Linux MX Distro for Workshops

Each time I am giving a course, I have to assure that all software is installed and in running order. Beside this, kids or teachers would need to reinstall everything on their home computer later on. This can be frustrating, if something does not work with the installation procedures.

As a consequence I sat down and created this Distro based on Linux MX, a Linux Distro perfect to run on slow a computer or to boot it from Usb sticks.

The USB stick however should be USB 3 with a high reading speed.

DS Workshops contains the software that is needed for all the workshops I developed. Furthermore, I added additional and supporting software such as Gimp and Inkscape.

Image gallery

Installation guide

Hardware:

USB Stick (Sandisk Ultra Fit 3.1 Flash 32GB recommended)

Software:

Distro iso file (bz2 archive)
File archiver (WinRar recommended)
Flashing Images to USB Software (BalenaEtcher)

Instructions

Download iso image:
http://www.jensmeisner.net/uploads/DS_Workshops_r220815.iso.bz2
If your operating system can not extract bz2 archive files, install WinRar and select bz2 as archive option:
https://www.win-rar.com/open-bz2-file.html?&L=0
Use BalenaEtcher >> Select iso file, then USB Drive
https://www.balena.io/etcher/
Boot your computer, while holding down F12 Key in order to enter the Boot Menu. Select your USB Stick.
The Distro should work as Live USB, but each time you restart all saved data will be erased and changed settings are reset.

To avoid this from happening, you will need to change your USB Stick DS_Workshops Distribution to persistent.

Make your USB Stick a persistent one

Start your computer, press F12 (F8 or similar) to open the boot manager.
Choose your usb stick and start booting on it.
As soon you see the screen above, press F2. Select your language, then press ENTER.
Choose your timezone by pressing F3.
Press F4 and select option "from_usb", press ENTER.
Press F5, and select option "persist_static", then press ENTER.
Finally press F8, and select "save".

With this option, the following creation of a persistent version
After all is set, start booting the system by selecting option "MX-...". It will now actually create the persistent part.

There are two possibilities to create the persistent part on your usb. One is automatic, the other manually. We stick with the latter.
Type "2" and press ENTER.

Now we will create a hidden partition, that is will be used for saving changed settings and keeping files, that are created.
Type "17" for 4 GB, and press ENTER.

The swap file or partition is a dedicated space, that will be used in case the RAM of your computer is run out of space. It then will use the swap file as a memory space extension.
Type "yes" to create the swap file.
Now type "7" (1 GB), and press ENTER.
Type "yes" to create the invisible file, onto which all data and settings will be saved.

After everything is done, the operating system will complete the first boot.

To test, if all went down well, we will change the Desktop background image and restart.
Right-click to open a pop-up menu and select "Desktop settings".
Change the background by selecting a new image.
Restart your computer.

Do not forget to press the F-Button on your computer, so you boot from USB again.

There should be a new option "Custom Boot" now, which IS the persistent boot option.
Boot your operating system on this option, and check if your background image changed 😉