USB booting :: Trying to install to USB (PNY Attache)



When booted off the DSL CD, something interferes with the mousepad (or vice-versa) on my Compaq Presario 1200 laptop.  X starts up, but one touch on the mousepad sends the cursor to the bottom of the screen with only x-axis movements.  I tried using a PS2 mouse, with no response, and the mousepad is still active.  Any tips?
The file /KNOPPIX/etc/skel/.fluxbox/menu configures the FluxBox menus.  In there I found the script that is run when you select install to usb zip/hdd from the APPS menu, so you can perform the install without having X11 (ctl-alt-bsp).

$ sudo su
# pendrive_usbzip.sh
or
# pendrive_usbhdd.sh

The latter was successful for my PNY Attache 256MB pendrive.

Now I 've got another problem.  I put the newly installed pendrive into a Dell Optiplex GX260 (that has both USB keybd & mouse) and select USB Device from the boot menu.  The splash screen comes up and it looks like it starts to load, but fails with "Cannot find KNOPPIX filesystem" and dumps me to a restricted shell, but get no keybd response.
Check if the /KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX file exists on the root of your usb drive.
If it's there, you could try the fromhd= bootcode maybe.

Quote (^thehatsrule^ @ Aug. 17 2006,14:24)
Check if the /KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX file exists on the root of your usb drive.
If it's there, you could try the fromhd= bootcode maybe.

/KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX file is there, verified on a Dell OptiPlex GX620/Winxp and CPQ Presario 1200 notebook/Ubuntu.  

'fdisk -l' shows a single FAT16 partition, sda1.

I think this is a USB driver or conflict issue.  The Dell can boot from USB, and when selected from the BIOS boot menu, the pendrive LED flashes a few times as it goes to the boot prompt.  After hitting ENTER or any of the suggested "dsl" strings, it flashes once more, then it gets to discovering USB devices.  The USB Optical mouse LED flashes, as do the USB Keyboard lights, but the pendrive stays dark.  Then comes the KNOPPIX filesystem not found, dumps to a restricted shell with no keybd response.

fromhd=bootcode did not help.

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