Difference between revisions of "Poor Mans Install"


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=== The "poor man's installation" of Knoppix 3.4 (and Later) ===
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The contents of this page has been out of date. Please go to
''Originally written by j.drake and revised to provide an introduction and link methods, (but I didn't invent it).''
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For those who haven't looked into this, a "poor man's installation" (sometimes called a PMI) is pretty much as easy as running off of a live CD, but it's faster and more convenient.  It frees up your CD or DVD drive for other things, such as burning a disk (which you can't do while running your OS on it).  When you combine this with a defined persistent home and a saved configuration, you get the power of a hard drive installation, without the problems.  Finally, if you add Klik, you can download the latest popular linux software automatically - even more easily in most cases than in Windows.
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[[:Category: Hard drive Installation | Hard drive Installation]]
  
==== Intended Audience: ====
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[[Completely_new_HD_based_HowTo_page]]
 
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People who are most likely adept at running Windows, but who are new to Linux.  As a result, they: (1) are frustrated with the limitations of running in a "live CD" environment, where they can't make changes, save files, or install programs; (2) want the full functionality that they are accustomed to in a Windows environment, (3) are confused by conflicting, overly-complicated, and outdated information about how to achieve this functionality; and (4) have an existing computer that they, co-workers, or other family members rely upon to run Windows applications, such that the risk of losing access to Windows as a result of a botched Linux installation is unacceptable at this time.
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If this describes you, you are in the right place.
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==== What you need to know: ====
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1.  To do anything important with Linux, you need to be familiar with the naming conventions for storage devices.  [[http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/i386/apcs04.html.en  Here] ] is a good link.  You will need to pick a place to store your data and programs, as well as the Knoppix program image.  Learn the device name of the storage device(s) you plan to use.  Remember, the device cannot be formatted in NTFS.  If your computer came preinstalled with Windows XP, chances are that your C: drive is partitioned in NTFS with one large partition.  Either select another storage device, or learn how to create a separate FAT32 partition (you can also use a linux format, such as ext2, ext3, Reiser, or even FAT16).  The reason I suggested FAT 32 is that the data will be accessible to either Windows or Linux.  In my case, I either store data and programs on a partition of a second hard drive (hdb5), or on a USB key (sda1).
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In order to have full functionality, you will want to have a separate partition for your Knoppix program files.  The reason is that Knoppix will force read-only status onto the partition containing the active program.  So, if you try to save data into same partition as the Knoppix program you are currently running, you won't be able to do it.
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2.  You need to know how to make a disk writable.  All of the devices are write protected by default. Right-click the device, select "properties", go to the third tab, uncheck "read only", click OK, Right-click the device, click "unmount", then double-click the device.
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3.  You need to learn about using boot codes, or what Knoppix calls "cheatcodes".  When you first load your live CD and reboot, a boot screen  appears.  Note the flashing cursor at the bottom.  If you don't enter anything, Knoppix will load with all default conditions after a period of time.  Or, you can type in cheatcodes to trigger various options.  Here is a list of cheatcodes (don't worry about learning all of them - the ones you need here are explained in [[http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Cheat_Codes  this how-to] ]):  Cheatcodes are your friends.  If you don't like them, you'd better start learning how to write and edit scripts, and possibly remaster linux CDs.
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==== Methods: ====
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There are several good methods for achieving this.  The first two are for versions of how-tos I wrote, but they are not necessarily any better than any others.
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1.  [[Basic Poor Mans]]  This method describes a process using the Knoppix CD as a boot device.  If you can load and run off the live CD, and if you can create (or already have) a hard drive partition that is formatted in something other than NTFS, you can use this.  It's no frills, but gives good functionality.
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2.  [[Win Partition]]  This method describes a refinement, which eliminates the need for the CD.  It uses the GRUB bootloader, but everything is set up from within Windows.  So, if you are familiar with Windows, but new to Linux, you can set up and modify everything in a familiar environment.  It does require adding one line to your boot.ini file of Windows using Notepad, but as long as you back-up this file first, you should be fine.
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3.  [[Remaster From Hd Install HowTo]]  This article provides a good deal more detail about various options in using a PMI.
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4.  [[Pivot Root Install]] - This is really more of a selectable HD install rather than a PMI (a PMI reads and loads from a compressed disk image or copy, and all changes are made externally), but it does carry some of the advantages and eliminates some of the disadvantages of an HD install.  Essentially, you hdinstall to an external device, and boot it with the CD or boot device, rather than an hd installed bootloader.  You can modify the installation and avoid bootloader problems.
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==== Wrap-up ====
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Once you utilize one of these methods, you will have the functionality of a hd linux install available to you. Next time a new version of Knoppix comes out, you can simply save the new version in place of the old one and enjoy the benefits of the latest enhancement, without the hassle of a reinstall, or worrying about dependencies. But what's really cool is that you can go back to Windows whenever you wish simply by leaving the liveCD out when you boot. You never have any danger of messing up Windows, and your Windows-dependent family members and co-workers will appreciate that. Comparisons and relative merits aside, I still have applications I rely upon in Windows, which simply aren't available in Linux.
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[[Category:Hard drive Installation]]
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Latest revision as of 18:20, 4 January 2013

The contents of this page has been out of date. Please go to

Hard drive Installation

Completely_new_HD_based_HowTo_page