Remaster
From BEL
Contents |
What is "Remaster"
To Remaster is to make a copy of your installed OS/Distro for a variety of reasons. It creates a file called an ISO that can then be copied or "burned" to a CD or DVD to be used to install that customized version to a computer or run as is from the Disc.
Why Remaster
There's a few good reasons to Remaster. The best I can think of is for system recovery. for example, if you were to install a program that really messed everything up, and you feel there is no hope but to re-install.
There's a feeling of dread that accompanies every re-install because it usually means that all the specific apps and graphical changes you made you are going to have to add and do all over again.
With a Remaster, you still have to re-install, BUT, you can reinstall with your customizations already in place. Now isn't that just cool?
How To Remaster Basic Office ( PCLinuxOS 2008 MiniMe )
This How To will help you to Remaster for System Recovery purposes. This is the easiest thing in the world to do now.. The PCLinuxOS group has outdone themselves in creating a top notch Remaster GUI tool that gets the job done.
There are some steps to observe first.
Pre-Remaster
The first install. Yep, when you first install your OS/distro is when you should be thinking about your Remaster for System Recovery.
Specifically, when it comes to partitioning. When you set up your new partitions, you can go with the defaults, but you want to look for a set up that includes a separate /Home partition. That means there is likely to be a main / partition and at least one more to hold the /home directory (not to forget the swap partition)
So at a bare minimum, you are looking at 3 partitions for your setup. Root ( / ), Home ( /home ) and Swap ( all by itself ).
Now you can finish your first install.
The best time to Remaster is after you have installed your OS/Distro to your computer and have made yourself comfortable. That means you have installed the apps you think you MUST have and made whatever visual changes ( wallpapers, icons, links etc) that you like to have at the ready.
Don't get into writing letters and adding music files, etc... until after you have set yourself up the way you ant things to be and have made your Remaster.
Now, onto the actual...
Remaster
There are at least two (2) places to start the Remaster tool. In the main menu and on the desktop there is is folder called "utilities", in that folder, is a start icon for Remaster.
Go ahead and start the tool. It is written pretty clearly and easy to follow.
There are basically four (4) steps:
1) The opening screen letting you know you are about to create a Remaster. Answer Ok or Cancel. ( We want to say OK.)
2a) Do you want advanced options screen is next, Yes or No again.
2b) You don't have to select advanced options, but two to make note of are the embedded MD5SUM ( to verify this ISO is accurate) and auto set resolution to 1024 X 768 ( or whatever ). Again, OK or Cancel ( We want OK again. )
3) Next up is the extra lines screen. This is where you can add a line to maybe prevent certain files or directories from being copied into the Remaster ISO. ( you don't have to enter anything here if you have nothing to add like that. ) Cancel or Ok. ( You guessed it, OK once again. )
4) This is the last choice window ( or Last Chance, take your pick ). Here is where you decide what to name your Remaster and where to have it put when it's done. This is your last Cancel or OK. Once you hit OK here, it kicks into Remaster mode and won't stop until it's done or it provides an error message.
Possible Errors
Sometimes, it is possible to get a window pop-up saying there is an error. There are two most typical reasons for this.
1) There is not enough space. You may have to move some things or delete them to make enough room on the hard drive.
2) There is is duplicate initrd file in the location it expects none to be. look through and make sure there is no other remaster ISO or file left over from a previous attempt.
Post-Remaster
After the ISO is created, you can direct your CD/DVD burning app (might I recommend K3B?) to where you had the Remaster tool place it and burn it to a blank CD or DVD. The size of the ISO will tell you what you need. If the ISO is over roughly 704 MB, you will need to use a DVD and that's pushing it a bit really, your mileage may vary on the 700 to 704 range ).
Installing from the new Remaster
Just like the first LiveCD you installed from for your first install, you simply put the newly created Remaster Live disc in and boot up from that.
You may find after you log in that the icon to install is no longer anywhere to be seen. Don't worry.
Open your browser to directory /usr. Then inside that, /sbin. (It will look like /usr/sbin )
In that dir, you will find a file called draklive-install. Click on and run that script. ( If you are logged in as a user, you will need to enter root password. ) The Install app will then start up and off you go.
Or, for those of you those of you who like to type, just open your kmenu ( system menu) go to "Run.." and enter "draklive-install". That will start it also.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
When it is time to partition, it will ask you to select from existing partitions and you can accept that. When you get to the section that asks you to format partitions, DO NOT FORMAT /home . That is where all your files and music and whatever else is and you will lose it all. Bad Idea.
