Damn Small Machine not booting
Forum: DSL Tips and Tricks
Topic: Damn Small Machine not booting
started by: artj12
Posted by artj12 on Mar. 01 2006,17:37
Hi,This is my first foray into Knoppix and Damn Small Anythings, so please forgive the ignorance. I ordered a Damn Small Machine and the USB pendrive with DSL preinstalled. Unfortunately, I plugged it in, turned it on, and I received this error:
> Boot Failure
> Reboot and Select the proper Boot device
> or Insert Boot Media in selected Boot device
> Press any key when ready
But, the keyboard is unreponsive. Is there a way to reimage the pendrive with a DSL package configured to work with the hardware in the DSM?
Thanks, alan
Posted by doobit on Mar. 01 2006,18:12
It just sounds like you need to restart the machine and enter the BIOS to make sure it's set to boot from a USB drive first. Why the keyboard is unresponsive is a mystery though.
Posted by artj12 on Mar. 01 2006,18:28
Unfortunately, I can't enter the BIOS because the keyboard isn't responding. 
Posted by doobit on Mar. 01 2006,18:35
Try a different keyboard. Maybe you need a PS2 keyboard if you are using a USB keyboard, or a USB keyboard if you are using a PS2 keyboard. Also, if it's PS2, make sure you don't have it plugged into the mouse port.
Posted by artj12 on Mar. 01 2006,19:50
K. I'll give that a shot. It actually worked on one reboot then stopped working again. It's a PS/2 and it's plugged into the right port. Weird stuff.
Posted by artj12 on Mar. 25 2006,15:10
just to update... for some reason, the dsm didn't like the keyboard. i swapped it out for another one and everything worked fine. just changed the boot sequence in the bios and everything came right up.
Posted by John on Mar. 25 2006,18:48
artj12, I just saw this thread, I am glad it is working for you now. Out of the various configurations, USB booting tends to be the most fickle. One thing that I noticed is necessary is to have the USB pen plugged in when adjusting the bios. And if you pull the pen out you may have to set the bios again.