Live Mode & Installed Mode

Understanding guideXOS boot modes and persistent storage

Overview

guideXOS supports two distinct boot modes: Live Mode (running from USB/CD) and Installed Mode (running from hard drive). The system automatically detects which mode it's running in and adjusts its behavior accordingly.

?? Live Mode Limitations

When running in Live Mode, all files and settings are stored in RAM and will be lost on reboot. To save your work permanently, install guideXOS to a hard drive.

Boot Modes

?? Live Mode (USB/CD Boot)

In Live Mode, guideXOS runs entirely from ramdisk (memory). This is similar to running a Linux live CD or Ubuntu Live USB.

Characteristic	Behavior
Storage	All files in RAM (volatile)
Settings	Cannot be saved - lost on reboot
Boot Source	USB flash drive or CD/DVD
Indicator	Orange "LIVE" badge in taskbar
Configuration File	No `/boot/config.txt`
Use Cases	Testing, demos, recovery, portable OS

Visual Indicator

When in Live Mode, a prominent orange "LIVE" badge appears in the taskbar (to the left of the network icon):

LIVE

?? Installed Mode (Hard Drive Boot)

In Installed Mode, guideXOS runs from a hard drive partition with persistent storage. This provides the full desktop OS experience.

Characteristic	Behavior
Storage	FAT32 filesystem on hard drive
Settings	Saved to `/etc/guidexos/config.ini`
Boot Source	Internal hard drive or SSD
Indicator	No "LIVE" badge (normal taskbar)
Configuration File	`/boot/config.txt` exists
Use Cases	Daily use, development, persistent workflow

Mode Detection

guideXOS automatically detects its boot mode during system initialization. The detection process is handled by the SystemMode class.

Detection Algorithm

1. Check if /boot/config.txt exists
   ?? YES ? Installed Mode (/dev/sda2)
   ?? NO  ? Live Mode (ramdisk)

2. Parse config.txt (if present)
   ?? Extract root device (/dev/sda2, etc.)
   ?? Extract filesystem type (fat32, ext2, etc.)

3. Set system mode flags
   ?? IsLiveMode = true/false
   ?? BootDevice = "ramdisk" or "/dev/sda2"
   ?? CanWriteSettings = test write capability

Boot Configuration File

The presence of /boot/config.txt is the key indicator of an installed system. This file is created by the HD Installer during installation.

# guideXOS Boot Configuration
# Generated by HD Installer

# Root filesystem location
root=/dev/sda2

# Filesystem type
rootfstype=fat32

# Boot partition (for kernel updates)
boot=/dev/sda1
bootfstype=fat32

# Installation date
install_date=1234567890

Feature Differences

Settings Persistence

Setting	Live Mode	Installed Mode
Desktop Background	? Reset on reboot	? Saved to config
Window Positions	? Lost on reboot	? Can be saved (future)
Icon Size	? Resets to 48px	? Saved to config
Widget Preferences	? Resets to defaults	? Saved to config
Animation Settings	? Lost on reboot	? Saved to config
Recent Files List	? Cleared on reboot	? Persisted (future)

File Operations

Operation	Live Mode	Installed Mode
Create Files	? In RAM only	? Written to disk
Edit Files	? Changes in RAM	? Changes saved
Delete Files	? Removed from RAM	? Deleted from disk
Install Apps (.gxm)	? Lost on reboot	? Persisted to disk
Create Directories	? In RAM only	? Written to disk

Desktop Context Menu

The right-click desktop menu changes based on boot mode:

Live Mode Menu

• Display Options
• Performance Widget
• ~~Save Settings~~ (hidden)
• Icon Size ?

Installed Mode Menu

• Display Options
• Performance Widget
• Save Settings (available)
• Icon Size ?

Installing to Hard Drive

To switch from Live Mode to Installed Mode, use the HD Installer application to install guideXOS to a hard drive.

Installation Process

Boot guideXOS from USB/CD (Live Mode)
Click "Install to Hard Drive" icon on desktop
Follow the installation wizard:
- Select target disk
- Configure partition layout
- Confirm format warning
- Wait for installation to complete
Remove USB/CD when prompted
Reboot the system
guideXOS boots from hard drive (Installed Mode)

?? Important: Remove Installation Media

After installation completes, you MUST remove the USB flash drive or CD before rebooting. If you don't, the system will boot back into Live Mode from the USB instead of the newly installed system.

The installer will automatically detect if the USB is still present and show a warning. The Reboot button will be disabled until you remove it.

Partition Layout

The installer creates two partitions:

Partition	Size	Type	Contents
/dev/sda1	100 MB (adjustable)	FAT32 (bootable)	GRUB bootloader, kernel.bin, boot config
/dev/sda2	Remaining space	FAT32 (or EXT2/3/4)	System files, applications, user data

Configuration System

Configuration File Location

In Installed Mode, settings are saved to:

/etc/guidexos/
??? config.ini          # UI settings, preferences
??? windows.ini         # Window positions/sizes (future)
??? recent.ini          # Recent files list (future)

config.ini Format

# guideXOS Configuration
icon_size=48
show_widgets_on_startup=false
enable_fade_animations=false
enable_window_slide_animations=false
enable_auto_background_rotation=false
background_rotation_interval_minutes=5

Saving Settings

Settings are saved in two ways:

Automatic - Loaded at startup if config file exists
Manual - Right-click desktop ? "Save Settings"

?? Future Enhancement

Automatic saving on shutdown and periodic auto-save (every 5 minutes) are planned features for future releases.

Quick Comparison

Feature	?? Live Mode	?? Installed Mode
Boot Source	USB flash drive or CD/DVD	Internal hard drive or SSD
Storage Type	RAM (ramdisk)	Hard drive (FAT32)
Persistence	? Nothing saved	? Everything saved
Boot Speed	Fast (already in RAM)	Normal (load from disk)
Performance	Very fast (RAM speed)	Fast (disk speed)
Disk Space	Limited by RAM size	Full hard drive capacity
Use Cases	Testing, demos, recovery	Daily use, development
Configuration	No `/boot/config.txt`	`/boot/config.txt` exists
Visual Indicator	Orange "LIVE" badge	No badge (normal)
Save Settings Option	? Hidden	? Available

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch from Live Mode to Installed Mode?

Yes! Run the HD Installer application from the desktop. It will guide you through installing guideXOS to a hard drive.

Will my files from Live Mode transfer to the installed system?

No. The installer copies the default system files from the ramdisk, but any documents or files you created during the Live Mode session are not automatically transferred. Save important files to external media before installing.

How much disk space does an installation require?

Minimum:

Boot partition: 64 MB (recommended 100 MB)
System partition: 500 MB (2 GB recommended for user files)

Can I dual-boot with other operating systems?

Currently, no. The installer creates a new partition table that will erase the entire disk. Dual-boot support is planned for future releases.

What happens if I remove the USB after booting Live Mode?

Nothing! Once booted, the entire OS is loaded into RAM. You can safely remove the USB and the system will continue running normally.

How do I force the system into a specific mode?

For testing purposes, you can force the mode using:

// In C# code:
SystemMode.ForceLiveMode(true);   // Force Live Mode
SystemMode.ForceLiveMode(false);  // Force Installed Mode