Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

I have FossaPup-64 9.5 installed in a folder called "FossaPup" on my drive, single partition. To have both systems in own sub-folder each - in the same main folder ― can I boot into the USB-drive with BionicPup-64 8.0 - and: change the name of the folder "FossaPup" to "Puppy"; move all the files of FossaPup to a sub-folder called "FossaPup", and install BionicPup to a sub-folder called "BionicPup"?
And how to set the boot-loader - if I want to usually boot to BionicPup?

MrAccident wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 6:05 pm

I have FossaPup-64 9.5 installed in a folder called "FossaPup" on my drive, single partition. To have both systems in own sub-folder each - in the same main folder ― can I boot into the USB-drive with BionicPup-64 8.0 - and: change the name of the folder "FossaPup" to "Puppy"; move all the files of FossaPup to a sub-folder called "FossaPup", and install BionicPup to a sub-folder called "BionicPup"?
And how to set the boot-loader - if I want to usually boot to BionicPup?

I would leave the FossaPup directory alone, as changing this level you will have to amend your boot config of FossaPup, which is currently working. Just create a new directory at the same level BionicPup. Do a frugal install of Bionicup64 to this directory.

Then edit your boot configuration file for which ever boot loader you use. Copy the FossaPup boot stanza and change the relevant references from FossaPup to BionicPup for the new entry as required. This would be the simplest way to achieve your goal.

If you want to add an additional layer by having a top level Puppy directory, I would create the new Puppy directory, then move the whole FossaPup directory to be a sub-directory of the Puppy directory. You don't need to do the name change and move directory content as you suggest above. You will then need to add the additional layer into your boot configuration file

TerryH - I'm using FrugalPup; and this is what it says:

What's the best way for this?

I think the problem you run into is that when you run the Grub4Dos tool, it only looks 1 level below the root of the drive. It is probably possible to do what you want with the newer puppies, but it is a big PITA to have to manually edit the grub.cfg/menu.lst files every time you make a change to the drive. It becomes a somewhat spaghetti-like maintenance problem.

What I always do is:

sdx1 --
       |
       Fatdog64
       |
       Tahr-6.05-no-pae
       |
       BionicPup64
       |
       DevuanPup65
       |
       etc

Jafadmin - no, BionicPup isn't installed yet, only FossaPup.

If you are using the Frugalpup Installer.
the drive is setup with two partitions.
1st partition small one for boot loader location.
2nd partition for frugal installs of Puppy versions.

Have the iso file for whatever Puppy version you want to install.
Select to install it on the same partition Fossapup is on.

Run Frugalpup Installer main program.
On the main window are selection buttons.
Select the Puppy button, to do the install.
Go through install process, selecting to install to the same partition Fossapup is on.
Note:
When selecting the partition to install to.
A window pops up, giving option to make a directory, to put the frugal install in.
I make this directory and usually name it, the name of the Puppy version.
Carefully read that windows info.
Press enter, makes the directory, not the OK button.
complete the install.

When it gets back to the main Frugalpup window.
Select the boot button.
Select the location of the frugal installs, select the partition as location.
This screen:

It will next go to this screen:
notice it is selected for /mnt/sda2 partition and you can see it has a frugal install of eslacko and Bionicpup6480 on it.
by only having /mnt/sda2 selected.
That says to look only on that partition for the frugal installs.
Click OK.

Do not worry about that directory info, as long as the partition is selected, that has the different frugal installs on it.
That directory info is if you decided to install into sub directories inside of a directory.

Select the small 1st partition, as location to install the boot loader. (may need to scroll the selection window)
Select the boot loader type.
UEFI
mbr ->legacy bios boot
both

You can install the UEFI for UEFI computers, mbr for legacy bios computers, or both, to boot anything.

The UEFI will also install the needed files, to support secure boot enabled in UEFI.

When you first boot, on a UEFI computer, with secure boot enabled.
A process will start, to allow you to install the Puppy security key, to the computer.
It will add this Puppy key, to the other ones, loaded on the computer.

To put more frugal installs on the same partition.
Do the complete Frugalpup Installer process again, for the new Puppy version.
When you run the boot loader install.
It will make entries, for all installs it finds, on the drive partition.

@MrAccident :-

I have to agree with TerryH. The advice given is exactly what I do, every time. Create another directory - call it Bionicpup, or just Bionic, or any name you like, so long as YOU know what it is, of course! - BESIDE the existing Fossapup directory, and do a "quick'n'dirty" manual install into that folder. Easiest way is just to mount the Bionicpup ISO, and copy everything across.....that's all I do, and is exactly what "installers" will do anyway. TBH, I can't be bothered with 'em any more. it's so much quicker to do things manually.

Then, go into your boot menu. Copy the working Fossapup boot entry, and paste it below. Now, just change the "Fossapup" references to whatever you've named the new directory as. Once you get the hang of doing this, it's foolproof.

Multiple sub-directories are definitely the best way to both run, AND boot Puppy.

Mike.