User Feedback :: Why do I still do regular HD installs of DSL?

Most of your issues can be resolved by using myDSL packages or backup/restore to add or replace files.

If you have a file you need replaced (other than a file which is run during the init process), include it in an auto-loaded .dsl package. If you want to keep the base system untouched, you may be able to put an edited copy of a file, such as /usr/bin/pon, in a writeable directory, and add that directory to your PATH variable (or root's PATH?) *before* /usr/bin.

Applications installed by other methods can be a bit tricky. If you install a program from source into /opt, in the manner that tar.gz and uci extensions are built, you can easily add that directory to your backup. However, if you are installing with apt-get or other package management system, the installed files are typically spread out through the system and much more difficult to track down. Additionally, most are installed into the base system, which means they won't successfully restore unless you first run mkwriteable. Fortunately, there is a script called deb2dsl which will build a .dsl extension from an installed debian package (i've never used it, but i hear good things). For applications installed into the base system from non-deb packages or from source, you're on your own. As far as I know you would need to manually build your own myDSL extensions. I suspect you could add these apps to your backup, but if the files need to go into the base system you'll first need to auto-load at least one .dsl extension to run mkwriteable. Personally I avoid that whole mess by using (in my main DSL setup) only applications installed or mounted into /opt, along with a persistent /opt.

I've done fri=ual installs but find that if I have to install non-DSL stuff it places files in directories other than /opt and /home. Since I have an old system with 128Mb of memory, this creates a real problem. maybe somehting like UnionFS would solce this for me, but I think it needs a 2.6 kernel.

An example of what I've needed was pureftpd.

I agree that if you don't use files other than from the DSL repository a frugal install is great.

I'm currectly trying (struggling with) a hd install cause I've got 1 500m ext3 partition stuck in the middle of 4 other linux distros & from what I've read you need multiple partitions for a frugal.

Or did I misunderstand the frugal install?

I think you misunderstood. For frugal you need only enough space to fit the knoppix and boot files. Ideally you'd want swap, and a place to save stuff, but it is not necessary.

I just reread the frugal instructions.

I have all my linux's/free space on hdb & they all use grub.

The instructions insist on hda & say lilo will be installed.

Is this set in stone? Or maybe the install script can be edited?

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