Installing MX Linux on USB flash drives or a 2015 desktop computer [Solved]

[Antediluvian]

progrockfrog, if you are still with us take a deep breath and relax. You posted 6 times within 20 min in the middle of the night (where I live). Give people a chance to help. This is a small group compared to Mint.

If you are trying to create an MX Linux live-USB with persistence then do the following:
1. Download the MX Linux ISO of your choice. (I think you already did that).
2. Assuming you have two USB sticks, use Mint's Image Writer to make a live-USB with the MX ISO on it. (I think you already did that). Mint's Image Writer makes a read only USB stick.
3. Run MX Linux from the live-USB you created and open the application MX Live USB Maker.
4. Insert a second USB stick (32GB or larger) in an open USB port. In MX Live USB Maker select the second USB stick as the target. Select the MX Linux ISO. Select full featured mode (this will give you persistence). Click on Next, etc.
5. MX USB Maker will create an MX Linux live-USB that is writable.
6. Setting up persistence takes place after you boot from that live-USB.

Ok, any chance you can tell me where this "MX Live USB Maker" is located in number 3?

Do you have a "Windows" key on your keyboard? Press it and a window for the application menu will pop up. XFCE calls this the Whisker Menu. It has launchers for all the installed applications. Type "USB" in the search box and MX Live USB Maker should be at the top of the list. Click on it and MX Live USB Maker will open. From there go to my step 4. If you don't have a Windows key on your keyboard then click on the MX logo in the panel (vertical toolbar) on the left side of your screen.

Let me repeat, what I outlined in steps 1-6 is how to create an MX live-USB. This is completely different from doing a normal full installation. Accordingly, ignore post #18 in this thread. The image you linked to in post #13 shows the MX Linux Installer window open. That is NOT the tool you want to use for your purpose. Close that window and open the MX Live USB Maker as I described above.

Before giving up you should do some basic self education about MX Linux. Open the Menu. Type "wel" in the search box. MX Welcome will be first on the list. Open it. There will be several helpful links. First I suggest you take the Tour. After that I suggest you familiarize yourself with the Users Manual and the Wiki. More obvious, when you open MX Live USB Maker there is a Help button. Click on that for useful information.

[FullScale4Me]

This has been a discussion here on this forum many times before. A recent one resulted in my 'using' it to make:

Making a bootable external USB drive with MX Linux installed PDF, illustrated, 203 Kb. I am the author. Last updated February 18, 2025.

FWIW the MX Live USB Installer can be run on Mint. See: https://mxlinux.org/blog/live-usb-maker-tool-now-available-as-an-appimage/

More on USB 'burner' apps: MX Linux Quick-Start Guide PDF, illustrated, 399 Kb. I am the author. Last updated August 10, 2025.

[progrockfrog]

Thank you guys for your help. I am still thinking the best approach to this is to install to an internal drive. That way I can use it on a desktop and not worry about wifi adapters which I haven't mentioned yet. I have a TP-Link AC600 wireless Realtek RTL8811AU, and my understanding is that it is designed for Windows, not Linux. I can install from https://ostechnix.com/install-tp-link-a ... -in-linux/

This works in Linux Mint (hopefully in MX Linux too?) I would only have to do this once then, and then actually I could organize things.

You guys can comment on that, but I understand it is another topic. Also, I did find one interesting program on Puppy Linux. It is Cherrytree, which you can use for notetaking. I have been searching for this type of program because way back when Windows98 was the newest Windows, there was a similar program. You would create colored flags and if I remember correctly it was something you could use to organize your music library and photos, etc...

I searched for it when XP came out and I couldn't find it. I think I downloaded it from CNET Downloads. Does anyone remember something similar but had flags? Cherrytree uses dots, which is not a problem, but I wanted to revisit the flag version. It was pretty much the same thing. As you downloaded .jpgs and .mp3 or .wav files, the program would categorize them. Today we have mp4s and .ppt (maybe had those then too) files.

Is there an even a better program to use to sort and organize things? Reason being, I have a ton of photo images to sort through. Another project, I am scared to venture into, would be to have these images rotate (every 5 minutes or so) with each having a consecutive number in the corner (overlay, not part of the picture). Then, I would put on some display tablet around the house. If someone sees a picture they want to keep, they would just jot down the number. You could select 50 or 100 for example, and this would be the total number of photos that went on rotation. Then, after you feel people have seen enough, you put another 100 into the rotation. Eventually, you would have the most important photos you could back up, and put the others in some archive space. But those wouldn't show up in the "1000 best we should save" category. Hope I am making sense.

[progrockfrog]

progrockfrog, if you are still with us take a deep breath and relax. You posted 6 times within 20 min in the middle of the night (where I live). Give people a chance to help. This is a small group compared to Mint.

Deep breath taken. I gave myself a timeout. I have been extremely frustrated since even January, but the problems really started in February and I was trying to get Puppy Linux installed. I settled for Bodhi Linux back then, but I haven't used it much.

The main issue is I have exhausted all desktops I have access to now. I can't take the chance and try to install a Linux distro side by side on the same internal drive, because I have a ton of files that need to be backed up/organized. I thought if I could just get working Linux distros on USB flash drives, then it wouldn't matter.

But one question I had before was, isn't it wrong to do this on a USB flash drive because it has to constantly read and write to the USB drive? I tried something like this in 2019 and this is what I experienced. I have access to a laptop which has a HDD internal drive, and Windows 10 could not update unless I gave it 24 hours. However, I can use a SSD with Windows 11 and it works fine. My understanding is that this is due to it being an SSD, not a HDD or USB flash.

So, if MX Linux can work perfectly fine on a 32gb flash drive, what is the magic? Or is the advice to use it on an SSD?

[CharlesV]

Thank you guys for your help. I am still thinking the best approach to this is to install to an internal drive. That way I can use it on a desktop and not worry about wifi adapters which I haven't mentioned yet. I have a TP-Link AC600 wireless Realtek RTL8811AU, and my understanding is that it is designed for Windows, not Linux. I can install from https://ostechnix.com/install-tp-link-a ... -in-linux/

This works in Linux Mint (hopefully in MX Linux too?) I would only have to do this once then, and then actually I could organize things.

There are definitely people using that adapter, and yes it might take a little to get it working - I would suggest searching this forum and see how it went.

You guys can comment on that, but I understand it is another topic. Also, I did find one interesting program on Puppy Linux. It is Cherrytree, which you can use for notetaking. I have been searching for this type of program because way back when Windows98 was the newest Windows, there was a similar program. You would create colored flags and if I remember correctly it was something you could use to organize your music library and photos, etc...

I searched for it when XP came out and I couldn't find it. I think I downloaded it from CNET Downloads. Does anyone remember something similar but had flags. Cherrytree uses dots, which is not a problem, but I wanted to revisit the flag version. It was pretty much the same thing. As you downloaded .jpgs and .mp3 or .wav files, the program would categorize them. Today we have mp4s and .ppt (maybe had those then too) files.

Yes, cherrytree is in the repos - MX Package Installer, then the Enabled Repos tab and search for cherrytree

Is there an even a better program to use to sort and organize things? Reason being, I have a ton of photo images to sort through. Another project, I am scared to venture into, would be to have these images rotate (every 5 minutes or so) with each having a consecutive number in the corner (overlay, not part of the picture). Then, I would put on some display tablet around the house. If someone sees a picture they want to keep, they would just jot down the number. You could select 50 or 100 for example, and this would be the total number of photos that went on rotation. Then, after you feel people have seen enough, you put another 100 into the rotation. Eventually, you would have the most important photos you could back up, and put the others in some archive space. But those wouldn't show up in the "1000 best we should save" category. Hope I am making sense.

I use MX Linux in various scenarios, one of which is an automated image viewer. I have done it two ways:
1) Set xscreensaver to start almost immediately and to go through a picture base. (configurable to change every X you like and display just about anyway you want.
__ and
2) I setup an html page which read and "worked" a file that was created dynamically from a script run every 90 min. The script read a folder with thousands of images and listed them into a file. I use this system on kiosks as well as large screen's if people want custom transitions, Ad's, specific sort order, etc etc. This system can also run gif or mpg's etc.. so movies and such as well as just images.

[progrockfrog]

This system can also run gif or mpg's etc.. so movies and such as well as just images.

mpg's are still a thing?

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1672169016191872

[CharlesV]

Deep breath taken. I gave myself a timeout. I have been extremely frustrated since even January, but the problems really started in February and I was trying to get Puppy Linux installed. I settled for Bodhi Linux back then, but I haven't used it much.

The main issue is I have exhausted all desktops I have access to now. I can't take the chance and try to install a Linux distro side by side on the same internal drive, because I have a ton of files that need to be backed up/organized. I thought if I could just get working Linux distros on USB flash drives, then it wouldn't matter.

It works very well to even install MX to a USB stick and use persistence, or what I prefer - only use a portion of the USB stick and then partition the rest into a regular Data portion. This way you can move / save things to that Data partition and away you go. I use this when I work on machines.

And, I have several clients / businesses that use a Live USB that I created for them (ie from a special MX Snapshot - 100% complete with all their requirements) and then everything is set to save a portion of the hard drive. Either works VERY well. )

But one question I had before was, isn't it wrong to do this on a USB flash drive because it has to constantly read and write to the USB drive? I tried something like this in 2019 and this is what I experienced. I have access to a laptop which has a HDD internal drive, and Windows 10 could not update unless I gave it 24 hours. However, I can use a SSD with Windows 11 and it works fine. My understanding is that this is due to it being an SSD, not a HDD or USB flash.

So, if MX Linux can work perfectly fine on a 32gb flash drive, what is the magic? Or is the advice to use it on an SSD?

Im not sure what you mean by 'magic' . I have the following working perfectly:
- MX Installed onto a USB Drive ( NOT a live image, I am talking about I installed it TO the usb drive.)
- MX Installed on external enclosures with: SSD's, HDs, and even nvme's!
- And obviously MX installed internally on : nvme's, ssd's and hd's.

The magic.. is to install it where you want it - properly.

[CharlesV]

This system can also run gif or mpg's etc.. so movies and such as well as just images.

mpg's are still a thing?

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1672169016191872

Sorry, I wont go to FB, but yes.. mpg's are still around ... ( along with every other 'video type' ever made ;-p )

[progrockfrog]

FB has a timeline I can download. That is why I still use it and some of my friends, especially an Australian mate who refuses to go away from Windows and FB. "Why do you need another OS?" he asks. Nothing I can say will convince him.

So, mpg 1 and 2 are still around. Here is my reaction to that.

[CharlesV]

lol

fyi - CherryTree notes... when I went looking a while back I found Trillium Notes and Joplin Notes were VERY highly ranked. And Tiddly Wiki was too.

I dont recall exactly what was the best / better of them all, but my notes say "Top Ranked for use and features".. and they were right there with CherryTree.