Am seeking a completely self contained portable browser that runs and maintains all cookies etc on a USB. Portable Windows options have been unsatisfactory.
Of the various portable Distros around is there any particular Distro and browser someone can suggest for this task?
As a Linux virgin I am keen to put my toe in the water so thought I could try this up as my first project.

I'm not sure what you mean by a "self contained portable browser". If you mean a live linux iso boot from a usb drive, then your browser (firefox or chrome) should retain all cookies --provided that you set up your system with persistence.
Fedora, ubuntu, linux mint and Debian isos can be set up so that they are persistent.

The following web-site has a pretty good explanation of how to set up ubuntu iso with persistence: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/14912...b-flash-drive/
You can download a ubuntu iso at www.distrowatch.com

If you follow the directions from the site, it should be fairly easy.

Good luck.

1 members found this post helpful.

Welcome, fellow Scot, to LinuxQuestions!

Sandisk used to do a U3 launcher on their USB pen drive which would allow you to run Firefox and Thunderbird from the U3 launcher. All browser bookmarks, cookies, email contacts, etc held on the pen.
The pen drive had a small partition containing the U3 launcher plus apps from, portableapps.com.

I used to use one which worked brilliantly on a Windows XP desktop box at work ( a long time ago!)
The U3 partition was also a pain when plugged into a Linux box as it wasn't recognised, however... It looks like the U3 launcher idea has died a death.

PortableApps on the other hand may still be of some use, check here for the PortableApps directory and here for the PortableApps.com Platform which it all runs on; USB, PC, Cloud.

Play Bonny Jim!

donatim

You deciphered my incoherent description. Yes I did mean persistent cookies. Thank's for the URL's. I'll follow them up.

Soadyheid

Will wander through Portable Apps once I know which Distro's appear to be likely prospects.
(Got a soaking in Edinburgh when I visited the Jazz Bar in Chamber Street the other day. Fortunately it's been rather better down here in Dumfries & Galloway. Hope it improves for you).

jocularity,

Here is another website that explains how to create a persistent usb drive with Fedora; I would recommend that you use a drive that has at least 16 GB in capacity (also the current Fedora iso version is 22 -- soon to be 23):

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-...drive-with-pe/

I have more than a few multi-boot usb drives (with Fedora, ubuntu, System Rescue CD, AVG rescue, SeaTools, etc), but a knowledge of the linux command line is required (not really that hard but some experience with linux helps).

By the way, I would use Firefox because Chrome is generally not available through most Linux package managers (which is how you install all of your applications). Once you become more experienced with Linux, installing Chrome is rather simple.

Are you referring to South Carolina and the flooding there? Thank goodness I live in California (right now we are suffering from a drought). But thanks for the good wishes!

1 members found this post helpful.

Donatom,

Have checked out the Ubuntu and Fedora downloads and installation instructions which you pointed me towards and both are very straightforward and simple. I'll try out each on a different USB when I get a chance in the next couple of days.

Many thanks - your help is much appreciated.

jocularity,

Welcome to the Linux world! You will find that everyone -- with very few exceptions -- is eager to help.
If you get a chance, google Richard Stallman and his philosophy (he created GNU which includes all the apps used in Linux). It is really uplifting.

A Result!!
Followed the link you gave (http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/14912...b-flash-drive/) and installed Ubuntu with no problem. Now have Ubuntu and all relevant cookies retained on a USB.
On another USB I have Mint working the same way.
Couldn't have been easier. No need to even sniff at command line.
Just have to teach a recalcitrant laptop which of 4 USB ports to boot from. I'll figure that out for myself.

jocularity,

Congratulations on your success. Eventually you will learn how to use terminal (command line). There is really no reason to fear it -- and in most cases it is easier than using GUI.