Sounds like a 'snapshot' is what you want - set up the machine how you want it, take a 'snapshot' of your system, put it onto an external disk, & use it to (re)install from.

Check out refractasnapshot.

Hi oui, yes, I am very much a  believer in using old computers, with lightweight distros.

I used to use #! (Crunchbang Linux) until its demise, when I turned to AntiX Base, but they started to add too many things to their menus, at which time I moved over to Devuan Live, it was easy to install, but I still prefer the smaller distros, & Crowz fits the bill very nicely.

Er, exactly what are you asking?

Re visited Crowz/chimaera/JWM on my HP T520 thin clients, using a DP (display port) cable, & a HD (1920x1080) monitor, it loaded & worked, so then I decided to install it.

First problem I encountered was that it wouldn't install to my internal 8GB M2 SSD, I've got to have at least 10GB(!?).

So, I tried it with a 16GB M2 SSD, this was OK, however, it took 4GB for a swap partition!

That's a bit extreme, I'm thinking, especially as this machine only has 2GB ram, which is plenty, even for Devuan Live installs, without any swap.

(P.S. I got a seg fault when I tried a manual install, but could be because I hadn't checked the download; just thought I'd mention it. )

Overall, I still like this version of Devuan.

I switched to using 'live' distros a while back, they are so convenient to get a box up & running; but I still like to have things 'my way', so occasionally I'll install afresh from the 'Desktop' version, like with Daedalus, using LXDE instead of XFCE; it's an easy process, so don't be shy, (& I'm way past 65 ).

Maybe using chsh in a script, run at start up of your session, would be a better alternative(?).

https://www.howtogeek.com/669835/how-to … with-chsh/

@ eyeV

N.B. It wasn't me who you quoted, but boughtonp.....

Basically, /bin are standard binary files to be found on all distros, whilst /usr/bin can vary between distros, but seldom does in fact - there used to be an /opt directory which was originally for added programs, but not much used.

Also, /sbin are standard system binaries, whilst /usr/sbin could vary, but again seldom does.

Most additional software these days is for graphical desktops, & get placed in /usr/X11R6/bin

Maybe, change system language, then use setxkbmap &/or loadkeys for your keyboard?

Are the dates of these the same(?).

I always turn all that stuff off!

I use desktops, & it has always annoyed, having these set on installing from 'live'.

Luit only needed for translating language sets.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luit

Sudo is an 'extra', as the O/S works without it; main use is on desktop systems; the 'basic' minimum install is for those who know exactly the software that they need, usually administrators on/of networks.

(Reason for the net install iso.)