Wine & Flash Drives
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There are no such things as "stupid" questions. However if you think your question is a bit stupid, then this is the right place for you to post it. Stick to easy to-the-point questions that you feel people can answer fast. For long and complicated questions use the other forums in the support section.
Before you post read how to get help. Topics in this forum are automatically closed 6 months after creation.
Wine & Flash Drives
Hi & Happy New Year
I have just installed my "first" Linux (Mint 8 Main) on my old PC and am starting to learn and find my way around it before installing a Linux OS on my Netbook too. A small problem I have just hit upon is in using my SanCruzer flash drive which I carry around with me on my travels using the netbook. It currently is U3 based but I am willing to switch to Portable Apps. It just wont load/read and on visiting the Portable Apps site I found an app called Wine but on the list of useable distros Mint wasn't included.
So, my question: can anyone please advise me on using a flash drive with launcher software such as Portable Apps?
Many thanks
I have just installed my "first" Linux (Mint 8 Main) on my old PC and am starting to learn and find my way around it before installing a Linux OS on my Netbook too. A small problem I have just hit upon is in using my SanCruzer flash drive which I carry around with me on my travels using the netbook. It currently is U3 based but I am willing to switch to Portable Apps. It just wont load/read and on visiting the Portable Apps site I found an app called Wine but on the list of useable distros Mint wasn't included.
So, my question: can anyone please advise me on using a flash drive with launcher software such as Portable Apps?
Many thanks
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Re: Wine & Flash Drives
I'm prepared to admit I'm stupid but I'm confused as to what the necessity of portable apps is at all; mint provides OpenOffice firefox, pidgin etc. etc. out of the box.
I suppose I'm wondering what the stick is actually for?
I suppose I'm wondering what the stick is actually for?
Re: Wine & Flash Drives
The reason for the flash drive with portable apps is twofold:
1. It carries data with me I need when I'm away from my main PC which is not stored on my netbook
2. it carries apps which I also need when I don't have the netbook and want to work off someone elses computer inside my "own environment"
1. It carries data with me I need when I'm away from my main PC which is not stored on my netbook
2. it carries apps which I also need when I don't have the netbook and want to work off someone elses computer inside my "own environment"
Re: Wine & Flash Drives
bleh I never had much luck / faith in U3. When I worked IT I generally told people that U3 isn't worth the hassle and pointed them to the open source alternatives to whatever it was they were trying to accomplish. So I've done more uninstalling of U3 then using it. Anyhow, while you might be able to get wine to run the uninstaller for U3... I would err on the side of caution and uninstall it from inside a windows VM if you can. Just download virtualbox and load a copy of windows if you have a spare license now that you've gone linux. Or wait it sounds like your netbook is still windows based. Just backup your data from the usb stick on that machine and uninstall U3. You'll lose the U3 features but if you're fine with what portable apps does then no worries. I don't think U3 is going to work in Linux even with Wine... or at least not great. It's up to you. Oh and Wine is certainly available to Mint. It's a package that is attempting to rebuild all the windows API's as a native linux program. Compatibility is hit or miss and it takes some finessing at times.
** Just one last word of warning I know in early implementations of U3 some sticks actually bricked during the uninstall process. ** I've personally never seen it happen but that's what peeps online claimed. Having said that here's a link to the uninstaller if you decide to go that route - http://www.u3.com/support/default.aspx#CQ3
From the U3 website -
** Just one last word of warning I know in early implementations of U3 some sticks actually bricked during the uninstall process. ** I've personally never seen it happen but that's what peeps online claimed. Having said that here's a link to the uninstaller if you decide to go that route - http://www.u3.com/support/default.aspx#CQ3
From the U3 website -
I'd say your experience says otherwise on that last part. But then again even if it did the drive would be filled to the brim with the container file U3 uses.4. Does U3 support Vista? Windows 98? Mac?
The U3 Launchpad supports the following operating systems:
* Windows Vista (you need to have U3 Launchpad version 1.4 or higher. If you do not have version 1.4 of the U3 Launchpad click here to learn how to check for updates to the U3 Launchpad.
* Windows XP, all service packs
* Windows 2000, SP4
Mac OS, Linux, Unix and the older versions of Windows OS are not supported. On these systems your U3 smart drive will function as a regular USB flash drive
Re: Wine & Flash Drives
Assuming the computer is running Windows! On a linux machine, wine would need to be installed and there's no guarantee your apps would run.themountaineer wrote:it carries apps which I also need when I don't have the netbook and want to work off someone elses computer inside my "own environment"
[Edit] your original post and add [SOLVED] once your question is resolved.
“The people are my God” stressing the factor determining man’s destiny lies within man not in anything outside man, and thereby defining man as the dominator and remoulder of the world.
“The people are my God” stressing the factor determining man’s destiny lies within man not in anything outside man, and thereby defining man as the dominator and remoulder of the world.
Re: Wine & Flash Drives
I must lead a very complex life! For 2-3 months each year I'm in Kathmandu, Nepal. I take my Netbook with me, currently running on XP. No data on it. But ..... I do need data out there with me and ...... Kathmandu is malware city! So, I have used a flash drive, U3 for data and apps so I can work on other people's computers (running on Windows) as I sometimes have to.
So, I'm trying to work with Linux Mint on a PC at the moment before considering which distro to put on my netbook ...... which must also access the flash drive for convenience. Of course, I could stick with Windows XP on the netbook ..... but I'm trying hard to work out how to go the whole hog, so to speak!
So, I'm trying to work with Linux Mint on a PC at the moment before considering which distro to put on my netbook ...... which must also access the flash drive for convenience. Of course, I could stick with Windows XP on the netbook ..... but I'm trying hard to work out how to go the whole hog, so to speak!
Re: Wine & Flash Drives
Not true completely true. You could load a qemu vm on the stick if you had room and then actually carry a full linux distro with you that you could use on just about any machine without even a reboot.mikeyb wrote:Assuming the computer is running Windows! On a linux machine, wine would need to be installed and there's no guarantee your apps would run.themountaineer wrote:it carries apps which I also need when I don't have the netbook and want to work off someone elses computer inside my "own environment"
Not to mention having actual data on a laptop when traveling overseas can be a recipe for disaster if they insist on inspecting it. The most harmless thing makes these people jumpy sometimes. I'm hesitant to even travel with a laptop anymore.I must lead a very complex life! For 2-3 months each year I'm in Kathmandu, Nepal. I take my Netbook with me, currently running on XP. No data on it. But ..... I do need data out there with me and ...... Kathmandu is malware city! So, I have used a flash drive, U3 for data and apps so I can work on other people's computers (running on Windows) as I sometimes have to.
My idea of having a virtual machine on your memory stick would probably be ideal if you had the space, but sadly I've never done it myself so I couldn't point you to a howto or walk you thru it. I could probably figure it out but without first hand experience I wouldn't want to give you bad info. That said removing U3 would allow you to at least access the data on your USB stick while using portable apps for those windows machines you were using. And remember there's nothing stopping you from using native linux apps to access the data on that drive once you mount it. The only thing that might be tricky is say mail, but I'm sure there are addons or utils you could use to sync things. Without knowing exactly what apps you want to use I couldn't say for sure.
Re: Wine & Flash Drives
lol I forgot I've had this convo before (http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=90&t=38806). Ok here are two options from the same site -
Run mint 8 off USB (requires rebooting the machine and possibly changing a bios setting to load off the USB drive) -
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/install-li ... n-windows/
Run Ubuntu 6 off USB in qemu (requires no rebooting) -
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/portable-q ... ntu-linux/
I don't think there's technically any reason why you couldn't run mint in qemu (and thus skip the reboot and bios changes) but I didn't see an article for it specifically. I'll read up when I get a chance.
At any rate both of these solutions would give you access to linux anywhere you go.
Run mint 8 off USB (requires rebooting the machine and possibly changing a bios setting to load off the USB drive) -
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/install-li ... n-windows/
Run Ubuntu 6 off USB in qemu (requires no rebooting) -
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/portable-q ... ntu-linux/
I don't think there's technically any reason why you couldn't run mint in qemu (and thus skip the reboot and bios changes) but I didn't see an article for it specifically. I'll read up when I get a chance.
At any rate both of these solutions would give you access to linux anywhere you go.
Re: Wine & Flash Drives
Locuust, mail isn't usually a problem for me as I never use an email client on my machine. I use 100% gmail so can always access it, provided I have internet access.
You have got me thinking though about different ways to solve this problem, I'm going to lie down in a dark room for a while and think about the two interconnected problems:
1. How to carry data with me on a stick so I can access it on a Windows or a Linux machine
2. How to carry apps with me alongside the data so I can use them on someones machine other than my own
The main apps I use abroad are Firefox, Open office, Skype, an image editor (any will do) and so far have used Keepass for passwords etc and DriveSentry to add a little extra security to the drive.
Any thoughts?
You have got me thinking though about different ways to solve this problem, I'm going to lie down in a dark room for a while and think about the two interconnected problems:
1. How to carry data with me on a stick so I can access it on a Windows or a Linux machine
2. How to carry apps with me alongside the data so I can use them on someones machine other than my own
The main apps I use abroad are Firefox, Open office, Skype, an image editor (any will do) and so far have used Keepass for passwords etc and DriveSentry to add a little extra security to the drive.
Any thoughts?
Re: Wine & Flash Drives
Well no email simplifies it. It shouldn't be a problem to use a drive encrypting program even if you did go with the portable linux solution (though it might be a touch slower all you can do it try it and see).
I guess it boils down to the question of the need to run those portable apps on linux as well?
If the answer is no. Then uninstall U3 from the drive and load the portable apps you need to run on other peoples windows machines. The Pro is that you'll be up and running faster and won't need to change any settings on the PC your using. This option would have no real impact on the host machine. The Con is that you're more at risk of malware as you'll be running things in windows itself.
If the answer is yes. Then uninstall U3 from the drive and load ubuntu 6 using qemu. The pro is that most of your data (any contained in the virtual machine itself) would be obscured from malware and you would have a consistent work environment. The con is that you would have to wait for the virtual machine to boot and there would be a single point of failure if some virus or malware were to delete your disk image or damage qemu. That's not to say the same thing couldn't happen with the alternative but like I said. Also this would only work on a fairly decent PC as I know the Mint liveCD needs 500Meg to run as an example.
If the answer is yes, but you don't want windows touching your data. Then uninstall U3 from the drive and load Mint 8. The pro is that your completely isolated from windows and don't need to worry about malware. Plus linux won't be running on a hardware emulation so it should be faster. Cons. You need to reboot. You need to enable boot to USB in the bios if it's not already enabled. You may run into hardware issues on more obscure setups as you won't have windows and qemu shielding linux from the differences in hardware from machine to machine.
Well something like that. I'm a bit tired but I think that's a fairly accurate overview.
I guess it boils down to the question of the need to run those portable apps on linux as well?
If the answer is no. Then uninstall U3 from the drive and load the portable apps you need to run on other peoples windows machines. The Pro is that you'll be up and running faster and won't need to change any settings on the PC your using. This option would have no real impact on the host machine. The Con is that you're more at risk of malware as you'll be running things in windows itself.
If the answer is yes. Then uninstall U3 from the drive and load ubuntu 6 using qemu. The pro is that most of your data (any contained in the virtual machine itself) would be obscured from malware and you would have a consistent work environment. The con is that you would have to wait for the virtual machine to boot and there would be a single point of failure if some virus or malware were to delete your disk image or damage qemu. That's not to say the same thing couldn't happen with the alternative but like I said. Also this would only work on a fairly decent PC as I know the Mint liveCD needs 500Meg to run as an example.
If the answer is yes, but you don't want windows touching your data. Then uninstall U3 from the drive and load Mint 8. The pro is that your completely isolated from windows and don't need to worry about malware. Plus linux won't be running on a hardware emulation so it should be faster. Cons. You need to reboot. You need to enable boot to USB in the bios if it's not already enabled. You may run into hardware issues on more obscure setups as you won't have windows and qemu shielding linux from the differences in hardware from machine to machine.
Well something like that. I'm a bit tired but I think that's a fairly accurate overview.
Re: Wine & Flash Drives
Locuust, many thanks for your input and patience. You've said several things that have got me thinking:
1. Install Linux (not sure which yet on my Netbook, Puppee, DSL, UbuntuNetbookRemix??)
2. Remove U3 software on the flashdrive and start to treat it as an encrypted data store/drive only (not apps)
3. Find/use a suitable synchroniser programme to sync data from my main pc with the flashdrive
4. Give up using the flashdrive on other people's machines! (this is the hardest bit I have to think about) but the last trip in November had me sorting out malware every day
5. Use the flashdrive purely as a data store for my netbook on my travels
Like you, I need a rest!
many thanks again so far
1. Install Linux (not sure which yet on my Netbook, Puppee, DSL, UbuntuNetbookRemix??)
2. Remove U3 software on the flashdrive and start to treat it as an encrypted data store/drive only (not apps)
3. Find/use a suitable synchroniser programme to sync data from my main pc with the flashdrive
4. Give up using the flashdrive on other people's machines! (this is the hardest bit I have to think about) but the last trip in November had me sorting out malware every day
5. Use the flashdrive purely as a data store for my netbook on my travels
Like you, I need a rest!
many thanks again so far