HD Install :: Pros and Cons of Full Hard Drive Install



I've noticed a lot of new users on this board and it seems that many of them are installing DSL as a full hard drive install.

I did the same thing when I first started to use DSL. The Live CD was neat and it got me looking at DSL but I didn't understand how to save files and the cd drive on that older machine was real slooooow.  So I did a hard drive install.  It worked OK but DSL really isn't meant to be your fathers OS. It's different. A lot of the add-ons are expecting things to be setup like a Live CD or frugal install.

The developers of DSL are so good and fast that they're moved way ahead of the documentation of DSL. You can learn more about the different kinds of installs by searching this forum or looking at the www.knoppix.com site (knoppix  is sort of the grand daddy of DSL).  If someone would like to write up a short newbie explanation of all the install options I know I'd like to see it. If there already is one, please post a link.


Here's my suggestion to newbies... Try a frugal install before you do a full hard drive install. If you have the space make persistent home and opt directories and I think you'll find you have everything you wanted in a full hard drive install but with less hassle when it comes to updates down the road. If it isn't what you like then you can always do the hard drive install and wipe it out.


I've opened this topic so that other users on this board (not me) can chime in with their opinons.

I think a good starting point is to take a little read of the History of DSL

Good luck.
Didn't you post in the "Why do I still do regular HD installs of DSL" thread?  I think that basically covers, in a slightly slanted way, many of the differences between frugal and the old-fashioned way.
:p :D

why yes I did, back in May 2005...  Neat thread Here Is The Link
The typical mindset is to install to hard drive.
How many users have heard of or been exposed to the various DSL ways?
All of my efforts have been to extend the concept of being more than just another liveCD. To explore the possibilites of running compressed images, be it the OS, or mountable extensions. I find this far more interesting than just another liveCD or another typical hard drive installation.
I agree with roberts. There are many ways to utilize a DSL frugal-type install and I think it has the potential to be ground-breaking. Using the frugal install can make updates easier and can make it difficult, if not impossible, for a virus to get a foot hold in the OS.

My current focus is the embedded version because I think it could become a great tool for people to carry around not only their important data but their own personal configured desktop. I also think it would be a great tool for conferences.

As an example, how many of us have been to a meeting where someone attempted to patch their own laptop (with their presentation) into a projector only to mess with it for hours and finally give up. Popping in an embedded DSL USB with the presentation app and data would boot within a minute and run with no problems.

This is just one example...I know ther are many more.

desNotes
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original here.