I was wondering two things:
1) best way to install on a "larger" pendrive so one would NOT have to mess with a "permanent save partitions, etc."
2) best distro for HW detection, depending on "1" above.
So let me elaborate please...

1) I have a 4GB pen drive and have experience getting the Knoppix live CD working on a 1GB drive. In the 1GB drive, one basically copies the live CD to the pendrive and creates a partition for the more permanent changes. I assume the live CD's do more "robust" hardware detection than doing an install -- which presumably saves the current hardware configuration. Is this assumption correct? Should I do a "live CD/DVD" copy or an "install" on the 4GB drive? I would like to be able to "apt-get" install new programs without have to worry about permanence and just work from the 4GB pendrive as if it's a "real" install.

2) Assuming hardware detection is the same for "live CD" copies and "installed" versions, what distro would you recommend of the following (In my order of preference)...
1) Kubuntu
2) Knoppix
3) Suse
4) other

I hope the above is clear.
Thanks,
Kurt

I would suggest SLAX to be put on the flash drive, but KNOPPIX would be a good idee and kubuntu might(you might want to put xubuntu to use less space)

you might want to check out: http://www.pendrivelinux.com/

No offense, but I think you missed the point(s) of my post. I had been to pendrivelinux in order to get my previous install to work (on the 1GB drive).

I think puppylinux might end up meeting my needs from what I posted. I think I would have to compile a version that has all the apps I might need though.
Kurt

I've set up a 4Gb pendrive with an extended PCLinuxOS with loads of extra software. Read my contribution to another thread here:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=573396