How to Create a Puppy Linux Live USB ▷ Make Bootable

Create a Puppy Linux Live USB from Windows, Linux, or MacOS. In the following section I show you ways to install, boot and then run a Live Puppy Linux from a bootable USB flash drive using the Universal USB Installer (UUI) from within Windows or dd from within Linux or MacOS. Although cram packed with popular features, this Live Linux distribution aims to remain lightweight and small, allowing it to run very well on older computer hardware.

Puppy Linux Live Running from USB

Puppy Linux is a popular lightweight, open source distribution that was designed to be fast, efficient, and easy to use. It was originally created by Barry Kauler in 2003 and has since gained a dedicated user base spawning many different spinoffs due to its unique characteristics and versatility. Key features of this Live Linux distribution include:

Is a Lightweight Linux Distro: Known for its small footprint and low system resource requirements. It can be run on older hardware with limited RAM and storage space, making it an excellent choice for reviving older computers or running on systems with minimal resources.
It's a Live Linux Distribution: Puppy Linux is distributed as a bootable ISO image. This means you can boot your computer directly from the ISO without needing to install it on your hard drive. This feature makes it handy for using Linux while on the go.
Persistence Feature: Some versions support persistence, allowing you to save some of your settings, files, and configurations while running from USB.
User Friendly GUI - GDE: This Live distribution aims to be user friendly and accessible to users of all skill levels. Most builds use an intuitive and easy to learn graphical desktop environment such as JWM or IceWM.
Simple Package Management: It uses its own package management system called "PET packages" or "Puppy Package Manager." While it has its package format, it is also cross compatible with Debian (.deb) and Slackware (.tgz) packages, increasing its software availability.
Build your Own Puppy: The distribution is also is highly customizable. You can create your own Puppy variants, known as "Puppy builds" or "Puppy derivatives," tailored to your specific needs. This makes it a popular choice for embedded systems and specialized use cases.
Puplets: Puppy Linux comes in various "puplets" or customized versions tailored for different purposes, such as Puppy Arcade for gaming, Puppy Slacko based on Slackware, and many more. These puplets often come with specific software and configurations to suit their intended use cases.

Overall, booting from a Puppy Linux USB is great for users who want a lightweight, portable, and customizable Linux distribution that will run on older hardware.

Puppy Linux Detailed Specifications

Distribution Home Page: Puppy Linux Project
Developer: Barry Kauler
Original Release Date: First released in 2003
Is a Main Distribution: Yes (there are many spinoffs and remixes based on it)
Persistent Feature: Yes

Basic Essentials to create a USB Puppy

Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, X, MacOS, or Linux
*puppy*.iso file
USB flash drive (use a fast SSD thumb drive to achieve the best performance).
Universal USB Installer (USB Boot Maker) or dd.exe or using the dd command from Linux or MacOS.

Create a Puppy Linux Live USB using UUI

Download and run the Universal USB Boot Maker.
(1) Select your USB drive from the drop list.
(2) Next, choose "Puppy Linux" for the distribution.
(3) Browse to your *pup* ISO and then click Create.

Make a Puppy Linux Bootable USB using DD

You can use the following steps to create a USB bootable Puppy drive using dd on Windows:

Note: Exercise caution when using dd as it will destroy all data on the select drive. Double check to ensure you are writing to the correct USB drive, before running the dd command.

First, download a Puppy ISO file from the official website. Make sure you download the correct version (32-bit or 64-bit) for your system.
Plug in or insert a USB drive into your computer. Make sure it's large enough to hold the ISO.
Next, we will use diskpart to identify the device name assigned to your USB drive in Windows, open a Command Prompt with administrative privileges (right click and select "Run as administrator") and then type the following:
```
diskpart
```
Then, to list all disks attached to the system:
```
list disk
```
Identify the number corresponding to your USB drive. It's also a good idea to confirm using at least one other method such as file explorer or the disk management tool (diskmgmt.msc) that the drive is correct, before proceeding.
Before using dd, we will use the diskpart utility to clean and unmount it:
Replacing X with the number corresponding to your USB drive, type the following:
```
select disk X
```
Then type the following command to clean and unmount the drive:
```
clean
```
Download dd for Windows and start the program.
Write your Puppy ISO to a USB drive using dd by typing:
```
dd.exe if=path\to\*pup*.iso of=\\.\PhysicalDriveX bs=4M
```
Here is a breakdown of how dd works in this case:
if=path\to\*pup*.iso: This is the path to the ISO file on your computer. Edit the path and *filename* to fit your scenario.
of=\\.\PhysicalDriveX: Replace X with the number of your USB drive, as determined in step 3.
bs=4M: This sets the block size to 4 MB. You can adjust this value higher to speed things up, if needed.
Once the process is complete, safely eject the USB drive from your Windows computer.

Making a Puppy Linux USB from Linux

To manually create a bootable Puppy Linux USB from Linux (Ubuntu was used here), use these steps:

Download Puppy ISO and move it to your Desktop.
Insert a USB drive into your PC.
Open a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T)
To find your USB device, type the following and press enter.
```
sudo fdisk -l
```
Make note of which device belongs to your USB drive. For example /dev/sdX.
Type the following command to change your current directory to Desktop.
```
cd Desktop
```
Type the following command replacing X with your actual USB device letter from step 4.
Note: The dd command is powerful and will overwrite your data. Double check drive path before running the command.
```
sudo dd if=*pup*.iso of=/dev/sdX status=progress
```
Reboot your PC and set your UEFI/BIOS or Boot Menu to boot from your USB drive and proceed to boot.

Create a Puppy Linux Live USB from macOS

For macOS users, the steps are slightly different. Here's how to create a bootable Puppy Linux USB using Terminal commands:

Download the desired Puppy ISO file.
Insert a USB drive into your Mac. Ensure it has sufficient space for the ISO file and back up any data, as this process will erase the USB drive.
Open the Terminal application (Command + Space, then type Terminal and press Enter).
Locate your USB drive using the following command:
```
diskutil list
```
Identify your USB drive (e.g., /dev/disk2) from the list. Verify its size and partitioning to ensure accuracy.
Unmount the USB drive before proceeding:
```
diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX
```
Replace X with the actual disk number of your USB drive.
Use the dd command to write the Puppy Linux ISO to the USB drive:
Note: This will overwrite your data. Double check USB drive path before executing the dd command.
```
sudo dd if=/path/to/*pup*.iso of=/dev/diskX bs=4m
```
Here is what each parameter means:
- if=: Input file. Replace /path/to/*pup*.iso with the full path to your ISO file.
- of=: Output file. Replace /dev/diskX with your USB drive identifier.
- bs=4m: Block size. Adjustable for faster writing speeds, though 4m is standard.
You may be prompted to enter your macOS password.
Wait for the process to complete. This may take a few minutes. Once done, eject the USB drive using:
```
diskutil eject /dev/diskX
```
Reboot your Mac and hold the Option (⌥) key during startup to access the boot menu. Select your USB drive to boot into Puppy Linux.

Booting from USB Puppy Linux

During startup, at the system POST (Power On Self Test) screen, use your motherboard hotkey to get into BIOS.
Next, use the up/down arrow keys to set the first boot device to your USB drive.
Save your changes (F10), and allow the system to reboot from the flash drive.

If all went well, you should be booting from your UUI created Puppy Linux bootable USB with a menu option to boot your Puppy Linux USB. Depending on the version, you might be prompted to create a persistent file for saving your session data on shutdown. Just be sure to choose your flash drive when prompted.

Note: You should also now be able to use your Puppy Linux Live USB to install the portable operating system to a local hard drive, if you want.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can create a bootable Puppy Linux Live USB on Windows, Linux, or macOS. Whether you're reviving old hardware or exploring Linux on the go, Puppy Linux offers a flexible and lightweight solution.