Install KNOPPIX 5.1.1 to a Flash Drive using the CD

Last updated: January 5, 2021

The following tutorial will show you how to Install Knoppix 5.1.1 to a USB Flash Drive using the Knoppix Live CD. It is also possible to use the persistent feature after completing this tutorial allowing you to save changes back to the stick. Knoppix is a fully featured Linux distribution based on Debian. It was created by Klaus Knopper. Knoppix has always been feature packed, including hundreds of useful tools and applications not included by default with most other Live Linux distributions.

USB Knoppix 5.1.1 Screenshot:

Knoppix running from USB

USB Knoppix installation essentials:

  • Knoppix 5.1.1 ISO
  • CD Recorder
  • 1GB or larger USB stick

Knoppix 5.1.1 USB Installation process:

  1. Download the Knoppix 5.1.1 ISO and burn it to CD
  2. Insert a 1GB or larger USB flash drive
  3. Restart your Computer and boot from the Knoppix CD
  4. Open up a terminal and type sudo su
  5. Type fdisk -l note which drive is your USB stick (I.E: sda) Throughout this tutorial we use x as our flash drive letter. Replace x with your actual flash drive letter. For example, if your flash drive is sdb, replace x with b.
  6. Type umount /dev/sdx1
  7. Type fdisk /dev/sdx
    1. type p to show the existing partition and d to delete it
    2. type p again to show any remaining partitions (if partitions exist, repeat the previous step)
    3. type n to make a new partition
    4. type p for primary partition
    5. type 1 to make this partition one
    6. hit enter to use the default first cylinder
    7. type +750M to make the partition 750 MB
    8. type a to make this partition active
    9. type 1 to select partition one
    10. type t to change it’s file system
    11. type 6 to select the fat16 file system
    12. type n to make another new partition
    13. type p for primary partition
    14. type 2 to make this the second partition
    15. hit enter to use the default first cylinder
    16. hit enter again to use the default last cylinder
    17. type w to write the new partition table
  8. Type umount /dev/sdx1 to ensure the partition is unmounted
  9. Type mkfs.vfat -F 16 -n usb /dev/sdx1 to format the first partition
  10. Type umount /dev/sdx2 to ensure the partition is unmounted.
  11. Type mkfs.ext2 -b 4096 -L casper-rw /dev/sdx2 to format the second partition
  12. Remove and reinsert your USB flash drive
  13. Type mkdir /tmp/usb
  14. Type mount /dev/sdx1 /tmp/usb
  15. Type cd /cdrom
  16. Type cp -rf KNOPPIX boot/isolinux/* /tmp/usb
  17. Type cd /tmp/usb
  18. Type mv isolinux.cfg syslinux.cfg
  19. Type cd
  20. Type umount /tmp/usb
  21. Type syslinux -sf /dev/sdx1
  22. Reboot your computer and set your system BIOS or Boot Menu to boot from the USB device. Save your changes and restart your PC, booting from the USB device.

You should now be able to boot Knoppix 5.1.1 via your USB stick. Proceed to use the Knoppix Persistent feature to save your changes back to the stick ;)

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