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#1 2009-02-09 00:13:14

GuiltySpark
Member
Registered: 2008-12-13
Posts: 6

Arch Linux Live USB

Hello everyone.

I want to create a Live USB flash stick so that I can boot into Linux on my school's computers (I think the BIOS supports USB booting). Is Arch Linux a suitable distrobution to do this with?

Many thanks.

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#2 2009-02-09 00:20:01

evr
Arch Linux f@h Team Member
Registered: 2009-01-23
Posts: 554

Re: Arch Linux Live USB

yep, you can install arch on a usb pretty much like it's a regular hard drive.  See the wiki for more.  http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Ins … _a_USB_key

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#3 2009-02-09 00:33:48

lilsirecho
Veteran
Registered: 2003-10-24
Posts: 5,000

Re: Arch Linux Live USB

You may also try FaunOS which is archlinux based with all its features and is easily downloaded and installed with dd program.


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#4 2009-02-09 00:54:42

robertoprs
Member
From: México
Registered: 2009-02-08
Posts: 21

Re: Arch Linux Live USB

Allow me to mention another distribution: Puppy. I haven't tried yet, but from some friend's experiences, it works Ok. It is the smallest dristo you will ever find (the .iso is 94 MB), so it seems suitable for what you want.

Home Page: http://www.puppylinux.org/

Last edited by robertoprs (2009-02-09 00:55:08)


"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know...
It's what we know for sure that just ain't so."
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#5 2009-02-09 00:55:00

GuiltySpark
Member
Registered: 2008-12-13
Posts: 6

Re: Arch Linux Live USB

Just to make sure, I will be able to save my settings and things?

Also, will I be able to customise my desktop to look like something similar to the image below?

phobos20081226bydrajeqj6.th.png

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#6 2009-02-20 14:38:53

Steph
Member
From: UK
Registered: 2009-02-20
Posts: 2

Re: Arch Linux Live USB

Yes, you will be able to save your settings, documents.. as if you installed Arch on a regular hard drive (providing you have enough space on the USB key). As for your desktop, once you have chosen a desktop environment (Gnome, KDE, Xfce...) you can costumise it as you would with any other distro.

Last edited by Steph (2009-02-20 14:39:35)

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#7 2009-03-27 05:44:46

MTsoul
Member
From: Vancouver, BC
Registered: 2008-08-14
Posts: 95
Website

Re: Arch Linux Live USB

I'm kind of confused by the "Installing Arch Linux on a USB key" page on the wiki. It says it's obsolete and I should follow the "Install from USB stick" page. Does this mean the new Arch USB images are actual Arch installed? How do I install Arch on a USB that I'm installing Arch from? Like what eh?

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#8 2009-03-27 08:32:38

ArchGh0ul
Member
Registered: 2008-10-23
Posts: 96

Re: Arch Linux Live USB

I run Archlinux with X and all from a 2GB usb just fine.
1. Boot the live Arch CD
2. Use `fdisk -l` to make sure what the usb drive is (just so you don't accidentally erase your internal hdd...)
3. Start installing Arch as usual but ON THAT USB DRIVE.
All it takes is a bit of attention.
After installing boot from your usb thumb, do an update and install whatever you need.
Only problem is that your computer at school might see the drive as some other partition number.So you will need to edit the grub entry (you can do that from the grub menu...). If you want an easier way just edit your menu.lst after installing (the one on the usb drive install) and add several entries to boot from hda1,hdb1,sda1,sdb1 etc...one those four is most likely to be the correct one
Good luck!

Last edited by ArchGh0ul (2009-03-27 08:33:37)

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#9 2009-03-28 07:31:36

MTsoul
Member
From: Vancouver, BC
Registered: 2008-08-14
Posts: 95
Website

Re: Arch Linux Live USB

Dude. Success.

This is running off my USB drive on my laptop. The configuration was so painless - just 1 git clone away from my desktop configs.

91thumbnail.screencap.png

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