ffi Posted August 4, 2007 Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 I want to install mandriva (or some other distro) on a usb drive so I can use it to boot on several computers (like the usb key and mcm-live) is this possible and if so how? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris:b Posted August 4, 2007 Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 No, it is not possible. A normal installation is made for one specific hardware. Only a live system with dynamic hardware detection is _portable_. You can install MCNLive on an external USB drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffi Posted August 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 Only a live system with dynamic hardware detection is _portable_.You can install MCNLive on an external USB drive. That's enough...can it be installed from vmware as I don't have cds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris:b Posted August 4, 2007 Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 (edited) If vmware recognizes the external drive (and the partitions) as a /dev/sdX device, then you can install from the iso, with the Create live usb wizard. If not, you still can do it manually - but you need a running Linux system, pref. a MDV system, because you need to mount the iso and the livecd.sqfs compressed image, and you must install the syslinux bootloader. A CD is easier :D PS: the external HD needs a _FAT32/vfat_ partition as the _first_ partition. This first partition needs the boot flag. Edited August 4, 2007 by chris:b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffi Posted August 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 I used VMware and it installed the following files: boot.cat initrd.gz ldlinux.sys livecd.sqfs splash.jpg splash.msg syslinux.cfg vesamenu.c32 vmlinuz but when I try to boot I get a message about no operating system being installed..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris:b Posted August 4, 2007 Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 The install is ok, your drive is not: https://mandrivausers.org/index.php?s=&...st&p=316261 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffi Posted August 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 I reformated the drive and MCN now starts (though the bootmenu is text only) and it stalls when loading mandriva something about not being able to find unionfs.ko :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris:b Posted August 4, 2007 Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 Text only for the boot menu is ok. Some BIOS don't boot if there is graphic stuff. What is your _exact_ error messages, the last lines, please. Either the files on the drive are corrupted, or there is a usb boot problem. Please try to boot with the bootcode: lenovo (not: livecd lenovo, just: lenovo) And post the exact error messages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffi Posted August 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 this is a sceenshot booted with the option: lenovo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris:b Posted August 4, 2007 Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 (edited) What hardware do you use? Have you ever booted on this PC from external usb? Also, can you post the output of: ls -l (from the partition where the files are), I could check if the copied files are ok. Edited August 4, 2007 by chris:b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffi Posted August 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 ls -l /media/WD\ Passport/ total 477344 -rwx------ 1 ffi root 2048 2007-08-04 18:33 boot.cat -rwx------ 1 ffi root 2147381 2007-08-04 18:33 initrd.gz -r-x------ 1 ffi root 12984 2007-08-04 18:33 ldlinux.sys -rwx------ 1 ffi root 484696064 2007-08-04 18:35 livecd.sqfs -rwx------ 1 ffi root 5436 2007-08-04 18:33 splash.jpg -rwx------ 1 ffi root 991 2007-08-04 18:33 splash.msg -rwx------ 1 ffi root 592 2007-08-04 18:33 syslinux.cfg -rwx------ 1 ffi root 117152 2007-08-04 18:33 vesamenu.c32 -rwx------ 1 ffi root 1709352 2007-08-04 18:33 vmlinuz What hardware do you use? Have you ever booted on this PC from external usb? No never, it' s Dell Dimension 4600 and a brand new WD Passport USB drive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris:b Posted August 4, 2007 Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 (edited) Your files are ok. You either have a timing problem or a usb port problem. You could try a real cold boot. Unplug the usb drive. Shut down the computer. Unplug the power cord. Wait 20 seconds. Replug the power cord, plug the usb drive. Start up. You might want to try other bootcodes, but I doubt they will work. (livecd fromusb nopic nolapic acpi=off irqpoll). What you see is, that at this stage of the boot process, the usb drive is not seen, it looses the contact to the usb drive. It is a timing/kernel problem. Unfortunately there is no easy way to increase the sleep time in the startup script. Because you don't have a burned CD. If you would like to, I can make you a new initrd.gz with more sleep. Edited August 4, 2007 by chris:b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffi Posted August 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 If you would like to, I can make you a new initrd.gz with more sleep. Alsjealsjealsjealsjeblieft ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris:b Posted August 4, 2007 Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 (edited) Here is the initrd.gz with a sleep of 20 seconds, you'll see a short message when booting: http://home.tiscali.nl/berenstraat/initrd.gz I am not sure if it will work. The MDV 2.6.17 kernel has some heavy usb problems. I sure hope we'll get a better 2008 kernel. Edited August 4, 2007 by chris:b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffi Posted August 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 Je bent een schat ;) I will try later and see if it works and let you know.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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