How to Create a Puppy Linux LiveCD/DVD

[Be aware that it is not absolutely necessary to create a  Puppy Linux LiveCD/DVD so as to run Puppy Linux operating system. An easier alternative for many persons is to extract the contents of the ISO image to a directory on virtually any type of partition - this being known as a frugal installation. I recommend that you always possess a Puppy Linux LiveCD/DVD even though you may choose to run Puppy from a frugal installation on a USB flash drive partition or a HDD partition.]

First acquire a version of Puppy Linux. The following are available for download:

What is downloaded is a file known as an ISO image. These ISO images are files that contain data files, as well as file system information such as boot code. An ISO image (or .ISO file) is a computer file that is an exact copy of an existing file system. An ISO image consists of the entire contents of an optical disc. This image can be written (burned) to optical disc which results in a LiveCD/DVD.

The easiest method for most users may be to use the BitTorrent protocol to download the ISO image, because BitTorrent automatically verifies the integrity of the data received. Note that a BitTorrent software program would need to be installed to make use of the BitTorrent protocol. The Opera web browser has integrated support for BitTorrent; so there would be no need for dedicated software. Microsoft Windows users may download dedicated software here. For newcomers I recommend that Opera be used since it is very easy to operate - downloads can be managed from the Opera browser window.

If the BitTorrent protocol is not used then verification of the integrity of the downloaded ISO image must be done manually. It is important that this is done since it will prevent you from wasting time and money, and from being embarrassed. A lot of requests for help is "Why does my disc not boot?". Modem connections tend to be interrupted when downloading large files; and data can be corrupted during transmission regardless of connection type. Endeavour to use a download manager if possible so that if the download gets interrupted it can be resumed later. How to verify its integrity manually is shown by going here.

Verify that the computer's BIOS is configured properly so that the boot sequence is set appropriately. This is to ensure that the CD/DVD drive will boot before any hard disc drive (HDD) does, or any other bootable device. Many computers' BIOS do not have this sequence by default. A suitable boot sequence would be: floppy drive, CD/DVD drive, then HDD. Save any change to the BIOS configuration before exiting the BIOS.

Verify that you have a re-writable optical disc drive. All optical disc drives have reading capability, but they do not all have writing capability. The older an optical disc drive is, the less likely that it has writing capability. If a drive has this capability it will have the logos "RW" and/or "ReWritable" imprinted on the drive tray.

If your optical disc drive is compatible it is recommended that DVD be used, since it is a higher specification format than CD and can hold much more data.

It is strongly recommended that you use single-layer, not double-layer, DVD-R media. A single-layer DVD-R can store about 4.3GB, but there is a software limitation that restricts the last directory to 4G. So using double-layer DVD-R media will just be a waste of money.

Do not use DVD+R, DVD-RW, or DVD+RW media as each of these seem to have particular problems. But then, if you find that a DVD+R works for you, fine. Of course you may experiment with any media, perhaps DVD+RW.

If your optical disc drive is not DVD compatible: use CD-R. CD-RW is not recommended simply because it is not necessary. Although a CD-R is "write-once", in multi-session mode tracks can be written one after the other up to 99 tracks or until the CD-R becomes full. Therefore, if the price differential is great, save money and use CD-R media. Use high quality disc media.

Summary:

• Download ISO image using the BitTorrent protocol (with Opera web browser)
• Configure BIOS
• Use single-layer DVD-R media (or CD-R if your optical disc drive is not DVD compatible)
• Insert blank (or erased) DVD-R into a re-writable optical disc drive

The instructions in this section result in a disc where personal data and settings have to be saved to some other partition on a HDD or USB flash drive. Data cannot be saved to this type of LiveCD/DVD. If data is required to be saved to the LiveCD/DVD that is in use then a multi-session LiveCD/DVD must be created (see the Appendix below).

In order to burn an ISO image the burning software must be instructed to use the "burn iso image" function. For example, in Nero, go to the File menu and select Recorder -> Burn Image; not Burn Bootable Image.

Do not use the burner software that comes with the Microsoft Windows operating system. Such software only produces a data disc which is not what one wants. One wants to produce a bootable disc. The software to use is either BurnCDCC or ImgBurn, both of which are highly recommended and free.

BurnCDCC consists of only one small file, and requires no installation. It is designed to burn ISO images exclusively and is excellent for inexperienced users. Both programs can be reliably used to burn an ISO file to a CD/DVD. Both programs appear to be available for all versions of Windows.

• Tutorial - How to use BurnCDCC∞
• Tutorial - How to use ImgBurn
  

A low burn speed is best since it will increase the probability of achieving a bootable disc. Images are not burned correctly at too high a speed. Set the burning speed of the software accordingly; or just accept the default value set by the program. When the image has been written, re-start the computer with the disc remaining in the drive.

If you would like to create a multi-session LiveCD then you would need to use CDBurnerXP, not BurnCDCC or ImgBurn (see Appendix below).

If you would like to create a multi-session LiveDVD then you must use Burniso2cd or Pburn (see Appendix below).

Users of a Linux distribution other than Puppy Linux may burn ISO images using their default burner, e.g. K3b and Brasero. K3b automatically performs the md5sum verification and is included in Linux distributions that use the KDE desktop. Brasero is an application to burn CD/DVD for the Gnome desktop. It is designed to be as simple as possible and has some unique features to enable users to create their discs easily and quickly.

Puppy Linux users have the excellent Burniso2cd and Pburn recording software at their disposal. They will only perform the writing function with a blank disc, i.e. the disc is either new, or, as in the case of a re-writable disc, it has been erased first. Only Pburn has erasing capability. Either Burniso2cd or Pburn can be used to burn ISO images.

To start Burniso2cd, within Puppy Linux go to: Menu -> Multimedia -> Burniso2cd.

To start Pburn, within Puppy Linux go to: Menu -> Multimedia -> Pburn.

To burn using Burniso2cd: start Burniso2cd; select the disc type, CD or DVD, that has been placed in the drive; then select the optical disc drive that contains the disc; and then navigate to the location of the relevant ISO file so as to select it. The Burniso2cd program will burn (write) the ISO image file to the disc. Leave the disc in the drive and re-start the computer.

To erase a disc: start Pburn; go to  Burn -> Blank CD/DVD; click Blank disc tab; select type of erasure Fast blank and select type of disc media; click Burner device tab and select your burner device (drive) that contains the disc to be erased, and uncheck "Eject  disc after burn"; click Burn button to commence erasing.

Creating a disc that is multi-session is desirable when one wishes data to be saved to the same LiveCD/DVD that one has booted from. This means that one can carry an operating system and personal files all on one optical disc.

A multi-session optical disc is only created if it is specifically written, or burned 'open'. Being 'open' means that future, persistent data can be saved onto the same disc as opposed to some other additional partition. Forum Thread.

Not all CD/DVD burning programs designed for Microsoft Windows provide the option to burn (write) in multi-session mode. One that does is the free CDBurnerXP∞. It is only available for Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista operating systems.

Use this program for creating a multi-session LiveCD only. However, it has already been stated that it is recommended to use DVD-R media for the creation of a multi-session disc. Therefore the only circumstances under which one should use CDBurnerXP to burn a CD-R would be if one's optical drive is not a DVD rewriter. The following tutorial is for such a situation.

Tutorial: Download CDBurnerXP here. Version 3 does not require Microsoft .NET Framework to be installed. Later versions do. Launch CDBurnerXP whereupon a dialogue box opens which is the startup screen (older startup screen, newer startup screen - varies depending on software version); select the option that refers to burning an ISO image;

1. From the File menu select Write Disk from ISO file...;
2. Select a suitable writing speed;
3. Ensure that Finalize Disc is not ticked;
4. Click Write Disc.

Do not use CDBurnerXP to create a multi-session LiveDVD. To record to DVD a running Linux distribution is required because one absolutely must use growisofs (combined mkisofs frontend/DVD recording program) to perform the burn. The Burniso2cd program in Puppy Linux uses growisofs.

In summary, for all Microsoft Windows users, the recommended course of action is:

• First create a non-multi-session LiveDVD using BurnCDCC and a DVD-R (as shown below)
  

• Then use this newly created disc to boot into Puppy Linux so as to create a new multi-session one using Burniso2cd (as shown above). This is possible since remember that Puppy Linux runs completely in RAM and so the first LiveDVD (the non-multi-session one) can be removed from the optical drive and replaced with a blank disc for the creation of the new multi-session LiveDVD.
  

Puppy Linux has been a pioneer of the multi-session LiveCD/DVD. To create a multi-session disc use Burniso2cd within Puppy Linux. An alternative would be to use Pburn. They will only perform the writing function with a blank disc, i.e. the disc is either new, or, as in the case of a re-writable disc, it has been erased first. Only Pburn has erasing capability; either Burniso2cd or Pburn can be used to burn ISO images.

To start Pburn, within Puppy Linux go to: Menu -> Multimedia -> Pburn.

To start Burniso2cd, within Puppy Linux go to: Menu -> Multimedia -> Burniso2cd.

To erase a disc: start Pburn; go to Burn -> Blank CD/DVD; click Blank disc tab; select type of erasure Fast blank and select type of disc media; click Burner device tab and select your burner device (drive) that contains the disc to be erased, and uncheck Eject disc after burn; click Burn button to commence erasing.

To burn using Burniso2cd: start Burniso2cd; select the disc type, CD or DVD, that has been placed in the drive; then select the optical disc drive that contains the disc; and then navigate to the location of the relevant ISO file so as to select it. The Burniso2cd program will burn (write) the ISO image file to the disc. Leave the disc in the drive and re-start the computer.

Using Burniso2cd a DVD is always burn open, i.e. the option whether to burn as closed or open is not offered. This DVD can become either a multi-session Puppy LiveCD/DVD or a non-multi-session one. This option is offered when one first boots the newly burned disc and subsequently proceed to shutdown for the first time: one will be asked where one will want one's persistent data to be saved, either on the CD/DVD or on some other partition, wherever that may be. The irreversible decision one makes here is what determines whether the disc is permanently set as multi-session or not. So if one wants a multi-session disc choose that personal data and session settings be saved to the optical disc only, i.e. select Save to CD, and not Save to file (the default option). Subsequently, whenever one proceeds to shutdown at the end of a session, the option to save or discard that session is provided.

For CD-R/RW media the situation is different. The option is offered whether to burn as closed or open; so if one wants a multi-session CD-R/RW then one must choose to burn an 'open' disc. However, using a CD seems to be less reliable at saving sessions at shutdown than using a DVD - another reason not to use CDs for creating a LiveCD/DVD.

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