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can some Puppy use the Ubuntu bootloader?

Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2021 1:41 pm
by ChrisFH

Among Linux distros, Ubuntu has a booting advantage, which is that its bootloader works on computers with secure boot ON without creating its own key on first boot. (I don't understand about this topic, but I read that it has something to do with "shim" and Ubuntu's security key being recognized/bundled by Microsoft.)

Since some Puppies are made from Ubuntu, it seems like it might be possible to use Ubuntu's bootloader for a Puppy (a new one?). Maybe there would be legal issues, but I am just wondering about the theoretical feasibility of the technical aspect. If it were possible, it would create a lot of flexibility for booting Puppies.


Re: can some Puppy use the Ubuntu bootloader?

Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2021 4:39 pm
by mikeslr

Sorry I can't really help with this question as I don't have access to a computer which uses UEFI except:
My wife does; and insists on sticking with Windows :roll: . [Shows that even a skilled advocate has limitations. :lol:] A while back I had almost had her weaned off that addiction by providing her with Puppy on a USB-Key. That was going so well I decided to install it to her computer. This was long before gyrog and shinobar developed the new applications for UEFI computers.
After installing grub4dos, she couldn't access Windows. After trying the then available workarounds what I settled on was to install Ubuntu. She never used Ubuntu. But its boot-loader could boot either Ubuntu or Windows.
Ubuntu uses grub2. grub2's grub.cfg can be customized to boot Puppys. Puppys will happily reside on the Home partition of an Ubuntu install.
But keep trying. bigpup's advice as to how to make use of Frugalpup-installer should work.
Well, there is one suggestion you might try if you have access to a Windows computer. norby009 developed a program named LICK that only runs under Windows and can be used to install Puppys to a USB-Stick (and dual boot Puppys and Windows). But I think it may have to be installed.
Once its your boot-loader on a USB-Key you can edit its grub.cfg file to add listings for other Puppys. Bigpup and norby009 would know more about it.
It's available from here, https://github.com/noryb009/lick. You could post questions on this Forum's thread, viewtopic.php?t=336. The 'old-forums' READ-ONLY thread is https://oldforum.puppylinux.com/viewtop ... 20#p462720. https://rockedge.org/psearch/ can be used to search it.


Re: can some Puppy use the Ubuntu bootloader?

Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2021 1:14 pm
by JASpup

Have you asked on Ubuntu forums?

I would ask there first, on the topic of other distros generally.