USB stick boot but I want a frugal save to SDA

[theroar84]

First, Puppy is amazing. Thanks everyone that has been a part of it.

I have having an issue with USB installs where I set up my Frugal stuff... then on exit it will only save to the USB... I want the save file to be on SDA2.

If I boot via CD and setup the same frugal stuff... on exit it saves to SDA just like I want.

Any idea What am I missing when booting via USB?

Thanks for your time.

Mike

[Clarity]

Which forum distro?

[Jafadmin]

Typically you do this in the menu.lst or grub.cfg file on your USB. Add a "psave" parameter to the "kernel" or "linux" line that looks like this:

Code: Select all

psave=778e3ad4-b9d8-11ed-afa1-0242ac120002:PupsaveDir/pupsavefile.4fs

Where the UUID is the UUID of your sda1 partition, "PupsaveDir" is the folder where your pupsave file is located on sda1 (skip this if file is in the root of sda1), and finally the actual name of your pupsave file.

[bigpup]

With little information you get little help.

We must know what specific Puppy version you have on the USB.

Give use the complete name of the Puppy version ISO file.

How you did the install to the USB stick is also good info the know.

That will be a clue as to what boot loader menu config file you may need to edit and where to edit it.

[theroar84]

My bad for dissapearing. Family vacation and I just got back.

I am using Fossapup 64 9.5.

I created the USB sticks using the frugal installer. I have one that boots mbr and one that boots UEFI.

[Clarity]

@theroar84

Firstly, USB for Frugals are a bad choice. The performance and behavior is NOT ideal for any Frugal operations unless there is no other way. This has been published many times. Your knowledge of this is important.

But if you insist, it WILL RUN as a Frugal. And when booted, the FRUGAL wants to keep everything contained on the USB as you show.

Puppy offers the ability to put the sessions somewhere else on your system. BUT, from a pristine use, you MUST provide the location you want your Session to be saved, at boot time.

Todoso, at the Menu edit the line of your choice, add a "PSAVE" parameter to tell it where you want it to save your session. Using psave=uuid:/path is one way. BUT I use another way as it is easier and simpler for me; namely psave=partition-labelname:/path For example, a boot line I have used in booting FossaPUP64 by editing a boot entry is:

Code: Select all

linux /vmlinuz pfix=fsck pmedia=usbflash psave=Persistence:/Sessions/

which tells PUPPY to look for partition named "Persistence" and find the folder "Sessions". Then use that location when necessary to save/locate the current session(s).

In that folder none will be there if this is a pristine boot or iff I had/have prior saved a session there it might be something named 'fossapup64save..." for example and FossaPup64, with the parms above, KNOWS where to find and where to deposit your info for your session.

Hope this info is helpful

P.S. Its better to place and run your 'installed' Frugal files on your system drive. If you want a USB that you carry around, there are some modern technology which might be exactly what you would want and would give everything your current Frugal attempts provide without the performance hit one gets from Frugal on a USB. In other words this forum has discussions on some methods of USB use that provides the same portability that an 'installed' PUP USB gives.

Lasly, myself and others will rush here to tell you that on a USB you CAN DO IT. But, I'll leave it to you to decide if its the only or best way forward for you. That's a personal choice I respect.

[rockedge]

When I need a portable Puppy Linux on a USB stick I use mostly a frugal install style and read-write persistence storge on the USB drive. Making it portable. Otherwise once in a while to test stuff I make, I'll choose via a boot stanza where to save the persistence save file/folder.

I have laptops built around 2004-2010 that no longer have a battery or a working internal HDD that run Puppy Linux from a USB stick like that stick is the HDD.

I have collected for free a box full of 1 gb through 4 gb USB thumb drives that can be formatted and made boot-able then run a Puppy with no worries if the stick fails. Just make a new one since 90% of these USB sticks were free promotional merchandise and mostly of low quality.

[cobaka]

@Jafadmin

On the topic of the location of the pupsave file, you gave some sample code:

Code: Select all

psave=778e3ad4-b9d8-11ed-afa1-0242ac120002:PupsaveDir/pupsavefile.4fs

You refer to UUID of SDA1 partition. Can you tell me, please, where can I find this ident. (778e3a.... etc) code?
I presume I might use another partition on the HDD, yes?
On booting, where the save file is not on the boot-drive, will the 'boot' process locate a save file when a partition isn't mounted?

At the moment I am reading/digesting info about the save file. This topic is interesting, and the info on this thread is most useful.

Tnx - cobaka.

[Clarity]

Hello @cobaka
In the PSAVE parm you can list any of the followings and PUPs will find the session-folder where you store your saves:

• the partition designator where you have saved your sessions
• the partition's Label where you have saved your sessions
• the UUID where you have saved your sessions

To find this information

• For UUID, open a terminal and type 'blkid'. It will ALSO show you the Labels of each partitions.
• If you are running your Frugal, at its desktop, you can note the partition designator of your USB (i.e. sdb1, sdb2, or sdX# where 'X' is the USB's drive letter and '#' is the partition number on the USB
• Or open GParted via Menu>Setup>GParted as it will show all 3 of the items including Label

Hope this helps you

[Jafadmin]

@Jafadmin

On the topic of the location of the pupsave file, you gave some sample code:

Code: Select all

psave=778e3ad4-b9d8-11ed-afa1-0242ac120002:PupsaveDir/pupsavefile.4fs

You refer to UUID of SDA1 partition. Can you tell me, please, where can I find this ident. (778e3a.... etc) code?
I presume I might use another partition on the HDD, yes?
On booting, where the save file is not on the boot-drive, will the 'boot' process locate a save file when a partition isn't mounted?

At the moment I am reading/digesting info about the save file. This topic is interesting, and the info on this thread is most useful.


Tnx - cobaka.

The command "blkid" should show you the UUID's you need. Yes, you can put it anywhere. If it doesn't find it, puppy should boot with no swap.

[theroar84]

Thanks for the info. I may not have been clear, but I want the files to save to SDA2... not the USB. I booted from USB, then created a frugal install, and when I quit the only option to save that sesssion is the USB.

If I boot that PC via CD-rom... the same save option pops up and lets me save the SDA2 as expected. I ended up getting all my PC's taken care of via CD, but it is still really puzzling.

Thanks again for the responses everyone!

@theroar84

Firstly, USB for Frugals are a bad choice. The performance and behavior is NOT ideal for any Frugal operations unless there is no other way. This has been published many times. Your knowledge of this is important.

[Clarity]

Just to be sure I am clear of where you are: YOU have 2 boot devices:

1. CD/DVD disc

2. USB stick with Puppy installed in a folder

Then, when booting, pristine,

1. from disc, you get the option allowing to save your session to a partition on your system's drive

2. from USB, you do NOT get the options for saving the session to your system's drive

Is this accurate?

IF SO, on the USB have you followed the step suggested to add to the PUP's booting GRUB Menu's
linux ... psave=sda... (path to the system drive) from earlier post on this thread? OR are you trying a different solution that is not giving the expected result?

OR, are you saying everything is OK, now?

Curious

[bigpup]

Thanks for the info. I may not have been clear, but I want the files to save to SDA2... not the USB. I booted from USB, then created a frugal install, and when I quit the only option to save that sesssion is the USB.

If I boot that PC via CD-rom... the same save option pops up and lets me save the SDA2 as expected. I ended up getting all my PC's taken care of via CD, but it is still really puzzling.

Thanks again for the responses everyone!

When Fossapup64 9.5 was produced.
The thinking on booting from a USB install, was a save should be on the USB, so you could use it on a different computer, and have the save to use.

So the save option, to place on a different drive, is not there, if installed and booted from a USB.

Putting the save on a different drive.
Editing the boot loader menu config file entry, to have psave= pointing to the save location, is what is needed.

Copy the save to sda2, keeping the one on the USB as a backup for now.
Edit the boot loader menu config file entry.
Adding this to the kernel or linux line in the entry.
psave=/dev/sda2/name of the save, may work, if you have the save on the top layer of sda2 partition. Just on the partition, not inside any folder/directory.

If it still only finds the save on the USB.
Rename the save on the USB, adding bak. to beginning of name.

To give you a more detailed answer need to know the specific name of the save?
What format is sda2?
what boot loader config file is being used?
grub.cfg
menu.lst

The different drive selection for, booting from a CD, is available because you usually do not put a save on a CD.
So the save has to be stored on some drive, the computer has.

[theroar84]

Great info! Makes sense that if you have a stick... you want to save to the stick. I just had a different plan. Booting via CD solved it. I have a USB CD, so I doubt I have to fiddle anymore.

Thanks again everyone for all the info!!!!