Page 1 of 4
[SOLVED] Persistence - The best guide for all options?
Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 2:33 am
by handy
[edit:] SOLUTION - Really, this video by Dolphin Oracle tells you all that you need to know about Persistence
https://www.youtube.com/embed/RC4SmhsG3 ... ure=oembed
The video is found not too far down the following linked page in the MX/antix Wiki:
https://mxlinux.org/wiki/help-files/help-mx-remaster/
_________________________________________
Hi all,
I've just put MX-21.1 on a USB stick & all's well. It looks GREAT! No wonder MX is the most popular distro. :)
That said, I will want to customise MX-Live a LOT to suit my quirks. Which brings me to the subject of this post - Where is the latest & greatest guide to Persistence & all it entails?
I've looked at the
Wiki - HELP: MX Remaster page which was written in mid 2015. Has that been kept up to date? I know how fast things change in the IT world, let alone the Linux sphere. Does the "Automatic" option that apparently didn't work back then work now? Are there any other changes since back then that aren't documented in that wiki page. If so, where do I find the latest info?
Thanks for your time.

Re: Persistence - The best guide for all options?
Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 4:29 am
by handy
OK, I looked at DO's video from the wiki's HELP: MX Remaster page & attempted to use that on my 16GB stick with MX-21.1 on it. When the menu came up to choose where the persistence file would be stored, MX-21.1 stick was not given a number?
Does this mean that I have to use the that stick to boot from & then use another stick to create my persistent & modified MX-Live on?
I'll try to do that now while I wait for some advice, or to be pointed to where the current up to date instructions are.
No Man pages?
Thanks for your time.
Re: Persistence - The best guide for all options?
Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 4:59 am
by fehlix
handy wrote: Fri May 20, 2022 2:33 am
I've just put MX-21.1 on a USB stick & all's well.
Suggest, to "put" the MX-21.1 iso with help of "MX LiveUSB Maker" onto the USB stick.
Alternatively run the CLI tool live-usb-maker.
Choose "full featured" mode, not read-only dd-dump mode.
To enable persistence select persistence boot parameter.
Re: Persistence - The best guide for all options?
Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 5:47 am
by Huckleberry Finn
Re: Persistence - The best guide for all options?
Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 7:02 am
by handy
My thanks to you both for your reply's.
@fehlix, I made the "stick" using the following dd command:
Code: Select all
sudo dd bs=4M if=input.iso of=/dev/sd<?> status=progress conv=fsync
Is that OK (it is what I always use when I make a bootable stick - not that I've made lots).
@Huckleberry Finn, I mentioned in my posts that I have been using the wiki, & watched DO's vid. I asked if there is more up to date info, as they are pushing 7 years old. I think that the available info is kind of scattered & is certainly showing some signs (to me the uninitiated) of old age here & there.
I'm grateful for what I've found, it is just that my old brain needs all of the cohesion it can find.
I'll keep mucking about.
Re: Persistence - The best guide for all options?
Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 7:05 am
by Huckleberry Finn
Sorry for replying to a question to fehlix. But dd makes it read-only , you know.. then, no persistence files or remastering ..
Re: Persistence - The best guide for all options?
Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 8:01 am
by handy
I kind of got that impression when I just used the Live USB Maker for the first time. It would seem that MX is different than other distros, as using Live USB Maker with other distros is done differently. My dd command has not locked up other sticks that I've made in the past (they weren't MX though).
Anyway, I've made a new stick & I'm just at the very beginning of booting it, so I'll keep following the good advice that I've been given & see how we go...
Thanks for your input HF. :)
Re: Persistence - The best guide for all options?
Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 8:12 am
by fehlix
handy wrote: Fri May 20, 2022 7:02 am
My thanks to you both for your reply's.
@fehlix, I made the "stick" using the following dd command:
Code: Select all
sudo dd bs=4M if=input.iso of=/dev/sd<?> status=progress conv=fsync
Is that OK (it is what I always use when I make a bootable stick - not that I've made lots).
It's ok to boot from the dd-dumped iso, but the ISO-LiveUSB is readonly,
persistence files cannot written onto the same readonly LiveUSB.
Either use Appimage LiveUSB maker,
or
get live-usb-maker from github (you may find zillion of posts how to get it onto other distros)
Or boot from dd-dumped LiveUSB, with toram boot option
and run "MX-Live USB Maker" with clone option to create a writeable LiveUSB of the one you booted from.
Re: Persistence - The best guide for all options?
Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 10:11 am
by handy
@fehlix Thanks again. I'm currently operating on a stick with persistence. I used the Live USB Maker. First attempt got all the way to the wildflower screen but wouldn't finish. So 3 finger salute & it wouldn't finish. So I made the stick again & that time it did finish. :D
I've made changes & rebooted & they are there the next boot. Which really is wonderful.
I'll spend the weekend making an Openbox|Worker thing like I'm used operating with. Make I was thinking that I was maybe going to have to make two - one that is set up for the Clevo's 15" display & the other for the 50" display. But I don't think I will have to, it is only the pi4 that has trouble with the 50" 4K thing & double pixel. So that's great I won't have to do two.
Anyway I've wasted enough of your time fehlix.
Cheers - :)
Re: Persistence - The best guide for all options?
Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 10:28 am
by AVLinux
@handy
If you're an Openbox guy I have an Openbox/LXDE MX Respin here for future Refs:
http://www.bandshed.net/mxde-a-custom-m ... xde-build/
No, it is not an official MX product but it was made with the MX build tools and assistance from the MX devs (in particular
@fehlix ). Other than not using the MX Wildflower art and Logo it is 99.43% MX goodness. I only mention it since you are an OB guy..