3 Free Live Linux Distros to Use on a USB Flash Drive. And one BSD
PuppyLinux XenialPup 7.5 (UEFI and Legacy BIOS both supported)
http://distro.ibiblio.org/puppylinux/puppy-xenial/http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/index.php?f=2 Beginners Forum Help
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=106479 XenialPup 32bit Forum Posts
Slacko PuppyLinux 6.3.2 compatible with Slackware repositories (UEFI BIOS supported and works with Legacy BIOS)
It should work with any Bios.Being identified with UEFI, only indicates it has the added stuff, that a UEFI bios may need. http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=101454&start=225&sid=38eb7edb9872bae12fd65d3b41d5c3ab
http://slacko.eezy.xyz/download.php
http://slacko.eezy.xyz/index.php
LinuxMint
https://linuxmint.com/download.phphttps://linuxmint.com/about.php
Pixel Desktop x86 from RaspberryPi.org
https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspberry-pi-desktop/https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/
And one BSD .ISO File, GhostBSD 11.1
ftp://ghostbsd.org/releases/amd64/ISO-IMAGES/Exton Linux Live versions. Many Many to read about
https://linux.exton.net/
AndEX | Android-x86 Custom http://andex.exton.net/?p=684
Jide Remix OS for PC
http://www.jide.com/remixos-for-pc#downloadNow
Use either tool to write a .ISO file to a USB Flash drive from MS Windows O/S
- Etcher.io http://etcher.io
- Rufus https://rufus.akeo.ie/
- Linux Live USB Creator http://linuxliveusb.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufus_%28software%29 Wikipedia Entry for Rufus
https://www.techrepublic.com/article/pro-tip-use-rufus-to-create-a-bootable-usb-drive-to-install-almost-any-os/ How To use Rufus Article, Tech Republic
The Goal here is to create a usable Live Linux or BSD computer environment on a USB Flash Drive. You can carry this personalized computer environment in your own pocket. It is stable and will allow you to connect to the interenet through Wi-Fi or ethernet interfaces. You may give this USB Flash Drive to someone that does not have a computer. Maybe they find a computer with out a hard disk drive. Plug in this Live Linux USB Flash drive and computer will boot up and be useable!
I like and use PuppyLinux XenialPup 7.5 (supports UEFI Bios)or Slacko Puppylinux 6.3.2 (supports legacy BIOS). These are small 300+ Megabytes .ISO file image size.
LinuxMint 18.3 is large and complete Linux at a 1300 Megabytes .ISO file image size
RaspberryPi Pixel Desktop for x86 is large and good Debian 9 "Stretch" Linux with a Pixel Desktop Environment.
GhostBSD 11.1 is large 1900 Gigabytes Mate or Xfce desktop environment on top of FreeBSD 11.0 base. Check that you have a FreeBSD supported Wi-Fi device. Atheros, Qualcomm Atheros devices are supported. A USB nano Wi-FI device that plugs into USB port provides a workaround if your internal laptop Wi-Fi device is not supported. Edimax EW-7811un nano USB Wi-FI device setup http://forums.ghostbsd.org/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=526
FAQ Wiki http://wiki.ghostbsd.org/index.php/FAQ
Other URL Links
http://ghostbsd.org http://wiki.ghostbsd.org http://forums.ghostbsd.org
From a PuppyLinux Forum entry Newbies - Puppy needs YOUR help too!
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=42593&start=1035
There are certain quirks that are annoying. I suppose if one is not familiar with linux they are stressful. if not for the people who create programs and lend their experience on this forum, it would be a complete horror. A person would have to realize that any open source program usually relies on volunteer effort and doesn't have to adhere to more stingy corporate Microsoft guidelines.
To me, over the last 10 or years it's been a learning curve mixed with challenges. It taught me discipline and when to walk away without killing or breaking something or someone. both maybe.
As far as public forums go, you can't read emotion very well. that's a dicipline in itself. I will admit, there are a few that can be taken wrong by how they convey there message. Except Mike walsh and musher0. I'm mostly an observer and learner but those two stand out as the most friendly people I've ever....read. LOL. Semme, if he is still around., has my respect for sheer wealth of knowledge packaged in a seemingly first glance textual arrogance.
Not a personal opinion of character, just easy to take the wrong way through grammar.
As far as an out of the box normal puppy, I dunno. Nothing is going to be like that. Never has for me. Reminds me, as a mechanic, I always wondered why there had to be so much complicated computerized equipment that seemed to change everyday. battery in the wheel well, in the trunk, under the seat. alarm systems tied into things that are not accessible to the average joe. I'd love to buy a car that had the simplicity of a Chinese scooter. Not gonna happen in the big corporate USA. Parts and service are a huge profit percentage. I just have to accept it. I could go to a motor forum and complain but that's not gonna change a dang thing. I just have to learn and adapt, take the good with the bad and try not to go mentally insane.