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puppy linux in usb drive
i am new in puppy linux and i want to try it
i have 7 GB usb drive
are there a way to install puppy linux on it 
without installing it in my main pc (windows 7) 
this is the file name if needed
BookwormPup64_10.0.9.iso
i am sorry for my bad english
I suggest you use the latest version of BookwormPup64 v10.0.10
Get it here:
viewtopic.php?t=8690
The things you do not tell us, are usually the clue to fixing the problem.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be older.
This is not what I expected 
Do you know how to make the computer boot from a USB drive?
The things you do not tell us, are usually the clue to fixing the problem.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be older.
This is not what I expected
yes , this is not problem with me 
just i want to know how to install puppy linux in my usb (not burn it i mean install "portable linux")
I tried Universal USB Installer
but its not working 
its just boot puppy linux in live mod
i found something named puppy installer inside the live mod 
but its not working
are there any way to install puppy in my flash disk
Assuming you can still boot to Win7, do that...then insert your USB thumb drive, when prompted
choose to open in Explorer, in that Window, look at the files on the thumb drive...you'll probably
see the Puppy files which are SFS files...navigate up one level...see if you can find a file named
menu.lst (that's menu."el"st, little L, not a number 1" OR, one named grub.cfg. Right click on that
and choose to open with Notepad...look for a line that reads something like pmedia=cdXXX or so...
change that to read pmedia=usbflash...save the file...close Notepad, then unmount the USB drive,
but leave it plugged in. Now, shutdown Windows and reboot, choose the USB drive to boot from.
You should be able to save your changes to your USB drive now!
Signature available upon request
I tried Universal USB Installer
That is not one of the installer programs that was recommended in that how to do it topic provided for you to read.
Not sure it gives you ability to make a Puppy save.
I would use unetbootin installer
https://unetbootin.github.io/
its just boot puppy linux in live mod
All USB installer programs do live installs to USB flash drives.
Puppy is designed to run that way.
That is one of the normal installs for Puppy Linux.
Changes you make are stored in a save file you make during the first shutdown.
If Puppy boots to a working desktop, you have a good correct install.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What version of Puppy did you install?
The things you do not tell us, are usually the clue to fixing the problem.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be older.
This is not what I expected
Puppy has two normal ways to install and run it.
1. Live install to a CD/DVD or a USB stick.
2. Frugal install to any type drive and a boot loader installed to boot it.
(frugal is the name it is called, is complete normal Puppy install)
Installer programs in Puppy only know how to do this type install.
After you get Puppy running and working OK.
Nothing is wrong with using it as a live install.
Note:
If you have another USB stick you could do installs on.
There are installer programs in Puppy that are more specific for doing Puppy installs.
But need to know what specific Puppy version you are running to know what USB installers it has.
The things you do not tell us, are usually the clue to fixing the problem.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be older.
This is not what I expected
the version that i have is
BookwormPup64_10.0.9
i cant update to newest version for now
so i ask if this version could working with me
@retro_bread welcome to our wonderful forum, a place where we share goodness.
From what I can read you might have some basic IT knowledge to obtain, that are lacking, foundations to have, essential skills and understanding.
I would focus on learning the basics, alongside of having your first questions answered.
Google and YouTube are filled with content you can learn from, you just need to search.
Going in a forum asking specific questions and having them sorted out for you while the above is still lacking will lead to no good and frustration.
viewtopic.php?t=9240 here there is a useful topic list and you should familiarize yourself. You can for instance read Making a CD or USB for your First Boot as already suggested.
the version that i have is
BookwormPup64_10.0.9
i cant update to newest version for now
so i ask if this version could working with me
Very likely yes. As far as I know there are no correlations between the improvements in the last bookwormpup64 version and the goal you are trying to reach (puppy linux in usb drive).
If you browse the forum it is easy to find the change-log here viewtopic.php?p=89021#p89021
Hello @retro_bread 
There is a really easy approach to getting your PC to run BookWormPUP64 (BKWP64). And its less work and less problems.
It is simple
FROM your Windows, go here and get "Ventoy for windows".
the Ventoy for windows 'exe' will create a bootable USB for you from Windows
After your USB is created make a folder on its Ventoy partition named "BOOTISOS"
Copy your Puppy BKWP64 ISO file to that folder.
Reboot your PC using the USB
Select the BKWP64 ISO file on your screen to boot BKWP64 to its desktop
Let us know when complete as there is one more step to do when you are running BKWP64 on your PC. We will guide you.
EASY!
P.S. Once you create this USB if can be used for all current and future distro ISO files on this forum by merely adding ISO files to this USB's BOOTISOS folder. Then you just boot the USB and choose any of the other ISOs you add to boot them. No work required.
Clarity wrote: Mon Mar 31, 2025 8:24 amHello @retro_bread
There is a really easy approach to getting your PC to run BookWormPUP64 (BKWP64). And its less work and less problems.
It is simple
FROM your Windows, go here and get "Ventoy for windows".
the Ventoy for windows 'exe' will create a bootable USB for you from Windows
After your USB is created make a folder on its Ventoy partition named "BOOTISOS"
Copy your Puppy BKWP64 ISO file to that folder.
Reboot your PC using the USB
Select the ISO file
Let us know when complete as there is one more step to do when you are running BKWP64 on your PC. We will guide you.
EASY!
P.S. Once you create this USB if can be used by all current and future distros on this forum by merely adding ISO files to this USB's BOOTISOS folder.
I agree with @Clarity and since my first day with puppy linux I use the same method, it has so many advantages, it has been a game changer for me.
OT:
it is not mandatory to have the ISOs in a folder called
usb/BOOTISOS
as Ventoy will scan the USB content at boot.
For instance I use my usb stick with Ventoy installed for both booting my puppy OS and backing up my SSD content. I have a folder named
/mnt/sdc1/software
where I keep my chosen software and apps to carry with me on the go. In there I have my OS ISOs, for example:
/mnt/sdc1/software/vanilladpup-10.0.76.iso
it boots it just fine. In this way, like I said, you can use the same Ventoy USB for more than the sole purpose of booting your (multiple) OSs but also, for example, carry with you your other data and, in my case, even your backups.
I have not tried to put the ISOs in deeper sub-folders.
The BOOTISOS folder is for both normal easy-to-read housekeeping and works "excellently" with the KL boot designs.
For clear understanding and recognition, I advise to use-keep all ISOs contained in that single folder.
Not required...I agree whole-heartedly. But for EASY identification when perusing the USB partition, it is CLEAR what it is and what it contains! This is the reason I advise such.
Having the folder poses no harm in its presence.
Enjoy
P.S. Thanks @darksun for the info you share.
@Clarity
@darksun
its not my first time in linux or creating bootable usb drive
i just want to know how to make portable linux distro using puppy linux (running linux from usb and save changes)
There are 4 ways a Frugal existence is achieved in the forum
Run a utility to write an ISO file to a DVD. Puppy Linux has such; namely PBURN in almost all forum distros.
Run a utility to write an ISO file to a disc like a USB/SSD/SDcard/HDD/etc. Unetbootin/etcher/the several PUP "installers".
Manually extracting ISO file contents to a bootable something and then modifying a boot manager to boot it
Boot the ISO file directly as shipped by the distro builders; YES, booting an ISO file is a Frugal use.
A Frugal use when running from a portable media is "portable" when booted.
We were thinking that the ISO file instructions would get you up and going quickly. Thereby giving you time to evaluate any problem(s) encountered in the failing process you're using.
Just an effort by us to help
retro_bread wrote: Mon Mar 31, 2025 6:28 pm@Clarity
@darksunits not my first time in linux or creating bootable usb drive
i just want to know how to make portable linux distro using puppy linux (running linux from usb and save changes)
Hey @retro_bread - you said you have created a bootable usb. Questions:
1. what was installed on the usb?
2. How many partitions and what files are installed in each partition?
3. Can't you just edit the boot file, like Grub's grub.cfg file? (Asking coz I'm not familiar with these windows programs anymore. I've never used them)
4. Is there any working linux installed on your pc right now? (Also asking coz I've used other distros to boot puppy by creating a folder and copying puppy's boot files, edit /etc/grub.d/40_custom file and add entry for puppy, then finally update grub. Reboot pc and choose puppy. Once puppy is running, I use the puppy installer to create bootable flash drive. Then I edit grub.cfg that was installed on the usb so I can create a save folder on the usb drive. The size limit will be the free space of the usb flash drive. I find this easier for me since I'm so familiar with it instead of using other windows programs. Last one I used was Unetbootin and that was yeaaaarrrs ago). You can delete the puppy you copied in the hard drive later if you just want puppy on usb.
The Art of Magic and The Magic of Art
@jp734
i tried unetbootin and edit the boot in grub.cfg file
but its not working
i dont have any plane to use linux as a main os
i just need it for programming
this mean i cant leave windows 7 for now
retro_bread wrote: Sun Mar 30, 2025 7:25 pmI tried Universal USB Installer
but its not working
its just boot puppy linux in live mod
i found something named puppy installer inside the live mod
but its not working
are there any way to install puppy in my flash disk
You were able to boot puppy live mode then you should be able to install puppy on a separate/another usb drive using that live puppy. Do you have another usb drive?
The Art of Magic and The Magic of Art
retro_bread wrote: Tue Apr 01, 2025 11:44 am@jp734
i tried unetbootin and edit the boot in grub.cfg file
but its not working
i dont have any plane to use linux as a main os
i just need it for programming
this mean i cant leave windows 7 for now
You should not need to edit anything to make it boot if you used Unetbootin correctly.
If you do not tell us what edit you did, we have no way of knowing if it was correct or needed.
The things you do not tell us, are usually the clue to fixing the problem.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be older.
This is not what I expected
Earlier you said you had BookwormPup64 10.0.9 installed on a USB, but it is a live install.
Your problem seems to be not understanding that Puppy works as a live install on a USB stick.
It uses a save file/folder to store any changes.
You make the save by doing the first shutdown.
Next boot the save is loaded into the operating file system and used.
So you are now saying you still do not have a USB install of BookwormPup64 that will boot?
Or is the problem you cannot get a save made on first shutdown?
The things you do not tell us, are usually the clue to fixing the problem.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be older.
This is not what I expected
I have a 8GB flash drive and I played around with Rufus and installed BookwormPup 10 on it. One with persistence and one without. This is what I learned:
With Persistence (maxed out):
1. It created two partitions. sdf1: a 1.5GB boot partition where bookworm files are saved and sdf2: a 6GB persistence partition
2. Boot PC, then reboot and created a save folder on sdf2. It did not recognize/find the savefolder after reboot
3. Reboot again and this time created a savefile on sdf1. It found the savefile. The problem, size is very limited.
Without Persistence:
1. This only created one partition on my usb flash drive and gave me a little over 6GB of space
2. Boot PC, reboot and this time, it will ONLY let me create a savefile. Can't create a savefolder. Why is that?
@retro_bread , if what you're experiencing is exactly the same, I'd recommend without persistence. That will let you test Puppy with at least 4GB savefile size. Not sure if you can make it bigger than that.
The Art of Magic and The Magic of Art
@jp734
2. Boot PC, reboot and this time, it will ONLY let me create a savefile. Can't create a savefolder. Why is that?
Rufus formats the USB flash as fat32, folders can only be created on Linux ext formats.
wizard
Big pile of OLD computers
wizard wrote: Wed Apr 02, 2025 2:09 am@jp734
2. Boot PC, reboot and this time, it will ONLY let me create a savefile. Can't create a savefolder. Why is that?
Rufus formats the USB flash as fat32, folders can only be created on Linux ext formats.
wizard
@wizard . That explains it. Yeah, the sdf2 was ext4 format.
The Art of Magic and The Magic of Art
@jp734
No, Rufus is not limited to only creating an fat32 partition.
Which version of Rufus did you use?
See the instructions here, https://www.forum.puppylinux.com/viewto ... f64#p40522 to use Rufus and have it create a persistence partition on which you can later create a SaveFolder.
Hey @mikeslr Good day to you. I tested Rufus 4.6.2208 and yes I understand it's not limited to fat32. I was only wondering why I couldn't create a save folder and @wizard pointed out save folders can only be created on EXT type partitions. 
The Art of Magic and The Magic of Art
jp734 wrote: Wed Apr 02, 2025 7:43 pmHey @mikeslr Good day to you. I tested Rufus 4.6.2208 and yes I understand it's not limited to fat32. I was only wondering why I couldn't create a save folder and @wizard pointed out save folders can only be created on EXT type partitions.
Yes, but you used Rufus version 4.6. The instructions on my link indicated Version 4.1, 3.17 and 3.21 worked to create a Linux Ext3 partition for 'persistence', while 3.18 and maybe 3.19 didn't. Remember, Rufus isn't created with Puppy in mind. I guess the 4.6 version, like the 3.18 and 3.19 just don't work well with Puppys. You can obtain Version 4.1 and earlier versions from here, https://www.fosshub.com/Rufus-old.html
jp734 wrote: Tue Apr 01, 2025 4:31 pme able to boot puppy live mode then you should be able to install puppy on a separate/another usb drive using that live puppy. Do you have another usb drive?
no i dont have another usb
are there a way to save changes?
i dont know how
retro_bread wrote: Thu Apr 03, 2025 11:09 amjp734 wrote: Tue Apr 01, 2025 4:31 pme able to boot puppy live mode then you should be able to install puppy on a separate/another usb drive using that live puppy. Do you have another usb drive?
no i dont have another usb
are there a way to save changes?
i dont know how
@retro_bread I used Rufus to copy the iso image to the flash drive and it will let you create a savefile. Don't use persistence though. You can try but when I created a save folder on the persistence partition, puppy did not find/recognize the folder. You can read my previos post.
The Art of Magic and The Magic of Art
