Puppy Linux

[Sylvander]

PREAMBLE
1. Decided to experiment with some additional Linux distros.

2. Used Linux Chooser (http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/index.php) to suggest suitable distros.

3. Tried Fedora 9 (http://fedoraproject.org/) and openSUSE (http://www.opensuse.org/en/), but neither worked for me; they both needed better hardware capability than my old 1999 Compaq Deskpro EN could provide.

4. So ErnieK suggested over the phone that I try Puppy Linux (http://www.puppylinux.com/).

RESULT
5. SUCCESS AT FIRST TRY! :D :cool:
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
(a) I like the way this works.
(b) Because the download is small it takes less time and effort to make than with other live optical disks.
(c) During first Startup, I like the way it explains various configuration/setup options [mouse, video, connecting to the web], and helps the user make the best choice for his system.
I got it right first time and the system was up and running in no time.
(d) It was explained about the ability to save [at shutdown] user configurations etc to a file that I could decide to hold where I liked.
[Something sadly missing from other "live" optical disk offerings, or not explained so well, or so easily implemented]
I chose to place it on my 1 GB USB Flash Drive.
The prog advised me to allocate 512 MB for the file, and advised that I shut down ASAP [to make the file] then Restart.
(e) I realised I'd made the file too small.
There wasn't enough free space on the drive, so I booted into Windows and shift-deleted ALL of the contents of the Partition/drive and restarted into Puppy and shut down and made a 512 MB file and back into Puppy.
(f) ALL WAS NOW LOOKING GOOD. :)

6. Clicked on the large icon displayed on the Puppy desktop to read the "New Start" advice given [very helpful].

7. As advised, read the "Help" from the link on the Start menu.

8. As advised/instructed, activated the firewall.
Advice was that only the contents of the saved file [pup_save.2fs] on my Flash Drive could be infected, and that could be "flushed" clean...
Because ALL OTHER FILES are either working in RAM [and lost when the PC is switched off], or else held on the un-infectable optical disk.
Apparently this file doesn't need to be saved to an internal device; the configurations etc can be written to the optical disk [CD-R or CD-RW].
One of my reasons for trying such as this is so as to have an uninfectable [or at least very safe] means of browsing the web [at the very least for internet banking].

PROBLEM
9. Ended up at ShieldsUP! (https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2)
This showed that the system was secure, EXCEPT...
A PING SENT TO MY PC WAS BEING REPLIED TO.
Does anyone know how to stop this reply from being sent?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

WHAT NOW?
10. I'm reading at the Wikipedia on Puppy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppy_Linux) that Puppy can boot from a "floppy boot disk that loads the rest of the operating system from a USB drive".
Anyone know how this is done, or where to read the instructions?
[My old BIOS cannot boot from any USB device]

11. I cannot find any good File Explorer within Puppy; am I just doing it wrong or is a better one needed, and where do I get it, and how should it be installed?

[jlreich]

Look here (http://www.puppylinux.com/flash-puppy.htm) and scroll down to the last section and there are instructions on how to use the floppy.

A PING SENT TO MY PC WAS BEING REPLIED TO.
This is probably port 113 IDENT?. You can stealth it but I haven't used Puppy for a long time and can't tell you off the top of my head how to get into the firewall and block it.

I cannot find any good File Explorer within Puppy
Whatever default internet browser, other than Firefox, Puppy uses is also a file explorer. Clicking on "home" or user files should bring up the browser. There should be a tree on the left allowing you easy access to the root (/) file system.

I will download the ISO and load it up in virtual PC to see if I can help you further tonight or tomorrow if no one else replies in the meanwhile.

Which particular version of Puppy are you using?

DSL (http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/) is another good distro similar to puppy in size and system requirements. Also runs quite well in MS virtual PC.

Hope that helps to some extent.

[mjc]

The bootloader should be somewhere on the Puppy site...I've had to do similar for an old Toshiba laptop that didn't boot from USB either. The bootloader was pretty straight forward to use.

[Sylvander]

Thanks for the help guys! :)

1. Typing this from within Puppy Linux using the "SeaMonkey" integrated set of programs. [Web browsing is one of its functions]
I believe Firefox is one of the set and that the individual programs added together use more space than the set.

2. Had to do a bit of fiddling with the FAT16 partition on the USB Flash Drive.
(a) It would normally be best as ext2 or ext3 I was led to believe, so I went back into Windows and used "Paragon Hard Disk Manager" to delete the partition.
(b) Then Restarted into Puppy using the CD and made an ext2 partition there using GParted.
(c) Discovered when I booted the WakePup2 bootable floppy that it was unable to see the contents of that partition [and said it should be FAT16], so...
(d) I rebooted into Puppy using the Puppy CD [I'd save the configurations file to an internal partition on my HDD so I could continue to use both methods to boot to Puppy]...
(e) And there I used GParted to repartition the USB Flash Drive as FAT16 once more.

3. Went to "Menu->Setup->Puppy Universal Installer", clicked that to run the program and followed the instructions to install Puppy to the [just less than] 1GB FAT16 partition on the USB Flash Drive.

4. I'd earlier used "Menu->Setup->WakePup Create Boot Floppy" to do just that by following the rather clear and fulsome instructions.
[I had to (break off to) install the WakePup program before I could use it]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. "This is probably port 113 IDENT?"
(a) Hmmm, the scan was showing that ALL ports were in stealth mode. [All green]
I'm not sure which program is the Firewall.
There are two screen icons [for a prog named "Blinky"] that appear to be showing any data transfer through the broadband modem.
It provides Received and sent figures, and "Options" window says it's a "Network Usage Monitor".
(b) Just about to re-activate the Firewall.
Notes say that the default installation [if I choose it as I did previously] will "Close all ports".
DONE.
I see no sign of the firewall running. :confused: :(

6. "Clicking on "home" or user files should bring up the browser."
Huh?
If I knew where "Home" could be found I might be able to click on it.
The "ROX-Filer File Manager" displays folders/files, but with no hierarchical folder structure displayed as in Windows Explorer. :(
And I see no Home folder.
A right-click on a folder/file brings up a context menu with "Options...", but I see no option to display a folder tree.

7. "Which particular version of Puppy are you using?"
Version 4.1

[Paul Komski]

If you like SeaMonkey under Linux bear in mind you can also run it in Windows. I use it all the time for HTML editing with its Composer function - which has the same "engine" as NVU just as the browser has the same "engine" as Firefox.

[jlreich]

Running Puppy in a VM right now.

I don't see any file browser that will work like you want it to. But if you go into Seamonkey, or any browser, and simply type in / into the address bar it will display an FTP type directory displaying the entire files system.

If you hit the setup icon on the desktop the firewall setup is at the bottom. There isn't much to tinker with even if you go into custom setup though. I do believe it is running by default.

Honestly I wouldn't worry about the ping response at shieldsup. All that does is let another machine that is pinging your system know that there is indeed one there. But they still have to get by the firewall to do anything, then they still have to be able gain root privileges to do much if they do get in. Simply by running in Linux you are safer than in any windows environment. ;) The fact that it is a Live CD makes it even safer. I welcome others comments on this, but I wouldn't worry about it.

[Sylvander]

Typing this using SeaMonkey in Puppy.

1. "type in / into the address bar it will display an FTP type directory displaying the entire files system"
Done.
At least it shows the folders, but it's nowhere near as good as a proper file browser like Windows Explorer.
I'll need to find one and install it.

2. "If you hit the setup icon on the desktop the firewall setup is at the bottom"
That's how I installed the firewall, but once done I see no display that shows that it's running [whether it really is running] and what it's doing.

3. "I wouldn't worry about the ping response at shieldsup"
OK. :)

4. "they still have to be able gain root privileges to do much if they do get in."
There's a display of icons on the desktop; one for each drive/partition, and each one that's mounted [if so] has a small golden ball beside it.
I guess the contents of these cannot be infected if they're not mounted, eh?

5. "Simply by running in Linux you are safer than in any windows environment"
I'd like to gain understanding of how/why Linux is so much safer than Windows.
I guess that might come with time and the gaining of knowledge.

6. "a Live CD makes it even safer"
Impossible to infect?

7. I notice when I chose to load Puppy using the CD-RW disk I was offered the choice of using/loading configurations etc using...
Either:
(a) The file I saved to an internal HDD partition using the copy of Puppy previously loaded from the CD-RW.
OR...
(b) The file I saved to the FAT16 partition on the USB Flash Drive after loading Puppy from the Flash Drive using the bootable Floppy ["WakePup2 Boot Disk"].
(c) I chose b and it works just fine. In other words it's possible to mix and match; doesn't matter which method is used to load/run Puppy.

[Sylvander]

Re: Post #4 item 3...

1. Just noticed that Windows Explorer can no longer see the contents [Puppy installation] of the USB Flash Drive.

2. It IS displayed in diskmgmt.msc as...
980 MB FAT, Healthy (Active)...
But with no drive letter allocated and no label [Disk 1, Removable, 980 MB, Online]

3. I thought since it's a FAT16 partition I could browse it within Windows. :confused:

[Sylvander]

Problem solved! :)

1. Used Paragon Hard Disk Manager to give the partition a drive letter.
That made it visible in Windows Explorer, where I gave the partition a label.

2. Decided to limit myself to using the bootable Puppy Linux CD-RW, so...
(a) Within Windows Explorer, I deleted all the files on the USB FAT16 partition except the pup_411.sfs & ppup_save.2fs files.
Deleted the versions of these [not direct copies] held on the chosen internal HDD partition.
[Want to stick to using a single method to load Puppy, and a single set of backup files]

[jlreich]

I guess the contents of these cannot be infected if they're not mounted, eh?
If they are not mounted they cannot be accessed. :)

6. "a Live CD makes it even safer"
Impossible to infect?
Once loaded into ram it can be infected. But, once you shut it down Puppy is gone. The only thing left are any saved config files and any files you downloaded and saved. If you don't download any files risk is pretty much null.

I'd like to gain understanding of how/why Linux is so much safer than Windows.
The biggest single reason is the fact that most malware is written for windows. So what if you download a virus that exploits Active-x? So what if you download a virus that wants to hook itself into the registry? Linux doesn't have a registry.

Permissions is the next biggest thing. As long as you are not running as root there is virtually nothing that can be done to harm the core system.

That's how I installed the firewall, but once done I see no display that shows that it's running [whether it really is running] and what it's doing.
You know it is running because when you go to shieldsup you have stealthed ports. That's the firewall doing that. ;) Although your router is playing a part in this if there were no firewall running results would be much different.

[Sylvander]

Working in Puppy->SeaMonkey...

1. "As long as you are not running as root there is virtually nothing that can be done to harm the core system"
I noticed discussions about this in the Puppy forum.
I think they were saying it didn't really matter whether or not you were running as Root [whatever that means (like Admin?)], because no hacker could get in anyway.

2. "you have stealthed ports"
There was another discussion at the Puppy forum on the topic of:
"Stealthed versus Closed ports".
They were saying that they really MUST be closed...
Because when the bad guys scan for ports, they can tell that probably a port exists and has been stealthed...
[From the delay in response created by a stealthed port]
So they might well take an interest in such as these.
Whereas closed ports give no indication of their presence, so the bad guys have nothing to be interested in.
A default installation of the firewall [the installation I used] CLOSES ALL PORTS.
So I'd have thought there would have been no response to a ping.
Perhaps a port is opened by SeaMonkey to connect to ShieldsUp, and that open port gives a response?
I'm repeating the test, and notice the site reports all common ports "Status = Stealth". :confused:
Is this just a problem with terminology?
Also all service ports are being reported as stealthed rather than closed. :confused:

3. I downloaded a HP 840C printer driver file = hplip-2.8.10.run to the Puppy file:///root/my-documents folder and tried to run it to install, but it wouldn't.
A single click on it opens it as a text file which shows that it holds a script, and is a self-extracting archive I think.
Here's the beginning of the script:
#!/bin/sh
# This script was generated using Makeself 2.1.4

CRCsum="2859023146"
MD5="2caa01a3081913a484c021416468bca1"
TMPROOT=${TMPDIR:=/tmp}

label="HPLIP 2.8.10 Self Extracting Archive"
script="./hplip-install"

[jlreich]

My understanding is a "closed" port will respond that it is closed. Therefor letting someone know there is a system there. A "stealthed" port will not even respond that it is there. I am sure there are some ways for a good cracker to figure out something is there. Further it is my understanding that a "stealthed" port is already closed unless communication is initiated by you. Stealthed just means a closed port will not even respond that it is closed.

If I am wrong on the terminology I am sure someone will correct me.

[mjc]

First off... the 'bad guys' have pretty much given up on wide scale port scanning to find targets to hack. There are numerous reasons for this, but the most prominent one is the fact that they don't have to scan in order to find targets...the targets willing come to them. Most infections occur through port 80 and the related IM ports. About the only thing that still scans ports are 'true' viruses and 99.9999999999999999999999999999999999999999% of those are Windows only executables.

The 'bad guys' don't want to waste the time/effort finding individual machines worth it by the 'traditional' methods. Todays trojan's and other malware, once installed, report back to central locations with the data found...

Does this mean running with wide-open ports is safe?

No...but it does mean that the chances of anything happening have dropped dramatically.

Also, there never has been a standard that defines ports as stealthed. A port is either opened or closed. Stealthed is actually 'broken'. Let's use the 'ping' port as an example...

Machine A sends a 'ping' to Machine B. B is 'open' and that info is reported back to A. A stops sending. The info B sent back is basically, "I'm here and ready, what's next?" If A doesn't do anything else the connection is dropped.

B is closed. That info is reported to A and it stops sending and breaks the connection. B sends back, "Go away, we're closed."

B is stealthed (doesn't report anything). A keeps sending until the timeout time is reached. Holds the connection open for possibly even longer, in order to try again after the timeout has been reached.

So, closing ports is actually the 'appropriate' thing to do.

Second problem...the script may not be set to be executable or you may not have the appropriate level of permissions to run it...quite common and oine of the inherent 'safety' features of Linux. So you can try running it by opening a terminal and typing in su scriptname.run if it still won't run, then the script is probably not set to be executable. If that is the case, then in a terminal chmod +x <scriptname>.

[Sylvander]

Aha!
Berry interestink. ;)

A tiny chink of light shines in upon that region of my mind reserved for information on this topic.

1. "you can try running it by opening a terminal and typing in su scriptname.run"
The Hewlett Packard printer driver installation file I wanted to run and couldn't had a .run extension.
I don't remember seeing a terminal in Puppy, but I guess there must be one.
So is this the method I should use to run the hplip-2.8.10.run printer installation file?
I'll give it a try.

[Sylvander]

Couldn't get it to run. :(

[jlreich]

I got it to run in a terminal like this -

sh my-documents/hplip.2.8.10.run

But it extracted and then came up with a python: command not found error.

Give it a shot though, who knows it may work for you.

In case you haven't found it, menu> utility> rxvt terminal emulator. Once I hit that it put a "console" shortcut on my desktop that allowed me to just click that to get a terminal window.

[Sylvander]

Working in Puppy->SeaMonkey.
[Easy once accustomed to it (and FAST), but doesn't look quite so nice as Firefox in Windows]

1. I spotted a tiny but fatal mistake in your command line.
Should it be? :
sh my-documents/hplip-2.8.10.run

I tried that line, and it was accepted at least, and it ran, but finally terminated with the notification:
/hplip install: python: command not found

2. I've been trying to export my passwords from Acerose Password Vault [in Windows] to a CSV file on a floppy disk, which is routine and successful...
And then import them from that file into the Figaro's Password Manager 2 in Puppy Linux...
But it just reports it imported zero [0] passwords.
I think it expects them to be in plain text form with no comma or tab or whatever form of separation of fields.

3. I should really be installing an improved File Explorer/manager.
Found XFE (http://roland65.free.fr/xfe/), and it's download page (http://roland65.free.fr/xfe/index.php?page=download) that leads HERE (http://sourceforge.net/projects/xfe), and eventually HERE (http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=64835&package_id=62098&release_id=617121) , but I'm not even sure which of those files is appropriate for my system, and therefore is the one to download.
I think I chose the tar.gz file, but I don't know how or where to save the file or how to open it.
I just now told the open/download window to open the file with the default program PupZip, but all that does is display a great list of the files included with various toolbar options like...
Select All, Extract, Open With.
Mystifying for a long-time Windows junkie.
So I clicked "Quit".
The Download Manager displays that xfe-1.19.2.tar.gz "Progress" is "Finished". :confused:

[Sylvander]

Working in Windows...

1. Downloaded the file xfe-1.19.2.tar.gz, saved it to a convenient folder, unpacked the gz file to give the tar file, unpacked that to a sub-folder.
That produced an xfe-1.19.2 folder with all its files and sub-folder branches.
One of the files in that top folder is INSTALL [text file with no 3-letter extension].
I'm reading that at the moment and it gives "Generic Installation Instructions" on how to install in either Windows or Linux.
I'll give the file a txt extension and upload it here.
Perhaps you can give me some pointers. :)
.

[jlreich]

I was able to get XFE installed but as noted on the XFE website you do indeed need the fox toolkit installed. Having issues with that. Apparently you need something else installed for that to work. :p

On another note I downloaded the newest version of DSL and I don't like it very much. I have been running v3 and like it a lot. Much better than v4. :(

[Sylvander]

1. "I was able to get XFE installed"
(a) So how does it look? Worth installing?
(b) Any pointers for what I should do to get it installed on my system?
Should I try to save the files within puppy, or might I try to use the files saved by Windows to an internal partition?
Do I simply follow the instructions in the INSTALL file?
Key steps?

2. "you do indeed need the fox toolkit installed"
I thought that was already included as part of the default puppy installation.
Isn't it?
So do I need to install that before I even begin to attempt to install XFE?

3. "you need something else installed for that to work"
What is "that"? Fox?
So you need something else installed for FOX to work, and you need FOX for XFE to work, right?
YIKES! :(

[Sylvander]

Working from SeaMonkey within Puppy.

1. Found how to browse the various partitions on the internal HDD.
All storage locations have icons on the desktop.
I only need to click on one and it mounts and displays the contents of the root folder in a window; then I just click on one of those folders and it opens that in a new/replacement window.
I'd still prefer a hierarchical folder system though.

2. So I'm easily able to navigate to the xfe-1.19.2 folder [on my Windows F: partition] and view its contents.

3. Reading the INSTALL file suggests I should [SOMEHOW] run:
./configure
Make
Make Install

But How?
In a CONSOLE?
Would running ./configure run the configure file?
How would that file be found and identified to run?
e.g. There are 3 configure files for the hplip driver [mentioned above] held within the Puppy file system.
Using the Pfind program doesn't find any outside of the Puppy file system; only inside.

[Sylvander]

Working in Puppy->SeaMonkey.
Topic:
Figaro's Password Manager 2 [fpm2]

1. Copied certain entries from Acerose Password Vault [Windows] to fpm2 [Puppy] by copying text to a wri file on a floppy and copying and pasting into fpm2.
That worked fine, except...

2. Cannot get fpm2 to launch the wed-browser [SeaMonkey] and go to the webpage of the entry.
Apparently fpm2 is capable of AUTOMATICALLY...
launching a web-browser, going to the web-page, inserting the username in its window and then inserting the password in its window.

3. At first I couldn't get any launch to begin.
But then I found this Ubuntu webpage on fpm2 (http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/intrepid/man1/fpm2.html) which includes an explanation of how to "Define a launcher".
So I copied and pasted the line of code...
xterm -title $u@$a -e ssh -X $a -l $u.
...into the "Edit->Launcher:" window, clicked OK to save that, and clicked the "Jump" button.
Apparently the launch began, but didn't complete with the warning:
"This password's launcher is undefined.
Please define it in the edit password item screen."
Hence no success so far. :(
Anyone know how to get this to work?

4. I AM able to copy and paste the URL, username, password, and that works OK. :)
So now I can safely visit certain websites like my online banking website, whilst feeling pretty certain there are no Trojans or keyloggers taking note. :D :cool:

[jlreich]

I don't know if xfe is going to work in puppy. Running xfe configure shows it is missing the correct compilers among other things. You could of course go about installing all this stuff, but that's a lot of work and you might as well choose a distro that is more setup for this kind of thing. Puppy is meant to be a lightweight distro, so by design it doesn't have all the things installed by default that many distros do.

I did get it to install using the xfe-1.19.2-i386.sh file. So typing - sh my-documents/xfe-1.19.2-i386.sh - in a terminal ran it and it installed. But when you try to start the program - by typing /usr/local/bin/xfe in a terminal - it can't find the fox lib files so it never runs. I tried editing the path in the ld.so.cfg file, as the instructions after installing say to do, but it didn't work.

I am sure there is a way to get it to work but it's beyond my knowledge of Linux at this time. :( I am still quite the novice even though I have been playing with Linux for a couple years or more. I still stumble around somehow managing to get most things working even though once I get it working I don't always know how I actually did it. :p But I also am used to using full distros like Suse. Suse makes thing a bit easier to get things working since it generally has all the stuff needed and auto checks dependencies for me.

[Sylvander]

Looks like I've succeeded in installing...

1. the Fox-library 1.6.31 (http://dotpups.de/puppy4/dotpups/Multimedia/Rezound/fox-1.6.31.pet).

And...
2. The X File Explore [Xfe] (http://dotpups.de/dotpups/File_Managers/xfe-1.19.2.pet).

3. These were both got from links at this webpage (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=249821046&t=16015).

4. It was INCREDIBLY SIMPLE to install using these .pet files.
I just clicked on a link, a window opened asking if I wanted to use the default prog [PetGet] to install ["Open" the file].
Just clicked OK and followed a couple of prompts.
Only took a couple of minutes.
Says I need to reboot Puppy to complete the install, and I'll find the program listed on the [Start] "Menu->FileSystem".
I'll restart now. :)

[jlreich]

LOL. Easy breezy. Didn't have to reboot, just restarted x server. I guess having the right package makes all the difference. :p

[Sylvander]

What a difference, what? :)

1. I've been playing around in Xfe configuring this'n'that....
Tree view + 1 panel [rather than 2 at this time]...
Trying various different themes.

2. Managed to find where the various HDD partitions are located in the hierarchical folder system.
e.g. /mnt/sda1 is what Windows names the C: partition.
I can now browse the folder/file system in there.

3. Now if I can only install WINE I could access my E: partition [/mnt/sda6] and run any suitable examples of the MANY [very useful] portable programs held there.
Off I go in search. :D :cool:

[yawningdog]

Remember gang, when we talk about "ports", we are talking about tcp. PING doesn't use the tcp protocol. It's layer 4 protocol is ICMP. PING does not use ports the way they are being talked about here. Also ICMP is also a little like UDP in that it is connectionless, so there is no SYN/ACK handshake taking place either.

If you're using a router, then that is the device responding to PING, not your computer. Most routers can be configured not to respond to ping (aka ICMP ECHO REQUEST). Check your web-based config.

As far as your computer is concerned, the following firewall rules will drop ICMP requests.

Iptables:
iptables -A OUTPUT -p icmp -d 0/0 -j DROP
Ipchains:
ipchains -A output -p icmp -d 0/0 -j DENY

OR drop all incoming pings:
echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/icmp_echo_ignore_all

This is sometimes necessary to look invisible to DOS (Denial Of Service) attackers. More info on the topic here.
http://www.yolinux.com/TUTORIALS/LinuxTutorialNetworking.html#ICMP

[Sylvander]

Working in "Puppy->SeaMonkey".

1. "the following firewall rules will drop ICMP requests"
(a) All of this is like Greek to me, so I hope you don't mind if I ask silly questions.
Are these commands to be added to some file somewhere?
Do they configure the way that software does its work in controlling the hardware?
So which file[s] should I be looking to edit?
I searched for files with [I] Firewall in the name and a great list was found with duplicate copies here and there.

(b) Also searched for files with ICMP in their name and found about 12, including a couple with names like icmp_echo_ignore_all [holds just a zero] and icmp_echo_ignore_broadcasts [holds a 1].
Both of these files are reported as having zero size.

[Paul Komski]

Now if I can only install WINE I could access my E: partition [/mnt/sda6] and run any suitable examples of the MANY [very useful] portable programs held there.WINE doesnt quite work that way. It doesnt open up an existing Windows file system to allow you to run executables. It allows you to install compatible Windows programs within WINE or, if you prefer, within a WINE bottle.

The help you got from the Puppy Forum (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=249821046&t=16015) is typical of what I like about the whole Linux community. There's a great deal of functional help out there if one takes the trouble to look for it. I'm not saying there isnt help for Windows users but the subtle diffences between all the distros makes individual specific forums of especial value.
If you're using a router, then that is the device responding to PING, not your computer. Are you behind a router?

[Sylvander]

Working from "Puppy->SeaMonkey".

1. "Are you behind a router?"
Not yet; I've been studying routers, but not yet committed.

2. "WINE doesn't quite work that way"
Aw, that's a pity; are you sure?
Because so far I've managed to run about half of the portable programs I have on E: using "Knoppix 5.1.1->WINE" loaded from a bootable live CD.
I've just installed WINE 1.0 into Puppy from THISE FILE (http://puppylinux.ca/tpp/bugs/wine-1.0.pet) [wine-1.0.pet] got HERE (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=256755309&t=26717).
I think I'll just power-off so this won't be saved [I think it works like that]; I can always re-install using that link if needed.

3. "There's a great deal of functional help out there if one takes the trouble to look for it"
So I'm discovering, and very pleasing it is to find how easy to install new programs or functionality.
I'm being pleasantly surprised at how FAST SeaMonkey operates within Puppy as against Firefox within Windows 2000Pro [on this trusty old hardware].

4. I was about to register at the Puppy Linux discussion forum (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/profile.php?mode=register), but realized I probably need to be able to provide an email address that I can use here within Puppy.
Any suggestions on how to do that? [Webmail?]
I'd like to be able to use a discardable account.
I've found in the past that when I use 2 somethings where things might be found or got I'm not sure then where to go to get them [I have 2 email identities in Windows; one general, the other family/friends].
I've found it good to have only one place to go for things, so I know it they're not there, then they're not anywhere.

[Paul Komski]

I'd like to be able to use a discardable account.
The most customisable/discardable are your own ones but that means getting yoursself a domain name. They are not expensive and somewhere like freeparking.co.uk (https://www.freeparking.co.uk/) will let you park your domain name with them, use it to setup a small website if wanted, and set up a number of email accounts using real or virtual/forwarding addresses. Otherwise grab a webmail account - there are loads of em.

sylvander.co.uk is available right now for £4.99 per annum.

Aw, that's a pit; are you sure?It's never wise to be too dogmatic when it comes to PCs but I think it boils down to exactly how you are using WINE in Knoppix or elsewhere. I don't think you can just access an executable from a mock Windows drive/registry and expect it to run. The executable, as far as I have understood things, has to be installed within WINE.

[Sylvander]

Working from Puppy->SeaMonkey.

1. Installed WINE using the linked PET file, and restarted.
Once back into Puppy the Taskbar and "Menu" were missing.
Didn't know how to recover/restart those within Puppy, so...

2. Used the Switch on the desktop unit to switch off.
That would cause everything in RAM to be lost.
Switched back on and used the command offered at startup to skip 1 most recent saved "session".
That didn't fix it so repeated skipping 2, then 3.
None produced a fix, so I went into Windows and deleted the files on the Flash Drive so as to begin afresh, and...

3. Sure enough, had to begin like this was a new/fresh install with no saved configuration/installation info.
e.g. Specified the mouse type, display settings, setup network/internet connection.

4. It's very handy that I've saved various links here to the additional programs.
Hope it reminds me of the various steps completed previously.
Need to think of some way to save the "way things were" at point in my progress so I can backstep by a single step at a time rather than go right back to the beginning.
I thought that facility was built in with 5 backups set, but when tried it failed to produce the goods.

[Sylvander]

Working from Puppy->SeaMonkey.
2nd attempt.

1. Follow ALL of the instructions [I used Puppy 3] HERE (http://www.puppylinux.ca/bugs/Guides/2_Howto_Enable-Video_Hardware_Acceleration.html) to install xorg_opengl-7.2.pet and xorg_dri_modules-7.2.pet
Completed both steps 1 & 2.

2. Then installed wine-1.1.7.pet HERE (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=256755309&t=26717).
It was reported there was not enough room to complete the process and the files were auto-deleted.
Since there's not enough space on my 1 GB Flash drive even with the full space allocated to the files, I'll need to move them to one of the partitions on my internal HDD.
How best to do that I wonder without yet again losing what has been done so far? :confused:

[Sylvander]

Working from Puppy->SeaMonkey.

1. Decided to try solve this by:
"Menu->Setup->Remaster Puppy live-CD".
Thinking that the extras would be added to the CD leaving less to be saved to the pup_save.2fs file on the Flash drive.

2. The program worked wonderfully well.
Gave [amongst others] the option to save an ISO file [with a name customized by me] to a location of my choice [F:] and not burn direct to the CD-RW disk.
The program also saved 6 files in F:\puppylivecdbuild [/initrd/mnt/dev_ro2/puppylivecdbuild within Puppy].

3. Within Windows, after burning the new ISO file to CD, I deleted the old pup_save.2fs file held on the Flash Drive, and booted the new CD.

3. I'm not exactly sure what's being done, but...
(a) When I used the new CD it booted into Puppy OK, but when I shut down to save the new pup_save.2fs file, it was reported that there was not enough space to do it.
Contents of CD loaded into RAM too big for the 973 MB file?
(b) I notice that the F: partition [sda7 in Puppy] is automatically mounted and cannot be unmounted. HUH? :( :confused:

4. System appears to be working fine, but my guess is that the CD and Flash Drive alone will no longer work on ANY PC because the [files held on the?] F: partition is now a necessity for proper operation.

[Sylvander]

Working in Puppy->SeaMonkey.

1. Noticed that the Puppy optical disk [CD-RW] was permanently MOUNTED, and therefore the drive wasn't free to be used for any other purpose. :(
This because during startup, using the Puppy CD-RW, the largest file [pup_411.sfs] that puppy attempts to load into RAM was too big to go in.
So the CD-RW needed to be in permanent use and could not be unmounted. :(

2. So I decided to switch back to using the bootable WakePup2 floppy to load Puppy off the USB Flash Drive.

3. Within Windows...
Copied [to any folder beneath the root on any internal HDD partition, so they wouldn't be found by Puppy at Startup] the existing files saved to the flash drive [pup_save.2fs & pup_411.sfs].
This so that at any time I could go back to using the Puppy CD.
All I'd need do is copy those to the root of any accessible [ideally a FAT] partition for them to be found by Puppy at Startup.

4. Within Windows...
Deleted all the files held on the Flash drive.

5. Restarted with the Puppy bootable CD in the drive and the [empty] 1 GB USB Flash Drive in its socket.

6. Once into Puppy...
Went to "Menu->Setup->Puppy Universal Installer", and used that install Puppy to the Flash Drive using the files supplied by the CD.
Rebooted, and at shut-down saved the session to the pup_save.2fs file on the Flash Drive.

7. Once back into Puppy...
used "Menu->Setup->WakePup Create Boot Floppy" to make the bootable floppy.

8 "Menu->Shutdown->Reboot Computer" with the WakePup2 Boot Floppy in its drive, and booted back into Puppy by using the floppy to load the Puppy files from the Flash Drive.

9. Once again installed:
Fox Toolkit v1.6.31
X File Explorer [Xfe] v1.19.2
WINE v1.0

This time, installing WINE caused no problems, but as Paul said, Puppy still would not run any portable Windows programs I tried.

10. Xfe is really good, but I don't yet fully know how to operate it.
e.g. If I expand a folder in the tree it displays certain sub-folders.
Yet if I click on that top folder so its contents are displayed in the right-hand pane...
The pane will typically display more folders than the tree!
I am able to display 1 tree and 2 panes and move or copy items from one folder in a pane to a different folder in the other pane.
NICE! :cool:

11. This is the 1st Linux OS that's made me want to stay here to work. :D
I found it too difficult to get things done in other Linux OS's, but so far here I find the going reasonably easy...
And VERY FAST! Typically whilst browsing the web using SeaMonkey.
e.g. The "PetGet Package Manager" has nice touches.
In the upper pane it lists all the "official" "Pet" packages available out there on the web.
There are 3 option buttons for Puppy4, 3, 2.
Click them in turn and it displays a list for each.
There are option buttons down the left to choose to display parts of the list by topic. [Desktop, System, Setup, Utility etc]
Click an item in the list and it begins/completes the install.
Anything installed [official or not] becomes listed in the lower pane.
Click one of those and it uninstalls; almost TOO easy!

[Sylvander]

Puppy Linux Mini How-To for Inexperienced Microsoft Windows Renegades (http://puppylinux.org/wiki/archives/old-wikka-wikki/categorydocumentation/theonetwothreeetcpointsprogrammformicrosoftwindo).
Not up-to-the-minute, but pretty informative.

[jlreich]

1. At the boot screen type in puppy toram

That will load the entire contents of the CD into ram and the CD drive will be free to use. It will also have the added benefit of running faster since everything is already loaded into memory.

You can do this with most live CD/DVD's providing you have enough ram to load it all into memory. Just type in the name of the distro and toram.

knoppix toram
dsl toram
puppy toram

etc...

This works particularly well with small distros like Puppy or DSL since it takes very little time to load the contents of the CD into memory. It works well with bigger distros but takes longer for the initial bootup since it has to load a whole CD into memory. Actually the last time I loaded a Knoppix DVD into ram I think it only took about 3 or so minutes to load it up. Not bad at all considering we are talking 4.7GB.

[Sylvander]

How to use Puppy (http://www.puppylinux.org/wiki/how-tos/general/howtousepuppy).
Items below are got to from here.

The Puppy Linux file directory structure is organized like this (http://puppylinux.org/wiki/archives/old-wikka-wikki/categorydocumentation/thefilestructure).
Xfe makes it much easier than Rox to gain an overview of the folder tree and their contained files.

Oops, just noticed your post #37 jlR.
The default behavior with Puppy is that it loads everything from the CD [99 MB?] into RAM if it can, but mine reports that it is unable to do so.
I have 256 MB of RAM, but that isn't enough apparently.
I'll give that command a try though.

Linux for beginners (http://linuxreviews.org/beginner/).
Handy to have this here so I can find it again when needed.

Working within Puppy using Xfe, I've just copied the files need by the Puppy CD at Startup...
From a sub-folder on the Windows F: partition to the root of F:
How cool is that? :cool:
OK, OK, so experienced users will laugh, but this is the 1st time I've ever done that. :D

[Sylvander]

1. Back into Puppy having done that and used the CD to load using those files in the root of F:.
JINGS! Puppy actually allowed me to delete those files! Even though the partition is mounted and the files in were those loaded into RAM!

I'll need to think about that one. :confused:

I won't save to those [now non-existent files] at shutdown.
If given the option that is.

[Sylvander]

Well that worked just fine and I'm now back into Puppy having booted using the floppy and the Flash drive. :D

[Paul Komski]

This is the 1st Linux OS that's made me want to stay here to work.
I found it too difficult to get things done in other Linux OS's (sic), but so far here I find the going reasonably easy...
And VERY FAST!

It's great that you have reached a sort of "critical mass" with this (or any) distro. We all have our own favourites and often the first seminal step is when one reaches a point of thinking Linux rather than thinking Windows. I don't use Puppy all that much except to get internet access on an older P2 Laptop, where I have it installed onto a hard drive partition for the greatest convenience and where it rocks compared to other OSes. My own favourite has changed over time from SuSE to Knoppix to Ubuntu, which I still feel is one of the easiest for Windows users to migrate-to. Its Synaptic package manager works very akin to PetGet/PupGet in Puppy but it does need more advanced hardware to have any speed.

It isn't just installing packages (and their dependencies) that seems to work very well with the right manager but also uninstalling them. An added advantage to installing to a hard drive partition is (as you know only too well) that one can image it in case of future problems. Such imaging can be very quick because the partition can be kept very small. I realise that you may want to stay with the Live CD for strategic security measures but for experimentation the HDD install has its own virtues.

I also still believe that where Dial-up predominates that Linux take-up is inhibited because it is the one area where configuration is very seldom automatic - unlike attaching through a wired NIC. I believe the growth of Broadband will be one of the biggest movers in promoting Linux.

Allez Linux is all I can add.

[Sylvander]

Working in Puppy->SeaMonkey.
[Notice how often (by choice) I'm working here these days?]

1. "I have it installed onto a hard drive partition"
I'm sure I too will do that when the time is right for me.
Then I'll begin "fattening" the Puppy.

2. "one can image it in case of future problems"
Yes, that thought was nagging away in a corner of my mind.
(a) I have a copy of the files used by the Puppy CD held at:
F:\00tmp\Puppy in Windows.
OR...
/mnt/sda7/00tmp/Puppy in Puppy.

(b) I could also save a copy of the files loaded off the Flash Drive by the WakePup2 boot floppy.
These files are held at:
/mnt/sr0 within Puppy.
I could save them anywhere I like on any accessible storage location; a folder on an internal partition for example.

3. "unlike attaching through a wired NIC"
It was SO EASY to get connected using my NIC; just click the "Connect" icon on the desktop and click a the correct button choice in each of about 3 windows, and that's it done. :D

[Sylvander]

1. Just now imported my Firefox Bookmarks [bookmarks.html] into Seamonkey.

(a) Used Xfe to open 2 panes; one showing the firefox bookmarks.html file [located on my Windows D: partition = "source"], and the other the Puppy Linux "/root/my-documents" folder = "destination".
Copied the file from the source to the destination.

(b) Within Puppy->SeaMonkey...
Navigated to:
"Bookmarks->Manage Bookmarks->Tools->Import"
Highlighted the "Root->my-documents" folder, set the window drop-down list box to look for html files, and clicked "Open".
Job done!

2. Isn't quite so nice as the latest version of Firefox.
All the bookmarks are listed OK, but to get to be able to search it's necessary to "Bookmarks->Manage Bookmarks".
The Manager displays all the Bookmarks and also provides a search facility.

3. Think I'll study the New Puplets (http://www.puppylinux.org/downloads/puplets_view) to look for one that includes packages I'd prefer, like Firefox.

[Sylvander]

This thread (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=1365849676&t=17035) explains how to install opkgs_db-3.01.pet (ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/puppylinux/pet_packages-3/0pkgs_db-3.01.pet), and then petbegone-0.4.pet (http://www.browserloadofcoolness.com/software/puppy/PETget/petbegone-0.4.pet).
I've just completed these package installs.

Pet-Be-Gone can be used to hide packages [no space freed up] that come built-in to Puppy.
Then if/when you remaster Puppy the hidden packages will be unseen/ignored/excluded from the rebuild [space freed up].

I'd like to eliminate the "ROX-Filer File Manager" and keep "X File Explorer" [Xfe].
Not sure if it's safe to do that, because ROX may include VITAL functionality that Xfe does not.

[Sylvander]

1. Decided to try a Puplet named TEENpup 2008 (http://linux.softpedia.com/get/System/Operating-Systems/Linux-Distributions/TeenPup-31563.shtml).

2. Downloaded the ISO, checked it against the downloaded MD5, burned the ISO to CD-RW using ImgBurn, booted the CD, made a few choices for suitable keyboard and mouse, once into the desktop detected the Network Interface Card and enable, then used DHCP to detect the IP address.
Once done I was connected to the web.

3.
BAD NEWS
This puplet is only set up for use with PC's in the USA Locale, so no use for me here in the UK. :(
GOOD NEWS
Looks really good, packed full of lots of useful programs, nice touches here and there in the way it works.
Didn't save the session; just switched off, nothing to corrupt. :)

4. Now about to re-burn the CD-RW with TmxxineDF (http://tmxxine.com/wik/wikka.php?wakka=LinuxTmxxineDF). :)
See how that looks.

[Sylvander]

1. Hmm, not very impressed by TmxxineDF...
Promises all kinds of good programs, but once booted to it they are not included in the default set of packages.
OK, so the creator makes the point that they can be [easily?] installed, but it doesn't seem so easy to me.
Even the desktop wallpaper and color scheme was poor.
It was easy enough to change those to something better [looks rather nice now], but you'd think good examples would be chosen as default.

2. Interesting difficulties experienced trying to get this to work.
Because the download is rather big...
When booting from the CD...
The pup_411.sfs file was too big to go into 256 MB RAM...
Warning of "Kernel Panic" and loading just froze.
Couldn't figure a command...
puppy pfix=[what?]
...that would tell Puppy to not load the file into RAM.
[Surely the default is to not load into RAM if there's a problem?]

3. SOLUTION:
(a) Loaded the basic Puppy 4.1 using the CD. [Flash Drive empty = no files]
(b) Once into Puppy, used "Start->Setup->Puppy Universal Installer" to install to the Flash Drive using the Puppy 4.1 CD as the source of the files.
(c) Saved the session at Shutdown.
(d) Rebooted into Puppy 4.1...
I think I had to use the CD rather than the floppy [at 1st attempt] to load Puppy off the Flash Drive.
(e) Once into Puppy, used the "Universal Installer" to install to the Flash Drive [over the existing files] using the TmxxineDF CD.
(f) Saved the session at Shutdown to a new pup_save-tmxXineDF.2fs file. [It's possible to customize the name]

4. So I'll continue to search for a Puplet that I like, or else build on the basic Puppy. :)
May run out of space on the 1 GB Flash Drive and be forced to make an additional install to a partition on the internal HDD.

[Paul Komski]

One of the reasons Puppy is fast is that it is designed to run apps with very small footprints and to utilise modest amounts of RAM to the max. The saved images can be kept on a variety of media. However if you want to run more things with heavier footprints you need more RAM and/or larger storage media for it. Basically if you want it to function more like a conventional OS then a hard drive install would be the way I would go and just keep your CD/PenDrive version for the secure access that you want when you want it.

[Sylvander]

1. Yes, I'm aware that what you say is true, and I'll get there eventually I'm sure [install to a partition on the internal HDD], but at this point I'm quite content to putter about getting to know the Puppy "landscape" [who, why, what, where, when, if, how, etc].

2. Just now re-burned the CD-RW to delete TmxxineDF and put Fat Free 3.01 (http://www.ttuuxxx.com/fatfreepuppy/fatfree301.html) in its place.
This has [almost all?] the default packages removed, and those are instead included in the file build_back3.01.sfs so that they can be easily chosen to be easily added back.
Hence, you only have what you want to have; you build it "as you like it".
Sounds good; we'll see. :)

3. I don't feel I yet understand the mechanics of installing the components from the build_back3.01.sfs file.
I've downloaded the file to a folder on an internal partition.
The maker says:
"...doesn't need to be loaded on boot, just one click and all the packages are available to you as ".pets"..."
Does that mean that I should navigate to the file using the included file browser, and just click on the file with the mouse cursor?

[Sylvander]

1. Made the Fat Free 3.01 [FF301] bootable CD, copied the build_back3.01.sfs file to the now empty Flash Drive, rebooted into FF301.

2. Clicked on the Flash Drive icon, and navigated to the build_back3.01.sfs file and clicked on it.
Sure enough, a window opened that listed "pet" installation files for all of the removed Puppy components.
Trouble is they mean nothing to me.
Every name is like a complex code number...
No list or explanation of what they are or do.

3. e.g. Unlike most other Puppy versions like 4.1, none of the internal HDD partitions are being displayed on the desktop.
Probably because the kernel of this puplet includes no suitable drivers for my PCI to IDE [SCSI] RAID controller card.
So should I give up on this?
Or is there a way to solve the problem?

[Sylvander]

A slideshow introducing Puppy. (http://tmxxine.com/pup2/img0.html)

Index of resources. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=597)

[Sylvander]

1. A small course in how to use Linux Command Line Input (http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2007/09/06/linux_cli_101/2).
In puppy you use "Menu->Utility->RXVT Terminal Emulator" to input commands.

2. Reading the above I found and installed htop-0.8.1.pet (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=12016) got from HERE (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=33785).
This is a program that can be run quite easily using the "RXVT Terminal Emulator" by typing the command htop and hit "Enter".

[Sylvander]

1. Couple of nice little tricks learned from the course on the "Command Line Interface" [CLI] as linked above.

(a) You can type any letter of the alphabet [e.g. begin with a], and hit tab [hear a beep], and tab once more...
This will present you with a list of all available Puppy Linux commands [I added htop to the list by installing htop-0.8.1.pet as shown above].

(b) Now if you back-step to eliminate anything on the line, then type clear [and hit "Enter"] that will clear the screen.

(c) Now type [for example] man dd <Enter>, and a page will open giving lots of info about the dd command.

(d) Using (a) and (c) above you could browse all the available commands and fetch details on how they work and what they do.

[Sylvander]

Dated but useful information on how computers function, with particular regard to Linux. (http://www.science.unitn.it/~fiorella/guidelinux/tlk/node5.html)

[Sylvander]

1. See this web page about getting the Puppy Firewall up and running. (http://www.puppylinux.org/manuals/puppy-301/english/security/firewall-and-daemons-0)
I found it so easy that these instructions were not needed or used.
But the piece at the end about nmap interested me.
Wanted to be able to run this to check whether all ports were closed, and if not which were open.

2. Found nmap-4.76-i686.pet here (http://www.freeshells.ch/~mohan34u/) and installed it.

3. Ran the "Menu->Utility->RXVT Terminal Emulator", entered the command line:
# nmap localhost <Enter>

...And the following was displayed:
Starting Nmap 4.76 (http://nmap.org) at 2008-12-03 11:43 GMT-8
Interesting ports on localhost (1 port address omitted here):
Not shown: 999 closed ports
PORT____STATE__SERVICE
631/tcp__open____ipp

Nmap done: 1 IP address (1 host up) scanned in 0.45 seconds

[Sylvander]

1. Made a "live" CD-RW of BoxPup 4.0 as discussed HERE (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=35767\par) with its links to the files got HERE (http://www.puppylinux.ca/tpp/NOP/\par).
[puppy-410-boxpup.iso and puppy-410-boxpup_md5sum.txt]

2. As others have commented, it has a certain....ELEGANCE to it.
Because it has been made using a very recent version [4.1.0?] of Puppy it includes all the latest functionality [can handle my PCI to IDE SCSI RAID Controller Card].

3. The default web browser is Opera.
Firefox [Bon Echo v2.0.7] was included in the upper list of the Puppy [PetGet] Package Manager, so I installed that [SO EASY], restarted, It was then included in the "right-click on the Desktop to bring up the menu system->Internet->Firefox Web Browser".
I'm working in Firefox now.
It has some nice touches you don't even get in the Windows versions I've seen.
e.g. The sliders are like round blue glass with hemispherical ends...NICE!
This is a feature of choosing the "Stardust" GTK theme.
The overall Firefox appearance is good, but the text in the windows is a little...rough or ragged.
Not sure how to fix that. :(
I've twice reduced the size of the displayed text which helps somewhat.

4. Found that Opera wouldn't offer the opportunity to use "PetGet" to install "PET" files linked on the web, whereas Firefox does. :cool:
So Xfe is now installed in BoxPup also.

5. The docking bar is rather fancy.
When you hover the mouse over items in the bar, they jump forward and magnify, so it's impossible to click on the wrong item.

[Sylvander]

The English Puppy Linux manual for version 3.0.1 (http://puppylinux.ca/tpp/manuals/English/manual301en.pdf) :D :cool:

Got it here http://puppylinux.ca/tpp/manuals/English/

When I saved this within Puppy, the default "Thunar File Manager" opened at /root and I saved the file in that location.
Cannot figure how to use this to browse to a different location.
Could use Xfe to move the file elsewhere, but will leave it as is.

[Sylvander]

1. Page 22 of the manual recommends a frugal install for PC's with 256 MB or more of RAM; and a full install for PC's with less than 256 MB.

2. My PC has 256 MB, so I should stay with a frugal install.
Seems to me to be a good arrangement; no storage media is really essential.
The boot is initiated by booting the CD, and then the main files are loaded from some storage media, in this case the Windows FAT32 F: partition.
It's faster to load from the HDD or Flash Drive than from the CD.
If the storage media wasn't functioning, and so the files couldn't be accessed, Puppy would load in its default form totally from the CD-RW disk.
Neat huh? :)

[Sylvander]

Frugal vs. Full Install on your Hard Drive (http://puppylinux.org/wiki/how-tos/general/frugalvsfullinstall).

Discussion:
Questions re hd install: frugal vs full, and which format? (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=2079631594&t=20521)

[Sylvander]

PuppyLinux, wiki, howto, general (http://puppylinux.org/wiki/how-tos/general).

[Sylvander]

Methods of installing and booting Puppy (http://www.puppylinux.com/hard-puppy.htm).

[Sylvander]

See this thread on how I installed WINE into BoxPup, and then SyncBack into WINE (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=67796).

Then see this thread on how I then used SyncBack to restore the Windows C: partition (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=67809) [or any partition], and as a by-product of the restore the contents of C: are thoroughly defragmented.

[Sylvander]

This pup file can be used to install the Captura screen/area capture program (http://dotpups.de/dotpups/Desktop-Tools/Captura.pup).

You save it somewhere handy, then right-click the pup file, choose "Open", and follow/OK the obvious steps.

[Sylvander]

To install k3b (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K3b) within Puppy, install the 3 pet files here ftp://ftp.servage.net/jcoder24/k3b/

I notice the 2nd link asks for a password when linking from the PC-Guide, but not when linking from http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/ and logged in automatically there.
i.e You probably need to be a member at the Puppy forum and have a username and password to supply.

[Sylvander]

To get those 3 pet files, try clicking the link given by "Sit Heel Speak" at 11:44 at the bottom of THIS (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=27385&start=15) page.

That works for me.

[Sylvander]

Comprehensive list of additional DotPup software packages. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=5448)

[Sylvander]

PET installation files of various components for "VLC 8.6h mediaplayer Lite 7.6MB" (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=31890).

I installed this and so far have used it to play an AVI file.
It looks good and works well. :D :cool:

When I tried to play the same video file as above, but in qt format, there was no sound. :(
Will need to look into that sometime.

[Sylvander]

Install Java-1.6U10 and then Azureus [now Vuze] (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=27345&sid=31d6e2614b482c963596fa9aac7cd0dd).

What I did:
1. Downloaded the pet files to handy folders [/01/azureus and /01/azureus/java-1,6u10].

2. To check the md5sum for each pet file is OK:
(a) In Xfe, navigated to a folder holding a pet file...
(b) Clicked on the terminal icon in Xfe to open the terminal within that folder...
(c) Typed the command beginning md5sum, then a space then the first few characters of the name of the file, then hit the tab key.
The terminal then correctly completes the name of the file.
The command is now complete and ready to go.
(d) Hit "Enter".
(e) The md5sum value, and name of the file to which it applies, is displayed.

3. Completed step 2 above for both pet files.

4. Right-clicked java-1.6u10.pet and chose "Open".
A dialog window displayed the choice of installing or abort; chose install.
Java installs.
Rebooted.

5. Repeated 4, but this time for the azureus-3.0.5.2.pet file.
Azureus [now Vuze] installed.
Rebooted.

6. Tested Java; seemed OK.

7. Ran Azureus; it auto-updated to include the new name Vuze.

[Sylvander]

A "Depency_checker" program inside a .tar.gz compressed archive made available here (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=38379).

What I did with it:
1. Download the depend_checker.tar.gz file to any handy folder.
I put mine inside /03/dependency_checker
Made /00 for temporary storage of files.
Made /01 for downloaded program installation files not yet installed.
Made /02 for personal programs installed by me.

2. Right-click the file and choose "Extract here".

3. A program file named depend_checker is extracted [no extension].

4. Right-clicked the depend_checker.tar.gz file and chose "Delete".

5. Right clicked the depend_checker file and chose "Open".
A small program window opened with a box for typing in the name of any program installed in the Puppy OS.

6. Typed [for example] java and clicked on the "OK" button.
A window opened to display the dependencies for java.
As was explained this list was reproduced/saved within /root/speed_build/dependencies/java_depends.txt
Deleted that file.

[Sylvander]

Puppy Softphone pet package available here (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=31061).

Explanation of what a Softphone is by Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softphone).

[Sylvander]

Adobe Flash Player
Thread giving weblink to a pet file for Adobe Flash Player version 10.0.15 (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=30781)

[Sylvander]

1. "Pup" installation files for "Puppy Software Installer 07" (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=10960).

2.
(a) I saved THIS (http://puppyfiles.org/dotpupsde/puppy3/dotpups/System_Utilities/Puppy-Software-Installer.pup), then THIS (http://puppyfiles.org/dotpupsde/dotpups/System_Utilities/getdir.pup) to a handy folder [/00], then...

(b) Installed the 1st and rebooted.

(c) Installed the 2nd and rebooted.

3. The program shortcut was then found at "Menu->Setup->Puppy-software-installer".
It ran and looked good to go. :)

[Sylvander]

A thread explaining how to install the Pet-Be-Gone application that can be used to remove any unwanted programs that came as part of the original Puppy package and therefore are not listed in the "Puppy Package Manager" (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=17035).

[Sylvander]

A program included in a pet file, to verify that the calculated md5sum of a pet file matches the md5 value included within the file (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=36373).

Dead easy!

1. Just click on the weblink for the verifypet-0.1.pet file and it will install.

2. Use Xfe [for example] to navigate to a folder holding a pet file, and click the Terminal icon above.
In the terminal window type:
# verifypet
...Followed by the 1st few characters of the name of the pet file...
And hit "Tab" once.
the name of the pet file will automatically be completed.
e.g. verifypet java-1.6u10.pet
Check that it looks correct, then hit "Enter".

3. On the next line in the Terminal will be reproduced the name of the file followed by a colon and an "OK" or otherwise.
The 2 files I tested checked as OK.

[jlreich]

Wanted to let you know I do appreciate your hard work with Puppy and documenting it here in this thread for all to see. :cool:

I have been on vacation this past week and one of the things I have had time to do is run some CAT6 cable from the second floor through my walls to my basement work area and connected it to a 5-port switch. Something I have been wanting to do for a looooong time. :cool:

So, now that I can actually connect to the internet in my basement and actually get some work done on systems down there and play with systems without taking down one of my main computers I pulled out an old IBM Netvista SFF P3 with a 20GB HDD in it, threw in some ram (320MB), wiped win2K off of it, and did a full install of the latest version of Puppy to the hard drive. :)

The install went very smooth. Used GParted to wipe and partition the drive and did the install. No problems. Setup the network and bookmarked your Puppy threads. Through the weekend I will be going through some of your stuff to give it a whirl and see how things go.

I have another P3 system and a P1 system that will also be used for playing around with Linux. Also have a P4 Northwood system that is out on loan and will be using that for more meatier distros once I get it back. Don't laugh at how many old systems I have. This is after I cleaned out my basement a few weeks ago and have 5 system, 5 monitors, 3 or 4 KB's and some misc parts outside on my patio waiting to be taken to the recycling center when I get around to loading them up and taking them down there. :p

[Sylvander]

Brilliant! :D

It's nice to know I'm not the only one at the PC-Guide interested in Puppy Linux. :cool:

I have no vested interest in Puppy; I just found it fascinating and useful and effective. :)

I've been investing a lot of hours at the Puppy forum finding interesting/useful stuff and it seemed to me to make sense to keep a record so that others [and myself also] would have a record and not need to duplicate/repeat all those hours/days of work.

I see that your experiences and mine were typical of the norm.
Things generally worked rather well.
You could go through all the things I listed and pick those you items like.
Mind you, some of the bigger Puplets already have a lot of the good packages already included.
But then you might think it better to begin with a minimalist Puplet and customize it to your needs. :cool:

[jlreich]

I have no vested interest in Puppy; I just found it fascinating and useful and effective. :)
I certainly agree with those things. But I do have other intentions for Linux. Such as getting my Linux+ cert that I have been wanting for a long time. I have many times thought while working on systems at work that a live CD/USB drive would be quite useful if setup a certain way. And I have actually seen it do very useful things like install a server from a live CD with no more from the user than choosing a menu item and clicking OK.

I have also for a long time wanted to get more into making my own Live CD's. Which is the biggest reason I multi boot Suse11 on my main machine with all the lib's and development packages that are needed to do that. But I do actually like Suse a lot. As I have said before if I can get most of my games to run well in wine I would all but abandon windows. ;)

The wonderful thing about Linux is it is free. So you can experiment all you want for absolutely nothing. And then you can actually use it for whatever for absolutely nothing. :)

[Sylvander]

Absolutely agree! :)

I feel it pulling me forward. :cool:
Makes me aware of my limitations; e.g. how little I know. :(
And at the same time it teaches.

Below is ONE of my latest discoveries:
[Another was Privoxy & Tor (http://salis.sutteryuba.com/cms.php?action=18&d=Anonymizing), discussed HERE (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=33692) but couldn't understand some steps during the install]
Just now found pet files HERE (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=28608) that successfully installed Privoxy & Tor.
Tor runs, but Privoxy doesn't. :(

Puppy Linux: Using TestDisk to recover lost partititions/files & make HDD bootable once again (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=68521).

[jlreich]

Working in puppy now. Well actually upstairs for a minute and in vista :p, but downloading and installing several files in Puppy and will look into Privoxy, Tor and Testdisk.

[Sylvander]

LxTask: Process Manager displays running processes and resources they use (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=33158&sid=e095959ab89431949bddc7723f977131).

Here's the pet file (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=11715).

[Sylvander]

avast4workstation-1.0.8.pet (http://puppylinux.asia/tpp/bugs/avast4workstation-1.0.8.pet)

md5sum (http://puppylinux.asia/tpp/bugs/avast4workstation-1.0.8.pet.md5.txt)

Once installed, mine reported a long list of missing dependencies, but runs OK, except won't run a web browser to fetch a license key.
I can by-pass that problem OK, but don't have email set up on Puppy.
Might use webmail to do the job here.

[jlreich]

Usually what I do when I want to check my email on another machine is go ahead and set up my normal account on the other machine, but before I check for messages I go into the account settings and tick the box to "leave massages on server". That way I can look at my mail on any machine I want but still have the messages to download to my main system when I get back to it.

All email apps I have used have that option in account settings including the one in Puppy.

Just remember when you first setup the account to click cancel when it asks if you want to download messages now until you change the option.

[Sylvander]

1.
(a) Used WINE to run the portable version of my "Acerose Password Vault".
I normally run this portable version from Windows [put a shortcut to the exe file on the "Start" menu].
So I can run this from either Windows or Puppy or Ubuntu [or whatever], and any changes are saved to the same program and its auto-backup files.

(b) Used that to provide the URL, username, password for my webmail account that gives access to the files on the server of the account for my main "identity" used by Outlook Express within Windows.
Logged on and retrieved the license key sent me by Avast.

(c) copied and pasted in the key, which was accepted.

(d) Proceeded to run Avast and scanned my D: partition with no viruses found. :)

(e) Scanning the C: partition as I type this.
Processor shows as 100% used.
256MB RAM usage 52%. [Puppy runs totally in RAM!]
512MB Swap-file 0% used.
BoxPup partition 1.0GiB used of 1.92GiB.
Are the results better when you scan from outside the partition?
I expect so. Viruses cannot hide when Windows is dormant, yes?

2. Not sure I'd want to transfer all my old emails to Puppy.
If I did I'd probably want to use the Mozilla email client.
Last time I tried to figure out how to move emails held by multiple OE identities to that it was too difficult so I gave up.
So I'd need to abandon all the old stuff and begin anew.
Or just continue to use the webmail access.

3. Result of Scan on C:
(a) 5 files by Spybot S&D & 2 files by Jet Audio:
Error while scanning, archive is password protected.

(b) 11 files by ZA:
Error while scanning, zip archive is corrupted.

(c) 1 WINNT/Temp file:
Error while scanning, gzip archive is corrupted.

(d) No infections listed.

[jlreich]

2. Not sure I'd want to transfer all my old emails to Puppy.
If I did I'd probably want to use the Mozilla email client.
Last time I tried to figure out how to move emails held by multiple OE identities to that it was too difficult so I gave up.
So I'd need to abandon all the old stuff and begin anew.
Or just continue to use the webmail access.
No need to move anything over. Keep everything the same as you have it now. Just setup an account to receive emails in Puppy so you can look at it if you like, but if you tick the box to leave messages on the server when you go back to your normal setup the emails you looked at while in Puppy will still be there when you check your mail on your main system.

I consider vista my main system. That is where I get all my email. But when I am booted into Suse or Puppy or on my company laptop I have my email setup there but on those systems I tick the box to leave messages on server, so when I go back into vista all my email is still downloaded to my main system (vista) even though I received the mail on another system as well.

My daughter has a desktop and a laptop. I have her laptop email setup to leave messages on the server so when she goes into her desktop, what she considers her main system, all mail is still received on that system.

Once the mail is downloaded onto my main system it is gone from the server and I can no longer get it from other sources.

On a side note, I use Thunderbird on all of the different OS's (XP/vista/Suse) I run on my main system. I put the T-Bird folders on a partition that both XP and vista can access and pointed T-Bird in both XP and vista to that folder so when I am in either OS and check my mail they are accessing the exact same folder and the files remain the same no matter which OS I am in. I am sure I can also do this with Suse but haven't tried it yet.

[Sylvander]

A program that creates a "Windows Menu" (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=32216).
Even after you install WINE [depending on which Puppy] there is often no entry in the Puppy Menu system.
This gives an additional method for running Windows programs installed under WINE.

Windows-Menu.pet (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=11352)

After you run the pet file and this program has installed you will find a new entry at "Menu->Utility->Windows Menu".
"Logout->Reboot" before attempting to make use of this.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oops, just noticed your post number 83, and reading it now.

So I could install Thunderbird, and configure it to leave copies of all emails on the server, but download copies into Thunderbird, then once back in Windows and the emails have been fetched there they are gone from the server, right?

[jlreich]

So I could install Thunderbird, and configure it to leave copies of all emails on the server, but download copies into Thunderbird, then once back in Windows and the emails have been fetched there they are gone from the server, right?
Exactly. Or any email client can do it. At least any that I have used including Puppy's default email. Just go into account settings and tick the box. :)

[Sylvander]

Thread linking to files for installing Thunderbird 2.0.0.19 (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=1454248838&t=38542)

thunderbird-2.0.0.19-i686.pet (http://www.4shared.com/file/85572462/279e5d39/thunderbird-20019-i686.html)

To install Enigmail:
gnupg-1.4.9-i386.pet (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=15205)

Enigmail plugin (http://enigmail.mozdev.org/download/nightly.php).

I installed Thunderbird; didn't install enigmail, know nothing of it.
How would the plugin be installed I wonder?

[Sylvander]

Virtual Private Networking
The thread. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=30390)

openvpn-2.1_rc7.pet (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=10275)

md5sum = 099654ee7c28508ff3382611370e2f15

[Sylvander]

dd_rescue
The Puppy forum thread. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=29785)

dd_rescue-1.14.pet (http://puppylinux.asia/tpp/bugs/dd_rescue-1.14.pet)

md5sum = 5e6c7204170fb7598fef108d10e1dc99

The program homepage. (http://www.garloff.de/kurt/linux/ddrescue/)

[Sylvander]

1. To temporarily load ["live mount"] a package from an SFS file that only lasts during the session.
Menu entries are created [if in the SFS] and can be used during the session, but are gone after reboot.

The trhread at the Puppy forum. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=37913)

load_sfs_412.pet (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=15406)

This is new and experimental, but so far seems to work just fine. :)

[Sylvander]

1. Thread on installing dosbox and dosboxgui + 4 other pet files (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=27600&sid=f87069e9dbe891e475a56aabe79b278b)

dosboxgui-0.5.3.pet (http://puppylinux.asia/tpp/bugs/dosboxgui-0.5.3.pet)
md5sum = bd550f8b556c56fbeea2762238755fd8

dosbox-0.72.pet (http://puppylinux.asia/tpp/bugs/dosbox-0.72.pet)
md5sum = 911ed37bc420968b2330c9f0be227769

sdl-1.2.9.pet (http://puppylinux.asia/tpp/bugs/sdl-1.2.9.pet)
md5sum = 41610bad2beabc009931d5daf9662fb1

sdl_net-1.2.5.pet (http://puppylinux.asia/tpp/bugs/sdl_net-1.2.5.pet)
md5sum = 61174e8024e9ed733823758a297f2019

tcl-8.5a4nothreads.pet (ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/puppylinux/pet_packages-3/tcl-8.5a4nothreads.pet)

tk-8.5a4nothreads.pet (ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/puppylinux/pet_packages-3/tk-8.5a4nothreads.pet)

This worked fine for me, but only after I'd installed all 6 pet files and rebooted.

[Sylvander]

Making internet phone calls using Gizmo & PSIP rather than Skype (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=30965).

[Sylvander]

58 Cool Hacks (http://www.linuxformat.co.uk/wiki/index.php/58_Cool_Hacks).

Tried "Stop Replying to Pings" and it WORKED! (http://www.linuxformat.co.uk/wiki/index.php/58_Cool_Hacks#Stop_replying_to_pings) :D :cool:

Tested at "Shields Up!" (https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2)

[Sylvander]

Auto-synchronising, with a web server, your PC's time as seen in Puppy (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=32259).

ntp-4.2.4p4.pet (http://puppylinux.ca/tpp/bugs/ntp-4.2.4p4.pet)
I installed this, and so far it seems to be working. :D :cool:

[Sylvander]

One of the "58 cool hacks" linked above that I tried and seems to work:

1. I made /00 & /01 folders [at the top of the folder tree] to hold handy/interesting files.

2. Used the following command in a terminal window to backup my HDD->[named sda by Puppy] bootsector to an image file in the /00 folder:
dd if=/dev/sda of=/00/bootsector.img bs=512 count=1

3. The matching command that would be used to restore the contents of the image file to the same HDD [sda] bootsector is:
dd if=/00/bootsector.img of=/dev/sda

[Sylvander]

The "Puppy Control Panel" [PCP], only recently posted [2009 March 8th].

The thread. (http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=39450)

pcp-1.0.pet (http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=15940)

The install was successful for me.
Now working.

[pop pop]

I was curious about how rabid Sylvander was about Puppy. I downloaded the live CD and fired it up. The real test of Linux, for me, is wireless. Puppy recognized my card, I configured it in a couple of clicks, and we were off and running.

Impressive...Suse took me a week...very impressive. I need to check it out more though.

[Sylvander]

Good news. :)

The people at the Puppy Forum (http://murga-linux.com/puppy/) would be pleased to hear of that.

I have no vested interest in whether this or that Operating System is good, bad, or indifferent...
But it's nice to see "there's gold in them thar hills".

"Seek and ye shall find", "knock and it shall be opened unto you" eh?

Puppy has been doing some really good things for me...
And all at no cost whatever!
What an adventure! :D :cool:
Its good at teaching [lots of info to be found].
Last night I tried:
dd if=/dev/sda of=/dev/sda
They say this "rejuvenates the HDD".
Re-copies the HDD contents so they are perfectly written.
[My internal HDD is identified as sda]

I have 3 Puplets in use...
BoxPup installed to an internal Linux partition...
Puppy 4.1.2 installed to to a USB Flash Drive...
Muppy 008.4c booted from a DVD-RW, with pup_save plus other files saved to the root of my F: partition.

And another FIVE so far that I could use if the mood took me.

There's so much on offer it'll take a long time if I tried all of them.

Screenshot by "Captura" within BoxPup, browsing my E: partition using Xfe.

[Sylvander]

Thread on installing Firefox 3.0.3 and Firefox 2.0.0.17 (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=30434).

firefox-3.0.3.pet (http://puppylinux.asia/tpp/bugs/firefox-3.0.3.pet)
md5sum (http://puppylinux.asia/tpp/bugs/firefox-3.0.3.pet.md5.txt)

Name = puppy
Password = linux

[Sylvander]

Updating to the latest version of BoxPup:

From version 4.1.0 [installed on an ext2 Linux partition] to 4.1.3.

1. See Boxpup 413 Available
(www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=657103819&t=41378).
Leading to...
This download page holding the files [along with others] (http://www.puppylinux.asia/tpp/NOP).
Name = puppy
Password = linux
[They must be entered twice!]

Puppy-413-boxpup.iso (http://www.puppylinux.asia/tpp/NOP/puppy-413-boxpup.iso)
md5sum (http://www.puppylinux.asia/tpp/NOP/puppy-413-boxpup_md5sum.txt)
Downloaded the ISO file to a handy folder, and checked the md5sum matched.

2. Burned the ISO file to a CD-RW disk.

3.
(a) Booted the disk.

(b) At an early stage during boot, at the appropriate point...
Hit p [lower case] to halt the boot and then completed the remainder of the following command:
puppy pfix=ram
This makes certain that [this puplet of Puppy =] BoxPup is loaded totally into RAM without using any "pup_save" file [held on any storage location].

(c) Once this newest version [4.1.3] of BoxPup has completed loading...

4.
(a) Go to "Menu->Setup->Puppy universal installer" and click on the menu item to run it.

(b) I told the installer I wanted to install to the internal HDD, to partition sda3 [holding the existing BoxPup installation], and the new BoxPup files were on an optical disk in the only optical drive.
Was given [and used] the choice to Update first the existing OS and then the existing GRUB installation.

(c) It was necessary to check the "/mnt/sda9/boot/grub/menu.lst" [GRUB menu] file; part of an installation of Ubuntu held on its own partition, to make sure the settings were correct.

5. It all went very smoothly, except:
(a) The new default web-browser is "FirePup", and a menu item was added for this in "Menu->Internet" alongside Firefox...
And clicking each of those opened only Firepup.

(b) So I uninstalled Firefox 3.0.3 and re-installed it, and that fixed the problem.

6. Differences?
So far I notice...
(a) The new desktop image is certainly up to the usual high stylish/artistic standard.
Rather dark and....striking?

(b) Pwidgets newly included, which is better [more comprehensive than previous].
e.g. Larger display of history of CPU usage.
Weather forecast given, but for the day only. Muppy gives a 5-day forecast.
I was able to specify exactly which small region for which I wanted the forecast displayed.

(c) Various additional programs that may turn out to be superb.
e.g. "Multimedia->Xfburn" looks good.

[Sylvander]

See Gparted 0.4.4 with ext4 (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=41656).

My present copy is 0.3.3

Must make a Pudd image backup of the BoxPup partition and then install this.

[Sylvander]

Booted to Muppy 008.4c, made a Pudd compressed image backup of the BoxPup partition contents to an .img.gz file in a folder on a partition in the external USB HDD.
Then rebooted into BoxPup and came here [restarted Firefox and restored the previous session] for the link to the thread holding the links to the files.

Gparted 0.4.4 now installed and seems to be working OK. :) :cool:

[Sylvander]

Dated, but interesting and useful:
How Puppy works (http://www.puppylinux.com/development/howpuppyworks.html).

[Sylvander]

Introduction to Puppy Linux multisession live-DVD (and CD) (http://www.puppylinux.com/multi-puppy.htm).

[Sylvander]

Thread introducing a simple audio CD player = pCD-0.2 (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=41883)

pcd-0.2.pet (http://puppylinux.asia/tpp/zigbert/pcd-0.2.pet)
Username = puppy
Password = linux

[Sylvander]

1. Wanted to change things in BoxPup, so that when I click on a drive icon on the desktop [to mount it], right after the drive mounts...
Xfe ["X File Explorer"] will auto-run instead of Thunar [file manager].

2. HowTo:
(a) Right-click on file /usr/local/bin/drive_all and click "Edit".

(b) Search for the character set thunar.
Two instances found in lines 172 & 188.
Changed each of those to xfe then closed the file and saved the changes.

Job DONE! :) :)

This thread (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=42046) started me off.

[Sylvander]

Saving the .mozilla folder outside of the Puppy filesystem:

The Puppy filesystem might, for example, be inside a "pup_save" file.

Found this tip HERE (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=304423#304423), by DaveS.

"Everything is stored inside a hidden directory called .mozilla, which is in root. Drag and drop this directory to somewhere on your main drive, and select the 'move' option from the pop up menu. Then drag and drop it right back again, but this time select 'link'. Now, Puppy will THINK your .mozilla directory is where it should be, but it will actually be outside of your _save file. If you then load up another Puppy version, you can jusy link the .mozilla directory in, and you will automatically have all your email and browser settings available. Effectively, updating a bookmark say in Puppy A, makes it available in Puppy B.
To make this work, your main drive must be mounted. You can extend this thinking to make all manner of tasks easier."

[Sylvander]

The Puppy mission statement:

- Puppy will easily install to USB, Zip or hard drive media.

- Booting from CD, Puppy will load totally into RAM so that the CD drive is then free for other purposes.

- Booting from CD, Puppy can save everything back to the CD, no need for a hard drive.

- Booting from USB, Puppy will greatly minimize writes, to extend the life of Flash devices indefinitely.

- Puppy will be extremely friendly for Linux newbies.

- Puppy will boot up and run extraordinarily fast.

- Puppy will have all the applications needed for daily use.

- Puppy will just work, no hassles.

[Sylvander]

Updating Flash player to v 10 (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=42251).

flashplayer-10.0.22.87.pet (http://puppylinux.asia/members/coolpup/flashplayer-10.0.22.87.pet)
Username = puppy
Password = linux

[Sylvander]

SaveMyModem [smm] has similar functionality to Mailwasher, but is FREE and runs in Puppy Linux (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=1592059925&t=15754).

smm1.0.pup (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=3271)

If you don't already have Dotpuphandler installed [needed to install the pup file] you will need to use the "PetGet Package Manager" to install it.

[Sylvander]

pCD now at version 0.5, and working really well (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=41883).
Various glitches have been fixed and new functionality added [Rip & Copy CD].

pcd-0.5.pet (http://puppylinux.asia/tpp/zigbert/pcd-0.5.pet)
Username = puppy
Password = linux

[Sylvander]

Thread on how to use a .PET to make Xfe the default file manager instead of ROX. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=25677&start=22)

xfe-default-file-manager-0.1.pet (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=9778)
I installed this and it placed a "ROX-File File Manager" link in the BoxPup menu, but the link didn't work.
However, Xfe had indeed become the default file explorer.

[Sylvander]

See "puppy pfix=recycle" Boot Parameter (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=42660).
The post near the bottom of page #1 by rcrsn51 gives a link to an installers.tar.gz file.

QUOTE
"Some scripts could be added to Puppy that would do an automated install AFTER Puppy has booted off the Live CD. I have included two as examples.
These scripts erase the hard drive, build a new bootable partition, make a swap file, set up GRUB and do a frugal (or full) install of Puppy. The user just needs to create a pup_save file and Puppy is ready to go on the next reboot.
These scripts have had very limited testing but they demonstrate the basic idea. Clearly, they would inflict major damage on a machine if used incorrectly. "

installers.tar.gz (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=18562)
If you download to a folder, and unpack the contents of this file, there are two script files included; one for a Frugal install, and the other for a full install.

I haven't tested these, nor do I know of anyone who has as yet, so you do so at your own risk.

[Sylvander]

How to make a multi-purpose boot CD for Puppy (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=16950).

At the moment I don't understand all of this, but would like to do so, and be able to do this.

QUOTES
A) "If the target is a FAT or EXT hard drive partition, a generic version of the boot CD will do. However, GRUB cannot see an NTFS partition or a USB flash drive because it has no native support for these devices. We can solve this problem by putting the first two Puppy files, vmlinuz and initrd.gz, on the boot CD itself. Once the kernel is loaded, Puppy's own hardware detection can take over and locate the remaining files on the target.
This technique should resolve two issues - running Puppy from a flash drive when the system BIOS does not support USB booting, or installing Puppy on a hard drive without having to change the Windows boot mechanism."

B) "The 'grubflop' attachment contains an image of a bootable diskette that serves two purposes.
1. It can launch the Puppy CD (or any other Live CD) on machines where the optical drive is not bootable.
2. It can boot a frugal install of Puppy off the hard drive. "

C) "The 'fixmbr' attachment contains an ISO image of a bootable CD based on FreeDOS. You can use it to restore a Windows MBR that has been overwritten by a Linux bootloader.
Burn the image and boot your machine off it.
At the A> prompt, type the command: fdisk /mbr
Remove the CD and reboot."

[Paul Komski]

At the A> prompt, type the command: fdisk /mbr
Remove the CD and reboot."This is a legacy command from DOS for repairing the MBR on Windows ME and earlier but not for repairing the MBR on NT versions of Windows such as 2K/XP and above and for which the command is fixmbr from an NT-based recovery console. Any DOS boot floppy or emulated CDROM should have fdisk on it. The reason is simple enough: fixmbr leaves the original disk signature intact; fdisk rewrites a new one. That means that when the NT OS starts up it re-detects all the hard drive partitions, may re-assign different drive letters and can even be enough to trip a re-activation. There are times when one wants deliberately to re-detect the partitions in this way but not in the normal course of events. The fdisk /mbr command can also result in zeroing of all the partition tables if the magic number 55AA does not occupy the last two bytes of the MBR.

[Sylvander]

How about pointing that out in the above linked thread at the Puppy Linux forums? :)

I can understand you might not want to get involved at another forum. :(

[Paul Komski]

Or point this thread out in those forums?

[Sylvander]

Psync Time Synchroniser gui (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=42978).
This is a better program than the one I installed previously.
Has a rather nice GUI.
More obvious that it's doing what you expect.

Psync_0.2.pet (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=18723)
Be aware that this PET file version 0.2 may be update to a newer version, so it would be advisabe to check the original thread linked above.

[Sylvander]

Others may find the following useful.

A PET file for installing the latest NTFS-3g driver for FAST access to the NTFS file system.
ntfs-3g-2009.4.4-prescott.pet (http://www.puppylinux.asia/members/coolpup/ntfs-3g-2009.4.4-prescott.pet)

Info on the NTFS-3G Stable Read/Write Driver (http://www.ntfs-3g.org/).

The original thread where I got the above info (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=42965).

[Sylvander]

PET installation files made available...
For installing the necessary programs to be able to convert DEB & RPM files to PET files.

The thread offering the PET files. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=39756)

[Sylvander]

pulp_003.iso (http://d2.myfreefilehosting.com/d2/pulp_003.iso)
Check the thread for the latest version.

This is the original thread that lead to the above. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=40226)

[Sylvander]

Psync_0.5.pet (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=18786)

Preserving the link to 0.5 because the original thread is about to have the link updated to a new version 0.6 that loses the simplicity of 0.5 and users may prefer 0.5 :(

[Sylvander]

phash-1.0b.pet (http://www.gposil.com/pets/phash-1.0b.pet)

Got from a link in this thread (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=43292).

This program can be used to compare md5sum values to see if they match.
The upper value is obtained by navigating to and choosing the file; the other in the lower pane by pasting in the supposed correct value.

[Sylvander]

Install K3b optical disk burning program.

cdrdao-1.2.1-1.pet (http://www.dotpups.de/puppy4/dotpups/Multimedia/cdrdao-1.2.1-1.pet) [Needed by K3b to function]

puppy4k3b-1.0.4.pet (http://www.dotpups.de/puppy4/dotpups/Multimedia/puppy4k3b-1.0.4.pet)

Both of the above got at this web page. (http://www.dotpups.de/puppy4/dotpups/Multimedia/)
Which was got to from a link on this web page. (http://www.dotpups.de/)
Which was mentioned in this thread about the K9Copy PET file. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=43211)

See also...Will K9Copy in Puppy copy and shrink DVD to mpeg? (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=2091326118&t=42878)

[jlreich]

I use K9Copy in Ultimate Edition. It works really well for the most part but does tend to crash sometimes. After using it several times I have figured out that if you close it after each burn and reopen it is usually just fine and doesn't crash. Perhaps I just need to reinstall it though...

For free I am not complaining. I paid around $100 total for the windows equivalent that also includes BD/HD support (I don't think K9 does BD/HD), but that was also a one time price for a lifetime subscription and the program is continually updated. I say "was" because they have now moved to a yearly subscription, though I got all mine before they made the move so I don't have to worry about it. :)

[Sylvander]

Hmmm...
Gave K3b a try...
Nice easy task...
Burn an ISO file to a CD-RW, then erase the disk.
Seemed too much like hard work trying to navigate through the convoluted ups and downs just to complete a job this simple.
Decided I prefer the default Puppy program for this job = Burniso2cd...
Followed by Pburn to erase.

Uninstalled K3b.
That caused trouble in the BoxPup OS. :(
Forced to use Pudd to restore a recent backup of the BoxPup partition contents.

That put things back the way they had been. :)

[jlreich]

I actually used K3b for the first time last night to burn an ISO of the newest Ubuntu. I found it as simple as any other program of its kind. Clicked the burn DVD ISO button, browsed for the image, loaded a blank disk, and a few minutes later it was done.

Not sure what the directory listing on the main screen is for. Perhaps that is what made it difficult to navigate? I just hit one of the action buttons at the bottom.

Edit - I just clicked on "settings" and unticked "show directories" and "show contents" and that all went away and I am left with a nice clean interface.

[Sylvander]

1. "Not sure what the directory listing on the main screen is for. Perhaps that is what made it difficult to navigate?"
(a) Yes, that was what gave me a bad impression of it.
I was floundering around trying to navigate to the ISO file, when usually that presents no problem whatever.
I got there eventually, but wasn't at all pleased that something normally so simple had gotten me lost in a metaphorical maze for a time.
And also for some reason it didn't have the glossy look it had when I'd seen it in Knoppix.

(b) What are its relative virtues in your opinion?
I might have another go if it seems worth persevering.

(c) Have you ever used Burniso2cd?
That seems so simple you cannot go wrong.

(d) I used to hate when there were Windows programs that became so, hmmm...
So ORNATE?....COMPLEX?
That simple tasks became complicated.
Like a love of long words [which I hate].
[Recent trend toward never using a short simple word if you can make it longer and more complex!]
Like magazines that COVER every spare gap on a page with a chaotic mess of images and words.
So that it becomes extremely difficult to read from it any coherent sequence of ideas.

(e) Then there's the TV programs that mention/discuss some VITALLY IMPORTANT document...
And show a moving view of the document to illustrate...
But only show a word or two at any given time...
And jump about so that it's impossible to actually read this so important document.
Pretending to inform and educate by denying the ability to check with the sources.

(f) Get where I'm coming from?
Understand why I couldn't be bothered with K3b?

[Paul Komski]

I don't consider K3B to be particularly over-egged in comparison to the full Nero Suites and such like. It does all the CD burning tasks that one needs but doesn't branch off into back-up and other such "extraneous" activities. I too like apps that remain straightforward and because so many people make data CDs when they should be burning ISO files there is a very good argument to have (as exists with burncdcc) a specifically tasked application for that one job. It would be silly to use one app for audio another for video another for ... if you see what I mean.

[jlreich]

Once I hit the button to do what I wanted it to do I had the normal browse button to navigate to the ISO file.

Like I said I removed the directories from the main screen. I would guess they are useful for one reason or another but not for me at least at this time. I like the simple clean interface it now has.

One nice thing I did like was once I choose the ISO file K3b automatically and quickly generated a checksum and displayed it. :)

[Sylvander]

See this thread about MuppyQuickmount (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=32107).

MuppyQuickmount.pet (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=11375)

This can be used alongside or instead of Pmount to mount partitions/drives.

It is faster/easier and more convenient than Pmount because whereas Pmount restarts each time you mount a partition...
MuppyQuickmount remains on display and simply shows the partition has become mounted or unmounted.

However, it doesn't display every device that Pmount does, so sometimes you must use Pmount instead.
e.g. It doesn't display the floppy disk drive.

[Sylvander]

Thread on "How to do a One-Click Installation of Puppy" (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=42876).

BEWARE!
------------------------
oneclickinstaller.pet (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=19138)
------------------------
BEWARE!
Do not click on this link whilst running a Puppy/puplet unless you intend that it should be installed.
Although if you do you will be given an opportunity to cancel.
And first read the content of the thread above.

[Sylvander]

A beginners guide to Puppy installation (http://www.gposil.com/pupinst.htm).

See also post #14 HERE (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=70110) on the Lin'N'Win method by Pual Komski.

[Sylvander]

Settings used to format date and time. (http://linux.die.net/man/3/strftime)

e.g. In BoxPup:
Right-click on the time display down at bottom right, then...
Click ""Digital Clock" settings"...
In the "Clock Format" window, enter the setting.
e.g. %T for a 24-hour digital clock displaying double-digit->Hour:Minute:Second [%H:%M:%S].

[Sylvander]

See this post #9 on how to image a partition [C:] + HDD MBR, in particular when it is thought to have surface errors. (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showpost.php?p=431332&postcount=9)

Here's the 1st page of the thread. (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=70217)

[Sylvander]

Want to be able to read-from & write-to ext2 & ext3 Linux partitions when working within Windows?

Ext2 Installable File System For Windows (http://www.fs-driver.org/).

[lws]

For what it's worth, ext2ifs has some strange quirks which make it undesirable for use (at least at present version, 1.11.)

Namely, ext3 partitions used to be created with an inode size of 128 bytes as the default, but the default for new ext3 partitions these days (see : gparted, et. al.) tends to be 256 bytes; ext2ifs can't handle inodes larger than 128 bytes and will mysteriously refuse to mount the partitions (yielding the alarming dialog 'This drive is not formatted yet - would you like to format it now?')

I personally prefer ext2fsd : http://ext2fsd.sourceforge.net/. Try and ignore the garish website. :cool: It's GPL'd, and will happily mount ext2 filesystems with large inode size.

- lws.

EDIT : also, i'm pretty sure ext2ifs had a bug in an earlier version that trashed my 250gb data drive, which does not endear me to it. The open-sourceness of ext2fsd means that someone can (and problably has) looked at the code to make sure it does what it should, and therefore it has a better chance of being reliable. The catch is that it's not as straightforward to use, but I can live with that.

[Sylvander]

Woohoo! :) :cool:

Installed ext2fsd [within Windows], and now I have read & write access [from Windows] to:
Puppy Linux partition ext2.
Ubuntu Linux partition ext3.
Spare Linux partition ext3.

My thanks to you lws. :D

No access to the Linux swap partition. :(

Anything of which I should beware?

[lws]

A swap partition isn't a regular partition - it's the Linux eauivalent to a Windows 'paging file' (virtual memory). Linux uses it as a kinda of 'scratch space' when it runs out of physical memory to remember things with.

It has no actual files on it, so it doesn't make sense to mount it (which is why you can't.)

There shouldn't be any pitfalls with this - just be aware that if your partitions fail to mount one day, it's problably just because you didn't unmount cleanly; just boot linux and shut it down again to fix.

- L.

[Sylvander]

1. "A swap partition isn't a regular partition - it's the Linux eauivalent to a Windows 'paging file' (virtual memory). Linux uses it as a kinda of 'scratch space' when it runs out of physical memory to remember things with."
I was aware of all of this, but didn't know whether such a thing could be mounted or not, or what [if anything] would be seen if it could be mounted.

Another day, another small progression. :D

[Sylvander]

The Puppy Linux Book. (http://www.lulu.com/content/5560578)

Click this link to download the FREE PDF file of the book. (http://www.lulu.com/items/volume_64/5560000/5560578/3/print/5560578.pdf)

[Sylvander]

gdmap-0.7.5.pet (http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/puppylinux/pet_packages-3/gdmap-0.7.5.pet)

Got it here. (http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/puppylinux/pet_packages-3/)

Gives a graphical display space used by files.
Rectangles of different colors whose area is proportional to the size of the file.

[lws]

You may also be interested in filelight and baobab, which are the KDE and Gnome filesystem space visualisation tools respectively. They display your filesystem in a 'radial map' (fancy word for pie-charts.) They're about the same as each other - very easy to interpret the display, and dead simple to use.

I've tried gdmap, and the nested rectangles were a tad hard to interpret (for me.) I much prefer looking at pie charts. ;)

Here's wikipedia for baobab : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baobab_(software)
and wikipedia for filelight : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filelight

- L.

[Sylvander]

Foxit Reader fixed for puppy (http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=1449271377&t=41521).

FoxitReader1.0-1.pet (http://www.puppylinux.asia/tpp/ttuuxxx/programs/documents/FoxitReader1.0-1.pet)
Username = puppy
Password = linux

Installed for me just fine, and runs OK, and is looking good; haven't used it so far.

[Sylvander]

Chart of Puppy capabilities on various older hardware:

capabilities_chart.txt (http://rexxinfo.org/capabilities_chart.txt)

Got at this thread. (http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=45104)

[Sylvander]

1. Thread on the topic of "Pstreamvid v 1.0 - Streaming Video Controller" (http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=45023).

I installed:
(a) pstreamvid.pet (http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=20400)

(b) patch-pstreamvid-mplayer.pet (http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=20429)

(c) 4 component packages beginning mplayer as listed in the Puppy Package Manager.
i.e. The player, codecs, fonts, plugin.

2. This player works perfectly by just highlighting one of the available listed channels and clicking the "Play" button, but so far I haven't figured out how to add new channels to the list.

[Sylvander]

A good Puppy trick to use with a multi-session Puppy optical disk [DVD-RW].

See this thread (http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=328855#328855), in the post where Flash says:

"It's very easy to update a multisession DVD.
DVD+RW is the easiest.
You can use Burniso2cd to burn the latest Puppy iso to the DVD+RW you've been using...
(Burniso2cd will burn to a used DVD+RW without having to blank the disk first)
And then shut down, choosing to save to the newly burned DVD+RW.
This has the effect of saving all the settings, installed programs, etc., from the old version of Puppy you were using to the DVD you just burned.
Then when you boot the newly burned DVD, walla, you've upgraded everything except programs you installed yourself."

NICE TRICK! :D :cool:

[Sylvander]

alsa-streamtuner-3.pet (http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/puppylinux/pet_packages-4/alsa-streamtuner-3.pet)

It was got at this thread. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=329638#329638)

See also this thread for screenshot and other info. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=38590)

Alsa steamtuner displays a menu of different kinds of music, with sub-classifications, which then display a great list of online radio stations, with what they are playing at that moment.
Just highlight one of these and click the "Tune in" button.

[Sylvander]

To view a DVD created in Vista or later, using the UDF file system specification "ISO 13346" (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=45300).

Puppy can read these discs, you just have to mount them differently, as follows:

mount -t auto /dev/sr0 /mnt/sr0

[Sylvander]

puppy-413-boxpup-r1.iso (http://www.puppylinux.asia/tpp/NOP/puppy-413-boxpup-r1.iso)

puppy-413-boxpup-r1_md5sum.txt (http://www.puppylinux.asia/tpp/NOP/puppy-413-boxpup-r1_md5sum.txt)

Got here. (http://www.puppylinux.asia/tpp/NOP/)
Username = puppy
Password = linux
Enter them twice.

See comments regarding this latest update release of BoxPup by "Sit Heel Speak". (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=45208)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following are needed for XFCE 4.6.1 linked below:

dbus-1.0.2.pet (ftp://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/puppylinux/pet_packages-3/dbus-1.0.2.pet)

dbus_glib-0.73.pet (ftp://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/puppylinux/pet_packages-3/dbus_glib-0.73.pet)

Got from:
XFCE 4.6.1 window manager Pet - alternative to JWM (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=39637).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

xfce-4.6.1.pet (http://puppylinux.asia/tpp/NOP/xfce-4.6.1.pet)

Got here. (http://puppylinux.asia/tpp/NOP/)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Sylvander]

A Beginner's Guide to Installing Puppy (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=29356).

[Sylvander]

You2pup - YouTube MP4 downloader GUI (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=44960)

[Sylvander]

Pmenu - Puppy Menu Editor (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=40277).

[Sylvander]

refresh X instead of restart X - PET (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=28549)

Refresh your X11 instead of...
Restarting it using "Ctrl+Alt+backspace", then xwin at the command prompt.
This way you don't lose what you have on the screen opened when you want to refresh.
Once installed, just click on the refresh-X.
Simple and very small; its so fast, don't blink or you'll miss seeing it.

[Sylvander]

Streamripper is an Open Source (GPL) application that lets you record streaming mp3 to your hard drive. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=33569&sid=0bc291d93043410094e589a4428d1a6f)
e.g.
http://www.deezer.com/en/

[Sylvander]

Automatically mounting partitions. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=335923#335923)
Worked for me 1st time. :)

Then:
How to move the .mozilla folder off the Puppy folder/file system to some other auto-mounted storage location. (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showpost.php?p=428385&postcount=106)
It was really easy to do this using Xfe; yet to see if it works.
Just rebooted, and YEP, it works 1st time. :D :cool:

[Sylvander]

1.
(a) Thread about the Roxset program. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=45771)
Roxset runs 2 Rox-Filer File Manager windows.
You can drag-n-drop etc between these panes.

(b) Roxset.pet (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=21456)

2.
(a) In most Puppy window managers you can easily tile the 2 Roxset windows, but in the default BoxPup window manager this isn't normally possible.
One part-solution to this is to install and run/use the following to tile windows.
Whaw - Window Tiling Daemon for manual tiling (http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=46080).

(b) whaw-0.1.2.pet (http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=21426)

(c) The whaw home page (http://repetae.net/computer/whaw/) explains how to use it, which can be a little tricky until you get the hang of it.
The main item of tricky-ness is running the program.
So far I run it by entering the following command in a terminal window:
whaw -d
[Makes it run detached from the terminal, and in the background]
I need to find out how to run this automatically at each startup.
Probably need to include the command in the BoxPup startup file.

(d) Once whaw is running and the Rox windows are on the desktop:
Take the cursor to the top-left corner of the screen and a 4-sided arrow-head cursor will appear.
Now move the cursor horizontally to the right if you want your windows tiled horizontally left and right.
[Move the cursor vertically down if you want the windows tiled vertically]
Now click on the 1st window and it will disappear.
Now click on the 2nd window and it will disappear.
Now right-click and they will both re-appear tiled horizontally [left & right] and filling the screen.
If you follow the instructions that display on-screen [to never auto-resize the windows] when you run Roxset, then the windows will remain the same size [tiled and filling the screen] as you change to view different partition/folder contents.

[Sylvander]

From the previous post by me...
1. "I need to find out how to run this automatically at each startup"

(a) See here the post by seaside at 10:13 on 2009 Sept 3rd (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=338035#338035).
I made the binary/executable file "/root/Startup/whaw-start-stop", and pasted in the following code [text]:

#!/bin/bash
killall whaw || whaw -d

[Sylvander]

Running automatically at startup has become unnecessary now that aragon has updated whaw to version 0.1.2-1 [see the original thread linked above], which puts an entry in the "Desktop" sub-menu = "Start/Stop Whaw Window Tiling Demon".
This does just what it says:
Starts it if it isn't running, and stops it if it IS running.

You can of course use this to tile ANY windows. :)

[Sylvander]

PuppyLinux Reference Card:
This is a one-sided reference-card to common cli/terminal-commands.

PLRC-0.01a.pdf.gz (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=21680)
Download the archive file to your HDD, then unpack it, and view with a PDF viewer, and print if you want.

Got at this thread. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=46435)

[Sylvander]

Thread including links to installation files for various versions of the Pwidgets program. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=1138387695&t=35601)

I installed using pwidgets-2.0.8.pet (http://puppylinux.asia/tpp/zigbert/pwidgets-2.0.8.pet)
Username = puppy
Password = linux

This puts various useful widgets on the right-hand side of the desktop.
Includes such as Puppy version, analog clock, cpu usage, RAM usage, Puppy storage space used, calendar, weather forecast, times in 4 chosen world cities.

[Sylvander]

Links related to the latest Puppy 4.3.0 released on 2009 Sept 17th (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showpost.php?p=436887&postcount=10).
This version was made by Barry Kauler, the originator of Puppy Linux.

[Sylvander]

Wine 1.1.28 + winetricks +color setter +goodies ...pet & sfs (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=711871419&t=37783)

[Sylvander]

Puppies 4.31.1 Puppy linux 4.30 Plus fixes and FireFox 3.5.3 (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=46727)
This is 4.3 plus updates and tweaks.
I'm working in it right now, and it seems OK.
Lots of WINE installed programs in the Puppy menu.
As seen above it comes with Firefox 3.5.3 Included.

[Sylvander]

A thread offering the pet file for "Gsmartcontrol smart monitor" (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=343318#343318).
"If you ever wondered about your hard drive health, this tool will give you a wealth of information about your hard drive.
Would be good to have in your toolbox, or if your buying a used PC."

gsmartcontrol-0.8.5-i386.pet (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=21930)

[Sylvander]

Running gsmartcontrol using a terminal reported missing dependencies.
e.g.
libgio-2.0.so.0
libselinux.so.1

Found pet files for these here. (http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=21514)
Installed each one that was reported missing.
PC froze during install.
Used "Ctrl+alt+backspace" to drop to a command prompt, and entered xwin command to go back into Puppy, and continued.

gsmartcontrol now runs, and seems ok on the surface...
But if run from a terminal it reports problems, as follows:
[hz] Warning: exit: Device open failed, or device did not return an IDENTIFY DEVICE structure.
[app] StorageDevice::execute_smartctl(): Error while executing smartctl binary.

Seems to be running tests OK.

[Sylvander]

Puppies 4.31.1 Puppy linux 4.30 Plus fixes and FireFox 3.5.3 (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=46727)
ttuuxxx has made additions/improvements to 4.3.0 [430] to produce this.

[Sylvander]

In this thread (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=46928)...
In response to:
"I understand that the live CD loads everything into RAM"

Pizzasgood said:
"No, only the stuff that comes with Puppy (i.e. the pup_xxx.sfs file). Anything that you add or modify remains on the harddrive (or flash drive) inside your pup_save.2fs file.

So if you install a bunch of stuff, it doesn't use up your ram.

Exception: If you have no pup_save.2fs file because you are using a fresh boot (or used the pfix=ram boot parameter), then the new or changed data is held in ram. Also, if you use a flash based drive, Puppy will cache the new and changed data in ram and periodically copy it to the pup_save.2fs file. Upon reboot, it will be left in the file and only the new new or modified material from the new session will be held in ram (in addition to the original Puppy files)."

NICE EXPLANATION! :D :cool:

[Sylvander]

The Puppy Linux Wikka Wiki (http://puppylinux.org/wikka/HomePage).

Lots of useful info.
How to do things, where to get things, FAQ's, etc.

[Sylvander]

You tube video by Lobster on "Connecting with Puppy Linux 4.3" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltZt5JhyUXM).

Live display of Puppy 4.3 booting, then all the way to connecting to the web.

[Sylvander]

How to make a Puppy auto-check the file system at each Startup (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=349595#349595).

A good idea to have it do this just in case there should be a mains power loss, or improper power-off by the user.

[Sylvander]

1. Some problems experienced by a Puppy user that can be fixed by a remaster using Dougals's improvement to the standard Puppy remaster script. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=47621)

2. Where to find it and how to use it. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=46526)
"Its dead easy really.
Just click on the file you downloaded, and let Puppy unzip it for you.
When it is unzipped, you will have a file called pupremaster.sh.
Right click on this file and from the pop-up options, select 'Properties'.
In that dialogue, tick all the little boxes under exec.
Thats it, you are done.
Now just click on the file and it will run for you."

3. Some issues to watch for when using it. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=46739)

4. Detailed explanation of its use. (http://minipc.org/safepup/index.php?file=How%20to%20Build.htm)

5. The gzipped file holding the script file. (http://minipc.org/safepup/pupremaster.sh.gz)
What I did:
(a) Downloaded the file to a handy folder [I made/ & used /00].

(b) Right-clicked gz file and chose "unzip to here".
It was then unpacked as an sh file.

(c) Right-clicked the sh file and chose "Properties", and ticked ALL the permissions, and OK'd the dialog.

(d) Right-clicked the file and chose "Open with...", and chose sh as the program, and ticked the "Associate" box, and clicked "Accept", and the script ran and the "Remaster Puppy2" dialog window appeared.

[Sylvander]

Make a conventional Puppy installation to an internal HDD partition recover from improper shut-downs (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=350829#350829). [Loss of power or switch off]

[Sylvander]

See this thread. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=47873)

In relation to a Puppy loaded from a Flash Drive:

"The idea here is to minimise the writes to flash drives.
I understand it as follows:
The pup_save.3fs is mounted read-only at boot so any data/files needed are read from there.
Any changes to those files and any "new" file that would be saved in it are held in a temporary area in memory but are logically part of it.
Every so often and on request and on shut down the pup_save.3fs is mounted read/write and the changes in the temporary area are actioned and it is flushed to the drive, which is then released and mounted as read only again."

[Sylvander]

A Puppy desktop on the web (http://pupweb.org/desktop/).

Not sure I understand this.
I think it's an operating system that you access using a web-browser instead of booting on your PC. :cool:

Must try to spend some time to investigate it.

[Sylvander]

Most of the links for the above originally came from here:
http://tmxxine.com/g/

This page explains each item included on it.

[Sylvander]

Thread offering pfind_rtclick.pet file used to install the functionality enabling the ability to right-click a folder/partition and search it and its subfolders with pfind file finder. (http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=47990)

pfind_rtclick.pet (http://puppylinux.ca/members/choicepup/ChoicePup431/pets/pfind_rtclick.pet)

[Sylvander]

Project Read Only Puppy (http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=42825).
Alternatives to using a read-only "live" optical disk for the purposes of increasing the security of a Puppy OS.

e.g. Using a Flash Drive, and/or secure-digital [SD] memory card in a USB card reader as the storage media holding the Puppy.

[Sylvander]

The new Puppy Linux Wikka HomePage (http://puppylinux.org/wikka/HomePage).

One of the links on this page is:
Some Puppy Linux Youtube video tutorials (http://puppylinux.org/wikka/TutorialYouTube).

[Sylvander]

Boot from SD card reader no BIOS support (http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=354744#354744).

[Sylvander]

Thread on the topic of:
--- Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) --- (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=40225)

----- The purpose of this thread is to provide specific printing support for NOP413 -----
---------- and general support for standard Puppy 4.x ----------

I used this to fix the CUPS printing support in BoxPup 4.1.3
Installed cups-1.3.11-i486.pet & hplip-upp1-3.9.2-i486.pet

Its really easy to set up a printer when it actually works! :)

[Sylvander]

How to fix the Puppy file system within a pupsave file after improper power-off (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=358583&sid=01743569a2103ebd715095813f5a6b99#358583).

[Sylvander]

See here (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=359579#359579), where it says:

Hard Link
Created with plain ln
Points at the actual data.
Can be moved and will point at the original data.
Must be on the same partition as the target data.
Is neither absolute nor relative - simply is.
Has no arrow emblem over the icon.


Absolute Symbolic Link
Created with ln -s
Points at a filename, not at the actual data in question.
Uses an absolute path to the destination, starting from /
Can be moved and will point at the original target if that did not move.
Can point across partitions.
Has an arrow emblem over the icon.


Relative Symbolic Link
Created with ln -s
Points at a filename, not at the actual data in question.
Uses a relative path to the destination, starting from wherever it is located.
If moved, it will generally not point at the original item unless the original item was also moved so that the relative path between them stayed the same.
Can point across partitions.
Has an arrow emblem over the icon."

[Sylvander]

PuppyLinux : CreateLiveCDorDVD (http://puppylinux.org/wikka/CreateLiveCDorDVD).

[Cuc Tu]

I just downloaded the latest version, 4.3.1, but have not tried it yet.

When I was using 4.21, how do you set the clock? I think my bios clock is off like 20 years...

[Cuc Tu]

Oh yeah,

I realized that my laptop has an SD slot. Can I get puppy to boot from SD and run entirely from this card? 8GB card is cheap right now and that would be a sweet way to dual boot a system, just pop in/out the card.

[Sylvander]

1. "Can I get puppy to boot from SD and run entirely from this card?"
I expect so.
Surely the SD card will be treated as just another storage location.
Remember that you can write protect an SD card to make it read-only, in which state it could NOT be infected.
(a) You could either boot a Puppy from a live optical disk, and at 1st shut-down make a pupsave file on the SD card, or else...
(b) Use the running Puppy session, and the live Puppy disk, to Install the Puppy to the SD card, and install GRUB either to a floppy, or to the MBR on the internal HDD.
(c) Start a new thread on the Puppy Linux forum for instructions from the Puppy experts.
(d) Or use the link in post #179 above to view the existing thread on the topic.

2. "how do you set the clock? I think my bios clock is off like 20 years"
(a) Use "Menu->Desktop->Set timezone" to set your zone [NOT to GMT+/-, but instead] to the geographic region [like Europe/London].
(b) Then manually use "Menu->Desktop->Set date and time".
(c) Then, if Psync is not installed, install it by clicking this link (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=42978) to go to the thread offering this download for Psync-1.0.pet [the latest version at this time] (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=21128).
The links to this can be seen HERE (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showpost.php?p=429815&postcount=117) at post #117 of this thread.
Once installed you can use Psync to synchronize your clock to the milli-second.
I configured my clock to display a 24-hour clock with hours:minutes:seconds.

[Cuc Tu]

well, turns out the laptop will not play nice with SD cards over a gig. I bought the 8gig card and no play at all. I tried a 2gig and it just teases you...

[Sylvander]

PRIVACY ONLINE

How to eliminate flash cookies (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=340669#340669).

[Sylvander]

Puppy Linux 431 can be installed to a Flash Drive from Windows using the supplied exe file below.

puppy-linux-431.EXE (http://www.4shared.com/file/155617610/b23e2a77/puppy-linux-431.html) = 103.7MB

The original thread offering the file. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=363591#363591)

[Sylvander]

Tried this, and it worked.

See this post (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=363810#363810) and then this post reporting success (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=363834#363834).

[Sylvander]

The latest mhWaveEdit (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=45635).

[infectiia]

hi sylvander :D

i think i need to reinstall my boxpup and was wondering whats the best version and combination to do please? i value your opinion cos i didnt have a clue when you introduced me to it months ago, and i loved it ever since, but now my bank doesnt accept my browser and facebook doesnt work with it, so i guess its time to update the whole system?

thanks :)

[Sylvander]

1. "now my bank doesnt accept my browser"
Which browser[s] does your bank accept?
Have you tried installing & using Firefox? [My bank accepts this]
Or Internet Explorer run under WINE? [I haven't tried this; want to avoid it]

2. "facebook doesnt work with it"
Facebook appears to work with my "BoxPup-4.1.3->Firefox-3.5.5".
Perhaps you should post a thread at the Puppy Linux forums, so the Puppy experts there can help.

3. "i guess its time to update the whole system"
Try tweaking the existing BoxPup [which version and kernel?][mine = 4.1.3-k2.6.25.16].
You might additionally run the latest puppy-431-boxpup.iso (http://www.puppylinux.asia/tpp/NOP/puppy-431-boxpup.iso)
md5sum = 30cc7611479877a9c0317477764acaa7
Both were got here. (http://www.puppylinux.asia/tpp/NOP/)
Username = puppy
Password = linux
Enter them twice.
Original thread is here. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=1552874418&t=49468)
I tried this, but it wouldn't behave well for me [too new?]; I think it doesn't suit my hardware which needs an older kernel.
I won't totally give up on it because I like the improved features of Puppy 4.3.1 [a version of that with a retro kernel (by ttuuxxx) works well on my hardware], and especially like the style and elegance that's typical of all BoxPup versions.
So those make a GREAT combination.

[infectiia]

thanks for replying :)

my banks site says

PC Users Microsoft® Windows 2000/XP or Vista
Microsoft® Internet Explorer version 6, 7 and 8
or AOL 8.0, AOL 9.0, AOL 9.1 and AOL 10.1
or FireFox 2.0 to 3.5.x
or Opera 9.2x, Opera 9.5 and Opera 9.6
or Safari 4.x

Mac Users OS X Safari 1.3 to 4.x
or FireFox 2.0 to 3.5.x
or Opera 9.2X, Opera 9.5 and Opera 9.6

Customers with earlier versions of Microsoft® Windows and Microsoft® Internet Explorer, or FireFox users with other operating systems such as Linux may also be able to access the service.

im using whichever version of puppy i put on about 9 months ago and just upped firefox to 3.5 a couple days ago, i tried the puppy forums and had no luck as yet. Everything has been suggested from the adobe and java to the facebook website itself.

Just gonna try the new puppy version and see if that makes a difference... thankyou :D

[Sylvander]

Remember:
If you use the NoScript add-on with Firefox, you need to allow the banking website to use scripts.
I am forced to use "Unsafe reload" with certain pages, even though I've allowed the main page [but forgotten to allow a sub-page].

The additional security provided by NoScript does unfortunately complicate matters.

I ALWAYS use ONLY the URL to the banking website that is securely stored in my "Acerose Password Vault".
That way I cannot be redirected to a fake banking site.

[Sylvander]

A Family Tree program:

gramps-3.1.1-i486.pet (http://dotpups.de/puppy4/dotpups/Personal/gramps-3.1.1-i486.pet)

Installed, but not yet tried this.

[Sylvander]

Discovered that:
Thunderbird emails are held under the /root/.thunderbird folder...
Then under the appropriate profile folder...
Then inside the MAIL folder.
[i.e. /root/.thunderbird/k01lcpzd.default/Mail]

So I moved the /root/.thunderbird folder to the sda11 partition, then made a symlink back to its original location.
[Now at /mnt/sda11/.thunderbird]
[symlink back to /root/.thunderbird]

Now when I restore [a backup copy of] the contents of the sda3 partition [BoxPup]...
The emails stored since the backup copy was made...
WILL NOT BE LOST!

[Sylvander]

Bash script for installing Puppy to USB Flash Drive (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=49881).

You install from within any running Linux environment, using the ISO file for any chosen Puppy.

[Sylvander]

Precord = mp3 recorder and player with pause controls and auto config saving (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=49907).

precord-1.0.0.pet (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=24216)

[Sylvander]

Thread supplying download link for Money Manager Ex [mmex] (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=371039#371039).

mmex_0.9.4.2-wxGTK-2.8.10-Uni-i386.pet (http://puppylinux.ca/tpp/ttuuxxx/programs/office/mmex_0.9.4.2-wxGTK-2.8.10-Uni-i386.pet)

[Sylvander]

Hot Backup for Frugal Pups (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=49999).

"A tiny gtkdialog utility for backing up the live pupsave file. You no longer need to reboot with pfix=ram in order to backup the savefile. Lots of built-ins and safety features make it very "oops" proof."

[infectiia]

1. "now my bank doesnt accept my browser"
Which browser[s] does your bank accept?
Have you tried installing & using Firefox? [My bank accepts this]
Or Internet Explorer run under WINE? [I haven't tried this; want to avoid it]

2. "facebook doesnt work with it"
Facebook appears to work with my "BoxPup-4.1.3->Firefox-3.5.5".
Perhaps you should post a thread at the Puppy Linux forums, so the Puppy experts there can help.

3. "i guess its time to update the whole system"
Try tweaking the existing BoxPup [which version and kernel?][mine = 4.1.3-k2.6.25.16].
You might additionally run the latest puppy-431-boxpup.iso (http://www.puppylinux.asia/tpp/NOP/puppy-431-boxpup.iso)
md5sum = 30cc7611479877a9c0317477764acaa7
Both were got here. (http://www.puppylinux.asia/tpp/NOP/)
Username = puppy
Password = linux
Enter them twice.
Original thread is here. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=1552874418&t=49468)
I tried this, but it wouldn't behave well for me [too new?]; I think it doesn't suit my hardware which needs an older kernel.
I won't totally give up on it because I like the improved features of Puppy 4.3.1 [a version of that with a retro kernel (by ttuuxxx) works well on my hardware], and especially like the style and elegance that's typical of all BoxPup versions.
So those make a GREAT combination.

Thankyou so much (yet again) for all the info and help Sylvander, its worked first time and so far im liking it a lot! :D

facebook is working fine, and my bank browser so no more sitting with the laptop next to the pc to do my other stuff :)

[Sylvander]

shrink-1.0.pet (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=24537)

The original thread on this program for easily reducing the display size of large numbers of chosen photos. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=50257)

"Shrink is a very simple application that will allow you to reduce the size of a photo to either 640x480, 800x600 or 1024x768."

[infectiia]

Just thought id add a quick update to this.. when my puppy413/firefox 3.1?(which was working!) updated, for some reason the firefox browser was lost and it wouldnt save after the session, and i had seamonkey again on the pc.. This meant while i could access facebook, once again i couldnt access my bank, been having a few problems which i found out was between the java (facebook) and browser (bank) problems. Its took me a few days of playing about and reading puppy forums to work it out but i got there in the end. Found the iso download with the original firefox on and got it back to how it was, and now i know why it stopped working, ill be careful what i update in future! im pretty chuffed with myself cos in the meantime ive also managed to install wireless broadband on the lap top running windows and the main pc running puppy 413. Im still not quite sure how thats happened, a lucky click probably but its working, simoultaneously on both.

Im getting quite addicted to this, and happily sit for hours trying to work it out. A bit of a change less than a year ago when i could barely function without windows and not even install this! i love it! im in the process of giving live cds to my friends so they can try it :o)

[Sylvander]

I'll continue reading this when the mood takes me. :)

Learning the shell. (http://linuxcommand.org/learning_the_shell.php)

[Sylvander]

How to have NetWorx autostart at each boot (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=377095#377095).

Download and info for NetWorx (http://www.softperfect.com/products/networx/).

This is a bandwidth monitor, that measures speed and total upload/download.

I want to see whether I really need unlimited Broadband or not.

[Sylvander]

Startmount - Choose a drive(s) to automount at startup (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=50845)

[Sylvander]

The thread offering the Audacity sound editor. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=1414072083&t=46357)

audacity-STA-1.39b.pet (http://puppylinux.asia/tpp/aragon/audacity-STA-1.39b.pet)

[Sylvander]

Subject:
Copying a multi-session Puppy "live" optical disk.

Explanation given by Flash in this post. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=380764#380764)

"Boot a multisession CD in the drive you will be using to burn the new CD, then remove it from the drive and replace it with a blank CD-R or -RW. (Probably best to start with a -RW if you have one, until you're sure you've worked all the bugs out. Very Happy ) Now use Burniso2cd to burn the same Puppy iso to the blank CD as you used to make the first multisession CD. (I've found that it works best to copy the iso to /tmp first, and tell Burniso2cd to use the copy in /tmp.) After Burniso2cd confirms a good burn, shut Puppy down, choosing to Save to the newly burned CD. That's it.

The newly burned CD should have saved in its first session everything that was saved in all the sessions of the old CD. I call it defragmenting a multisession CD or DVD.

Multisession Puppy works better from a DVD than from a CD, so if the computer has a DVD burner, you can boot a multisession Puppy CD in it, then use this trick to make a multisession DVD (any kind of DVD except DVD-RAM will work) with the settings and programs from the CD."

[Sylvander]

Original thread offering: XP-like puppy ENGLISH version. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=51144)

ftp://skami.homelinux.org/puppylinux/ISO/XP-like_puppy_ENG.iso

[Sylvander]

BEWARE:
I'm having problems with this XP-like Puppy; programs won't work after installation!

[Sylvander]

Puppy RamBoot - Everything (including save file) in RAM (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=48465)

"The ramboot option enables you to load all of your sfs files and your save file into RAM and run completely diskless." :) :cool:

[Sylvander]

1. The original thread on "snap2 rotating snapshot backups for Puppy". (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=50402)
And...
The latest installation PET file can be got here. (http://files.lstandish.com/)
And...
This snap2_3.2-22beta.pet is the latest version on 2010 Jan 25th. (http://files.lstandish.com/snap2_3.2-22beta.pet)
What this program can do:
(a) Backup any chosen source [e.g. Mirror or Snapshot the folder/file contents of both/either Windows & Linux partitions] that the Puppy operating system can see.

(b) A mirror backup is a single copy only.

(c) A snapshot backup can be one of a sequence of backups made at different times.
The first snapshot newly made includes everything in the chosen directory [a partition?].
The user will see [and can restore] ANY of the snapshots made.
The backups seen by the user comprises "hard links" to the "real" backup copies of folders/files.
After the 1st, subsequent snapshots only copy "differences" into the "real" storage, and all snapshot backups seen by the user appear to include ALL items present on the source when made.
This makes SUBSTANTIAL savings in the usage of storage space and time taken to backup.
When a snapshot is deleted, the only real folders/files that are deleted, are those that link ONLY to that snapshot.
Real items are only deleted when the last link to them is deleted.

2. See this and following posts [in the above thread] on dirdiff (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=385237#385237), which can display the differences between the [folder/file hierarchy] contents of 2 chosen directories/partitions.
Hence you can compare/contrast either 2 different snapshots, or else a snapshot with the present source.
dirdiff-2.1-4fixed2.pet (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=25766)
This is the up-to-date version on 2010 Jan 25th; check to see if it's the latest.

[Sylvander]

To make the Pwidgets [RAM component of the] cpu_ram widget, display values/numbers for the RAM used of total RAM and %-used:

The basis was the instructions given here. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=361843#361843)

...Except that the file I needed to [and did] edit within BoxPup-413 was...
/root/.pwidgets/configs/Cpu_Ram

I changed this:
TEXT
${color0}R A M ${color5}${membar 10,110}
To this:
TEXT
${color } $mem / $memmax - $memperc%
${color0}RAM ${color5}${membar 10,110}

And got the following result:

[Sylvander]

Article on how Puppy or DSL can breath life into an old PC. (http://www.linuxforums.org/articles/save-the-zombies-_526.html)

http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/

DSL download page. (http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/download.html)

[Sylvander]

Puppy Linux: Initial Setup (http://www.brighthub.com/computing/linux/articles/50992.aspx)

Puppy Linux: Selecting Your Hardware (http://www.brighthub.com/computing/linux/articles/15664.aspx)

Puppy Linux: Preparing Your Computer For The Distro (http://www.brighthub.com/computing/linux/articles/18704.aspx)

Puppy Linux: Installing The Distro (http://www.brighthub.com/computing/linux/articles/20504.aspx)

Puppy Linux: Standard Applications (http://www.brighthub.com/computing/linux/articles/50009.aspx)

Puppy Linux: Installing New Applications (http://www.brighthub.com/computing/linux/articles/51594.aspx)

[Sylvander]

Listed some Puppy versions here with links to ISO's and original thread etc. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=394965#394965)

[Sylvander]

Newly released TEENpup2010minibeta.iso file:

The thread begins here. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=394120#394120)

Additional links in this post to alternative hosting site. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=394953#394953)

The ISO I downloaded is 344.2MB; too big for my 256MB of RAM to load the files from the CD, so the boot fails. :(

[Sylvander]

A really good/clear explanation of "Puppy's core files" and how they work. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=283785#283785)

[Sylvander]

Diagram showing what's held where in the Linux file system. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=323961#323961)

[Sylvander]

A post by puppyluvr explaining how to set all Puppies to use the very same mozilla & firefox folders. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=398004#398004)

So far I've only moved the mozilla folder, and it's only used by BoxPup-413, but...
I found that when I restored the contents of the Boxpup partition to an earlier time, I didn't lose any of the LATEST stuff that's in the mozilla folder.
It stayed right up-to-date.

[Sylvander]

Conserving Space --Dual-Booting with SFS's & Wine Apps (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=398282#398282).

Very interesting and comprehensive explanation of how to hold SFS's and portable Windows programs [to be run under WINE] off the Puppy file system.
These might be held on some dedicated [and auto-mounted?] partition, and then each of any number of suitable Puppies [or Windows] could run them from there.

Hence there is no need for multiple copies of the programs, but only one copy of each, which saves a lot of storage space.

[Sylvander]

How to stop "SAVING TO FILE" at shutdown?
...In a frugal install.
I used the instructions given in this post. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=384393#384393)

Applied to a frugal install of Lighthouse-4.43f with the pupsave on a USB Flash Drive.

Object:
To Alter the way in which Puppy closes down, such that the user is asked if they want to save the session or not.

Why?
Answer: So that undesirable changes that took place during the session [infection, or mal-configuration?] can be prevented from being saved back to the pupsave file.

[Sylvander]

The following can be used in conjunction with post #223 above.

Objective:
To prevent periodic [default is every 30 min] "saves" [actually a "copy"] back to a pupsave file on a [partition on a] Flash Drive.

Go to "Menu->System->Puppy Event Manager->save session->save Interval", and set the value to zero [actually 0] minutes, and OK that.

With this set, there will NEVER be an automatic save DURING THE SESSION.
But you can do it manually DURING THE SESSION...
And then at shut-down, choose either to save or not to save.

[Sylvander]

How to make a multi-purpose boot CD for Puppy. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=16950)

Haven't tried this myself, may do at some point. :)

[Sylvander]

Create Links on Desktop you can delete or edit w/ impunity! (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=45449)

[Sylvander]

Boot from USB with NO USB BIOS support using just Grub! (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=42388)

[Sylvander]

To write [default=5] random patterns of 0's & 1's to the free space on a partition or drive specified by the user in a command. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=99722#99722)

[Sylvander]

1. VERY IMPRESSED by the performance of the wipe script file as linked in post #228 above! :)

2. Running it within Lighthouse-4.43f loaded from a CD-RW disk with a pupsave held on the 1st partition on a USB Flash Drive.
The only internal HDD partition that MUST be auto-mounted is the Linux swap, but Lighthouse auto-mounts ALL partitions.
All but the swap can easily be un-mounted by right-clicking on any mounted partition and choosing to un-mount ALL.
Copied the instructions and the command to a text file I made in a folder I made = /04/commands, and just copy [Ctrl+C] then paste [Shift+insert] into a terminal command prompt. [Change the command to suit the partition name]
If operating on a partition, the partition MUST be mounted first.

3. First I tried it on the 3GB ext3 BoxPup partition = sda3 holding about 1.5GB of content.
That worked fine. :cool:
Each 1.5GB write took about 5 min.

4. Right now as I type, I have it writing to the EMPTY single/only FAT32 partition = sdc1 occupying all the available space on my older 80GB Maxtor external USB HDD.
It's writing a series of 1GB files [all but the last series (which is filled with 0's only) filled with random patterns of 0's & 1's].
Presently it's writing file number 28. [That's 28 off 1GB files so far]
Now on file 29. :)
I guess it will write about 80 off 1GB files, then delete all of those, and repeat that another 4 times.
Now on file 31. :cool:
It's activity is detailed in the terminal, and resulting files are shown and the display periodically auto-updated in Xfe.
I'll need to keep this Puppy running until the job is complete, but at least I can do stuff [like browsing the web] meanwhile.

[Sylvander]

A) Operations mentioned in item 4 of post #229 above are all now successfully completed.
5 iterations [of about 80 1GB files] as follows:
START-time | Time-to-complete (hrs:min)
1. 9:03 | 1:41

2. 10:44 | 1:45

3. 12:29 | 1:36

4. 14:05 | 1:37

5. 15:42 | 1:40

6. Finished at 17:22 :) :cool:

[Sylvander]

INDEX ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=54034)

This is an exciting new method/idea by bigpup at the Puppy Linux Forums.

This index gives links to threads of different program categories, each of which gives yet more links to various threads, each of which is dedicated to a particular program.

If it works as it aught, Puppy users should be able to quickly/easily find threads [including descriptions and links to PET files] about the particular kinds of programs they require.

This should be a rather good alternative method to the "Puppy Package Manager" [PPM], for finding and installing programs.

[Sylvander]

Used the code given HERE (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=403450#403450)...
${color #958F77}${cpugraph 48,249 ff0000 E7B237}

...Within the file accessed as instructed HERE (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=403622#403622)...

To change to RED/ORANGE, the color of the CPU usage graph displayed by Pwidgets.

Shows up much better on the dark background. :) :cool:

[Sylvander]

How to Multi-Boot using GRUB4DOS (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=54360)

"It looks like the next generation of Puppies will use GRUB4DOS as the bootloader."

[SKULDMX]

Hi! .. I dont know much about PC's but I want to learn.. My ex boyfriend had Linux and it is difficult to handle.--SKULDMX.

[Sylvander]

1. Each Puppy Linux and all its derivatives...
Are easy to use.
Reason being: The user works as ROOT by default [like admin powers in Windows].
Hence you are never asked for passwords.

Works very like Windows.
You go to the "Menu" at bottom left [like the Windows "Start" button]...
Navigate to a program on the menu system...
Click it to run it...
The program runs just like in Windows.

2. Where it differs from Windows:
(a) Devices/partitions are not normally auto-mounted.
[Except...some Puppies (e.g. Lighthouse) DO automount all found partitions]
Hence, you only have easy/instant access to the Puppy file system.

(b) To gain access to [file systems on] other devices/partitions...
You must first MOUNT each file system you want to access.
This is easily done when you know how, as follows:
b1. Click the partition icon on the desktop, and it should mount, and the default file browser will display the partition contents.
OR...
b2. Run a mounting program [on the "Menu"][Pmount or MuppyQuickMount], and click the button for the partition.
Again, the default file explorer should auto-run and display the partition contents.
My default browser is the SUPERB "X File Explorer" [Xfe].

3. Mounted partitions are listed in the file system under /mnt
e.g. /mnt/sda1 is my PC's Windows partition.

4. Start a new thread if you want help setting up and using Puppy Linux.

[SKULDMX]

I will follow the recommendations.. the steps.. Thanks SS!!.. :-D ;-) :p :) ;) :D .

[Sylvander]

1. Online Banking Using Puppy LiveUSB (http://ccobb.net/demos/puppy/).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. What I prefer to use at this point in time is:
To run any preferred "live" Puppy optical disk [Lighthouse-4.43f], and hold a pupsave file on a partition on a Flash Drive, and...

(a) How to stop "SAVING TO the pupsave FILE" at shutdown (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showpost.php?p=446526&postcount=223).

In conjunction with:
(b) How to prevent periodic [default is every 30 min] "saves" [actually a "copy"] back to the pupsave file (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showpost.php?p=446722&postcount=224).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Sylvander]

How to make a CD that loads a Puppy that's installed to a USB Flash Drive. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=410590#410590)
This is only needed if your PC's BIOS isn't capable of booting a USB Flash Drive.
This is an alternative to using a WakePup2 bootable floppy that does a similar job.

See also this post further down in the same thread (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=411044#411044), and the 2 posts following it.

[Sylvander]

Method [by Puppy user named "Crash"] of installing any Puppy to a USB Flash Drive of 1GB+. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=54765)

[Sylvander]

Info on the use of SFS files in Puppy Linux. (http://puppylinux.org/wikka/LucidPuppySFS)

This info was produced for Lucid Puppy (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=53897), but the principles apply to all Puppies.

[Sylvander]

How to (semi-)automatically back up your pupsave. (http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=419061)

"The way it works is this. On shutdown, there is a query asking whether you want to back up the pupsave. If you say "y", it backs it up in a previously specified location; there are as many backups there as you want to specify (for example, if you want the 4 latest backups, when you do a new one the oldest one already there is deleted). After the backup is finished, the shutdown completes. If you say "n", the shutdown simply completes as is normal. If you say nothing (for example, you've walked off after telling Puppy to shut down), after 20 seconds it times out and completes the shutdown without backing up.
...keep in mind the destination directory must be located on an already mounted disk."

[Sylvander]

To prevent Firefox browser-cache bloat... (http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=410620#410620)

I believe this places the [50 MB?] cache in RAM or swap [not the Puppy file system], so it's lost at the end of a session.

[Sylvander]

How to cleanly unmount your Puppy filesystem on normal shutdowns. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=55823)

"This is a quick how-to for achieving a clean "filesystem" unmount on shutdowns. Currently tested for full hdd installs (ext2, PUPMODE=2), frugal hdd installs (ext2, PUPMODE=12) and frugal ataflash installs (ext2, PUPMODE=13) only."

[Sylvander]

To MOUNT an ISO image file...
So as to view and manipulate the contents?
I'm using Xfe to do this within BoxPup-413 as follows:

1. Run Xfe, and navigate to the ISO file.
The ISO file should be displayed within a file pane at right.

2. Click on the terminal icon above the pane, and a terminal window will open.
Each/any command entered at the command prompt within this terminal window will apply to the displayed [file] contents of the file pane.

3. type the first few characters of the command...
filemnt
...And hit <tab>, and the exactly correct command name should complete, with a space after it.
[Or else type the whole name if you like, followed by a space]

4. Now type the first few characters of the name of the ISO file, and hit <tab>, and the exactly correct name of the ISO file should complete.
[Or else type the whole name if you like, but make sure it is exactly correct]
You should now have the command, followed by the name of the ISO file on which it is to act.

5. Hit the <Enter> key, and the filemnt command should mount [and display the contents of] the ISO file whose name you entered.
It will be displayed as a highlighted folder.
To unmount it just right-click on it, and choose to unmount.

[Sylvander]

Put Desktop Icons on a Launchbar (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=56795).

Icontray.pet (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?mode=attach&id=29890)

[Sylvander]

Adding to a Puppy that doesn't already have one...
A method for manually saving a session [during the session] back to its pupsave file. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=433800&sid=3abbf5a5fe20925191a04e73a553f246#433800)

[Sylvander]

The thread for clamav-0.96.1-i386.pet (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=57630)

[Mini-Me]

Some very useful links there Sylvander! :)
We're up to ten pages on this thread, will soon be eleven - doing well! :D

I must have another play with Puppy - like many other Linux-type distros, there are so many to choose from I am a little confused as to which one to try now! :D

I will go get the latest official release, me thinks - good a place to start as any - I prefer light distros over heavy ones...

[Sylvander]

1. "so many to choose from I am a little confused as to which one to try now!"
(a) I'm playing around with 5 different versions of Puppy.
Found that some puplets [depending on the kernel used] wouldn't work on my 2002 hardware, and others would->[listed below].

(b) Holding the pupsave [1GB] & SFS file for each Puppy on their own individual [1.3GB] partition on an 8GB Flash Drive.
When the Puppy is booted from an optical disk [CD-RW], it seeks, finds, and uses the pupsave, and that partition is mounted and locked.
But [with that arrangement] all the other partitions remain unmounted/unlocked, so things can be done with those.

(c) Found out that it's possible to hold the pupsave+ for each Puppy, in a folder, provided the folder is only one layer down [in the root folder].
So I made a [suitably named] folder for each Puppy, on a partition on an internal [2nd = slave] HDD....
And [as a start] copied the pupsave [for Boxpup-431] to its HDD folder.
If I boot the Boxpup CD with the Flash Drive in place...
Boxpup finds both sets of pupsave+ files, and offers the opportunity to CHOSE which to use.
The copies on the HDD load faster...
So boot is faster...
And so is the loading of programs during the session.
But there are advantages to using the copies on the Flash Drive.
e.g. The ability to configure the Puppy not to auto-save the session during the session [it can be done manually]...
Plus to [make the necessary coding changes, so as to be able to] choose to not save [or to save] the session at shutdown.
The ability to not save the session can be VERY USEFUL.
Whereas, with the Puppy files held on the HDD, saving is automatic, and beyond the control of the user.

2. "I prefer light distros over heavy ones"
(a) Try Boxpup-431 [105MB].
It isn't the most recent, but it's a class act.
Small, FAST, minimalist, simple to use, beauitiful, elegant, attention to detail.
You can, of course, build upon it to add extra features.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recent releases I'm trying:
Both of these include the new feature, that at the end of the install of a package, the screen blinks and the package is ready for use.

(b) Quirky-1.1 [qret-104] [about 100MB]
Workmanlike, but very good performance [small].
e.g. Includes snap2-> & dirdiff->[displays differences between any 2 folder/file hierarchies (snap2-backups etc?)].

(c) [B]Lupu-501 [about 120MB]
Based upon Ubuntu Lucid Lynx.
Both Ubuntu and Puppy repos are available for the download/install of packages.
Icon on the desktop for "Quick Install" of various popular packages.
e.g. Choose from among a list of all popular web-browsers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not so recent releases:
The following two are rather large, but VERY nice:
(d) Teenpup mini 2010 beta [344MB]
Big ISO, comprehensive, colorful, good-looking, nice touches, capable.
Flash drive pupsave in use takes 6-sec to open the menu at 1st attempt! [Only happens in Teenpup]
Subsequent attempts are instantaneous.
Pupsave on HDD works MUCH faster.

(e) Lighthouse-4.43f [208MB]
Largish ISO, nice techie features, capable, good-looking.

[Sylvander]

Here's the "TeenPup->GParted" display of the Partitions on the 8GB Flash Drive, [5 of the 6] holding the various Puppy pupsave+SFS file pairs.
Teenpup ALWAYS succeeds in displaying these [sdc]; Boxpup usually fails for some reason I don't understand.
Notice that the last [6th] partition [sdc7] is not yet used, and that I took special care to make the partitions fit the contents [need to check sdc3].