I have now one bootable USB that I've created via copying the files into the formatted USB from a Linux distro and then running the Linux installer, how described in the guide. It worked.
I then tried to create a second USB from the first one, booting with Porteus live and using the Porteus installer. It didn't work. I then installed Porteus on the second USB (USB using the method I used for the first USB (USB A). It worked.
So then I had 2 USB in FAT32 with Porteus installed. I then tried to play a bit with Porteus on the USB B, making a .dat file to save the settings and programs, and SOMEHOW I managed to have a program installed and keep the changes. But this SOMEHOW is not satisfying for me since the installation was "dirty" and I get it while trying different things in different ways without really knowing what I was doing.
I decided to format the USB B to EXT4 so at least I don't have to mess around with the .dat file. I thought it was easier. After formatting the USB B with EXT4, I tried to install again Porteus. I tried ALL the different ways to install it, but now the laptop doesn't recognise anymore USB B as a bootable device. I really don't know why since it has the bootloader installed and also the EFI folder. And just now it was working fine.
So then I start playing with the USB A to try to understand how I can recreate what I achieve in the USB B, with a more "clean" approach. This time I wasn't even able to install the necessary libraries because of some USM error. So now I'm very demoralized since it seems clear that I'm not able to manage anything in Porteus.
It would be nice if some kind-hearted friend would help me with step-by-step instruction to get what I need to do. This will help me understand how it works since it is clear that I cannot get it from just reading the guides.
What I need to achieve is having Porteus installed on a USB with 1 specific program installed (that I have as a tar.gz file), with no internet connection, and that could save the settings and the files while using that one program.
- I need to install some qt dependencies, specifically: python-qt4.
- Install the program with the command: python setup.py install. (In the readme file of the program, they said it is possible to run the program without installing it, but I was able to run the program only after somehow installing it.)
- Disable the wifi card so Porteus will be airgapped.
- Be able to use Porteus on every computer (Windows or Linux), saving the changes made using by that specific program, but not keeping other changes (if possible) after the reboot eg. installing new programs other than the specific one.
If I could get this done with the help of someone it would be great. I really tried my best following the documentation provided and reading the topic in the forum, but due to my limited knowledge of this distro and Linux in general, I'm not able to get the result that I want by myself.
Thank you all in advance.