Debian 11 Live Booted From USB Stick -- Gnome Desktop -- How To Manually Add a Favorites Icon ??
Greetings To GTALUG Members, I boot debian 11 live from a USB memory stick. The bootable USB stick was created using a command like this: sudo dd if=/.../debian-live-11.5.0-amd64--gnome+nonfree.iso of=/dev/sdb bs=4M conv=fdatasync status=progress * * * * * * When I left-click Activities at the top left-hand corner of the Gnome desktop, the column of favorite app icons appears, including a Firefox icon. When I right-click the Firefox icon, a block with clickable selections appears beside the Firefox icon, including New Window. Currently, the Firefox icon's New Window selection launches Firefox 91.13.0esr (64-bit). I assume that this Firefox version comes from the bootable debian 11 live usb memory stick. Recently on startup, this Firefox 91.13.0esr (64-bit) has been displaying Mozilla notices about the coming obsolescence of this Firefox version. Mozilla provides a Firefox apt repository, so I dutifully installed the current Firefox .deb using instructions on this web page: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/install-firefox-linux?utm_source=www.mozilla.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=firefox-download-thanks&_gl=1*8gv942*_ga*MjA2NDcyMzM3OS4xNzMxNjgyMTQ5*_ga_MQ7767QQQW*MTczMTY4MjE0OS4xLjEuMTczMTY4MjE3OC4wLjAuMA..#w_install-firefox-deb-package-for-debian-based-distributions The Mozilla Firefox .deb installation went fine and a second Firefox icon appeared on the Gnome favorites menu. The new Firefox launched OK. Unfortunately, as I have experienced with other .deb installations, when I re-booted debian 11 live from the USB stick, the new Firefox had disappeared. I install so few .deb apps that my workaround for this disappearing-app issue has been simply to re-install the disappeared app as necessary. However, the installation process for the Firefox .deb is quite lengthy, and I am always using Firefox, so I do not wish to have to do a Firefox .deb re-install from the Mozilla apt repository, every time I re-boot debian 11 from the USB stick. * * * * * * Next, I downloaded Mozilla's firefox-128.4.0esr.tar.bz2 and used the Archive Manager to extract the Firefox app. I can start this version of Firefox by right-clicking on the firefox file in the iinstallation's top firefox directory, and selecting Run. The new Firefox starts and when I display the Help > About Firefox window, I see confirmation that Firefox is up to date and 128.4.0esr (64-bit). So, I now have installed a current version of Firefox ESR that runs fine and does not disappear with every debian 11 live re-boot from the USB stick. * * * * * * If I left-click Activities, and type firefox into the search field that appears under the date/time at the top of the desktop, Gnome displays the icon for the old Firefox 91.13.0esr. When I execute a which firefox command and then invoke that firefox at a command prompt, the old Firefox 91.13.0esr starts. ... user@debian:~$ which firefox /usr/bin/firefox user@debian:~$ /usr/bin/firefox ... * * * * * * In directory /usr/share/applications there is a file firefox-esr.desktop In this file is a line: Exec=/usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr %u My knowledge of how the Gnome applications business works is so sketchy, that paranoia prevents me from messing with this firefox-esr.desktop file to change the Exec= line to point to the new firefox-128.4.0esr firefox file that I can start by a right-click > Run. * * * * * * My question for GTALUG members is: how can I safely manually add a new icon to the Gnome favorites column, for the new Firefox I installed by extracting firefox-128.4.0esr.tar.bz2 into a directory ?? Steve Petrie Etobicoke (Toronto), Ontario, Canada apetrie@aspetrie.net 416-233-6116
Yes, though I often add a new .desktop file with a different name to the same directory, to try out my changes. --dave On 11/16/24 10:43, Steve Petrie via talk wrote:
*Greetings To GTALUG Members,*
I boot debian 11 live from a USB memory stick.
The bootable USB stick was created using a command like this:
*sudo dd if=/.../debian-live-11.5.0-amd64--gnome+nonfree.iso of=/dev/sdb bs=4M conv=fdatasync status=progress*
* * * * * *
When I left-click Activities at the top left-hand corner of the Gnome desktop, the column of favorite app icons appears, including a Firefox icon. When I right-click the Firefox icon, a block with clickable selections appears beside the Firefox icon, including *New Window*.
Currently, the Firefox icon's *New Window* selection launches *Firefox 91.13.0esr (64-bit)*. I assume that this Firefox version comes from the bootable debian 11 live usb memory stick.
Recently on startup, this *Firefox 91.13.0esr (64-bit)* has been displaying Mozilla notices about the *coming obsolescence of this Firefox version*. Mozilla provides a Firefox *apt* repository, so I dutifully installed the current Firefox *.deb* using instructions on this web page:
The Mozilla Firefox *.deb* installation went fine and a second Firefox icon appeared on the Gnome favorites menu. The new Firefox launched OK.
*Unfortunately, as I have experienced with other .deb installations, when I re-booted debian 11 live from the USB stick, the new Firefox had disappeared. I install so few .deb apps that my workaround for this disappearing-app issue has been simply to re-install the disappeared app as necessary.*
However, the installation process for the Firefox *.deb* is *quite lengthy, and I am always using Firefox, so I do not wish to have to do a Firefox .deb re-install* from the Mozilla apt repository, every time I re-boot debian 11 from the USB stick.
* * * * * *
Next, I downloaded Mozilla's *firefox-128.4.0esr.tar.bz2* and used the Archive Manager to extract the Firefox app. I can start this version of Firefox by right-clicking on the *firefox* file in the iinstallation's top *firefox* directory, and selecting *Run*. The new Firefox starts and when I display the *Help > About Firefox* window, I see confirmation that *Firefox is up to date* and *128.4.0esr (64-bit*).
So, I now have installed a current version of Firefox ESR that runs fine and does not disappear with every debian 11 live re-boot from the USB stick.
* * * * * *
If I left-click Activities, and type firefox into the search field that appears under the date/time at the top of the desktop, Gnome displays the icon for the old *Firefox 91.13.0esr*.
When I execute a *which firefox* command and then invoke that firefox at a command prompt, the old *Firefox 91.13.0esr* starts. *...* *user@debian:~$ which firefox* */usr/bin/firefox* *user@debian:~$ /usr/bin/firefox* *...*
* * * * * *
In directory*/usr/share/applications* there is a file *firefox-esr.desktop*
In this file is a line:
*Exec=/usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr %u*
My knowledge of how the Gnome applications business works is so sketchy, that paranoia prevents me from messing with this *firefox-esr.desktop* file to change the *Exec=* line to point to the new *firefox-128.4.0esr* *firefox* file that I can start by a *right-click > Run*.
* * * * * *
My question for GTALUG members is: *how can I safely manually* add *a new icon to the Gnome favorites column*, for the new Firefox I installed by extracting *firefox-128.4.0esr.tar.bz2* into a directory *??*
*Steve Petrie*
Etobicoke (Toronto), Ontario, Canada
apetrie@aspetrie.net 416-233-6116
--- Post to this mailing listtalk@gtalug.org Unsubscribe from this mailing listhttps://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk
-- David Collier-Brown, | Always do right. This will gratify System Programmer and Author | some people and astonish the rest davecb@spamcop.net | -- Mark Twain
Turns out my using a USB memory stick to boot debian 11 live, means any file (e.g. a .desktop file) I add to /usr/share/applications disappears upon the next boot from the USB stick. Seems that a live linux loads entirely into RAM, so updates made to it are all lost with a boot. No persistence.. Various web pages talk about implementing a live linux with persistence, but they are way to complicated for me. So, looks like I'm stuck with starting the firefox-128.4.0esr with a right-click > Run. Eventually I'll switch to a more current debian live version which hopefully will have an up to date firefox that is assured to run well into the future. Steve Petrie -------- Original Message -------- SUBJECT: Re: [GTALUG] Debian 11 Live Booted From USB Stick -- Gnome Desktop -- How To Manually Add a Favorites Icon ?? DATE: 2024-11-17 08:04 FROM: David Collier-Brown via talk <talk@gtalug.org> TO: talk@gtalug.org Yes, though I often add a new .desktop file with a different name to the same directory, to try out my changes. --dave On 11/16/24 10:43, Steve Petrie via talk wrote:
Greetings To GTALUG Members,
I boot debian 11 live from a USB memory stick.
The bootable USB stick was created using a command like this:
sudo dd if=/.../debian-live-11.5.0-amd64--gnome+nonfree.iso of=/dev/sdb bs=4M conv=fdatasync status=progress
* * * * * *
When I left-click Activities at the top left-hand corner of the Gnome desktop, the column of favorite app icons appears, including a Firefox icon. When I right-click the Firefox icon, a block with clickable selections appears beside the Firefox icon, including New Window.
Currently, the Firefox icon's New Window selection launches Firefox 91.13.0esr (64-bit). I assume that this Firefox version comes from the bootable debian 11 live usb memory stick.
Recently on startup, this Firefox 91.13.0esr (64-bit) has been displaying Mozilla notices about the coming obsolescence of this Firefox version. Mozilla provides a Firefox apt repository, so I dutifully installed the current Firefox .deb using instructions on this web page:
The Mozilla Firefox .deb installation went fine and a second Firefox icon appeared on the Gnome favorites menu. The new Firefox launched OK.
Unfortunately, as I have experienced with other .deb installations, when I re-booted debian 11 live from the USB stick, the new Firefox had disappeared. I install so few .deb apps that my workaround for this disappearing-app issue has been simply to re-install the disappeared app as necessary.
However, the installation process for the Firefox .deb is quite lengthy, and I am always using Firefox, so I do not wish to have to do a Firefox .deb re-install from the Mozilla apt repository, every time I re-boot debian 11 from the USB stick.
* * * * * *
Next, I downloaded Mozilla's firefox-128.4.0esr.tar.bz2 and used the Archive Manager to extract the Firefox app. I can start this version of Firefox by right-clicking on the firefox file in the iinstallation's top firefox directory, and selecting Run. The new Firefox starts and when I display the Help > About Firefox window, I see confirmation that Firefox is up to date and 128.4.0esr (64-bit).
So, I now have installed a current version of Firefox ESR that runs fine and does not disappear with every debian 11 live re-boot from the USB stick.
* * * * * *
If I left-click Activities, and type firefox into the search field that appears under the date/time at the top of the desktop, Gnome displays the icon for the old Firefox 91.13.0esr.
When I execute a which firefox command and then invoke that firefox at a command prompt, the old Firefox 91.13.0esr starts. ... user@debian:~$ which firefox /usr/bin/firefox user@debian:~$ /usr/bin/firefox ...
* * * * * *
In directory /usr/share/applications there is a file firefox-esr.desktop
In this file is a line:
Exec=/usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr %u
My knowledge of how the Gnome applications business works is so sketchy, that paranoia prevents me from messing with this firefox-esr.desktop file to change the Exec= line to point to the new firefox-128.4.0esr firefox file that I can start by a right-click > Run.
* * * * * *
My question for GTALUG members is: how can I safely manually add a new icon to the Gnome favorites column, for the new Firefox I installed by extracting firefox-128.4.0esr.tar.bz2 into a directory ??
Steve Petrie
Etobicoke (Toronto), Ontario, Canada
apetrie@aspetrie.net 416-233-6116
--- Post to this mailing list talk@gtalug.org Unsubscribe from this mailing list https://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk
-- David Collier-Brown, | Always do right. This will gratify System Programmer and Author | some people and astonish the rest davecb@spamcop.net | -- Mark Twain --- Post to this mailing list talk@gtalug.org Unsubscribe from this mailing list https://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk
From: Steve Petrie via talk <talk@gtalug.org>
Turns out my using a USB memory stick to boot debian 11 live, means any file (e.g. a .desktop file) I add to /usr/share/applications disappears upon the next boot from the USB stick.
That's the normal default behaviour.
Seems that a live linux loads entirely into RAM,
No, only the changes live in RAM. And a cache.
so updates made to it are all lost with a boot. No persistence..
Yes.
Various web pages talk about implementing a live linux with persistence, but they are way to complicated for me.
I haven't looked, but I don't think that they need be complicated.
So, looks like I'm stuck with starting the firefox-128.4.0esr with a right-click > Run.
Actually, it is possible to "install" Linux to a USB disk (including flash drives). Then persistence works as you would expect. Installing to USB disk is just like installing to a normal disk. So you already know how to do that.
Eventually I'll switch to a more current debian live version which hopefully will have an up to date firefox that is assured to run well into the future.
Sounds easy unless you internet service makes this slow or expensive.
participants (3)
-
D. Hugh Redelmeier -
David Collier-Brown -
Steve Petrie