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Puppy boots up and runs fast in RAM memory, freeing any CD boot drive. Puppy has all the applications needed for daily use in only 39MB (Barebones) or 83MB (Puppy2.13). Puppy will boot from a minimum PC with 586 CPU and 32Meg RAM. Puppy will easily install to CD, DVD, USB, Zip or hard drive media.

Puppy minimizes USB keydrive writes to extend boot flash devices life indefinitely.

What is Puppy Linux?

Puppy Linux, started by Barry Kauler, is a small, mature, fully featured Linux operating system for your PC. Puppy works well on old, second systems and is a delight on modern computers. It boots from CD, flash card, hard disk, USB key-drive or a CD-RW, saving files on CD-R, DVD-R or USB keydrive. Puppy runs from ram memory with applications including web browser, word processor and chat program. Applications are very responsive on modern equipment and obsolete equipment becomes usable.

Isn't Windows or a big Linux better?

However new your hardware, in a few months it slows down in Windows. True?
Windows and most Linux are slow; big, complex and cumbersome
Puppy Linux is simple and easy. Fun
Puppy is faster loading from CD than MS Windows from hard disk
Puppy includes all needed free software
Puppy uses wizards and simplicity - everything is explained
Puppy comes with great free support, via our community forum, wiki, free video tutorials and audio broadcasts
People who try Puppy are amazed by his speed, ease of use and fun factor. Everyone Loves Puppy

How to get Puppy

You can get Puppy Linux here

http://puppylinux.org/wikka/DownloadLatest

Save the current release puppy-2.xx-seamonkey.iso (e.g. puppy-2.13-seamonkey.iso) on your hard drive. The file size is about 83MB.

To make sure that you downloaded a genuine original file correctly, you can compare the checksum of the ISO file with the associated file puppy-2.xx-seamonkey.iso.md5.txt (e.g. puppy-2.13-seamonkey.iso.md5.txt). Download this file as well.

Within Linux:

Open a shell/terminal and change into the directory, in which you stored the two files. Enter the following command:

md5sum puppy-2.13-seamonkey.iso

As a result you get the checksum. Open the file puppy-2.13-seamonkey.iso.md5.txt with a text program (e.g. Abiword). The two checksums should be identical.

Within Windows:

Download the DOS-Program md5sum.exe. To open a DOS-Box click on "Start | Execute". This opens an input window, into which you enter the following command:

cmd

Now you get a DOS-Box.

Change into the directory, in which you stored the two files, e.g. C:/Puppy. Enter these commands:

cd \

cd puppy

dir *.*

Now you should see the Puppy-files. Enter the command:

md5sum -c puppy-2.13-seamonkey.iso.md5.txt

You should get an "OK".

Subsequently you burn the ISO file (in our example puppy-2.13-seamonkey.iso) on CD. To burn an ISO file on CD, consult the manual of your CD burning software. Beginners sometimes copy the ISO file simply as a data-file on CD, which doesn't work. Usually the CD-burning software has a special menu option for burning an ISO file on CD. You can verify whether you burned the CD correctly by looking at the CD with the file manager (e.g. Windows Explorer). If you see files as "image.gz" or "vmlinuz.gz" everything is OK. If you see the file "puppy-2.13-seamonkey.iso" this is incorrect.

Tip:

Create a second, identical Puppy CD as a backup copy, in case the original CD becomes corrupted.

Differences between Puppy 1 and 2 series

Puppy 1 uses an earlier Linux kernel and may offer better support for some older hardware. You will find increased speed, more powerful applications, such as Inkscape and Gparted and the Universal Installer in Puppy 2. Puppy hardware recognition is now rivaling that of Knoppix and has surpassed XP for older equipment. Puppy 1.09CE was the last in the 1 series. It is still used.

Run from CD - the easiest way to try Puppy

You don't need a hard disk to run Puppy. No installation is required either. Have a major Linux or Windows on your hard disk and run Puppy from CD or USB keydrive.

How to run Puppy the very first time

First set up the boot sequence in the BIOS. If you do not know how to get into the BIOS-setup, consult the computers manual. Usually you press one of the following keys immediately after switching on the PC: ESC, one of the function keys F1 to F12 or the delete key. At the BIOS-setup you change the boot sequence so that the CD-ROM drive is first and the hard drive is second. Save the settings and close the BIOS setup. Insert the Puppy CD into the CD-ROM drive.

When the PC the reboots, the BIOS will boot from the CD. Now Puppy should start.

During the starting procedure you are requested to enter the keyboard map. Navigate with the cursor keys downward to the entry "us" (us stands for USA) or your locality. Then strike the return key. Thereafter a further window (Puppy video Wizard) appears. Use arrow keys, navigate with the arrow keys to the resolution and depth of colour (e.g. 1024x768x16 or 1280x1024x24) and press the space bar, so that an X is set for your required resolution. Then strike the return key. Make sure that the entry is marked as "supported".

After a test you the Puppy desktop appears for the first time. These settings will be saved on your HD, CD (requires burner) or not when you finish. The choice is yours.

Puppy is loaded completely into RAM. Your old operating system is untouched, you can safely use Puppy Linux. Now you can take the CD out of the CD drive if you wish.

If you terminate Puppy you are asked whether you want to store the settings (and your personal files) in a file named pup_save.3fs on a hard drive or CD-ROM. A window appears which offers you the choice between "SAVE-TO-FILE" and "SAVE_TO_CD_or_QUIT" (you can change between the two options with the tab-key). Select with the tab-key "SAVE_TO_CD_or_QUIT" and press the return-key. Now a further window appears and you can select "NO_SAVE" or "SAVE_TO_CD".

If you would like to store the settings (and your personal files) you are asked on which hard drive.

Save settings and personal files

So that Puppy can store all settings and your personal data, a file named pup_save.3fs is saved. A size of 512 MB for this file, is a good start. This is big enough for further programs and can be backed-up on CD-ROM (note: if you want to backup the file on a USB stick, it must have a storage capacity of 1 GB). Puppy can store the pup_save.3fs-file on a FAT32-file system only (note: USB sticks and external hard drives are usually formatted with a FAT32-file system, so that they can be used without problems). Windows XP users normally have a NTFS filesystem only. NTFS is now supported but may be slow.

Harddrives, partitions and filesystems

A hard drive can be divided in one or more partitions. If you create several partitions on a hard drive, each partition appears like a hard drive in the operating system. In other words, although you have only one hard drive in your PC, you will see several (virtual) hard-drives with Windows or Linux. Windows designates the hard drives (as well as the floppy disk drive and CD/DVD drive). In Windows they will be identified with letters. Usually 'A:' designates the floppy disk drive, C: the hard drive (first partition), D: the CD-ROM drive, E: the hard drive (second partition), F: the hard drive (third partition) and so on. Each partition has its own file system, Windows normally uses NTFS (Windows XP) or FAT32 (Win98, Win95).

With Linux the (first) hard drive is addressed as /dev/hda or /dev/sda. If your PC has a second hard drive, it is addressed as /dev/hdb or /dev/sdb. The partitions are sequentially numbered, starting with one. The partitions of your harddrive are addressed as /dev/hda1 (corresponds to the Windows C-partition), /dev/hda2 (corresponds to the Windows E-partition), /dev/hda3 and so on. Linux can work with different file systems such as ext2, ext3 or ReiserFS. These file systems are not readable by Windows. In addition Linux can work with Windows file systems too. Due to this option a FAT32 partition is ideal to exchange files between Windows and Linux.

How to create a FAT32-partition

First of all you have to plan your new hard drive partitions. I recommend you add to your existing Windows partition at least three further partitions. The following example assumes that you have only one hard drive (Windows-partition C). Your hard drive could be like this:

First partition: NTFS (Windows XP)

Second partition: FAT32 (to save your Puppy-file pup_save.3fs)

Third partition: FAT32 (to exchange files between Windows and Linux)

optional fourth partition: ext3 (Linux)

The first partition is your Windows partition with all its programs and data. The second and third partition have a FAT32 file system, which can be accessed by Windows and Linux. On the second partition (recommended size of approx. 1 GB) the pup_save.3fs-file will be stored, the third partition (recommended size of approx. 5 GB) will be used to exchange files between Windows and Puppy. To save many large files with Puppy Linux (e.g. music collection or picture collection) you should create a fourth partition with an ext3-filesystem. This file system can not be read by Windows and is intended for Linux only.

To create the partition you should do this:

First of all save your files on a CD-ROM, DVD or an external hard drive. Remember also to save your favorite Internet addresses and your email's. If you have encrypted files, it is advisable to decrypt them and save them too. This protects you from data loss while creating new partitions.

Now you have to make sure that on your Windows partition all files are stored at the beginning of the hard drive partition. In addition, run the Windows-program Defragger. You will find the program in the start-menu "Start | All Programs | Accessories | System | Defragger". Depending upon the size of the partition and the stored files, this procedure can last for a very long time (over one hour). If you have many files, you can accelerate the procedure if you first backup these files and then delete them.

Subsequently, when you start Puppy Linux from CD, start the program "Menu | Control Panel | Gparted partition manager". Make the NTFS partition smaller and create the new partitions.

In Puppy Linux you start a shell "Menu | Run | Rxvt terminal emulator" and then you enter the following commands, in order to create the second and third partitions with a FAT32 files system:

mkfs -t vfat /dev/hda2

mkfs -t vfat /dev/hda3

If you want to create a partition with ext3 file system for Puppy Linux, then enter the following command:

mkfs -t ext3 /dev/hda4

Close the shell and remove the Puppy CD out of the CD-ROM drive. Then shut down Puppy Linux without saving.

Next time you start Puppy Linux, you can choose the partition /dev/hda2 to store the pup_save.3fs-file.

How to install Puppy

If you don't want to start from CD-ROM each time, you can install Puppy on a hard drive. There are four alternatives:

Install Puppy on a hard drive
Install Puppy on a USB-stick
CD-ROM-image on a hard drive
Install Puppy on a multi-session CD/DVD

How to save a Puppy-image on a hard drive and how to boot the image in RAM

This is a fine option for starting Puppy. It combines the advantages of booting from CD-ROM (protection from harming programs) and hard drive (speed). If you want to use this option you have to install a boot-manager (e.g. GRUB) first.

After GRUB is installed, start Windows and insert the Puppy CD into the CD-ROM drive. Copy the file PUP_210.SFS to a partition with FAT32 filesystem (in our example this is the second partition, which probably has the letter E under Windows). If you had already stored the file pup_save.3fs from an earlier use of Puppy and if you would like to use it further, cut and paste this file to the same folder as the file PUP_210.SFS. Subsequently, you create a directory named "boot". Then you copy from the Puppy CD two files named INITRD.GZ and VMLINUZ to this directory.

The partition should have the following content now:

E:\ PUP_210.SFS

E:\ pup_save.3fs (optional)

E:\boot\ INITRD.GZ

E:\boot\ VMLINUZ

Now you still have to configure the boot-manager GRUB. Terminate Windows and start Puppy Linux from CD-ROM with the boot-option "puppy pfix=ram".

* Open a shell "Menu | Run | Rxvt terminal emulator" and enter the following comand

mount /dev/hda2 /mnt/hda2

The command assumes that GRUB is installed to the partition /dev/hda2.

* Run the program "Menu | Word Processing | Geany text editor"

* Open the file /mnt/hda2/boot/grub/menu with the text editor.

* In the menu.lst-file change the selection of the operating system (the line begins with the command default):

default 1

* Add these lines at the end of the menu.lst-file:

title = Puppy

rootnoverify (hd0,1)

kernel /boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/ram0 loglevel=3 PMEDIA=idehd

initrd /boot/initrd.gz

Save the menu.lst-file.
Close the text editor.
Close the FAT32-partition with the command

umount /dev/hda2

Take the Puppy CD out of the CD-ROM drive.
Shut down Puppy without saving.
Boot the PC. Now Puppy should start without a CD inserted in the CD-ROM drive.

To boot from CD

It is likely that your computers boot (start up) order is:

1. floppy

2. CD

3. Hard disk

Just pop in the CD and reboot

Boot Options

When Puppy boots it offers you some boot-options. If you do not enter anything, Puppy is loaded into RAM. When starting, Puppy automatically looks for a previously stored pup_save.3fs-file. If this file doesn't exist yet, you are asked abot a preferred keyboard and screen resolution

With the boot-option

puppy pfix=ram

you have the option to start Puppy into RAM without your pre-saved-settings and without your personal files even if a pup_save.3fs-file already exists.

Booting

If Boot up fails

Press Enter - sometimes the CD has not started spinning yet
Do a soft reboot (Ctrl + Alt + Delete) Sometimes part of the memory is not cleared
Turn off and wait 30 sec - time needed to ensure memory is cleared in some older RAM

ottom of rtinux/distrpuppyli

Turning an ISO image into a self booting Linux Operating System with MS Windows:
Use Burncdcc

About 350k

Here are flash videos explaining the process:

http://rhinoweb.us

Download the most current Puppy Linux iso file
Install BurnCDCC
Burn the iso image using BurnCDCC
Insert your new Puppy disk into to CD Drive and reboot the computer.

When burning use the slowest burn speed in burncdcc to ensure correct burning.

Running Puppy
When you have a bootable CD:

Restart your computer with Puppy CD in your CD-ROM drive (If it does not attempt to boot from the CD, see the entering CMOS page). At the boot screen, either wait five seconds for normal boot. Press 'Enter' to bypass the 5 second delay.

The Menu

Pressing 'Enter' will select the first option and speed up boot time

(see the isolinux.cfg in the CD image for each version's options):

Just wait 5 seconds for normal startup!

The Initial Boot up

Upon the first boot of Puppy (or if you didn't save your settings), you are asked some questions:

At the Select the keyboard dialog, use arrow keys to scroll down to 'uk' (or whatever keyboard layout you wish) and press Enter.

How to boot from CD

Newer computers are able to support booting from CD. Some computers look for the Operating System on the hard disk first. Change the computer to use the CD-ROM before the hard drive.

Puppy is a Linux "Live CD" so you simply put the CD into your drive and reboot. There are two ways to do this; one, buy a copy and two burn your own.

If you decide to buy a copy remember Puppy is free you are just buying the CD (the plastic round thing) and shipping not Puppy Linux. Here is the web address to find out the details http://pupweb.org/puppy/download/downpage.htm#Purchase

If you decide to burn your own you must obtain the ISO image. This is a file that contains all the information on the CD. It is available here http://pupweb.org/puppy/download/downpage.htm You need the file that is named puppy-2.???????.iso ( where the ??? will change with version ). To burn the file to a CD you must have a burning program that can handle ISO images.

Windows 2000/XP - HT Fireman ("free") or Nero (not free)
Puppy Linux 1.x.x - Graveman
Other Linux - Kd3, Graveman or others

The important thing is that you use the ISO burning feature and don't burn the ISO file itself to the CD. So for example you could find it in the menu or select copy then for the input device select ISO file.

Booting

In order to boot there are a few things that have to be set up correctly. Most computers should be OK to just put the CD in and restart.

There are a few simple things that can go wrong and this may not be a complete list. So before doing anything drastic like changing BIOS settings try this;

Turn your computer completely off for about 10 seconds then back on.
If you have more than one CD drive try all of them.
Re-burn the CD

The next thing to try would be to tell your BIOS that you would like to boot from a CD. Your system will be different from my system but this is the basic idea. Turn your computer off then back on. When your computer first turns on press the "Del", "F1", "Esc" or some other key to enter the BIOS setup. Your system could even tell you what key to press on the screen.

When you are in your BIOS setup program find the section that says boot order or boot device priority or something like that. Change this setting to boot from the CD drive first. This is OK because if there is no CD it just goes to the next device. A good way to set this up is for your CD to boot first then the floppy drive then the hard drive.

If your computer is really old or there is some problem then last thing to do would be to make a wake floppy (Setup / wakepup).

When the CD boots the first thing that you see is the Puppy boot menu. For now just hit Enter. This will start Puppy with the default boot settings.

The next screen you will see is the key map selection. Select your keymap ("us" for me) and press enter. Last you must select Xvesa or Xorg. If you don't know the difference select Xvesa. The last thing you will have to set is the resolution. It just select the one that best suites you.

Changing CD boot settings:

Many laptops allow you to boot from the CD once (only for this time) by pressing a special key (usually esc, del or F1, F2, F3, F11, F2 or F10) during the memory checks (very soon after the computer's power on).

The second method is to setup your box to permanently look for a boot CD at first, and try to boot from the hard disk only if no CD is found. Again, you have to press a key during the startup, which will allow you to enter CMOS/BIOS SETUP - it should say during the boot up sequence.

Then the (usually the second set of options) will include a set of boot possibilities. Change to CD/ DVD or USB Boot (if available) then save (usually F10) and exit the setup function

You may need to do a cold-reset or even turn your computer off, to use the new settings. You should boot from the new option which you can change back to HD later

If Booting requires BIOS changes:

You may need to change the boot order in your BIOS. In the BIOS look for 'Advanced setting', 'Boot order' or 'Boot options'. Set CDROM as a first device and hard disk as a second one.

Here is how you change those settings:

During a hard boot (when the computer is first turned on or when the reset button has been pressed) try these - getting the right time can be tricky. Press the combination or key about every 2 seconds to ensure entering the CMOS/BIOS

Entering CMOS For Different Motherboards

Press Tab during boot = Emachine

Press DEL during boot = AMI, Award

Press Esc during boot = Toshiba

Press F1 during boot = Toshiba

Device setup

Most things in you system should work without any configuration, for example, your mouse. The devices in this section need extra information or drivers in order to work. First try running the wizards yourself located at Menu -> Setup -> Wizards. If you need help see the sections below.

Dialup Modems

Start off clicking on the connect icon on the desktop. If you have an external modem serial modem it should have been auto-detected by Puppy. In that case just take the GKdial option. If not you will have to use the modem wizard.

If the modem wizard does not work you most likely have a winmodem. Puppy does support some types of these modems and there are Linux drivers for others. The best way to get help about modems that do not work with the wizard is the forum at www.puppylinux.org, just click on the forum link at the top . If your modem does not work consider picking up an external serial modem, they are cheep and work great with linux.

In any case when you get a modem set up all you have to do it open GKdial ( Menu -> Network -> GKdial ) and use the add button.

Next, enter the information from your ISP.

Now click Add and then click Connect on the main screen.

Ethernet / Network (Cable Modems and DSP)

In Puppy Ethernet networks are easy to set up. Just run the wizard ( Menu -> Setup -> Wizards -> Ethernet / Network ) or click connect on the desktop and select it from there. In the wizard you will be asked to select the interface that you would like to use select one ( if it is not correct you can go back and select the others ). For almost all networks you can just select the auto DHCP option. If not your system administrator or ISP will give you some numbers to type into the manual configuration. In that case select manual configuration and type the numbers in.

Ethernet / Network (No DHCP)

copy form set up network on PLDP

Wireless Phoenix; Late model PS/1 Value Point and 330s

Press F2 during boot = NEC

Press F10 when square in top RH corner of screen = Compaq

Press Ins during boot = IBM PS/2 with reference partition

Shift Ctrl Alt + Num Pad del = Olivetti PC Pro

Ctrl Alt ? = some PS/2s, eg. 75 and 90

Ctrl-Esc = Misc computers

Ctrl Ins = some PS/2s when pointer at top right of screen

Press reset twice = some Dells

Ctrl Alt Enter = Dell

Ctrl Alt Esc = AST Advantage, Award, Tandon

Ctrl Alt + = Misc computers

Ctrl Alt S = Phoenix

Ctrl Alt Ins = Zenith, Phoenix

Ctrl S = Phoenix

Ctrl Shift Esc = Tandon 386

The Xorg and Xvesa wizards

Choose Xorg first as it is easier to configure and more developed. Follow the instructions, selecting your preferred graphic card and monitor resolution.

Tips:

Speed up booting from live-cd

Copy pup_213.sfs from the cd to /initrd/mnt/dev_save/

Beautify Puppy

put images for background in /usr/share/backgrounds/

Right click on an icon

Rox filer / options / pinboard

foreground white

background black

Notes:

You don't need a hard disk to run Puppy. No installation is required either.

Saving settings now occurs during or after using Puppy Linux

Enter or waiting 5 seconds = Normal boot configuration and data saved on first hard drive found

Settings are saved in one file

Puppy will ask where and if a personal storage (pup001 in Puppy 1 series - usually pup_save.3fs now) should be created during the first shutdown .

The location will be expected as a standard Linux drive name. Follow the on screen instructions, i.e. type the location (e.g. hda1) and press 'Enter' '. You can choose not to save your settings etc. (thus hard disk not required), nothing will be saved and you'll be asked your settings (keyboard / mouse / video) each time Puppy boots.

Your personal storage file is a compressed file system within a file on your hard drive, or a USB flash drive. It won't make any changes to other files or the boot configuration.

With Multi-session all settings will be saved (burned) as a track to the CD/DVD. Nothing would be saved to a hard drive, so again, a hard drive is not needed. Burning is done automatically on shutdown.

Not enough RAM / NTFS solutions:

You may encounter errors if you don't have enough RAM. 128 MB of RAM is required to fully load all of Puppy Linux into the ramdisk. 256 MB of RAM is required to load the OpenOffice.org suite or other large programs quickly. Puppy will run well with as little as 48MB RAM and no swap file; with 48-96MB of RAM programs are loaded from the CD when needed. A Linux swap partition or swap file can be used to help overcome this problem on systems with less than the minimum requirements.

How to setup an Internet connection

Start the program "Menu | Network | Roaring Penguin PPPoE ADSL". The program has four registermaps, which will be described below.

Registermap Basic

Table of Contents

What is Puppy Linux?

Isn't Windows or a big Linux better?

How to get Puppy

Run from CD - the easiest way to try Puppy

How to run Puppy the very first time

Save settings and personal files

Harddrives, partitions and filesystems

How to create a FAT32-partition

How to install Puppy

To boot from CD

Boot Options

Running PuppyWhen you have a bootable CD:

The Initial Boot up

Booting

Changing CD boot settings:

If Booting requires BIOS changes:

Entering CMOS For Different Motherboards

Device setup

Dialup Modems

Ethernet / Network (Cable Modems and DSP)

Ethernet / Network (No DHCP)

The Xorg and Xvesa wizards

Not enough RAM / NTFS solutions:

Running Puppy
When you have a bootable CD: