
Making Persistence Files (ext2\3\4)
Tip: Avoid using spaces in filenames.
Quick Instructions for ISOs+Persistence
-
Look in the \_ISO\docs\Sample mnu Files folder for a .mnu file that has a name that matches your ISO - e.g. ubuntu-13.04-desktop-amd64_Persistent.mnu (choose the closest match possible)
- Use NotePad to view the instructions inside the .mnu file - it will tell you what to do
Note: Some persistence solutions may not use a .mnu file (e.g. Knoppix+persistence), so please search this site, the list of tested payloads and my blog for solutions.
Making a persistence file using Windows
Use ext3 or ext4 for reliable persistence
When using an ext2 file for persistence, I have found that it can easily get corrupted if you don't shut down linux nicely. A corrupt persistence file can cause a linux ISO file to fail to boot, even though the ISO file itself is completely good!
Make a persistence file using linux
Use cd to get to the directory where you have mounted the USB drive - e.g. /media/USBDrive, then create a file as follows (example uses 1GB mint-rw, volume name is normally casper-rw)
(use sudo if required)
dd if=/dev/zero of=mint-rw bs=1M count=1024
OR making a sparse file using dd may be faster, try this...
dd if=/dev/zero of=casper-rw bs=1M count=0 seek=1024
Now format it...
mkfs -t ext2 mint-rw -L casper-rw
or for ext3 (recommended)
mkfs.ext3 -F mint-rw -L casper-rw
to defrag all the files on the E2B drive (including the persistence file)...
mount
df
sudo perl ~/Downloads/Easy2Boot/_ISO/docs/linux_utils/defragfs /media/Multiboot -f
or use udefrag if the E2B drive is an NTFS drive.
sudo ~/Downloads/Easy2Boot/_ISO/docs/linux_utils/udefrag -om /media/Multiboot
Re-sizing or transferring data to a new persistent file
sudo mkdir /mnt/source /mnt/target sudo mount -o loop /dev/sdb1/ubuntu-rw /mnt/source sudo mount /dev/sdb1/newubuntu-rw /mnt/target cp -var /mnt/source/. /mnt/target
More Information
When you boot from a CD or DVD, persistence is not normally enabled because a CD/DVD does not support 'random-writes'. However, when booting from a USB drive with some linux ISOs, Easy2Boot can boot directly from the ISO and enable persistence. To do this a special .mnu file is needed. This is just a grub4dos menu which will be read by Easy2Boot during startup and the contents will be added to it's own 'in-memory' menu.
The instructions on how to add a persistence file are included inside each of the .mnu files. There are .mnu files which support persistence for linuxmint, XiaOpan, ubuntu, YLMF, Puppy, Slax, Ubuntu, LUbuntu, Fedora, Backtrack 5, BitDefender Rescue (old versions only), geebox, kali linux, kaspersky, PCLinuxOS, Porteus, StartOS, Zorin, AntiX, android x86, debian-based distros and XBMCbuntu. More may be added later - check the E2B download for new additions!
Different sample .mnu files are included the \_ISO\docs\Sample mnu Files folder for each type of ISO file. Just open a .mnu file using a text editor and read the instructions. All of these can be run on one E2B USB drive, all with separate persistence files. If your ISO filename does not exactly match, simply change the name of the ISO file in the .mnu file (it may appear more than once). Most often linux will look for a file of a particular file name or volume name (e.g. casper-rw). However, on a multiboot USB drive, this can cause problems because you can only have one file called casper-rw. Also, some linux distros cannot access NTFS partitions, so this is a problem if you boot from an NTFS drive. However, Easy2Boot avoids both of these problems by using a .mnu file in conjunction with a ext2 file.
Note: Booting from a partition image file (.imgPTN) with persistence is not supported using .mnu files, however it is possible to modify some versions of linux (e.g. Ubuntu) to support UEFI-booting with persistence.
Some linux distros (e.g. Knoppix+Persistence) can be added to E2B, but it is done using a .imgPTN partition image and not using a .mnu file. Search this site and my blog to find instructions.
How it works
UEFI-Booting with persistence
Fully-installed linux OS
Recommended for Easy2Boot (fastest!) - SanDisk Extreme SDCZ880-128G-G46
BitCoin also accepted.
- Home
- Start & Intro
- YouTube Videos
-
Make a USB drive >>
- Make a multi-partition E2B USB drive using RMPrepUSB
- Use an existing USB HDD for E2B
- Use LINUX to make an E2B drive + defrag
- How to Update E2B
- How to make a WINHELPER USB Flash Drive (fix 'Required DVD drive driver is missing')
- Multiple partitions on a USB Flash drive
- Using other partitions or drives
- Copy (clone) any E2B USB drive
- Make and burn an E2B DVD
- Using E2B with a Zalman/IODD
- Add E2B to your own grub4dos USB drive
- How to remove E2B
-
Adding Payload Files and Using E2B >>
- Quick Setup Guide
- The E2B Menu system
- Make files CONTIGUOUS
- File Extensions recognised by E2B
- UEFI - MakePartImage and changing the CSM Menu
- UEFI+MBR and how to make .imgPTN files
- UEFI booting from an E2B drive
- Using SWITCH_E2B with .imgPTN files
- Using the \_ISO\AUTO folder
-
Windows payloads >>
- E2B USB HDD - Installing Windows with a 'WinHelper' drive
- Windows XP Install ISOs
- Install XP using DPMS
- Install XP using WinPE (one step process)
- Add XP Install ISOs using WinSetupFromUSB
- Windows Vista/7 Install ISOs
- UEFI boot from Windows 7 Install ISOs
- Windows 8/10 Install ISOs
- Unattended Installs
- Adding >4GB Windows Install ISOs using .imgPTN files
- Automating Windows Installs from .imgPTN files
- Split_WinISO
- Windows AIO ISOs
- WindowsToGo
- WinNTSetup
- XMLtoE2B.exe utility
- SDI_CHOCO (install drivers, apps and updates) >>
- .VHD and .WIM files
- PassPass (bypass the Windows Password)
- Hack into Windows OS (UtilMan.exe)
- WinLite10 XML files
- Windows 2000
- Multipoint Server
- Add the latest XP drivers (DPMS)
- Linux payloads >>
- MSDart ERD ISOs
- WinBuilder, Gandalf and WinPE ISOs
- Hirens/Strelec/DLC/F4 ISOs
- DOS (MS-DOS and FreeDOS)
- OS X
- FreeBSD
- MOVE_IMGPTN
- List of tested ISOs (+ instructions)
- Tutorials and How To's
-
Configure E2B >>
- Default Menu and Timeout
- E2B Menu Demo
- E2B Files and Folders explained
- Change the payload menu entries and help text using a .txt file
- Change the background wallpaper
- Different wallpaper for each menu
- MyE2B.cfg configuration file >>
- Change the Language, Headings, Menu and text
- E2B_Editor
- Change the menu entry order
- 'Change File Extension' (Auto-suggest feature)
- Changing the Keyboard Layout
- About .mnu files
- Sample .mnu files
- PimpMyDrive.cmd
- Add a new Sub-Menu folder
- Stamps and Animation
- Global Hotkeys
- One Single Menu
- Themes (Skins)
- Speeding up E2B (inc. FASTLOAD)
- F1 Help Menu
- Add Windows Install ISOs to the Main Menu
- Windows Install Menu
- Passwords and Security
- Hide Payloads
- Guest Mode
- Fonts
- GFX Boot Menus
- Dual Booting
- Reducing the E2B messages
- Change the CSM .imgPTN Menu
- Configure Clover
- Right-to-Left Languages
- Create new language files
- How to modify LOADISO.CMD (Repair message)
- Draw lines and boxes on the display
- Write text to the display
- UEFI things to know
-
FAQ, TroubleShooting and Virtual Machines >>
- 'File Not Contiguous' and 'Too Many Fragments' Errors
- 137GB BIOS bug
- TroubleShooting E2B
- E2B Error Messages
- Grub4dos Error Numbers
- Common problems with payload files
- Repair a corrupt E2B drive
- Known Issues and Bugs
- Slow and buggy BIOSes
- How E2B Works
- Using a Virtual Machine >>
- Debugging E2B
- CONTIG.ISO
- ISOBOOT
- grub4dos
- Useful resources
- Removable v. Fixed
- Gallery
- Guestbook
- Forum
- Blog
- Contact Me >>
- Donate
- Site Map
- Downloads >>
- Grub2 Menu System (UEFI_GRUB2_PTN2)
- Licensing