[SOLVED] no hard disk on my Windows 8.1 computer .....

ndendrinos · 03-03-2019, 04:36 PM

so I have created a Linux booting CD and I can work on my computer once more ... amazing ... my first question on this forum is this: if I want to download a piece of software (i.e. an antivirus could I save it on the CD since I do not have a hard drive anymore? and if possible will this interfere with me booting the computer? ... Many thanks for your help

wpeckham · 03-03-2019, 04:44 PM

Generally a CD is read-only. If you want anything to persist, you need a place to store it. Without a hard drive, USB storage might serve. Some of the live distributions such as Puppy (ant that entire litter) automate this slightly if the storage is present. Others do not.

If you are running from a CD or DVD (Read only media) what exactly would an antivirus application protect?

ndendrinos · 03-03-2019, 04:50 PM

thank you for your reply wpeckham .... if I understand you correctly there is no need for an antivirus in this case .... If I were to download a game then I would download it to a USB and run it from there ... will work on this and post back ... thank you again.

timl · 03-03-2019, 05:11 PM

Hi, I would be tempted to run the whole show from USB rather than CD. You can install programs to the USB containing the OS rather than onto another device. You could always store personal stuff on another USB stick.

Note, I have never tried this myself

Another idea is to buy a small hard drive for the computer?

ndendrinos · 03-03-2019, 06:21 PM

thanks Tim ... tried booting the computer from a USB ,,, that would be great but not sure how to do this ... changed the booting of the computer to "API" and it worked for the CD ... will burn the ISO file to a USB stick and try ,,,thank toy for an ANZ bank employee now living in Canada

ndendrinos · 03-03-2019, 08:45 PM

latest ... I can boot my computer with a USB now .... appreciate the help I have received and maybe come back for more in the near future .... until then a big thanks to all

hydrurga · 03-04-2019, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndendrinos

latest ... I can boot my computer with a USB now .... appreciate the help I have received and maybe come back for more in the near future .... until then a big thanks to all

That's great to hear. Note that if you want any changes you make to the operating system and its files to be retained then you will need to create a USB boot stick with "persistence" (if you search the web for <insert your distro here> USB persistence you will find tutorials on how to do so).

Note also that at any point if you decide that this particular thread is solved then you can mark it so (see "Thread Tools" at the top of the thread).

ndendrinos · 03-04-2019, 07:14 AM

I am using Ubuntu with persistence but maybe not for when I turn off the computer and reboot all my shortcuts disappear and I have to start all over again ... I will have to work on this new found way to revive a dead computer a bit more I guess .... good I have a laptop too. The thread is now solved and thank you Hydrurga