[Solved]Help creating Live USB flash drive

[williepabon]

Hi!
I'm a newbie to this forum and unfamiliar with Linux MX, but an old timer using Ubuntu Linux (12+ yrs). While reading an article on DistroWatch, I noted that within the past couple of years MX has been getting top scores in their rankings. So, I got curious and decided to understand why. For that purpose, I want to create a Live flash drive (usb) with your OS, where I could be able to try all its features and capabilities as if it were installed in my computer. I have a32 Gig usb stick for this project. After the creation of the Live usb is completed, the system should be able to let me add other files and apps as necessary for my tests without loosing them when I log off (persistence?). I should be able to use the whole 32 Gig stick for system and data. I will use my Ubuntu machine to create the flash drive. The file system will be ext4. The boot system is UEFI. The help I'm requesting is: What tools, software and procedures I should follow in order to be successful on this project? Thanks in advance for your help.

[richb]

Our lead developer has Dolphin Oracle has an excellent YouTube video on how to make a live usb. Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vF_dw6Kpo8

[BitJam]

We use the antiX live system which is the Most Extensive Live-usb on the Planet!. It has all the features you want plus a ton more.

To make an MX live-usb on your Ubuntu system:

1) Download the iso file from our Download Links.

2) Download and install our live-usb-maker AppImage.

3) Plug in your usb stick, unpack the AppImage tarball and then run it as root:

Code: Select all

tar xzf live-usb-maker-qt-19.11.02.x86_64.AppImage.tar.gz 
sudo ./live-usb-maker-qt-19.11.02.x86_64.AppImage 

Point it to the iso file you downloaded and the usb-stick you want to use for the live-usb. I've attached a screen shot of what it looks like when it starts up. It automatically found the usb stick that was plugged into my system. If there is more than one plugged in then it will list them all in a menu.

[user-green]

Here is a simple way to make a LiveUSB memory.

1. Download an ISO file from a mirror site.

2. Check md5sum or sha5sum like this;
$ md5sum MX-19.2_x64.iso

3. Copy ISO to an USB memory like this;
# cp MX-19.2_x64.iso /dev/sdb

You see? That is all.

[JayM]

Hi!
I'm a newbie to this forum and unfamiliar with Linux MX, but an old timer using Ubuntu Linux (12+ yrs). While reading an article on DistroWatch, I noted that within the past couple of years MX has been getting top scores in their rankings. So, I got curious and decided to understand why. For that purpose, I want to create a Live flash drive (usb) with your OS, where I could be able to try all its features and capabilities as if it were installed in my computer. I have a32 Gig usb stick for this project. After the creation of the Live usb is completed, the system should be able to let me add other files and apps as necessary for my tests without loosing them when I log off (persistence?). I should be able to use the whole 32 Gig stick for system and data. I will use my Ubuntu machine to create the flash drive. The file system will be ext4. The boot system is UEFI. The help I'm requesting is: What tools, software and procedures I should follow in order to be successful on this project? Thanks in advance for your help.

I wrote a how-to guide and posted it in the Tips&Tricks subforum several months ago. It may contain the information you're looking for. Also watch Dolphin Oracle's video and consult the user manual, section 2.2. Also see BitJam's excellent instructions above. Note that if you have a UEFI computer and want to run the live USB in pure-UEFI mode you may also have to select GPT in the advanced options. It seems that some makers of UEFI firmware have conflated msdos partitioning on a bootable media with legacy-only booting and gpt partitioning with UEFI booting when they designed their firmware even though the official UEFI specification doesn't say anything about what type of partition table is required AFAIK.

[williepabon]

We use the antiX live system which is the Most Extensive Live-usb on the Planet!. It has all the features you want plus a ton more.

To make an MX live-usb on your Ubuntu system:

1) Download the iso file from our Download Links.

2) Download and install our live-usb-maker AppImage.

3) Plug in your usb stick, unpack the AppImage tarball and then run it as root:

Code: Select all

tar xzf live-usb-maker-qt-19.11.02.x86_64.AppImage.tar.gz 
sudo ./live-usb-maker-qt-19.11.02.x86_64.AppImage 

Point it to the iso file you downloaded and the usb-stick you want to use for the live-usb. I've attached a screen shot of what it looks like when it starts up. It automatically found the usb stick that was plugged into my system. If there is more than one plugged in then it will list them all in a menu.

BitJam:

Thank you very much for the help. The installation process worked like a charm. I need to review the Xfce desktop style of navigation through the OS. I've been using the GNOME desktop for years and need to get used to Xfce. Up to now I've have one issue, and probably is because my lack of experience with the OS. On the installation I specified using 100% of the flash drive, so I expected that the settings and modifications I did should persist for the next log-in. It didn't happen. Very likely that I missed something. Please advice.

[JayM]

I'm not BitJam but you need to enable persistence on the live USB to make it save all changes. This is documented in the user manual (search for persistence) as well as in the antiX FAQs and docs:
https://download.tuxfamily.org/antix/do ... tence.html
https://download.tuxfamily.org/antix/do ... aster.html
https://download.tuxfamily.org/antix/do ... xboot.html
https://download.tuxfamily.org/antix/do ... tence.html
and in videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq0mRZh2hiY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpI_a4xPKdM
Or you can do a frugal installation to your hard disk without affecting its existing contents or system:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZGTBUW3bnA
https://download.tuxfamily.org/antix/do ... rugal.html

[williepabon]

I'm not BitJam but you need to enable persistence on the live USB to make it save all changes. This is documented in the user manual (search for persistence) as well as in the antiX FAQs and docs:
https://download.tuxfamily.org/antix/do ... tence.html

JayM:

Thank you for answering fast. After you explained that I need to enable persistence after the LiveUSB is created (thought it was enabled when I created it), I went to the link above to get the idea how it was done. The procedure was not exactly as it said (F5 did not work), but I was able to figure it out. Basically, when the boot screen appears, I have to select Customize Boot, hit ENTER three times, select option 3 (Check fs LiveUSB and persistence) and from there follow the instructions. The end result: persistence is working. Thanks for the help.

[williepabon]

I don't know how to do it on this forum, but this question should be considered solved. Thanks.
wp

[Huckleberry Finn]

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