USB live file with storage staying active in another operating system's environment

4

4N0L1
Junior Member

13

08-08-2016, 12:07 PM

#1

Good morning/evening. I currently rely on a Live USB of Linux with persistence to replicate my setup across different devices. On my main desktop, switching between it and Windows 10 is quite challenging. To address this, I considered running the Live USB as a virtual machine within the main OS, allowing simultaneous use. The closest I've managed was booting the Live USB inside VMware Workstation as a live environment without persistence, but VMware rejected it with an "operation failed" error when I selected persistence. I'm seeking advice on possible solutions or alternatives, such as specialized tools. It doesn't necessarily need to run in a virtual machine—just the concept is what I had in mind. Side notes: Because of Docker and WSL2, using VMware software isn't viable. Options like Hyper-V and VMWare Workstation are fine. The Live USB is an external NVMe drive connected via USB-C, split into partitions for the OS and persistence. Let me know if this helps or if you have better suggestions. Hope everyone has a great summer!

L

luxrox
Member

227

08-09-2016, 08:32 AM

#2

Wouldn't it be better to store the VM directly on the USB drive? Skip persistence and simply install the VM normally onto the USB stick. Just place the image or VHD file on the USB drive.

R

Razlorus
Posting Freak

976

08-09-2016, 12:00 PM

#3

Run the installation directly onto the USB stick like a regular hard drive. It functions well both natively and within a virtual environment. The goal is for seamless native booting as well as VM support.

H

harrypotter88
Junior Member

25

08-09-2016, 01:46 PM

#4

I choose to use it as a Live USB instead of just a drive with an OS because Live USBs manage various hardware setups and adjustments more effectively, especially when transitioning between different machines. This approach works well in most situations, though I currently favor keeping it as a Live USB for flexibility.

M

MilkIsAwesome
Member

143

08-09-2016, 05:42 PM

#5

Linux handles moving between machines smoothly. I've only faced problems during booting the installation, mostly due to security features.

I

iHarleyQuinn_
Member

79

08-29-2016, 03:44 AM

#6

I've set up a Linux distribution and run it across several machines without problems. It handles hardware tweaks quite well. I'm eager to try installing it. Or if you need compatibility across different systems, just run it as a VM and mount the VHD file.

T

TheAmericanGuy
Member

69

08-30-2016, 05:32 AM

#7

I see your intention, but switching to Qubes OS might not be the best fit. You could try installing both Windows and Linux as virtual machines and toggle between them smoothly. Regarding persistence, it’s a good idea to check how each environment handles data storage.

I

iSukAtParkor
Junior Member

46

09-02-2016, 06:01 PM

#8

In fact, it doesn’t really make sense for a live USB with persistence to function properly unless the VM host has unrestricted access to the USB drive’s raw storage. Otherwise, performance and functionality would match what you get from a native setup.

F

Frinex10
Posting Freak

806

09-04-2016, 10:09 PM

#9

I previously faced issues when trying to have Linux automatically detect certain network cards on an older MacBook. Now that I'm using a USB drive, the problem is resolved because generic drivers are being used instead of pre-installed ones.

M

miknes123
Senior Member

646

09-05-2016, 05:28 AM

#10

I've tried relocating it to those older MacBooks, but sometimes they need to choose a fresh network card. The operating system already comes with all the necessary drivers.