Installing Linux On USB pen Drive
Forum: USB booting
Topic: Installing Linux On USB pen Drive
started by: bresum
Posted by bresum on Oct. 12 2005,14:47
Hi, iv read the other article concerning this piece but i dont understand it, like where do, or what do i use to make the directory. can sombody help me, by telling me the exact steps to take about installing it to USB, it would be really helpful, if its not much trouble, thanks alot
Posted by z33b on Oct. 17 2005,04:43
apparently its too much trouble
Posted by 9a6or on Oct. 17 2005,22:11
If you don't get a reply then usually that means that you will find the answer on this forum if you read a bit. Use the Search button.Download the .iso image
Burn it on a CD-R or CD-RW as an .iso image
Boot the PC from the CD
In DSL right click on the desktop
Apps / Tools / Install to USB Pendrive / For USB-HDD Pendrive
Power Down / Reboot
Take out the CD
Boot from the Pendrive
Posted by lililil on Oct. 26 2005,01:23
can boot from CD? In CD, there is only .iso. I see my PC had read the CD-Rom, but do nothing and boot my MS Window
Posted by mikshaw on Oct. 26 2005,02:57
| Quote |
| In CD, there is only .iso |
This means you need to burn it again, but this time burn it as a cd image rather than just burning the iso file to a regular data session.
Depending on what software you use to burn, there should be a menu item that says something like "burn image". If your burner software is really old, or just plain limited, try finding one of the freeware applications made specifically for burning iso images (i can't remember any names, though...sorry)
Posted by lililil on Oct. 29 2005,03:19
I can boot DS Linux from CD, but it doesn't mount my USB. Would anyone tell me how the mount the USB. I am new user in Linux system.Thanks for all of you
Posted by cbagger01 on Oct. 30 2005,05:47
To mount the USB pendrive, do this.Plug it in.
Boot DSL.
Start up the emelfm file manager
Go to the
/mnt
directory.
Right-click on the "sda1" subdirectory and choose "Mount" from the context menu.
When you are done using your USB drive, go back to this directory /mnt
and Right-Click on "sda1" again and choose "Unmount" from the menu.
Wait a couple seconds and then you can unplug the device.
Posted by Gwynevall on Nov. 12 2005,07:56
When i click on the desktop and choose install/for usb pendrive,It asks me:
1)is it instalation/upgrade, i choose instalation
2)Use DSL iso from Live CD, File, or Web, i choose Live CD, and it writes:
'Not supported from SYSLINUX CD version'
Posted by roberts on Nov. 12 2005,15:30
For those who need documentation or a step by step howto for DSL on usb pendrives, a new book has just been released.Linux Toys II
by Chris Negus
published Wiley
ISBN 0-7645-7995-9
Chapter 6 is all about installing DSL to a pendrive.
And, no, I nor the DSL project, get anything from the sale of any books.
But I do think we should support those who acknowledge our project.
Posted by tomb on Nov. 16 2005,00:34
When I tried to install DSL onto my pendrive I get a message about a bad block device SDA11 after the initial partion on SDA1 is created then the install halts. Any thoughts?
Posted by jester on Nov. 24 2005,14:41
I have the same problem as tomb, is there maybe a mistyped script running?Since the Debian wiki shows no sda11...
*
mkdir dsl_temp
mkdir dsl_usb
mount -o loop dsl-0.8.3.iso dsl_temp
cp -a dsl_temp/* dsl_usb
cd dsl_usb
mv boot/isolinux/* ./
rm -Rf boot
mv isolunux.bin syslinux.bin
mv isolunux.cfg syslinux.cfg
cd..
mkdir usb_pen
mount -t vfat /dev/sda1 U usb_pen
cp -a dsl_usb/* usb_pen
umount usb_pen
syslinux /dev/sda
Thanks
Jester
Posted by Jester on Nov. 24 2005,15:02
Stupid me!No error in the script but in my thinking: when typing sda instead of sda1 everything works fine.
Jester
Posted by Taake on Nov. 24 2005,16:25
Hello!I've got another problem... I did the installation to my usb pendrive and I tried to boot from it. Well it works fine till a point where it says:
"Can't find Knoppix file system"
is that an error on my usb stick... do I have to make an additional Knoppix partition in my stick or where is the error?
Posted by Lupin III on Nov. 29 2005,13:36
This is how to install DSL to a USB Key from Windows without burning the ISO and without having to boot into DSL from the CD and partition the USB key (of course if you want to partition it you'll have to use a partitioning tool, cfdisk, or something else like that). Step 1
Procure USB Key and make sure it is formatted with FAT, just to be sure its working.
Step 2
Download the images necessary (bootusb-0.8.img and dsl-2.0-embedded.zip) and also download WinImage (a share/freeware program -- google it).
Step 3
Open WinImage. Select the File - Open, navigate to and select the boot image you wish to use (bootusb-0.8.img). Select Disk - Use removable disk (x:) with x: being the drive letter of your USB key you wish to install DSL onto.
Step 4
Select Disk - Write Disk. It may say "image must be resized" blah blah. Do it.
Step 5
Once that is complete, view the USB drives contents in windows Explorer. Unzip the files in dsl-2.0-embedded.zip overwriting the files in the root of the USB Key. This basically replaces bootimage 0.8 (since it seems to not be updated with the system release) with the current bootimage.
Step 6
Confirm overwriting of the files. Assuming your bios is up to date, and you've read a lot of the other facts on making sure your usb key will work with your bios, etc, then all you should have to do is reboot and set the USB drive as the boot drive. DSL boots up, loads, and thats where I'm writing this from.
Posted by polik on Dec. 01 2005,10:07
Hello,I got the same error found by Taake one week ago.
I have something to add: I had downloaded dsl2.0RC2.iso, burnt a CD and then made a bootable USB, following the standard procedure and writing do USB-zip. It booted and worked fine.
Then I decided to use the final release: I firstly removed both partitions from my USB key, then I followed the same steps as the last install, but the message
"Can't find Knoppix file system"
was displayed.
I thought it was a bad download, but it's not the case.
Any ideas?
A question to Lupin III: did you choose that method because the standard did not work?
Posted by Martin on Dec. 03 2005,08:56
I followed the procedure above downloading the 2 files then using WinImage to load the .img file followed by unzipping the embeded DSL on top of it. It does boot but I get the same problem, can't find the Knoppix file system so boots to an extremely limited shell.At least this is further than I got trying to use the utilty from within DSL which simply refused to recognise the USB drive.
A shame really as a good working script with appropriate error handling should not be too dificult for those who write such things methinks.
Anybody have a good step by step guide like Lupin's above that will work fully.
Martin
Posted by Lee on Dec. 04 2005,11:51
You might not need to re-burn it, maybe it's not set to boot from cd?In the BIOS, have the boot sequence something like this:
1. CD ROM 1
2. USB Pendrive 1
3. USB Fdd 1
4. HDD 1
Mine is set something like that and it works fine.
p.s thanks for the how to install to usb disk, it helped because i didn't understand the Wiki version.
Posted by DSL_IS_COOL! on Dec. 04 2005,12:36
Is my USB mem sda? sdb1?Can sum let me know?
leet91@gmail.com
Posted by Sharkscott on Dec. 07 2005,19:06
Hello all, This is my first post. DSL_IS_COOL- I used the install program in DSL 2.1 and when I started the process it asked me where the USB was and I entered sda1. It would not go through because the system put the 1 in for me and by me entering 1 it made it sda11. Which of course the computer could not find. I tell you this in case you put the destination in and for some reason it adds the number on the destination.
I have been using different flavors of Linux for over a year now, I am not new to computers though :-)
I finally kissed M$ goodbye on my main computer recently and I am having more fun and learning more and more every day. I heard about DSL only in the last month(I'm a full time student) and now, I have used 2.0 and 2.1 off a live CD on both of my compys(Strongbad) which are running SuSE 10.0.
2.0 rocked but 2.1 is a noticable improvment.
Right now I am running 2.1 on my "second" computer.
"second" - 450mhz P3, 512mb-PC100-RAM, 13gHD SuSE 10.0 with a broadband connection.
I type the url in and hit enter and it comes up BAM, just like that. It loads espn.com in 2 or 3 seconds tops. heavy.com in les than ten, which takes upwards of a minute on other computers.
I have yet to test my USB 2.1 install. I put it on a Lexar 256mb jumpdrive sport. The DSL program partitioned it into sda1-52mb and sda2-206mb.
I'll see what happens and post on it.
Posted by -=[theGuardian]=- on Dec. 08 2005,09:57
Hi there...., i'm getting totaly freaked-out of this problem..........., i trued to install DSL 2.0 in ALL the ways i know...., but not one of them works? 
I came across this problem in the forum, and so i downloaded WinImage v.8.0 / dsl-2.0-embedded.zip / bootusb-0.8.img, and did everytinhg EXACTLY as explained here...., now it boots., shows the DSL start screen...., i pressed enter....., see tux for a sec or five with a blinking cursor......., and then it scans for USB devices.
After that ALL my drivers...., and then it says; "Can't find Knoppix file system"
and i get a verry, VERRY minimall shell (about six commands)
Someone PLEASE help me, as i am out of ideas?!
(thanx in advance)
Posted by One_time on Dec. 08 2005,17:59
I'm not sure what all the problem is about getting DSL onto a USB pen drive, if anything, this should be the easiest part. I downloaded the isolinux DSL 2.0, burned to a CD, booted up my Dell via the CD, and chose the install to USB drive option (using a 256 Lexar JumpDrive). Following the forums, choose SDA, and it installed.Now, getting it to boot is a different matter. My Dimension 2300 won't boot via USB (so I have to use the CD or HD there), but my Dell x300 laptop will. Just needed to change the boot order of my devices. Also, need to use expert boot option, which takes just a little bit longer, but otherwise works fantastic.
Posted by Sharkscott on Dec. 09 2005,03:32
Hi, The booting hurdles are why I do the CD to run and the USB to back-up too. It gives you the least amount of trouble in booting and once you back-up a file to your USB stick the OS automatically looks in the same destination after that. My challenge now is, after experimanting with the whole booting from the USB thing, I deleted the partitions on my USB stick and now nothing can see it or deliver files to it. Anybody know what I did to my poor little USB stick?
Posted by -=[theGuardian]=- on Dec. 10 2005,12:10
Hi there.., had that problem once...., al partitions were gone!Just run a linux (i preffer DSL or KNOPPIX) and then start you're favorite partition CONSOLE program.
Give the USB drive as a parameter (e.g. /dev/sda) and the you can write a clean new partition table, and edit it.
Maybe the company that made you're usb drive also created a software package for it (like mine did: peak-hardware)
Grtz
Posted by Sharkscott on Dec. 12 2005,06:31
Hi, Thank You for the info. I should be slapped but I got on to a M$ machine and re-formatted it. I knew how to do it that way, sorry. Honest though, I did not enjoy it. Honest. :-)