Looking for a good PORTABLE distro

[Helpmeh]

Hey guys, I'm looking for a small, but easy to use (for a person who normally uses Win XP), linux distro. I have a 1.85 GB flashdrive that I just formatted and I've always wanted to try Linux.
Requirements:
1. Doesn't have to be too small. (~50-200MB)
2. NEEDS to be user-friendly
3. It would be nice if it came pre-packaged with programs (Firefox, etc.)
4. Easy installation (or at least easy to follow instructions).

[BC_Programmer]

Linux Mint would be my reccomendation.

[Helpmeh]

Linux Mint would be my reccomendation.

Ok, so how would I attach that to my flash drive? It also would be nice if it could be in a virtual machine, but LinuxLive has never worked in my tests (boot medium error with JVM java virtual machine), and Universal USB Installer from pendrivelinux.com says the flash drive won't be bootable, so I don't know how it will work.

[BC_Programmer]

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/usb-linux-mint-install-from-windows/

[Helpmeh]

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/usb-linux-mint-install-from-windows/

Linux Mint iso link was dead, so I found the newer version, but I will report back in ~2 hours.

[BC_Programmer]

Linux Mint iso link was dead, so I found the newer version, but I will report back in ~2 hours.

OK, I know I used the same portable-installer thing to install a later version of the ISO, and it works.

[Helpmeh]

OK, I know I used the same portable-installer thing to install a later version of the ISO, and it works.

Is there anyway to have it in a virtual machine? I haven't had much experience so, if possible, can you give me step by step instructions?

[Helpmeh]

OK, I know I used the same portable-installer thing to install a later version of the ISO, and it works.

I got at least 3 data errors...and it failed to read the boot sector, causing it to fail again.

EDIT: I am not trying again, except this time I will not attempt to see why it appeared to have frozen on
EXTRACTING casper\filesystem.squashfs

Which by the way, was the first data error. The other 2 data errors occurred directly afterwords.

I retried...same errors.

[Helpmeh]

Anyone?

[Geek-9pm]

There are others...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_distributions

I have used DSL, Knoppix and Puppy.

Pulpy has easy instructions to put it on a USB.

[Helpmeh]

There are others...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_distributions

I have used DSL, Knoppix and Puppy.

Pulpy has easy instructions to put it on a USB.

It says I need burn it to a CD, AND THEN add it to a USB...is there any way to jump that step? I do have burning software, just not a cd.

[Geek-9pm]

Yes, you can install it without a CD!

Here is one solution:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNetbootin
That, of course explains what can be done for many distros.

Here are two more links you should see.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/unetbootin/files/

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1242550/how_to_install_puppy_linux_onto_a_usb.html

[Helpmeh]

Ok...I've tried using LinuxLive (or LiveLinux, I can't remember) and Pendrivelinux's installer and neither work. LinuxLive screws up the virtual box and Pendrive hasn't been able to make the drive bootable...I will try unetbootin soon.

[Helpmeh]

It works! Well, it at least installed fine.. I'm just feeling apprehensive about changing the bios settings, and in fact, I doubt it will even stay changed. Deepfreeze can be a real pain in the you-know-where sometimes...

Is there a way I can use it in an emulator, similar to JVM (except for some reason, that didn't work)?

[BC_Programmer]

It works! Well, it at least installed fine.. I'm just feeling apprehensive about changing the bios settings, and in fact, I doubt it will even stay changed. Deepfreeze can be a real pain in the you-know-where sometimes...

Is there a way I can use it in an emulator, similar to JVM (except for some reason, that didn't work)?

The JVM is for running Java programs.... I guess you mean Sun VirtualBox?

I've never had to boot USB via emulation, but if I ever needed to, it turns out that VMWare has a feature called "ACE" whereby I could place any Virtual Machine configuration on a USB flash drive and run it anywhere. Not sure if that feature is in any other VM programs.

[Helpmeh]

The JVM is for running Java programs.... I guess you mean Sun VirtualBox?

I've never had to boot USB via emulation, but if I ever needed to, it turns out that VMWare has a feature called "ACE" whereby I could place any Virtual Machine configuration on a USB flash drive and run it anywhere. Not sure if that feature is in any other VM programs.

Yes. I mean SVB...I knew it was by sun (Java), and Virtual Machine seemed to make sense.

I just want to make sure you understand what I mean for the word Emulator. I mean it runs in windows XP, but within it is what I am emulating. Like VisualBoyAdvanced for Gameboy games. If that is what you mean (because I am slightly lost at the last bit of your program [brain freeze]), then how exactly would I do that?

[BC_Programmer]

Yes. I mean SVB...I knew it was by sun (Java), and Virtual Machine seemed to make sense.

I just want to make sure you understand what I mean for the word Emulator. I mean it runs in windows XP, but within it is what I am emulating. Like VisualBoyAdvanced for Gameboy games. If that is what you mean (because I am slightly lost at the last bit of your program [brain freeze]), then how exactly would I do that?

well, you'd need VMWare, first.

Emulators for full blown PCs are a lot more complicated then things like Nestopia,ZSNES, Project64, epsxe, Visual Boy Advance, and so on, and unless you actually have a Virtual Machine that supports a portable install it simply won't work.

[Helpmeh]

well, you'd need VMWare, first.

Emulators for full blown PCs are a lot more complicated then things like Nestopia,ZSNES, Project64, epsxe, Visual Boy Advance, and so on, and unless you actually have a Virtual Machine that supports a portable install it simply won't work.

Well, LinuxLive (or LiveLinux) installed a portable version of Sun VB...and it would be hard to install anything with Deepfreeze (as previously mentioned)...but you never know. I was really looking for something where I could plug in my flash drive, run a program and I have a small version of linux. (I tried Mac on a stick, and that's what gave me the idea)

I looked at VMWare, and I am not really interested in any "trial" programs, or paying for any.

[ThomasTheXPUser]

There is DARN small Linux 

but that might be too small

http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/

[JJ 3000]

In virtual box you just have to have the ISO file somewhere on your computer. When you set up your new virtual machine you just point it the file's location and it will boot to it like its a CD.

[Helpmeh]

Ok...I am installing SVB...hopefully Deepfreeze doesn't remove it :S

If I save it to my flash drive, will it require registry data or anything on my computer? I really want it to be portable.

[JJ 3000]

You've got me a bit confused here.
Are you talking about trying to install virtual box on you flash drive?
I don't think that you can do that. You can only install portable apps on a flash drive.


>EDIT<
I guess you can do that.
http://www.techbeta.org/portable-apps/portable-virtual-box/
 I've never tried it though. In the version of virtual box that I use you have to specify a specific amount of system memory that your virtual machine will use from the host machine. I don't really understand how this would work if you move your virtual machines around to different host machines with different amounts of system memory.

[Helpmeh]

The main issue for me is the fact that Deepfreeze will remove all new files installed on the system partition (The C:\) drive of the local disk, and the other partition is too small to hold anything TBH, as well as removing any new registry keys. That's why I need it to be "portable". It probably won't be used portably, it's just portable apps don't install registry keys and can be installed on flash drives.

So, I will try getting that portable virtual box program when I'm at home.

[Helpmeh]

I can't wrap my mind around this portable virtual box. It says (in really bad grammar I may add) that I don't have to change any settings, etc. But if I click OK, it just closes.