Damn Small Linux - Not!

hazel · Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 1

Hi,

Is there a way to install DSL-N on a thumb drive without a CD? I tried to find the answer for DSL and couldn't find it there, either.

Hazel

Peter · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 51

I remember trying to find that out with dsl a while back. I think I just wound up burning the disk. Have you tried downloading the embedded version and running the usb-hdd install from there? I guess I'll give it a shot...

lycanthrolabs · Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 1

Hey... have to admit that DSL is a great deal, I just started using it but not at all new to Linux. Anyway... suppose you are working with a windows system to set up the USB drive?

1. grab the DSL iso
2. get winrar or something that allows you to unpack the iso
3. d/l the current syslinux for your OS

a. format the USB drive FAT, FAT32 does not work out so well for me.
b. extract the iso file to the USB drive, everything
c. copy everything in the isolinux folder to the top level of the USB drive.
d. copy and rename the isolinux.cfg file to syslinux.cfg
e. you should not have to edit the new syslinux.cfg file, it was fine in the iso image that I grabbed.
f. run syslinux from the command line in the folder you unpacked it in. If your USB drive is E: then run syslinux.exe E:

you should be able to restart and boot into the USB drive, you may have to make some BIOS changes but this worked out great for me.

Again, great little Linux, my dollar is on the way Wink

RedKrieg · Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 1

I just successfully booted from usb by running an adapted script I found somewhere else for converting dsl to boot from usb.

edit to suit your needs, should be run as root:

[code:1]#! /bin/bash
mkdir dsl_temp
mkdir dsl_usb
mount -o loop Desktop/dsl-n*.iso dsl_temp #Change this line to point to your dsl-n download
cp -a dsl_temp/* dsl_usb
cd dsl_usb
mv isolinux/* ./
rm -Rf boot
mv isolinux.bin syslinux.bin
mv isolinux.cfg syslinux.cfg
cd ..
mkdir usb_pen
mount -t vfat /dev/sda1 usb_pen
cp -a dsl_usb/* usb_pen
umount usb_pen
umount dsl_temp
syslinux /dev/sda1
rm -Rf dsl_temp
rm -Rf dsl_usb
rm -Rf usb_pen[/code:1]

Make sure you change the first mount command to point to the correct location of your iso.

roberts · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Posts: 320 Location: OC CA USA

An easy way is if you have wmplayer installed on Windows.
Then using the embedded version of DSL-N, a zip file.
Startup DSL-N via dsl.vmx icon.
VMplayer allows access to the real pendrive.
You can then run the install to pendirve script.

ItalysBadBoy · Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 1

Hello all,

Sorry if I don't follow the directions above but I'm fairly new to Linux. I guess after I've done a few installs I'll be able to follow them.

What I am hoping to do is install DSL-N on my USB thumb drive from XP. Is there any clear and complete directions for newbies as to doing this? I became lost at step 3, I don't know my Syslinux for my operating system. I can tell you what syslinux is though.

Thanks for any and all replies.

IBB

Peter · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 51

you can download syslinux from their site; the current version looks to be 3.11, and you can get it in a zip file at the bottom of this page:
[url]http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/utils/boot/syslinux/[/url]

inside that zip file, look for the win32 folder. that will have the version of syslinux for windows.

Hope that helped.