5

I want an USB Stick with all Latex packages there are. Because I have a Windows PC with no Internet. The PC for the creation has internet :)

I followed this Post Offline Installation: How do I install a full TeX distribution on an offline computer?

but I am to stupid to get it working.

Then i followed this comment

I found another way: tug.org/protext includes complete MikTeX, as a single download. Then point the MikTeX package manager to the directory included in ProTeXt (detailed instructions are given in ProTeXt .pdf documentation) –

And downloaded the complete exe to my usb drive. Then I installed MikTex on my usb drive and installed all missing packages with installation.

Then I installed TexMaker but when I want to use the package ngerman it can not be found.

I not sure how to start the correct package Manager. I used the mpm_mfc_admin.exe

Which you can find in this directory MiKTex\miktex\bin\x64

Then i started the package manager and installed all packages.

How to create an Offline USB Drive with all Latex packages for an Windows PC without Internet STEP BY STEP for dummies?

Improve this question
1
  • @HeikoOberdiek greetings to you and welcome
    – Florian Neiss
    Sep 17, 2015 at 8:43

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
5
  1. Download install-tl-windows.exe from https://www.tug.org/texlive/acquire-netinstall.html.
  2. Run it.
  3. Choose 'Custom install'.enter image description here
  4. Install.
  5. Toggle 'Portable Setup' from 'No' to 'Yes.enter image description here
  6. Click 'Install TeX Live'.
  7. Be patient.
  8. Put the texlive folder on a USB stick.
Improve this answer
9
  • Does this approach use the USB stick to run? Or is it only for transfer? I have a target standalone system where the use of USB sticks is prohibited. I could only use a CD/DVD to copy files to the target system. Would your method work there?
    – Steven B. Segletes
    Sep 17, 2015 at 13:26
  • @StevenB.Segletes If you're on a system where the use of USB sticks is prohibited, then I don't think any solution would enable you to run latex from a USB stick.
    – Sverre
    Sep 17, 2015 at 13:28
  • I am asking if your approach would work if I substituted "read-only CD" for "USB stick".
    – Steven B. Segletes
    Sep 17, 2015 at 15:02
  • @StevenB.Segletes Well surely the CD can't be "read-only", because then it wouldn't be possible to put TeX live on it. But that aside, I don't know, because I don't know if some of the files in TeX live need to be written to when using the program.
    – Sverre
    Sep 17, 2015 at 15:05
  • "Read only" implying "Write-Once, read-only"
    – Steven B. Segletes
    Sep 17, 2015 at 15:20
3

You could also do this by downloading the TeXLive ISO file.

The steps are as follows:

  1. Download the TeXLive ISO file from here.
  2. Unzip the ISO file using a compression utility such as 7zip into a directory of your choice. Note: When extracted, the resulting folder can be quite huge. The TeXLive 2014 ISO when extracted is 2.47GB on my Windows machine.
  3. Copy the folder to the other computer. You could also just move the ISO and extract it on the offline computer.
  4. Run the install-tl script to start the installer. If on Windows, run install-tl-windows.bat or read the README to see if you need some other options.
  5. Install anything else you need such as your favorite TeX editor.

I've been using this method for quite some time now as I don't have a stable fast Internet where I am and trying out new stuff always required package downloading by MikTeX. This is also how I share LaTeX with my friends.

UPDATE: Sverre has pointed out that you would like to have a portable LaTeX on a USB stick. I did not understand this intent from your question but then again, English is not my mother tongue.

If this is so, please take a look at these:

  1. TeX.SE: Standalone LaTeX compiler for Windows...
  2. TeX.SE: Full TeX Distribution on an offline computer
  3. TeX.SE: Does standalone LaTeX exist?
  4. TUG.org: TeXLive Portable

I hope you find your answer.

Improve this answer
6
  • This wouldn't by itself be a portable version on a USB stick, would it?
    – Sverre
    Sep 17, 2015 at 13:22
  • I don't think so. But it would solve the problem though unless if he wants to plug it into any PC and use it straight away, then I'm not sure if my answer would work.
    – Khalid Hussain
    Sep 17, 2015 at 13:25
  • 1
    Well the OP says his goal is to have latex on a USB stick.
    – Sverre
    Sep 17, 2015 at 13:26
  • Thank you. I did not get that from his question, I've updated my answer with some links to, hopefully, solutions to his situation.
    – Khalid Hussain
    Sep 17, 2015 at 13:40
  • I like your answer, precisely because it does not seem to require the use of a USB stick to run in standalone mode.
    – Steven B. Segletes
    Sep 17, 2015 at 15:20

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .