Separate Storage Partition on LiveUSB memory stick?

[Member DaveW]

I run Antix 17 (32 bit). I keep an updated LiveUSB stick for system backup. The stick has much more space than needed. So, I tell LiveUSB Maker to use 50% of space. The last 40% of space, contains a Storage partition, which is accessible even when not running from LiveUSB.

However, the Storage partition disappears after making an updated LiveUSB. Gparted shows the last 50% of the drive as unallocated.

Usually, I make a new storage partition and load it with files copied from elsewhere. On one occasion, as I started to make the new storage partition, Gparted found and repaired the original one. But that experience has not been repeated.

Is there a reliable way to make a LiveUSB while preserving separate partition(s) on the same USB drive?

Thanks!

[Moderator christophe]

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If I understand your situation, you are making an ISO Snapshot of your main antiX system, then making a Live USB from that image, with a data partition on usb.

I just made a Live USB like you outlined, to see if I could get it to work:
1. the first time, I made the live usb, clicking on advanced options, and ticking the “Make separate data partition,” as I see you did.
2. once the live usb was made, I copied a file over to the “USB DATA” partition.
3. Then I reran live usb maker. I “pretended” that I was re-making the live usb with a new ISO Snapshot (but it was the same image).
THIS TIME, under advanced options, tick the box for “Update (only update an existing live usb” (and although I don’t know if this was necessary or not, I also checked the box for “Save the original boot directory when updating a live usb”). ONLY CHECK THOSE 2 OPTIONS. DON’T check “Make separate data partition” as you did the very first time. During operations, I saw that it took the image and copied the main files needed.
4. When Live usb maker finished, I checked — the “USB DATA” partition was still there, as well as the file I copied. Success!

I hope this answers your question. It’s kinda late here as I write this. I hope it’s coherent & applicable… 🙂

• This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by christophe. Reason: clarification

confirmed antiX frugaler, since 2019

[Member DaveW]

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Christophe, Thank you for taking the time to test and explain the process.

From the steps you gave, it looks like I failed to tick the “Update (only update an existing live USB)” box.

On the “Advanced Options”, I don’t see an option for making a separate data partition. Perhaps this is an older version of Live-USB-Maker (v.0.1.10). Therefore, following making the live USB, I created the data partition with Gparted.

I’ll give it a try, with “Update (only update an existing live USB)”.

Thank you!

[Moderator christophe]

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Right. I used antiX 19 for my tests, but after reading your latest post I check antiX 17. And, yes, it’s an older version on 17. But I’m thinking there’s a good shot that the “update only” option will get you where you want to be, once you have the other partition already set up. Post back to let us know how it goes.

confirmed antiX frugaler, since 2019

[Member DaveW]

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Christophe,
I tried it. The “Update (only update an existing live USB)” option does preserve the separate data file.
Due to my confusion about its purpose, I had never tried that option before.

So, you answered my question very well.
Thank you!

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