Can I tell which linux live rescue disks automatically display all hard drives?
 

I'm trying various "create multiboot usb flash drive" programs with various "linux live rescue isos".

I've used knoppix and ubuntu and Kav Rescue Disk in the past, and they've worked great for me.

But as soon as I started trying various SLIM / LIGHTWEIGHT boot disks (for several reasons, many academic), I've had a hard time finding ones that (a) Open with a "desktop GUI", and (b) Show the various hard drives (/dev/sda1/) in "file manager" by default (without me having to type commands I don't understand).


(1) How can I tell if a linux live disc will automatically display all the hard drives? (Is there a name for this feature?)

(2) I've had the most success with PuppyLinux, but when I tried to overwrite some registry files with older copies from another folder, I couldn't do it by dragging, or by using Copy / Paste. I found a right-click command which allowed me to copy files (if I typed out the dest directory) -- but only one file at a time. Is this kind of thing a limitation of the "lighter" linux live cds?

(3) Am I using the right terms when I say "desktop GUI" and "linux live rescue disks"?


As for the isos that don't run (I get a lot of "Kernel Panic", "File Not Found" and "Stuck in 'automatic boot in X seconds' loops), I know just need to do research on which multiboot creators work with which linux isos.

Thanks everyone!

-- dgrrr

I imagine that your best strategy would be to read the documentation at the various distros' websites.

Welcome to LQ.

Ambitious! :) I stick to using one distro per OM disc or USB stick, even though all my PCs have multiboot HDs and/or SDDs.

Live media booting to GUI tends to limit permissions to that of ordinary users. At least, that's what Knoppix, which until very recently was the only "live" media I ever used (now I have a Puppy stick), does to me. You should give Midnight Commander a try. It's a "text mode" (OFM) app that behaves somewhat like GUI file managers, and runs both on the vttys and in GUI terminals. Bulk copy/move operations in it are simple. In long listing mode, permissions and ownerships are listed right along with names and timestamps.

Stick to one distro live cd/dvd & get to know it. You seem to be looking for automount, which will show other disks when inserted, but they have to be unmounted before removal, which most file managers will do for you.

Check out AntiX &/or MX Linux.

To alter some files, mostly system files, you have to be the administrator of the system, the root user, or else use sudo.
Programs do not start up with root permissions for good reason, as a lot of damage can be done by someone unfamiliar with Linux.

You just have to start the program with the root account or by using sudo

instead of programs, i'd try to find good tutorials.