Geeky, but cool

Daz · 09-07-2007, 15:25

Today I have been working a lot in Linux rather than Windows. Not unusual, but different because in this case I've been working on a Linux install I did on a USB memory stick. I got it working over the weekend at home, set my desktop up, brought it into work this morning, booted off the key and away I go. While it is very geeky, I find it very cool, and will be useful in a variety of scenarios, not least recovering other fools files when they cock things up.

That is all.

Davey_Pitch · 09-07-2007, 15:29

What size memory stick?

It is geeky, but still very cool, and as you say it'll be useful in a lot of situations. It kinda makes me want to learn linux properly As it is I'll just stick with my CD version of Bart PE to recover files when people have fubar'd their pc's

Stan_Lite · 09-07-2007, 15:40

Would that be DSL (Damn Small Linux)?

IIRC, it comes as small as 50Mb.

Always meant to give it a try but never got round to it.

Garp · 09-07-2007, 19:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davey_Pitch

What size memory stick?

It is geeky, but still very cool, and as you say it'll be useful in a lot of situations. It kinda makes me want to learn linux properly As it is I'll just stick with my CD version of Bart PE to recover files when people have fubar'd their pc's

A decent LiveCD should be quicker to boot than Bart PE (in my experience anyway) and allow you to map the drives fairly easy.

There are a few good tools out there for doing a USB key distro, depending on your need. DSL isn't too shabbeh, particularly given its 50Mb.. you could have it installed, customise it a little bit and still have ample space left for docs and stuff on a 256Mb Pen drive!

Daz · 09-07-2007, 15:38

Just 1GB at the moment. If I find myself using it a lot I'll buy a 4GB drive (as they can be had quite cheap - £17.99 at dvd.co.uk iirc) so I can install more apps. I haven't hit a capacity wall yet, but I inevitably will!

Haly · 09-07-2007, 15:39

That's pretty cool

Daz · 09-07-2007, 15:44

Nay, it's actually a fully functioning (K)ubuntu system

I've basically cloned the Live CD on my first attempt (though obviously not keeping it read only), I'm mid way through my second now trying to get a 'proper' install working which would be more space efficient in the end.

It's one of those things you can set off and forget about for a while, lots of disk i/o isn't exactly lightning quick on flash memory of this type!

Dr. Z · 10-07-2007, 00:49

Did you need to "bodge" a U3 system (digital switchblade style) to get it to boot from the drive? I have tried this in the past but it would seem that it didnt want to boot.

I would dearly love to have BackTrack 2 booting from a pendrive!

Daz · 10-07-2007, 10:06

Nope, it just worked on my laptop and my workstation - the pen drive appeared in the boot menu when I plugged it in. Both modern Dells though, I guess I'll see problems the older I go.

Garp · 10-07-2007, 12:28

Most BIOSes from the last 3 - 4 years have an ability to select "USB-HDD" as a boot device, this should work, but YMMV.

09-07-2007, 15:25	#1
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	Geeky, but cool Today I have been working a lot in Linux rather than Windows. Not unusual, but different because in this case I've been working on a Linux install I did on a USB memory stick. I got it working over the weekend at home, set my desktop up, brought it into work this morning, booted off the key and away I go. While it is very geeky, I find it very cool, and will be useful in a variety of scenarios, not least recovering other fools files when they cock things up. That is all. __________________ apt-get moo

09-07-2007, 15:29	#2
Davey_Pitch I iz speshul Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 6,296	What size memory stick? It is geeky, but still very cool, and as you say it'll be useful in a lot of situations. It kinda makes me want to learn linux properly As it is I'll just stick with my CD version of Bart PE to recover files when people have fubar'd their pc's __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

09-07-2007, 15:40	#3
Stan_Lite Stan, Stan the FLASHER MAN! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In bed with your sister Posts: 5,483	Would that be DSL (Damn Small Linux)? IIRC, it comes as small as 50Mb. Always meant to give it a try but never got round to it. __________________ Just because I have a short attention span doesn't mean I...

09-07-2007, 15:38	#5
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	Just 1GB at the moment. If I find myself using it a lot I'll buy a 4GB drive (as they can be had quite cheap - £17.99 at dvd.co.uk iirc) so I can install more apps. I haven't hit a capacity wall yet, but I inevitably will! __________________ apt-get moo

09-07-2007, 15:39	#6
Haly Do you want to hide in my box? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 14,941	That's pretty cool __________________ Halycopter

09-07-2007, 15:44	#7
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	Nay, it's actually a fully functioning (K)ubuntu system I've basically cloned the Live CD on my first attempt (though obviously not keeping it read only), I'm mid way through my second now trying to get a 'proper' install working which would be more space efficient in the end. It's one of those things you can set off and forget about for a while, lots of disk i/o isn't exactly lightning quick on flash memory of this type! __________________ apt-get moo

10-07-2007, 00:49	#8
Dr. Z I'm going for a scuttle... Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,021	Did you need to "bodge" a U3 system (digital switchblade style) to get it to boot from the drive? I have tried this in the past but it would seem that it didnt want to boot. I would dearly love to have BackTrack 2 booting from a pendrive! __________________

10-07-2007, 10:06	#9
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	Nope, it just worked on my laptop and my workstation - the pen drive appeared in the boot menu when I plugged it in. Both modern Dells though, I guess I'll see problems the older I go. __________________ apt-get moo

10-07-2007, 12:28	#10
Garp Preparing more tumbleweed Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 6,038	Most BIOSes from the last 3 - 4 years have an ability to select "USB-HDD" as a boot device, this should work, but YMMV. __________________ Mal: Define "interesting"? Wash: "Oh, God, oh, God, we're all gonna die"?

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