USB Pendrivelinux V1 install from Windows

The following tutorial covers the process of easily installing the Pendrivelinux V1 remix (Based purely on Debian) to a USB flash pen drive using Windows. Due to the overly simplified flash drive installation process, this tutorial is especially tailored for current Windows users being freshly introduced to Linux. However, even the seasoned Linux user "who also owns a Windows box" and would like to quickly try out Linux on a USB device should find this tutorial useful.

Note: Update 2/13/08 This Pendrivelinux V1 remix is based on Debian. We have a newer simplified Pendrivelinux 2008 remix based on MCNLive and Mandriva which can be found HERE

Featured Highlights of this Pendrivelinux installation:

  • Installation only requires 390MB of free space, leaving you with more free space to do as you choose
  • Simplified flash drive installation process via a 7z self extracting archive and syslinux batch installer
  • USB Pendrivelinux version includes the famous Envy graphical video card driver installer (enabling the user to run 3d acceleration from the pendrive install)
  • Includes Compiz allowing the user to enable cool 3D window effects and animations

Pendrivelinux Cube Desktop Screenshot running on Compiz:

Portable USB Pendrive Linux Desktop Screenshot running on Compiz

Pendrive Linux USB flash pen drive installation process:

  1. Insert your USB flash pen drive
  2. Download the Etch-PDL-Compiz_Windows.exe
  3. Run the Etch-PDL-Compiz_Windows.exe and extract to your USB drive:

    4. Pendrive Linux 7z Self Extracting Archive

  4. Navigate to your USB flashdrive and run makeboot.bat to make your USB drive bootable:

    5. Makeboot

  5. Restart your PC and set your BIOS or Boot Menu to boot from the USB device

Congratulations, you should now be booting Pendrive Linux from your flash drive and presented with a nice graphical boot menu as seen below:

PDL Boot Menu Launcher

*Default Boot method is Pendrivelinux Persistent
*Default root password is pendrivelinux
*Default user is user password is live

The following "Optional Sections" allow you to use the Persistence boot option, Install 3D Proprietary Video Card drivers and launch the Compiz Window Manager.

Create a second partition for "saving and restoring changes":

  1. Boot Pendrive Linux using the Pendrivelinux To RAM option
  2. Open a terminal and type sudo su
  3. Type gparted (to launch gnome parted)
  4. Select your USB device from the dropdown list
  5. Select the area from within the Green border to allow editing of the device. The border changes to a dotted pattern once selected. If you skip this step you will not be able to unmount the device.
  6. From the Gparted Menu, Navigate to Partition-> Unmount

    7. Gparted select and unmount the partition of your USB device

  7. Click the option to Resize/Move and drag the box to the smallest size allowed, then Click Resize

    8. Using Gparted to resize the Partition

  8. Click the Checkmark to Apply
  9. Back at the terminal, type fdisk /dev/sdx (replace x with your device)
    • Type n (to make a new partition)
    • Type p (to make this a primary partition)
    • Type 2 (to make this the second partiton)
    • Press Enter (to accept the default start cylinder)
    • Press Enter again (to accept the default last cylinder)
    • Type w (to write the settings and exit)
  10. Type umount /dev/sdx1 (then remove and reinsert your USB device)
  11. Now type umount/dev/sdx2 (to unmount the second partition so we can create the ext2 filesystem)
  12. Type mkfs.ext2 -b 4096 -L casper-rw /dev/sdx2 (to create an ext2 filesystem)
  13. Reboot and choose the menu option Persistent Pendrivelinux (to save and restore changes to the newly created partiton)

Installing ATI or nVidia 3D Graphical Drivers:

  1. Open a terminal and type sudo envy -g (or run the launcher under Application-> System Tools-> Envy)
  2. Select to install either the nVidia or Ati driver from the menu and Click Apply
  3. Once the process finishes, you'll be prompted to let the script write to xorg.conf Click Yes
  4. On the next prompt to restart your computer Click No
  5. Press Ctrl +Alt+Backspace (to restart X and enable the new driver and configuration)

Launching the Compiz Window Manager:

  1. Open a terminal and type compiz --replace

Alternate Floppy Boot method for a PC that can't boot from USB:

If your computer cant boot from a USB flash drive, you can try to use a floppy to Boot Pendrive Linux from the USB device.

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Posted November 4th, 2007 at 11:04 am under: Flashdrive installs using Windows