Fri Jan 10, 2014 6:58 pm
dzz wrote:I just want to find a way to give a friend Linux with persistent capabilities to play on without messing with his Windows (xp and 7) MBR in any way. Trying to set up a dual - actually triple - boot with winders on someone else's machine terrifies me. I'm hoping this can be an easy and 'safe' solution.
A very safe option which will give a good introduction to Linux till ready to do a "real" install. A Refracta live image does not even automount the fixed disk (some distros might). Mine boots within 30 seconds on a core 2 and runs fast.
Sat Jan 11, 2014 12:56 pm
dd if=/dev/your-usb of=filename.img
VBoxManage convertdd filename.img filename.vdi
qemu -drive file=filename.img
Sat Jan 11, 2014 11:26 pm
fsmithred wrote:It looks like LiLi is using VirtualBox. That's pretty cool that you can test the live usb without rebooting. But you don't get to see if the linux works with your hardware, because vbox will emulate linux-compatible hardware.
What isn't clear to me is whether the vbox is running from the usb stick or if it gets installed in Windows. If it's the latter, you can do the same on linux, but you'd have to install virtualbox on your hard drive.
Enable launching LinuxLive in Windows (= Virtualization):
This is the most important option. It allows you to launch a LinuxLive directly in any Windows without any configuration nor software installation on your hard drive. No other Creator offers this exclusive feature.
LinuxLive USB Creator made it possible with a special homemade version of the famous virtualization software VirtualBox. It will download this portable version on your USB key (no installation) and will set it automatically for you. If you don't know what virtualization is, then read the What is virtualization? article of the FAQ.
To launch your LinuxLive in Windows, just run Virtualize_This_Key.exe * located in the VirtualBox folder on your USB key.
* Be aware that you need local administrator's privileges in order to launch VirtualBox.
Be aware that persistence CAN'T be used in VirtualBox.
Sun Jan 12, 2014 9:21 pm
Sun Jan 12, 2014 9:39 pm
fsmithred wrote:If you still have a windows installation and you try this, please tell us about it. I'd be interested to see what ends up on the usb stick.
Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:07 am
Wed Jan 15, 2014 5:41 am
dzz wrote:RE virtualbox: Is this a "black art"? Or is my core2 with 2GB ram not enough to run it at a usable speed? Qemu is guaranteed to give me the rage. I use a chroot, or a live usb, for most dev stuff.
Thu Jan 23, 2014 7:51 pm
* (refracta2usb)
* Don't need /live folder for setup_findiso, setup_multiboot, or
* replace_live - other names for /live will work, and findiso uses
* $target_dir instead of ${target_dir}/live.
* Moved select_kernel and select_initrd to functions file.
* copy_syslinux set to FALSE in setup_options()
* In setup_multiboot and setup_findiso, boot menu from the iso file
* opens in text-info window just before actual boot menu opens.
* Moved tests for $save_syslinux in replace_live() up to beginning
* of function and reverserd their order.
* Added --progress and -h to rsync commands.
*
* (mkloopback)
* Don't need /live folder.
* Test if first partition was selected, in case user does not set the
* option, so that custom initrd warning is shown.
*
*(patch-initrd-gui)
* Don't need /live folder - uses existing path to kernel and initrd.
Sat Jan 25, 2014 3:15 pm
Mon Jan 27, 2014 6:01 pm
#!/usr/bin/env bash
# killloops
source /usr/lib/refracta2usb/functions_r2u
yad_zenity_compat
select_loop () {
selection=$(find /dev -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -name "loop[0-7]" -exec losetup {} \; | sort | \
$DIALOG --list --column ' ' --height 220 --width 450 --title="Select Loop Device" \
--text="
Select the loop device you want to delete. If you pick one
that is still in use, it will not be deleted.
If the list is empty, there are no loop devices set up. \n" )
if [[ $? = 1 ]] ; then
exit 0
fi
strayloop=$(echo $selection | cut -d":" -f1)
delete_loop
}
delete_loop () {
report=$(losetup -d "$strayloop" 2>&1 | $DIALOG --$INFO \
--text=" If there's no error message below, the command worked.
Continue to delete another loop. \n" --width 450)
if [[ $? = 0 ]] ; then
select_loop
else
exit 0
fi
}
# Check that xserver is running and user is root.
[[ $DISPLAY ]] || { echo "There is no xserver running. Exiting..." ; exit 1 ; }
[[ $(id -u) -eq 0 ]] || { $DIALOG --title=Error --$ERROR --${BUTTON0}="OK"${BUTTON0NUM} \
--text="You need to be root\! \n\nCannot continue." ; exit 1 ; }
select_loop
exit 0