is a change.
Added programs, settings, etc....
A save file can be made on any location with any format.
A save folder can only be made on a location using a Linux format.