Install to a PenDrive?

Forum: USB booting
Topic: Install to a PenDrive?
started by: jabird

Posted by jabird on May 19 2005,16:23

I searched the site doc's didn't find anything, but maybe I just missed it... I have a 256MB PenDrive, forgot who made it... I can find out when I get home and post again if it's important, Windoze XP has the drivers for it built in... Will it be possible to install DSL on it? also, when I do that, can I simply go into BIOS and select my jumpdrive, and boot right to that? or do I have to do something special? I'd like to just be able to take my Jumpdrive somewhere, plug it into someone else's computer, and boot to my Jumpdrive... is it possible?

Pre-Thank you,
Jabird

Posted by cbagger01 on May 19 2005,16:51

It is possible if your BIOS supports USB booting.
Otherwise, you will need a USB boot floppy disk to get your USB drive up and running.

There are two common methods for USB booting:

USBZIP

and

USBHDD

It is possible to install DSL to your pendrive as a USBZIP or a USBHDD configuration, but not both at once.

USBZIP has some strict format/geometry requirements that can sometimes complicate things.

USBHDD does not seem to have this problem.

If your BIOS supports USBHDD (Like newer Dell BIOS versions), then boot from CD and use the "Install to Pendrive" script. Say "no" to USBZIP and then "yes" to USBHDD.

Otherwise, use USBZIP but you may need to do additional steps to get it working right.

Posted by jabird on May 19 2005,17:33

So I just do that, and I can goto a friends house, assuming the BIOS supports it, select my JumpDrive, and boot to my linux?

Also, I have the 256mb drive, since its on ~50mb, can I save things to it and all that good stuff, just like its a really small Hard drive?

I can't wait to get to work for this

~Jabird

Posted by jabird on May 19 2005,17:57

Oh, what file do I need to download to get the CD that has the install to pendrive option?

Posted by meo on May 19 2005,20:28

Hi!

Just download the dsl*.iso file and burn it to a cd.

Have fun
meo

Posted by cbagger01 on May 21 2005,04:04

Make sure that you burn the iso as an image.

In Nero, choose File -> Burn Image (Nero 5) or Recorder -> Burn Image (Nero 6) from the menu.

Posted by Drew on May 27 2005,11:32

This will cover how to install it nicely.

< http://fuzzymunchkin.dyndns.org/tdot/usbkeyfob/index.php >