Run magic mirror from a USB drive?

Alvinger

I am running both my mirrors from usb.
The trick is to have a SD Card with only bootcode.bin on it. That is the boot loader which will try to load firmware from attached devices.

Download raspbian or whatever image you want and write it to the usb drive with etcher or similar.

You need to make sure that cmdlint.txt anf /etc/fstab point to the usb drive but that should alteady be the case.

BlackTalon

In your experience are the usb drives more reliable?

Alvinger

Yes, especially if you put the /var lib on a tmpfs which resides in ram.

bbm674

yes and it work fine

carltonb

Is there a guide on how to do this.

justjim1220

I would very much be interested in the USB drive installation instructions!

Newbie here, so please be specific!!!

Thanks in advance!

Alvinger

Which Raspberry Pi do you have? The Raspberry Pi 3 can boot directly from USB but the others need a SD card.

Download the chosen image and write it to UsB in the same way you created the SD cards. Then remove and insert the USB stick from your computee and copy the file bootcode.bin in the /boot directory to an empty SD card. (This card is needed unless you have a Pi3 but it will only be read from so no signifikant wear.)

Insert the USB stick and boot your Pi. That should do it.

If you have a Pi3 there is a different procedure, google is your friend.

justjim1220

I’m using Windows 10. Not RasPi.

I will have to try and figure it out I guess.

Thanks anyway!

Alvinger

If you have a Windows 10 computer, why would you need a USB drive?

justjim1220

Portability…

Alvinger

Well, windows 10 can be installed on a USB but you need to google it.
If you just want the Magic Mirror application on a UsB stick then put it in a folder named MagicMirror on your stick and adapt the command line/batch script accordingly.
J

yawns

@Alvinger said in Run magic mirror from a USB drive?:

Well, windows 10 can be installed on a USB but you need to google it.
If you just want the Magic Mirror application on a UsB stick then put it in a folder named MagicMirror on your stick and adapt the command line/batch script accordingly.
J

But he still needs node.js installed, right? Or try node.js portable

justjim1220

Yes, I know about Windows 10 portability…

What I was thinking of was how to make MM portable. Yes, I figured on node. But, is there anything else I need to figure in? Is there a way to package it (MM) as an exe or msi?

Really, I feel like I’m jumping ahead of myself a little, as I have yet to get any type of voice control or interaction (Google Assistant, Alexa, Cortana, Watson, etc. Or a combination of some or all) to even work on the Windows MM. That is actually my next problem to conquer. Seems like I’ve figured out how to get any other module to work with Windows except voice. The biggest hurdle I’ve found thus far is utilizing the integrated sound, or external mic and speakers on any and every Windows PC. At this point, I have MM working within the Windows environment on every laptop and desktop and All-In-One I’ve come across. From Win 7, to 8.1 to 10. Except the sound, playback and recording, for running any type of voice control or interaction.

To be able to use one device and make changes and tweaks and test modules on, package it on a USB drive and be able to test it on any Windows device, be it a laptop, tablet, or desktop is my ultimate goal.

I am also looking at incorporating AI with the voice and a customizable Avatar into the MM. But that is taking me a while to learn. Long term goal, but in the works…

Ok, got off subject a little…

So, is there a way to install MM on a USB drive and plug it into any Windows device and run it from the USB? For instance, when I use ‘git clone…’ it automatically downloads and installs to the user directory. Is there a way to get everything I do to download and install to the USB drive? But, run (npm start) on the device the USB is plugged into?