Usb Booting

Forum: USB booting
Topic: Usb Booting
started by: kipper

Posted by kipper on Oct. 23 2004,15:14

I am wanting to explore dsl however do not have a cd drive. I have the dsl .iso and a flashdrive.

Is there any way i can put linux on my flashdisk without the need for a cd.

I have tryed to use WinISO to extract the files and place them on the flashdisk. Upon boot i choose to book from the disk but recieved the error "Operating system missing"!

Please help!!!

Posted by usul on Oct. 25 2004,20:31

.

Hi Kipper

You dont need a CD really, follow my instructions below

1) Download and install < IsoBuster >

2) Download and install < WinImage >

3) Use Winimage to Write the < bootusb-x-x.img > to your FAT formated USB thingy

4) Use IsoBuster to open and 'drag and drop' all the files in the < dsl-.x.x.x.iso > onto your USB Key

That should be it

I hope this helps you and others who read it

.

Posted by kipper on Oct. 25 2004,20:33

thanks!!!!! hope it works!

Posted by SaidinUnleashed on Oct. 26 2004,03:42

addin this to the FAQ.

-J.P.

Posted by Guesty person... on Nov. 05 2004,21:24

I'm new to this "Linux-on-a-USB-flash-drive" thing and had a couple questions:

Should all the files from dls-x.x.x.iso and boot-usb-x.x.img be in the same directory?

How do I run it?

Posted by Guesty person... on Nov. 05 2004,22:32

(same person as above)

I downloaded the files, put them in the correct places on the USB drive, turned off the computer, turned on the computer, and it booted in Windows XP. Help!

Posted by bwalla on Nov. 06 2004,03:07

I would like to know this as well. I have followed your directions from above and when it tries to boot but then says something about syslinux then "boot failed". I've also tried to boot from my laptop and it tells me "No operating system found" So i know that it is TRYING to boot from the usb itself. Cant find anything on the forums about this. Any ideas?

Posted by kipper on Nov. 06 2004,09:13

I did the same but upon booting into my Usb Disk, i was displayed "Operating system missing"

Posted by bwalla on Nov. 06 2004,09:44

by the way i've got a lexar 512MB jumpdrive

Posted by mk637 on Nov. 08 2004,19:33

Quote (usul @ Oct. 25 2004,16:31)

1) Download and install < IsoBuster >

2) Download and install < WinImage >

3) Use Winimage to Write the < bootusb-x-x.img > to your FAT formated USB thingy

4) Use IsoBuster to open and 'drag and drop' all the files in the < dsl-.x.x.x.iso > onto your USB Key

Hi,

I expanded the dsl-iso-file with WinRAR and copied them to my usb-stick. But it didn't work. Then I downloaded also the *.img-file and expanded it too and copied it to the stick. I found out that the files, were already in the "boot"-directory in the iso-file.

All of this did not lead me to success. Why?

Can anybody definetely tell me the file structure of the FAT-formatted usb-disk to make it boot Linux?

Posted by usul on Nov. 09 2004,12:45

.

Hi all

I must have been a little vague with my instructions there

The files from the .iso are what you need to copy onto the Key. The files from the .img file are only used to format your Key, you will not see them on the device.

The way you format the Key is by:

- Opening the .img file in WinImage
- Go to 'Disk' and select 'Use Removable Disk E:' ('E:' = USB Key)
- Then go to 'Disk' and 'Write Disk'

If you have any data on the Disk IT WILL BE LOST. After you have formatted the Key like this you will be able to copy and paste all the files from the .iso onto the USB Key and boot into DSL

Good Luck

.

"Kull Wahad, Muad'Dib is the Quisatz Haderach"

Posted by daemon on Nov. 12 2004,09:31

How can I make bootable USB-Flash under already running Linux?
dd if=bootusb.img of=/dev/sda1
works, but I can't copy files, located on ISO image. And, as a result, when kernel boots, it can't found VFS and some files...

Posted by Hacao on Nov. 12 2004,09:47

Best way !

0) Bios -> USB booting first !

1) Download and install IsoBuster

2) Download and install WinImage

3) Use Winimage to Write the bootusb-x-x.img to your FAT formated USB thingy

4) Use IsoBuster to open and 'drag and drop' all the files in the dsl-.x.x.x.iso onto your USB Key

Notes: Not work if MBR are using for linux (LILO,...)
[/B]

Posted by As the last user stated enable u on Dec. 01 2004,05:27

Go into computer bios (usally by pressing F1 or F2 or DEL) and set 1st boot device to USB.

Ramble not related to above post: speaking of bios, DO NOT purchase a Motion or Gatway "slate" tablet. 1300 model has the most limited bios ever! No option to USB boot : ( If any machine need this option it is this one -no optical drive built in!
Diztortn@yahoo.com

Posted by SaidinUnleashed on Dec. 01 2004,16:56

Have you looked into updating the Bios?

A lot of companies are adding usb boot capabilities via bios updates nowadays.

You might want to look and see.

-J.P.

Posted by cbagger01 on Dec. 01 2004,17:26

"Install to USB pen drive" option from the DSL menu?

Posted by Guest on Dec. 02 2004,02:03

hi i got a few questions reagarding the procedure for stting up bootable usb drive

first when i used WinImage to open bootusb-x-x.img and write to my drive that worked fine but u read that you wernt supposed to be able to see those files ... i can

second i cannot seem to figure out how to use IsoBuster to view the contents of the dsl-.x.x.x.iso ... it just shows the dsl-.x.x.x.iso as a track and i see no files

plz help

Posted by usul on Dec. 03 2004,21:06

.

Yeah your right you can see the file from the .img file cant you!

Once you are there, you can use Winrar to drag and drop the contents of the .iso onto your USB Key if you are having trouble with Isobuster

HTH

.

Posted by batman on Dec. 05 2004,21:51

I Downloaded WinImage and opened the bootusb-x-x.img and when I tried to write it to my new 1Gig formatted USB drive I got the error from WinImage program below:

"The current image format is not supported by the disk drive" UPDATE! It appears I have an older version ov WinImage, I will have to try the latest one and post results then...

LATEST: After getting new WinImage it gave me the same error as above but this time it wrote it to the Flash drive. When I tried to boot it i got: Invalid or damaged bootable partition.

Posted by kronchev on Dec. 06 2004,05:45

Everyone might be interested in noting that WinRAR supports opening up ISO files, so theres no need to download ISOBuster if you already have WinRAR

Posted by Tarisoto on Dec. 07 2004,14:39

Hi,

I am also having difficulty booting "Damn Small Linux" from my USB FlashDrive. I followed the mounting procedure exactly and I can successully boot from the drive, but Knoppix stops when first booting up and takes me to a "(very limited) shell" because it cannot find the Knoppix image.

I am wondering if there is some very particular way in which the files on the Flash device must be arranged? I did not arrange them in any particular method, rather I simply dragged-and-dropped them exactly as "usul" instructed me to.

Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks...

Posted by Tarisoto on Dec. 07 2004,21:15

Oops... Silly me. I had accidently downloaded a much older version of DSL (v0.4.10!) and tried to boot it. I downloaded the current release, though, and remounted it to my Flash drive. Unfortunetly, my crap-tastic home computer does not allow USB booting... I am too impatient to wait until I get back to school, though. So is there a way to make a bootable floppy so I can boot from USB?

Posted by batman on Dec. 08 2004,00:28

Ah Shucks based on the list below, maybe I have non bootable flash drive. On the PNY (I have a PNY Attache 1GIG USB2.0 Flash) site it says this new drive is indeed bootable using windows 98. However the list below shows a PNY "Attache" flash 64 which is not bootable on XBOX and may not boot on a PC. They give the same error that I have been getting sometimes when trying to boot after following all the advice within. I get operating system "damaged" damaged is below in the PNY stick. Check the list below to see if your drive is on it maybe that will explain a potential booting problem:

"Though seemingly unrelated, here is a list of USB sticks that work on Xbox, if they work there they WILL work on PC, whilst devices reported as NON WORKING on Xbox MIGHT work on PC also:

QUOTE

1 Devices that do work

3System USB Flash Disk USB Drive 32 MB (1998 blocks)
Aigo 128MB USB Memory Stick (7997 blocks)
Apacer 256Mb USB Key (Paradigit)
AVB 64 MB USB 1.1 Mobile Drive (4030 blocks, ID 0ea0:6803)
Belkin 32MB USB Memory Stick
Captiva USB BAR 128 MB (7989 blocks)
Commodore Floppy -on- stick 128MB (7989 blocks)
COMSOL 16MB
COMSOL 128MB
Creative Labs Nomad Muvo MP3 Player 128MB (7997 blocks)
Dolphin PowerCAM 2.0 Megapixel Digital Camera FASTUSB-1015
Digital Research MP3 player 32MB (~5092 blocks)
Digitrex DSC-1300 camera, in Mass Storage mode (8MB)
EasyDisk 32MB (2014 Blocks)
EasyDisk 128MB (7997 Blocks)
Freecom USB Stick 32 MB (1998 blocks)
Fujitsu Siemens 64MB Menustick
Fujitsu Siemens SB-512 MemoryBird USB-2.0 (512MB, how do I get MechInstaller onto it? - sajb)
Gateway 16MB USB Flash Drive (998 blocks), Windows sees it as "USB NAND FLASH DISK", VID:0c45 PID:1060
Gateway 32MB USB Flash Drive (1998 blocks), Windows sees it as "MFG FLASH DRIVER", Vendor=0c45 ProdID=1060
Hama 6-in-1 USB Card Reader (Model-Nr.: 46958) with Lexar Media 16MB CompactFlash (992 blocks)
HP Photosmart 315 with 8 MB SanDisk CF Card
HP Photosmart C618 Digital Camera
IBM 32 MB USB Memory Key (1998 blocks)
KBGear JamP3 Player (9998 blocks)
KingMax USB2.0 Flash Drive 512MB - KS/PD2-512M (31994 blocks)
Kingston DataTraveler 32 MB (1998 blocks) & 256 MB (15740 blocks)
Lexar JumpDrive Secure 128 MB (7869 blocks)
Lexar JumpDrive Secure 256 MB (15740 blocks)
Lexar JumpDrive Sport 64 MB
Linksys Instant USB Disk 64 MB (Model USBM64M) (3998 blocks)
Logic3 16MB USB (991 blocks)
Medion USB 128 MB (7997 blocks)
Memorex 64 MB (4030 blocks) & 128 MB
Memorex ThumbDrive 256MB (16116 blocks)
Memory in Black USB memory pens from 32 to 512 MB, both the PQI-based and Opti-based models
Micro Advantage 64MB (4008 blocks)
Minolta DiMAGE F300 with 64MB SD-Card
M-Systems DiskOnKey 8MB (486 blocks)
Nikon Coolpix (test with 1x 16 MB and 2x 128 MB CF/SD cards)
Nikon Coolpix 995 w/128MB SanDisk CompactFlash
Ocean 8 MB (490 blocks)
Olympus D-510 Zoom Digital Camera with 64 MB SmartMedia (3990 blocks)
Olympus D-550 Digital Camera with 128 MB SmartMedia (7997 blocks)
Olympus D-380 Digital Camera with 64 MB SmartMedia (MechInstaller - Open 8-32MB image and write to 64MB)
Oti 32 MB
Paradigit 128 MB USB2.0 memory stick (aka Apacer memory stick) (7837 blocks)
PNY 64 MB (3998 blocks)
PQI "Travelling Disk" translucent USB sticks, 64 and 128MB at least
(all 0ea0:6803; some models (09a6:8001) say "damaged", though)
Prolific USB Flash Disk 256 MB (15996 blocks)
SanDisk Cruzer Mini USB Flash Drive 128MB (USB 2.0) Works Great for mechassault install
SanDisk Cruzer Mini USB 128MB - Had to use 8MB-32MB image
Sandisk Mini Cruzer 256Mb USB 2.0 (15k+ blocks - tossed my notes on this)
Samsung 64Mb USB disk (4030 blocks)
Sony 64MB MicroVault (USB 2.0) - 3998 blocks - for MechInstaller, open 8-32MB .img, write to 64MB stick. Has security features, see JetFlash below (?)
Soyo CigarPro2 (USB 2.0, 128MB--the green plastic one) - shows up as "Prolific USB Flash Disk" on WinXP (7997 blocks)
Sweex 128 MB
Transcend JetFlash 64 MB - se below
Transcend JetFlash 128 MB - Depending on model, there are 6 JetFlash types, see link
http://www.transcendusa.com/Products/ModLi...eldNo=2&CatNo=4 and info in the paragraph above.
TwinMos MobileDisk III 64 MB (3998 Blocks)
Twinmos Mobile Disk USB 1.1 Pocket Pen Drive 64B (seller p/n XPD64) (Manuf p/n FMD064S)
(0ea0:6803,Manuf="USB",Prod="Solid state disk")
Typhoon USB Memory Adapter 32 MB (USB 1.1, Art. Nr. 83049, 2014 blocks, for MechInstaller, open
"MechInstaller-1.0-FATX-8MB-to-32MB.img", write to 32MB stick)
Universal Smart Drive 64MB - used 8mb-32mb image
USB UltraDrive 32 MB (1998 blocks)
Zyon Systems 64MB popdrive - commonly handed out to trade show patrons:) - must be plugged in before xbox is powered on, otherwise nothing.

2 Devices that don't work

AIPTEK PenDisk 64MB
Apacer HandyDrive 64 MB (0d7d:0100, not detected)
Atech Pro-9 Card Reader with 8 CF or memory stick (not detected)
Belkin Media Reader USB2 8-in-1 (F5U248) with at least 4 different SM/CF media, from 32 to 128 MB (not detected)
Ben MP3 and Pen Drive 64MB
Casio Qv3000 Camera with with 8 meg casio CF-8x card (makes the screen flash over and over..)
Creative MuVo 128MB
Creative MuVo 64MB
Creative NOMAD MuVo NX 128meg (Xbox said "damaged" but then formatted it with 7005 blocks. but not recognised on reconnect)
Dazzle Memory Stick Reader (04e6:0314, screen flashes and "damaged" shows up when media removed from reader)
DataFab KESD-USBA Reader with Toshiba 16MB SD Memory Card (Memory screen flashes indefinitely)
Dell branded Lexar 16MB
Dell branded Lexar 64MB
DeLock UISDMC1S, 6x Card Reader with 2 slots + ExtreMEmory 256 MB CF-Card ("damaged")
DeLock UISDMC1S, 6x Card Reader with 2 slots + Apacer 64 MB CF-Card ("damaged")
DeLock UISDMC1S, 6x Card Reader with 2 slots + SanDisk 48 MB CF-Card ("damaged")
DeLock UISDMC1S, 6x Card Reader with 2 slots + 32 MB SmartMedia Card ("damaged")
DeLock UISDMC1S, 6x Card Reader with 2 slots + 64 MB SmartMedia Card ("damaged")
Disgo 512MB PRO USB2 (M-Systems DIS20512R) 0x08EC:0x0012, relative of DriveKey, bootable but "damaged"
Disgo 64MB (Damaged, even when low-level formatted)
DiskOnKey 16MB (says "damaged")
DiskOnKey 64MB (says "damaged")
Frontier Labs NexII with 8 meg Casio CF-8x card ("damaged")
FujiFilm FinePix 6800Z Camera (tested with 16 MB and 128 MB SmartMedia cards)
FUJIFILM 128MB USB 2.0 DRIVE (PLUG & PLAY) (says i may have a corrupt memory card)
HP Photosmart 620 with 256MB SanDisk SD memory card (camera says connected to pc, but xbox does not recognize)
HP Photosmart P-1000 with Hitachi 8MB CompactFlash Card
Hama 6-in-1 USB Card Reader (Model-Nr.: 46958) with PQI 128MB CompactFlash
Hama 6-in-1 USB Card Reader (Model-Nr.: 46958) with SanDisk 128MB SecureDigital
Hama 6-in-1 USB Card Reader (Model-Nr.: 46958) with HAMA SmartMedia 32MB
Hama 6-in-1 USB Card Reader (Model-Nr.: 46958) with Sony MSA-128A 128MB
Hama 6-in-1 USB Card Reader (Model-Nr.: 46958) with SanDisk 128MB CompactFlash (says "damaged")
Hama 6-in-1 USB Card Reader (Model-Nr.: 46958) with Canon 8MB CompactFlash (says "damaged")
Imation FlashGo! (IMN-USB-FG1) with at least 4 different SM/CF media, from 32 to 128 MB ("damaged")
Iomega PocketZIP 40 USB (says "damaged")
Iomega ZIP 250 USB (says "damaged" on all media)
Jump Shot 8MB (says "damaged")
KingMax usb 64 (says "damaged")
Kodak EasyShare CX6230 Camera -- neither internal memory nor 256 MB Sandisk SD card -- no apparent recognition by XBOX
Lexar JumpDrive 64MB USB memory stick
Lexar JumpDrive 128MB
Lexar JumpDrive Trio with 128mb Secure Digital card (says "damaged")
LG Flatron USB Drive 64 MB from haansecure (Korea) (says "damaged")
Memorex USB -> CF Card Reader, causes the memory page in the Dash to flicker repeatedly, tried with multiple CF (32, 64, 128)
Mercury Cyberpix - all models (says "damaged")
NAPA P22 WMA mp3 player
No-name (Lexar Chipset + Samsung Memory) 128 Meg USB 2.0 (not detected)
Nikon Coolpix 775 (with 8Mb Nikon card or 32MB Sandisk card) -- no apparent recognition by XBOX
Nikon Coolpix 5400 w/32mb sd card. (shows moving rectangle on camera display and never connects)
Olympus USB SmartMedia Reader-Writer with at least one card of unknown size
Packard Bell AudioKey 32MB
PNY Attache 64MB (says "damaged")
PQI "Travelling Disk" translucent USB sticks, 64 MB (some work, some (09a6:8001) say "damaged")
QDI U2Disk 64MB
SanDisk Cruzer with SD 256MB card.
SanDisk ImageMate combination CompactFlash/SmartMedia to USB adapter
Softick Card Export II (SD drive emulation for the Palm OS - Uses USB mass storage driver) (Xbox breifly recognizes the card 1 time out of 10 - will format in FatX, but will not read savegames - Screen flashes)
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P31 with Memory Stick (054c:0010, Camera recognizes USB connection but XBox screen flashes)
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P32 with Memory Stick
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-p71 (makes the screen flash over and over..)
Sony DCR TRV18E Digital Camcorder with Memory Stick
Sony DCR TRV-25 Digital Camcorder with Memo
Sony Micro Vault 256 MB USB 2.0
Topcom Pocket Memory II 256 MB
Transcend JetFlash 2A 128MB (TS128MJF2A, 0c76:0005, see link above) just makes the memory screen flash forever.

Posted by batman on Dec. 08 2004,01:26

Hey at my Manufacurers site it says I can't partition my Flash Drive. Could that be my problem?:

Attaché FAQ

Question?
15) Can I partiton my Attache?

Answer
No, PNY does not currently support partitioning of the Attache USB drive.

HMM Look here:
< http://www.codidirect.com/shop/thefactsbehindbootability.htm >

Posted by usul on Dec. 08 2004,21:10

.

Hey all

If you are still having trouble, and have an internet connection.... :0, try using the built in script to install DSL on your USB thingy.

You need an internet connection because, at the moment, DSL will connect to the ibiblio mirror and download the sh script first. Then it will download the .img file and write it to your Key (sda1 usually). After that it will copy the CD to the Key.

You may get an error about 'mtools', if you do you will need to create the file with the code string mentioned in the error message.

I know I messed up a USB Key and my own method (the one page one of this thread) would not work for me but the script did!

To start it you need to:

- Boot off the DSL Live CD first
- Put the USB Pendrive in when you see 'Boot' then hit Enter
- Then Right click the 'Workspace'
- Go to 'Apps' then 'Tools'
- Click on 'Install to USB Pendrive'

Thats It! the script will begin to run. Follow the Instructions. I had to make a file called '.mtoolsrc' with the code string 'mtools_skip_check=1' and a carriage return (or something like that) in it. I then saved it to /home/dsl/ directory

This has to be the best way to do it. Make sure you dont mount the Pendrive though.

I Hope this Helps

ps: Shall we all call them "USB Pendrives" from now on?

.

Posted by batman on Dec. 08 2004,21:25

I tried the above and when it tried to install on my pendrive I got permission denied. I tried formatting it fat16 and 32 with a linux ext2 partition then tried install you mention above but still got permission denied. Anyone know why I get this error?

Posted by usul on Dec. 08 2004,21:37

.

Hi Batman

Sounds like you have a small write protect switch on your device, or maybe you mounted it?

Im not really sure

.

Posted by batman on Dec. 10 2004,03:26

USUL Thanks for your help and determination! I'm up! I got it to work this way:

Formatted thumdrive under windows FAT32

booted from live DSL cdrom

XShells>root-access

wget < http://ibiblio.org/etc/etc/etc >

mydsl-load frugal_usb.tar.gz

echo "mtools_skip_check=1"> .mtoolsrc

frugal_usb.sh

The above is similar to what you posted above and I saw it elswhere posted but couldn;t find it in search. Anyway I didn't get permissions denied during install and it BOOTED hooray! I have one question and this is my FIRST experience with LINUX:

I noticed that even though I'm on the thumdrive everything stays in RAMDRIVE meaning when I try to save anything anywhere and then reboot it is gone. Is that just how it is? or can I do something else so this will work like a regular hard drive and will be able to save all my default internet connections and email settings etc. THANKS AGAIN!

Posted by batman on Dec. 10 2004,03:40

FOUND it. Here is the meo post that helped me which is similar to your usul and possibly others:

Posted: Nov. 19 2004,15:37

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks cbagger01 for helping me out with making a boot-disk to make usb-booting possible on my machine. That was just a part of the problem though. I have the infamous SanDisk mini cruzer 256 MB with witch so many have had problems when trying to make a frugal install of DSL. With help of the posts of “roberts” I finally made it work. I have made a little HOWTO so that others may benefit from the conclusions I have made. So here it comes:

DSL->USB-HOWTO

Setup instructions:

1. Plugin the usb-drive

2. Boot from DSL 0.8.x cdrom

3. Copy the files: bootusb-0.8.img and frugal_usb.tar.gz to your home directory

4. At the system menu select Shells-> root-access

Issue the following commands:

5. #mydsl-load frugal_usb.tar.gz

6. #echo “mtools_skip_check=1” > .mtoolsrc

7. #frugal_usb.sh

Then follow the onscreen prompts and it should work (at least it did for me on the infamous SanDisk 256 MB mini cruzer). I might mention that I started with reformatting it under Windows with fat32. Hope someone have some use of these lines.

Have fun Y'all, ten four,
meo

Posted by usul on Dec. 10 2004,21:28

.

Hey Batman

Thats really cool, I'm glad I have been of some help. I have no doubt that this thread will help others get DSL to load off their USB Pendrives.

Btw, because DSL is a Live distro it will always work in a ramdrive, thats just the way it is. However all is not lost because you can save your setting by using the Backup/Restore facility that's built in. If you open the dillo web browser and read the 'Saving Your Configuration' howto you'll be well informed.

All the best..

.

Posted by batman on Dec. 10 2004,22:50

ok great usul thank you so much. Your insight has been invaluable. I have tried everything from FAT 16 to FAT32 and partioning with qparted and even a windows 98 starter startupdisk to prepare the disk but nothing worked. The online auto wizard did and kudos to the authors of it. Maybe someday when these FlashDrives are even better and out of the New Cool area to the normal arena there will be more support and help to get these things running. I'm just lucky that my cheap 6month old biostar motherboard supported booting from USB. On that note both USB-FDD and USD-HDD selections booted my Flashdrive. Thank you again..

Posted by xfireman on Dec. 12 2004,05:40

i hope it could works! my god

Posted by Modrak on Dec. 12 2004,17:39

there shoud be only 1.....ONE dir called knoppix...and some files from bootusb-x.x.x.img in root of the drive
.the bootusb-x.x.x.img shoud be extracted by dd or something.....yeah...the WinImage

Posted by Wolkenläufer on Dec. 14 2004,13:45

Quote

Issue the following commands:

5. #mydsl-load frugal_usb.tar.gz

6. #echo “mtools_skip_check=1” > .mtoolsrc

7. #frugal_usb.sh

Thx to cbagger1 and batman...this helped me out, now i can start dsl from my usb-pen :laugh:

Posted by Codr on Dec. 16 2004,20:57

Hi, I'm having trouble getting this to work with my Lexar 128MB Jumpdrive. I've tried the isobuster method, the DSL APP method, and the 7 step method posted above, and get the same results on all.

Everything seems to go okay. I get all files, moved, installed etc.. I reboot my computer with the usb drive in place, edit my BIOS to boot from the usb drive first, save my settings, and wait. As soon as the boot process starts, I get the following message "FreeDOS MBR...Boot Failed"

Any suggestions?

Posted by cbagger01 on Dec. 16 2004,22:49

It sounds like your kernel file is missing or incorrectly named.

Try the Dell USB memory key utility program and see if you can get your stick to boot into FreeDOS.

If this works, then graduate on to the other steps.

Posted by elfoozo on Dec. 17 2004,03:30

I just followed the setup instructions posted by batman.....

IT WORKS!!

I'm writing this from DSL 0.9.0.1 booted from a SanDisk ImageMate SD/MMC reader hanging off a USB cable and using a 128 MB card!

One of the earlier posts said these SanDisks are known not to work.... so I guess they do?

Thank you!

Posted by Codr on Dec. 17 2004,23:37

Quote (cbagger01 @ Dec. 16 2004,17:49)

I ran the utility, and rebooted. I was able to boot into FreeDOS just fine.

Once I ran the steps to install DSL, and rebooted again, I got the same error. What should the kernel name be? Can I manually edit that?

Thanks.

Posted by cbagger01 on Dec. 18 2004,15:37

Your kernel name should be the same as it was when you first ran the utility. I think it was "kernel.sys"

Posted by batman on Dec. 19 2004,00:15

Hi guys after more trial and error here is another rather easy way to get yer FLASH DRIVE a booting Using your Windows Box only:

PLUG IN YOUR flash/PEN DRIVE IF NOT ALREADY DONE

Download syslinux and place/export into your C:\Windows\system32 or C:\Windows\system if windows 98:
< http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/utils/boot/syslinux/syslinux-2.13.zip >

Download feather linux USB version
< ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/featherlinux/feather-0.6.2-usb.zip >

Goto MyComputer and right CLICK your Flashdrive and select Format
IN the dropdown box select FAT not FAT32 or it WON't work.

Put contents of your featherlinuxusb package on your Flash/Pendrive

Hit START then Run
in the box put cmd then Ok

In the Black Window prompt put: syslinux.exe F: (where F: or whatever is location of your flash drive.) then ENTER on keyboard.

Change your BIOS to boot off your flashdrive.

After successful boot you can reboot into windows and write DSL over feather and see what kind of luck you have and rebooting again.

Posted by ke4nt1 on Dec. 19 2004,21:54

Codr:

I also have a lexar 128 jumpdrive.
It boots and works fine on several of my systems using DSL.
Both my systems offer the options to boot from USB-ZIP , which works.
If your motherboard does not offer this option, you may need
to attack the problem another way.

The trick for me was to use the sfdisk utility,
and make the sectors per track at 32

sfdisk -S32 /dev/sda

This makes a type 83 partition on your key.
Reboot, and use cfdisk to change it to a type 6 (fat16)

Then run the "Install to USB Pendrive" option from menu.

Reboot, and voila..

I just redid it to work with 0.9 ....
just to walk thru the steps again.. no issues..

73
ke4nt

Posted by Hjelm on Dec. 23 2004,16:26

I got this error massage to trying to boot DSL.

Code Sample

Xinit: No such file directory (errno 2): Unable to connect to X server
Server error

Is Damn Small Linux trying to connect to the Interet? or what this mean?

Posted by kernel_panic on Dec. 23 2004,19:50

There is something wrong with the Xserver, the gui program used in linux. Try reburning it, hope that works.

73
kb1ltw
dschadlich@gmail.com
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Posted by Keith on Dec. 30 2004,11:24

I though I would share this you… how I dual boot my USB stick to MSDOS and DSL. If this is too long / not required then please delete it, but I thought it might help some newbies..

In a windows ( XP in my case) download the USB format tool from the HP site (http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/hpcpqdt/us/download/20306.html )

I formatted the USB device, and then copied the entire Windows98 boot disk to the USB stick. Rebooted from the USB stick. Once the ramdisk had been installed with all the utilities I copied all of these to a \dos folder. Then I updated the config.sys file to

[menu]
menuitem=DOS, Start with DOS
menuitem=DSL, Start DSL Linux
menudefault=DOS,2
menucolor=7,0

[DOS]
device=dos\himem.sys /testmem:off
device=dos\oakcdrom.sys /D:mscd001
rem device=btdosm.sys
rem device=flashpt.sys
device=dos\btcdrom.sys /D:mscd001
rem device=aspi2dos.sys
rem device=aspi8dos.sys
rem device=aspi4dos.sys
rem device=aspi8u2.sys
device=dos\aspicd.sys /D:mscd001
files=10
buffers=10
dos=high,umb
stacks=9,256@ECHO OFF
IF "%config%"=="DSL" GOTO DSL

set EXPAND=YES
SET DIRCMD=/O:N
set LglDrv=27 * 26 Z 25 Y 24 X 23 W 22 V 21 U 20 T 19 S 18 R 17 Q 16 P 15
set LglDrv=%LglDrv% O 14 N 13 M 12 L 11 K 10 J 9 I 8 H 7 G 6 F 5 E 4 D 3 C
rem set tmp=c:\

path=\dos;.

LH dos\MSCDEX.EXE /D:mscd001 /L:%CDROM%
rem clean up environment variables
set CDROM=
set LglDrv=
echo .
echo Booted of Keiths Private USB memory
echo Please ring 01473 641662
echo .
GOTO QUIT

:DSL
\KNOPPIX\loadlin.exe \KNOPPIX\linux24 initrd=\KNOPPIX\minirt24.gz
rem \boot\loadlin.exe \boot\isolinux\linux24 initrd=\boot\isolinux\minirt24.gz

:QUIT
rem devicehigh=ramdrive.sys /E 2048
lastdrive=z

[DSL]
[COMMON]

and the autoexec.bat to ..

@ECHO OFF
IF "%config%"=="DSL" GOTO DSL

set EXPAND=YES
SET DIRCMD=/O:N
set LglDrv=27 * 26 Z 25 Y 24 X 23 W 22 V 21 U 20 T 19 S 18 R 17 Q 16 P 15
set LglDrv=%LglDrv% O 14 N 13 M 12 L 11 K 10 J 9 I 8 H 7 G 6 F 5 E 4 D 3 C
rem set tmp=c:\

path=\dos;.

LH dos\MSCDEX.EXE /D:mscd001 /L:%CDROM%
rem clean up environment variables
set CDROM=
set LglDrv=
echo .
echo Booted of Keiths Private USB memory
echo Please ring 01473 641662
echo .
GOTO QUIT

:DSL
\KNOPPIX\loadlin.exe \KNOPPIX\linux24 initrd=\KNOPPIX\minirt24.gz

:QUIT

That’s the DOS side sorted… now for DSL. I downloaded the ISO (v0.9.0) from < http://damnsmalllinux.org/download.html > and exploded it with ISObuster < http://www.smart-projects.net/isobuster/ > I then put in the files KNOPPIX, minirt24.gz and linux24 into a directory called ( in upper case!! ) KNOPPIX

Loadlin was downloaded from < http://elserv.ffm.fgan.de/~lermen/ > and put into the \KNOPPIX directory

The \KNOPPIX now looks like

F:\KNOPPIX>dir
Volume in drive F is KINGSTON
Volume Serial Number is 34C5-B8FF

Directory of F:\KNOPPIX

22/12/2004 06:10 <DIR> .
22/12/2004 06:10 <DIR> ..
01/12/2004 17:58 50,025,321 KNOPPIX
01/09/2004 20:23 790,312 minirt24.gz
14/08/2004 23:31 994,807 linux24
16/04/2002 00:49 32,225 loadlin.exe
4 File(s) 51,842,665 bytes
2 Dir(s) 1,919,352,832 bytes free

F:\KNOPPIX>

Now all to do is to reboot and choose the relevant OS you want to use from the USB stick.

This has been tested with a ebuyer 64M and 256M special, and a Kingston 2G USB devices. What I would like to do, and probably impossible is to tell DSL that I want to use a 2 button mouse and run the first windows manager in 1024x768x32.

Posted by paulp on Dec. 30 2004,15:37

DSL 0.91
I think I have my USB loaded, using the built-in script form a CD boot. Now I hang while booting from USB. I get the "L" of LILO, and then stop. Should a boot loader (like lilo) be in the MBR of the USB device? If not, what is the easiest way to clean out my USB MBR?

Posted by Keith on Dec. 30 2004,16:59

From a DOS disk type "fdisk /mbr" to install a DOS boot sector.

Just having "L" from LILO means it has halted at somewhere in the bootup cycle - but I forgot where... google is your friend.

Does it boot in M$DOS?

Posted by paulp on Dec. 30 2004,17:18

Booting without the USB is fine. XP lives by itself on my hard disk. My Dell laptop can generate a boot menu at power-up time, that allows me to select the boot device I want to use (floppy, CD, HD or USB). The LILO problem is restricted to USB. I do not want to load LILO or grub on the HD.

I've gotten out of practice with lilo. Can I place grub over top of lilo on the MBR of the USB?

Posted by paulp on Dec. 30 2004,20:29

Since the current DSL version for HDD installation is 0.91, is there a USB image of this same version??? I only found 0.8 in the download area for USB.

Posted by paulp on Dec. 30 2004,23:33

In my next attempt, I followed usul's posting of Dec 8, on using the built in script. The install seemed to go fine, but I ended up with a kernel panic when I tried to boot from the USB device. The error message was "kernel panic: VFS: unable to mount root fs on 08:01".

If it helps, I'm running a Dell Latitude D400, 1G mem and using a Lexar 1G Jump Drive and DSL 0.9.1 (CD). It's a good thing there are no tall buildings near by.

Posted by Zombie13 on Jan. 06 2005,19:31

Hi,

I'm a bit of a newbie at this USB Linux thing, but it looks awesome. I've bought a OEM USB pendrive...

< http://www.play.com/play247.asp?page=title&r=ELEC&title=171283 >

I've managed to copy the DSL system across to the pendrive, both manually, and then by the built-in method (right click workspace). Both methods don't allow me to boot from the USB drive, even though the PC's BIOS seems to allow it. I have written the floppy image to a floppy disk, and if I boot from that everything looks good. First part loads from floppy, then USB takes over.

Although this isn't quite how I'd pictured using it, it does indeed work. Would anyone give any pointers as to what could be the cause? I'm betting that my particlur pendrive isn't bootable, or there's a problem with my PC's BIOS. But any suggestiongs?

Cheers!
Zombie13.

Posted by SaidinUnleashed on Jan. 06 2005,19:49

Most likely, that pendrive is not bootable.

ygwypf (you get what you pay for)

-J.P.

Posted by Boggy B on Jan. 07 2005,04:16

I jumped back into my windows partition to do mine. Used winimage to get the USB boot image onto the pen drive, then IsoBuster to copy the DSL iso over, including the directory structure. It is booting OK, but i'm getting

Quote

"Can't find KNOPPIX filesystem, sorry.
Dropping you to a (very limited) shell.

Is there a line set to boot off the CD-rom that needs to be changed to /dev/sda, or something?

Pen drive is formatted as Fat. I've tried Fat32, but I got a rather blunt "Boot Failed" message.
I've also tried using the meun option after booting from a CD, but it doesn't work, and sometimes it won't start at all.

Posted by jester on April 02 2005,07:21

i have done every thing all of the fourms say but im trying to install dsl ver 1.0rc2 on a lexar jumpdrive secure 1000 512mb and i cant get it to work

Posted by Wolkenläufer on July 22 2005,14:57

Hello @ all,
after months of working fine, my usb pendrive doesn't want to run anymore so i got to set it up new...i downloaded the (at that time) current version 1.2.1 and burned it (as i did with the older version 0.8), following the steps earlier posted in this thread...but the new version could not be started from usb in contrast to the old version...maybe the new pc i got the last march is the cause of it...the automatically installation makes the same problem...i will test on weekend on my own pc (the "installation" pc is the one at my company)..has anyone problems with the installation using a computer from hp?

so long, happy weekend