maintaining state ?

[sam111]

Ok , I have tried many livecd and usb distro's over the years.
I am curious is their away to maintain the software / configurations that I apt-get install when between shutdown and restart of my livecd or usb distro?

For example I have resonantly downloaded the backtrack iso file and using
unetbootin to make a bootable usb with backtracks on it.

I boot it and it works fine until I shut it down and turn it on again.
All the software I apt-get is not their any more and I am back to the original software only.

[jayd512]

Having never done it myself, I can't really help with the details.
But I think this might be what you're looking for.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD/Persistence

What is Persistent Linux | USB Pen Drive Linux

[rokytnji]

Having never done it myself,

I have Jay

Depending on your gear. Burn a Ubuntu live iso that has the usb creator included in the iso. Ubuntu 10.04 on up I think.
Download Backtrack iso while running live Ubuntu CD/pendrive/iso.
Insert your pendrive.
Make the Backtrack live USB during Ubuntu live session.
Pick the persistent option in the gui while making it.

I did this for making a live Semplice usb with persistence.

[sam111]

well , my problem is this
I used unetbootin to put the backtrace iso on my usb. But even when I boot with the usb and select install backtrace.
After I have installed it ... it still won't maintain stuff that I install between restarts?

[yancek]

Below is a link to the backtrack site specifically explaining how to do what you want with Backtrack. Have you read it?
The date on this link is May, 2011. You probably need the latest unetbootin as this option wasn't available in earlier versions.

UNetbootin USB Installer - BackTrack Linux

If you used unetbootin to install backtrack on the usb, why are you selecting install backtrack.
Basically, what you need is a separate r/w partition on the flash drive which is probably what the link above does.

It would be more helpful if you gave a little detail on what you have done and specifics on problems you have had. For example, did you try the method suggested above by rokytnji?