[gentoo-user] OT: Linux (Ubuntu) on a USB drive doesn't save

[gentoo-user] OT: Linux (Ubuntu) on a USB drive doesn't save

[Daevid Vincent]

I have an ancient Gateway 200ARC sans notebook hard drive (amongst other
things). I don't have the stupid little ribbon cable so I can't install
one either. And "they" charge like $50 for one. The notebook was free,
and a 1GB USB stick is only $20. a 2GB is like $40.

I wanted to install Linux on it to use it as an always-on thin client
that can just monitor some webpages, and do a few other basic tasks.

I followed this guide:
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2007/02/12/usb-ubuntu-tutorial-for-linux-us
ers/#more-117

And used Ubuntu 7.04. It worked great. I can boot and get online and all
sorts of things.

However, nothing "saves" !!!? As in nothing is persistent. I can create
the file and see it in the directory, edit it, and all that jazz. But
upon a reboot, it's gone!?

I created a .vimrc and rebooted and it's gone!
I "apt-get install" some apps and they're not there now.
I save my gnome settings. Revert back each time I reboot.

So what am I missing? Am I retarded and you can't use a 1GB USB stick as
a real hard drive like that?

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Re: [gentoo-user] OT: Linux (Ubuntu) on a USB drive doesn't save

[Iain Buchanan]

On Mon, 2007-05-21 at 23:44 -0700, Daevid Vincent wrote:
[snip]
> I followed this guide:
> http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2007/02/12/usb-ubuntu-tutorial-for-linux-us
> ers/#more-117
> 
> And used Ubuntu 7.04. It worked great. I can boot and get online and all
> sorts of things.
> 
> However, nothing "saves" !!!?

I'm not qualified to answer this question because I've never used
Ubuntu; I've never booted from a usb key; and I'm on the gentoo-user
ml ;) buuut maybe the usb key boot idea works like a live-cd and loads
your filesystem into a RAM disk?  In which case, changed you made
wouldn't actually be saved...  you could add another partition to the
key for "persistent" storage perhaps?

HTH,
-- 
Iain Buchanan <iaindb at netspace dot net dot au>

We are each entitled to our own opinion, but no one is entitled to his
own facts.
		-- Patrick Moynihan

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Re: [gentoo-user] OT: Linux (Ubuntu) on a USB drive doesn't save

[Mick]

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On Tuesday 22 May 2007 08:13, Iain Buchanan wrote:
> On Mon, 2007-05-21 at 23:44 -0700, Daevid Vincent wrote:
> [snip]
>
> > I followed this guide:
> > http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2007/02/12/usb-ubuntu-tutorial-for-linux-us
> > ers/#more-117
> >
> > And used Ubuntu 7.04. It worked great. I can boot and get online and all
> > sorts of things.
> >
> > However, nothing "saves" !!!?
>
> I'm not qualified to answer this question because I've never used
> Ubuntu; I've never booted from a usb key; and I'm on the gentoo-user
> ml ;) buuut maybe the usb key boot idea works like a live-cd and loads
> your filesystem into a RAM disk?  In which case, changed you made
> wouldn't actually be saved...  you could add another partition to the
> key for "persistent" storage perhaps?

Most of Iain's caveats apply here too, but judging from Knoppix you need to 
pass some boot options to the kernel to let it know where your config files 
are saved . . . assuming of course that Ubuntu on a LiveCD/USB has this level 
of sophistication.

Hope this helps.
-- 
Regards,
Mick

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Re: [gentoo-user] OT: Linux (Ubuntu) on a USB drive doesn't save

[Daniel da Veiga]

On 5/22/07, Daevid Vincent <daevid@daevid.com> wrote:
> I followed this guide:
> http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2007/02/12/usb-ubuntu-tutorial-for-linux-us
> ers/#more-117

Reading that, I wonder where "Gentoo" fits in... It even uses a Ubuntu
LiveCD to CREATE the system...

> However, nothing "saves" !!!? As in nothing is persistent. I can create
> the file and see it in the directory, edit it, and all that jazz. But
> upon a reboot, it's gone!?

I never used Ubuntu, neither tried this tutorial, but I've read it,
and there's something about a read/write partition being used to
retain stuff you change, are you sure you followed the guide
completely, including making and formatting that special partition?

-- 
Daniel da Veiga
Computer Operator - RS - Brazil
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