Installing Linux Lite via a systemback ISO to a different laptop

[JanetBiggar]

Hoping someone can guide me here.  I have decided to try and see if I can successfully load an ISO made from a systemback point from one laptop to other old laptops so as to save me time in terms of reloading various additional stuff over and above LL3.8.

I have successfully made my ISO image (although I did not manage to do it via the route Trinidad suggested in a different thread - right clicking on the ISO image and burning to USB so did it via UNetbootin).

I have googled various videos and am unsure exactly which choice I click on when the ISO USB loads.  I tried live system, however it does not give me the icon to "install Linux Lite" like my usual LL3.8 USB does once the live system comes up.

When I go into the next choice "Boot from Installer" I then get a window saying system install and have to put in user name, PW, plus a root password which I left blank (should I?), etc.

It then takes me to Partition settings which I am very unsure what to do here.

I am in the process of googling more videos, but might anyone have a link to which I can refer that makes this all easy for a newbie like me?  Or if not, then some clear instructions?

Thanks in advance 

[JanetBiggar]

So I decided to install LL3.8 from the USB I made and always use so as to see the partitions it automatically makes once installed and their names, took a pic and then put in my systemback ISO USB which has all the tweaks on it.

This systemback ISO loads fine and the live OS looks just like the other laptop from which I made this ISO. I then looked again to see if there was an “install Linux Lite” which there wasn’t so followed the video after going into “boot system image”.

This is the video I followed: https://youtu.be/Kzu4lJ8J4NY

As per the video it takes you through the partitioning, etc. Then supposedly loads it and comes up with the screen saying something like “the OS is loaded”. I restarted taking  out the USB and nothing was there!

So I’m unsure what I’m doing wrong...I tried “system install” also by going into the live OS then systemback and choosing system install which takes you through the same steps as going via the menu off the first screen when the ISO loads.

Any suggestions?

[Moltke]

Hoping someone can guide me here.  I have decided to try and see if I can successfully load an ISO made from a systemback point from one laptop to other old laptops so as to save me time in terms of reloading various additional stuff over and above LL3.8.

I have successfully made my ISO image (although I did not manage to do it via the route Trinidad suggested in a different thread - right clicking on the ISO image and burning to USB so did it via UNetbootin).

I have googled various videos and am unsure exactly which choice I click on when the ISO USB loads.  I tried live system, however it does not give me the icon to "install Linux Lite" like my usual LL3.8 USB does once the live system comes up.

When I go into the next choice "Boot from Installer" I then get a window saying system install and have to put in user name, PW, plus a root password which I left blank (should I?), etc.

It then takes me to Partition settings which I am very unsure what to do here.

I am in the process of googling more videos, but might anyone have a link to which I can refer that makes this all easy for a newbie like me?  Or if not, then some clear instructions?

Thanks in advance 

I'm not a 100% sure but I kind of remember reading in a thread that LL doesn't support unetbootin, again not sure, will have to check the forum.

[member=7067]JanetBiggar[/member]  I searched the forum and I was right, see here: https://mityer.khdlhfjijfrupr.tk/forums/insta...11/#msg511

[Moltke]

[member=7067]JanetBiggar[/member] I think you may want to try a different approach which in my opinion is much easier to follow, instead of using systemback may I recommend clonezilla? Here are a couple of tutorials, check them out and decide whether to try or not
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWd5Ih6Fsd0

https://www.addictivetips.com/ubuntu-lin...lonezilla/

Hope this helps!

[JanetBiggar]

[member=7067]JanetBiggar[/member] I think you may want to try a different approach which in my opinion is much easier to follow, instead of using systemback may I recommend clonezilla? Here are a couple of tutorials, check them out and decide whether to try or not
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWd5Ih6Fsd0

https://www.addictivetips.com/ubuntu-lin...lonezilla/

Hope this helps!

Thanks Moltke, I appreciate your suggestions and time.  I took a look at the two tutorials and am a bit confused or maybe overwhelmed! I'm thinking I may try it although not sure I will do it properly as I think perhaps I need to be a little more knowledgeable.

I am still wondering why I was able to use the systemback ISO USB live on the other computer (looked just like the laptop from which I copied it) as I know it works as a bootable ISO, yet wasn't able to install it.  Yes, I realize the info that you sent me said Unetbookin doesn't work well on Linux, however why does the live OS work if that is the case?

I'd really like to succeed with this system image ISO USB so as to save lots of time installing LL 3.8 on these other laptops...I guess we'll see how I manage.

Should you have any further suggestions or guidance feel free to send them my way!  ;D

[JanetBiggar]

Well I gave it a try starting with trying to get Clonezilla on my USB, but failed at that.  I think it is too complex or I'm doing something incorrect.

I think I will google to see if there are other alternatives..

[Moltke]

[member=7067]JanetBiggar[/member] Here's an idea. It's been a while since I last used systemback so today I played a little bit with it and I think the reson you can't install your custom live system made from your install is the fact that your making an .ISO from an installed system, which doesn't have that option, i.e the "install icon on the desktop", so I think a better approach is to create a new LL Live USB, boot into it, update & upgrade and make all the customizations you need, install all the programs you've installed in another laptop and install them in the new build as well as all the personal configurations you've made, you could use aptik for that which is a GUI application that lets you backup your favourite PPAs and Packages as well as your home dir, once you've finished, run systemback and create an .ISO image from the Live system. I think this is a  better approach for your purposes, yes, you will have to do all that work but only once since you'll have that image you can use later as many times as you wish.


Hope this helps!  

[JanetBiggar]

THanks Moltke this sounds promising!

One thing I’m not sure about is the aptik- am I correctly understanding that once I am using the LL live I update the live OS with everything I want then use aptik to make a backup THEN use systemback to convert that aptik backup to an ISO?

[minesheep]

I have used this : https://serverfault.com/questions/86808/...iple-files
The one that uses split works well.

Requirements:
Some linux distribution live media
Portable HDD that has enough storage to hold the compressed clone image
a lot of time

0. As always make backups if something goes wrong.
1. boot from live media
2. make partitions smaller than the destination disk if you they are bigger
3. run commands but dont use the OS you are cloning!

Code:

dd if=/dev/zero of=<source OS disk (NOT /dev/...!!!!!) it is /media/linuxlite/...> ; rm <source OS disk /media/...>
dd if=/dev/<input_sdx> bs=4M | gzip -c | split -b <splitted file size in gigabytes>G - <existing output dir for files on portable disk>
Example : dd if=/dev/sdx bs=4M  | gzip -c | split -b 8G - /media/linuxlite/portable hdd/clone.img.gz.

note that you must have a lot of disk space for that on the portable HDD.

then restore with an example:

Code:

cat <img files path>clone.img.gz.* | gzip -dc | dd of=/dev/sdy bs=4M

Sounds complex? it is.

[JanetBiggar]

Sounds complex? it is.

Thanks for your thoughts minesheep!

So here’s what I’ve decided to try based on Moltke’s idea and minesheep’s comments:

1) I decided to do a trial by putting my original LL3.8 bootable USB into this new install and updating the live USB and adding Unetbootin so as to be able to make a bootable ISO.
2) by the way when I booted up this machine (the new install) on which I want to do the install I can see two I mounted files that came from my original systemback ISO USB on which I was attempting to copy my other completed install. So I’m cautiously optimistic that maybe the systemback ISO is working and that I’m just not doing the partitioning properly.
3) so, given #2, my experiment is to tweak the live USB a bit simply so that I know it IS different that my original LL3.8 USB (do the updates and add Unetbootin). 
4) Make a systemback ISO using Unetbootin while running this live USB and put it on a new USB.
5) boot the NEW USB on this same new install and see if it gives me the “install LL” choice once booted up...

I have started the process and will report back...