[gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Joseph]

I'm trying to make my 4GB USB bootable and it is not working.

df -h
Filesystem      Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
...
/dev/sda1       3.8G  190M  3.6G   5% /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED

fdisk -l
...
Device    Boot Start       End  Blocks  Id System
/dev/sda1 *     1064   7864319 3931628   c W95 FAT32 (LBA)

Here are the steps I'm following: 
 mount -o loop,ro -t iso9660 /home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso /mnt/cdrom/
 cp -r /mnt/cdrom/* /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED
 mv /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/isolinux/* /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/
 mv /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/isolinux.cfg /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/syslinux.cfg
 rm -rf /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/isolinux*
 mv /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/memtest86 /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/memtest
 sed -i -e "s:cdroot:cdroot slowusb:" -e "s:kernel memtest86:kernel memtest:" /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/syslinux.cfg
 umount /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/
 syslinux  /dev/sda1

The above steps are from: 
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/LiveUSB/HOWTO

Where is my mistake? 

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[J. Roeleveld]

On Friday, August 29, 2014 11:37:37 PM Joseph wrote:
> I'm trying to make my 4GB USB bootable and it is not working.
> 
> df -h
> Filesystem      Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
> ...
> /dev/sda1       3.8G  190M  3.6G   5% /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED
> 
> fdisk -l
> ...
> Device    Boot Start       End  Blocks  Id System
> /dev/sda1 *     1064   7864319 3931628   c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
> 
> Here are the steps I'm following:
>  mount -o loop,ro -t iso9660
> /home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso /mnt/cdrom/ cp -r
> /mnt/cdrom/* /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED
>  mv /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/isolinux/* /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/
>  mv /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/isolinux.cfg
> /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/syslinux.cfg rm -rf
> /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/isolinux*
>  mv /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/memtest86
> /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/memtest sed -i -e "s:cdroot:cdroot slowusb:" -e
> "s:kernel memtest86:kernel memtest:"
> /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/syslinux.cfg umount
> /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/
>  syslinux  /dev/sda1
> 
> The above steps are from:
> https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/LiveUSB/HOWTO
> 
> Where is my mistake?

You're not following all the steps.

--
Joost

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Joseph]

I think I've missed:
dd if=/usr/share/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sda1

On 08/30/14 08:15, J. Roeleveld wrote:
>On Friday, August 29, 2014 11:37:37 PM Joseph wrote:
>> I'm trying to make my 4GB USB bootable and it is not working.
>>
>> df -h
>> Filesystem      Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
>> ...
>> /dev/sda1       3.8G  190M  3.6G   5% /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED
>>
>> fdisk -l
>> ...
>> Device    Boot Start       End  Blocks  Id System
>> /dev/sda1 *     1064   7864319 3931628   c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
>>
>> Here are the steps I'm following:
>>  mount -o loop,ro -t iso9660
>> /home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso /mnt/cdrom/ cp -r
>> /mnt/cdrom/* /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED
>>  mv /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/isolinux/* /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/
>>  mv /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/isolinux.cfg
>> /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/syslinux.cfg rm -rf
>> /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/isolinux*
>>  mv /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/memtest86
>> /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/memtest sed -i -e "s:cdroot:cdroot slowusb:" -e
>> "s:kernel memtest86:kernel memtest:"
>> /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/syslinux.cfg umount
>> /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/
>>  syslinux  /dev/sda1
>>
>> The above steps are from:
>> https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/LiveUSB/HOWTO
>>
>> Where is my mistake?
>
>You're not following all the steps.
>
>--
>Joost
>

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[J. Roeleveld]

On 30 August 2014 08:32:10 CEST, Joseph <syscon780@gmail.com> wrote:
>I think I've missed:
>dd if=/usr/share/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sda1
>
>On 08/30/14 08:15, J. Roeleveld wrote:
>>On Friday, August 29, 2014 11:37:37 PM Joseph wrote:
>>> I'm trying to make my 4GB USB bootable and it is not working.
>>>
>>> df -h
>>> Filesystem      Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
>>> ...
>>> /dev/sda1       3.8G  190M  3.6G   5% /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED
>>>
>>> fdisk -l
>>> ...
>>> Device    Boot Start       End  Blocks  Id System
>>> /dev/sda1 *     1064   7864319 3931628   c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
>>>
>>> Here are the steps I'm following:
>>>  mount -o loop,ro -t iso9660
>>> /home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
>/mnt/cdrom/ cp -r
>>> /mnt/cdrom/* /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED
>>>  mv /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/isolinux/*
>/run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/
>>>  mv /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/isolinux.cfg
>>> /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/syslinux.cfg rm -rf
>>> /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/isolinux*
>>>  mv /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/memtest86
>>> /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/memtest sed -i -e "s:cdroot:cdroot
>slowusb:" -e
>>> "s:kernel memtest86:kernel memtest:"
>>> /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/syslinux.cfg umount
>>> /run/media/joseph/B885-F1ED/
>>>  syslinux  /dev/sda1
>>>
>>> The above steps are from:
>>> https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/LiveUSB/HOWTO
>>>
>>> Where is my mistake?
>>
>>You're not following all the steps.
>>
>>--
>>Joost
>>

Joseph.

I have asked you before.
Please do NOT top post.
-- 
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Joseph]

I've re-run the setup but it still doesn't work.

df -h
/dev/sda1       3.8G  190M  3.6G   5% /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa

/dev/sda1 *     2048   7864319 3931136   b W95 FAT32

while usb not mounted:

dd if=/usr/share/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sda
0+1 records in
0+1 records out
440 bytes (440 B) copied, 0.00121707 s, 362 kB/s

While usb mounted:

cp -r /mnt/cdrom/* /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa
mv /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/isolinux/* /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa
mv /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/isolinux.cfg /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/syslinux.cfg
rm -rf /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/isolinux*
mv /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/memtest86 /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/memtest
sed -i -e "s:cdroot:cdroot slowusb:" -e "s:kernel memtest86:kernel memtest:" /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/syslinux.cfg
umount /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa
syslinux /dev/sda1

Does the "dd if=/usr/share/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sda"
has to be run when USB is mounted or unmounted?

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Will Tomlinson]

On Sun, 31 Aug 2014 12:06:49 -0600
Joseph <syscon780@gmail.com> wrote:

> I've re-run the setup but it still doesn't work.
> 
> df -h
> /dev/sda1       3.8G  190M  3.6G   5% /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa
> 
> /dev/sda1 *     2048   7864319 3931136   b W95 FAT32
> 
> while usb not mounted:
> 
> dd if=/usr/share/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sda
> 0+1 records in
> 0+1 records out
> 440 bytes (440 B) copied, 0.00121707 s, 362 kB/s
> 
> While usb mounted:
> 
> cp -r /mnt/cdrom/* /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa
> mv /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/isolinux/* /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa
> mv /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/isolinux.cfg /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/syslinux.cfg
> rm -rf /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/isolinux*
> mv /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/memtest86 /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/memtest
> sed -i -e "s:cdroot:cdroot slowusb:" -e "s:kernel memtest86:kernel
> memtest:" /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/syslinux.cfg
> umount /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa syslinux /dev/sda1
> 
> Does the "dd if=/usr/share/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sda"
> has to be run when USB is mounted or unmounted?
>
 
Joseph, I am assuming you are trying to create an install disk? If so,
you shouldn't have to do all these steps. I normally just download the
minimal install ISO and write it to a USB drive with the following
commands:

# dd if=/path/to/minimal-install.iso of=/path/to/usb-drive bs=4096
# sync

You don't have to mount the USB drive. Use sync to ensure that all the
data has actually been written to the device before you remove it.

I have run across problems with some ISO files that don't play nice
with this method, but this one seems to work well with the Gentoo
minimal CD. Also, keep in mind that you don't really need to have the
Gentoo install disc to install Gentoo. It's certainly EASIER to follow
the handbook when you have the minimal install disc, but just about any
Linux live CD will work as long as the architecture matches (chroot
from x86 to amd64, for example, will not work). Anyway, if this is not
what you are trying to do, maybe you can give us more details.
-- 
Will Tomlinson

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[wraeth]

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On Sun, 31 Aug 2014 20:55:27 Will Tomlinson wrote:
> ...
> the handbook when you have the minimal install disc, but just about any
> Linux live CD will work as long as the architecture matches (chroot
> from x86 to amd64, for example, will not work). Anyway, if this is not
> what you are trying to do, maybe you can give us more details.

There's actually instructions for non-Gentoo installation media:

https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Installation_alternatives

Specifically, there can be some issues with setting up the shell environment 
from some environments.

--
wraeth

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Joseph]

On 08/31/14 20:55, Will Tomlinson wrote:
>On Sun, 31 Aug 2014 12:06:49 -0600
>Joseph <syscon780@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I've re-run the setup but it still doesn't work.
>>
>> df -h
>> /dev/sda1       3.8G  190M  3.6G   5% /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa
>>
>> /dev/sda1 *     2048   7864319 3931136   b W95 FAT32
>>
>> while usb not mounted:
>>
>> dd if=/usr/share/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sda
>> 0+1 records in
>> 0+1 records out
>> 440 bytes (440 B) copied, 0.00121707 s, 362 kB/s
>>
>> While usb mounted:
>>
>> cp -r /mnt/cdrom/* /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa
>> mv /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/isolinux/* /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa
>> mv /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/isolinux.cfg /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/syslinux.cfg
>> rm -rf /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/isolinux*
>> mv /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/memtest86 /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/memtest
>> sed -i -e "s:cdroot:cdroot slowusb:" -e "s:kernel memtest86:kernel
>> memtest:" /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa/syslinux.cfg
>> umount /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa syslinux /dev/sda1
>>
>> Does the "dd if=/usr/share/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sda"
>> has to be run when USB is mounted or unmounted?
>>
>
>Joseph, I am assuming you are trying to create an install disk? If so,
>you shouldn't have to do all these steps. I normally just download the
>minimal install ISO and write it to a USB drive with the following
>commands:
>
># dd if=/path/to/minimal-install.iso of=/path/to/usb-drive bs=4096
># sync
>
>You don't have to mount the USB drive. Use sync to ensure that all the
>data has actually been written to the device before you remove it.
>
>I have run across problems with some ISO files that don't play nice
>with this method, but this one seems to work well with the Gentoo
>minimal CD. Also, keep in mind that you don't really need to have the
>Gentoo install disc to install Gentoo. It's certainly EASIER to follow
>the handbook when you have the minimal install disc, but just about any
>Linux live CD will work as long as the architecture matches (chroot
>from x86 to amd64, for example, will not work). Anyway, if this is not
>what you are trying to do, maybe you can give us more details.
>-- 
>Will Tomlinson

I run it on 1MB USB stick, it did not work:
dd if=/path/to/minimal-install.iso of=/path/to/usb-drive bs=4096
sync

I think the "dd" will work with LiveDVD but not liveCD.

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[wraeth]

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On Sun, 31 Aug 2014 20:06:46 Joseph wrote:
> I run it on 1MB USB stick, it did not work:

Just to clarify: a 1MB USB stick? Surely you don't mean an actual USB stick 
with 1MB capacity...?

> dd if=/path/to/minimal-install.iso of=/path/to/usb-drive bs=4096
> sync
> 
> I think the "dd" will work with LiveDVD but not liveCD.

What path are you using for the USB drive? Are you specifying a partition 
(which you shouldn't)?

As a working example:

dd if=/home/wraeth/iso/install-amd64-minimal-20140529.iso of=/dev/sdc bs=4M
sync

--
wraeth

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Joseph]

On 09/01/14 12:16, wraeth wrote:
>On Sun, 31 Aug 2014 20:06:46 Joseph wrote:
>> I run it on 1MB USB stick, it did not work:
>
>Just to clarify: a 1MB USB stick? Surely you don't mean an actual USB stick
>with 1MB capacity...?
>
>> dd if=/path/to/minimal-install.iso of=/path/to/usb-drive bs=4096
>> sync
>>
>> I think the "dd" will work with LiveDVD but not liveCD.
>
>What path are you using for the USB drive? Are you specifying a partition
>(which you shouldn't)?
>
>As a working example:
>
>dd if=/home/wraeth/iso/install-amd64-minimal-20140529.iso of=/dev/sdc bs=4M
>sync
>
>--
>wraeth

In my case I was doing as root:
dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140529.iso of=/dev/sda bs=4096
sync

and the usb was unmounted.

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Alan McKinnon]

On 01/09/2014 08:48, Joseph wrote:
> On 09/01/14 12:16, wraeth wrote:
>> On Sun, 31 Aug 2014 20:06:46 Joseph wrote:
>>> I run it on 1MB USB stick, it did not work:
>>
>> Just to clarify: a 1MB USB stick? Surely you don't mean an actual USB
>> stick
>> with 1MB capacity...?
>>
>>> dd if=/path/to/minimal-install.iso of=/path/to/usb-drive bs=4096
>>> sync
>>>
>>> I think the "dd" will work with LiveDVD but not liveCD.
>>
>> What path are you using for the USB drive? Are you specifying a partition
>> (which you shouldn't)?
>>
>> As a working example:
>>
>> dd if=/home/wraeth/iso/install-amd64-minimal-20140529.iso of=/dev/sdc
>> bs=4M
>> sync
>>
>> -- 
>> wraeth
> 
> In my case I was doing as root:
> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140529.iso
> of=/dev/sda bs=4096
> sync
> 
> and the usb was unmounted.
> 


You didn't respond to the question if you really have a 1 MEGABYTE stick



-- 
Alan McKinnon
alan.mckinnon@gmail.com

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Peter Humphrey]

On Monday 01 September 2014 00:48:25 Joseph wrote:

> In my case I was doing as root:
> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140529.iso of=/dev/sda
> bs=4096 sync

If your USB stick is /dev/sda, what device is your root partition?

-- 
Regards
Peter

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Sun, 31 Aug 2014 20:55:27 -0400, Will Tomlinson wrote:

> # dd if=/path/to/minimal-install.iso of=/path/to/usb-drive bs=4096
> # sync
> 
> You don't have to mount the USB drive. Use sync to ensure that all the
> data has actually been written to the device before you remove it.

The ISO image has to be created as a "hybrid" image for this to work. Use
isohybrid from syslinux to convert non-hybrid images. You can easily test
if an ISO image is hybrid with fdisk -l, if it shows a partition table
the image is hybrid.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Remember that the Titanic was built by experts, and the Ark by a newbie

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Mick]

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On Monday 01 Sep 2014 09:51:10 Neil Bothwick wrote:
> On Sun, 31 Aug 2014 20:55:27 -0400, Will Tomlinson wrote:
> > # dd if=/path/to/minimal-install.iso of=/path/to/usb-drive bs=4096
> > # sync
> > 
> > You don't have to mount the USB drive. Use sync to ensure that all the
> > data has actually been written to the device before you remove it.
> 
> The ISO image has to be created as a "hybrid" image for this to work. Use
> isohybrid from syslinux to convert non-hybrid images. You can easily test
> if an ISO image is hybrid with fdisk -l, if it shows a partition table
> the image is hybrid.

Also, I have seen everywhere bs=1048576 being used with the dd command for 
hybrid iso images, rather than bs=4096 or some other value.  I am not sure if 
writing a larger block size is of importance, but I mention it in case it 
makes a difference.

-- 
Regards,
Mick

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[J. Roeleveld]

On Sunday, August 31, 2014 08:06:46 PM Joseph wrote:
> On 08/31/14 20:55, Will Tomlinson wrote:
> >On Sun, 31 Aug 2014 12:06:49 -0600
> >
> >Joseph <syscon780@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> I've re-run the setup but it still doesn't work.
> >> 
> >> df -h
> >> /dev/sda1       3.8G  190M  3.6G   5% /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa
> >> 
> >> /dev/sda1 *     2048   7864319 3931136   b W95 FAT32

Which command did you use to create the filesystem?

> >> while usb not mounted:
> >> 
> >> dd if=/usr/share/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sda
> >> 0+1 records in
> >> 0+1 records out
> >> 440 bytes (440 B) copied, 0.00121707 s, 362 kB/s
> >> 
> >> While usb mounted:

Which command do you use to mount?

<SNIP>

> >
> >Joseph, I am assuming you are trying to create an install disk? If so,
> >you shouldn't have to do all these steps. I normally just download the
> >minimal install ISO and write it to a USB drive with the following
> >commands:
> >
> ># dd if=/path/to/minimal-install.iso of=/path/to/usb-drive bs=4096
> ># sync
> >
> >You don't have to mount the USB drive. Use sync to ensure that all the
> >data has actually been written to the device before you remove it.
> >
> >I have run across problems with some ISO files that don't play nice
> >with this method, but this one seems to work well with the Gentoo
> >minimal CD. Also, keep in mind that you don't really need to have the
> >Gentoo install disc to install Gentoo. It's certainly EASIER to follow
> >the handbook when you have the minimal install disc, but just about any
> >Linux live CD will work as long as the architecture matches (chroot
> >from x86 to amd64, for example, will not work). Anyway, if this is not
> >what you are trying to do, maybe you can give us more details.
> 
> I run it on 1MB USB stick, it did not work:
> dd if=/path/to/minimal-install.iso of=/path/to/usb-drive bs=4096
> sync
> 
> I think the "dd" will work with LiveDVD but not liveCD.

Why not use unetbootin?

--
Joost

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[wraeth]

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On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 09:51:10 Neil Bothwick wrote:
> The ISO image has to be created as a "hybrid" image for this to work.

I'm pretty sure the Gentoo minimal image is - I've been dd'ing the iso's for 
quite a while now, and it's always been a simple case of download, verify, dd.

Besides, running `fdisk -l /path/to/image.iso` does return a partition list 
(of one NTFS/Hidden partition) for me, using a standard unmodified minimal 
iso.

It's certainly worth noting, but in this case, OP is using a minimal image 
(install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso).

--
wraeth

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[wraeth]

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On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 00:48:25 Joseph wrote:

> In my case I was doing as root:
> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140529.iso of=/dev/sda
> bs=4096 sync
> 
> and the usb was unmounted.

As mentioned by Alan, you haven't clarified what you meant by "1MB USB stick" 
- trying to put a ~250MB image on a 1MB stick simply isn't going to work.

Can you show the exact command(s) and any errors that are presented when you 
are doing this (feel free to redact any sensitive information that may be 
present)?

--
wraeth

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Mon, 01 Sep 2014 19:42:04 +1000, wraeth wrote:

> > The ISO image has to be created as a "hybrid" image for this to
> > work.  
> 
> I'm pretty sure the Gentoo minimal image is - I've been dd'ing the
> iso's for quite a while now, and it's always been a simple case of
> download, verify, dd.
> 
> Besides, running `fdisk -l /path/to/image.iso` does return a partition
> list (of one NTFS/Hidden partition) for me, using a standard unmodified
> minimal iso.

Then it is hybrid.
 
> It's certainly worth noting, but in this case, OP is using a minimal
> image (install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso).

The conversion process is non-destructive, it uses space normally unused
on a CD/DVD ISO, so the process is safe on any ISO. I've used it on
dozens of ISOs distributed to tens of thousands of users and not had a
single complaint yet.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Capt'n! The spellchecker kinna take this abuse!

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 10:13:20 +0100, Mick wrote:

> Also, I have seen everywhere bs=1048576 being used with the dd command
> for hybrid iso images, rather than bs=4096 or some other value.  I am
> not sure if writing a larger block size is of importance, but I mention
> it in case it makes a difference.

In my experience, anything over 4k makes little or no difference. The
filesystems have a 4k block size, so the default of 512 is dead slow, but
once you hit the block size the improvments stop.

I usually use dcfldd these days, which seems to do a good job of working
out the optimum block size for itself, instead of using a prehistoric
default.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Anything worth fighting for is worth fighting dirty for.

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Joseph]

On 09/01/14 09:18, Alan McKinnon wrote:
>On 01/09/2014 08:48, Joseph wrote:
>> On 09/01/14 12:16, wraeth wrote:
>>> On Sun, 31 Aug 2014 20:06:46 Joseph wrote:
>>>> I run it on 1MB USB stick, it did not work:
>>>
>>> Just to clarify: a 1MB USB stick? Surely you don't mean an actual USB
>>> stick
>>> with 1MB capacity...?
>>>
>>>> dd if=/path/to/minimal-install.iso of=/path/to/usb-drive bs=4096
>>>> sync
>>>>
>>>> I think the "dd" will work with LiveDVD but not liveCD.
>>>
>>> What path are you using for the USB drive? Are you specifying a partition
>>> (which you shouldn't)?
>>>
>>> As a working example:
>>>
>>> dd if=/home/wraeth/iso/install-amd64-minimal-20140529.iso of=/dev/sdc
>>> bs=4M
>>> sync
>>>
>>> --
>>> wraeth
>>
>> In my case I was doing as root:
>> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140529.iso
>> of=/dev/sda bs=4096
>> sync
>>
>> and the usb was unmounted.
>>
>
>
>You didn't respond to the question if you really have a 1 MEGABYTE stick
>
>
>
>-- 
>Alan McKinnon
>alan.mckinnon@gmail.com

Sorry I've made a typo, I have two sticks one 1GB and one 4GB (not MB)
I've tried the "dd" with both and it doesn't work with CD ISO it might work with DVD ISO as the layout is different.

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Joseph]

On 09/01/14 09:02, Peter Humphrey wrote:
>On Monday 01 September 2014 00:48:25 Joseph wrote:
>
>> In my case I was doing as root:
>> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140529.iso of=/dev/sda
>> bs=4096 sync
>
>If your USB stick is /dev/sda, what device is your root partition?
>
>-- 
>Regards
>Peter

Root is on hda3 (it is an old box).

df -h
Filesystem      Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/hda3        28G   19G  7.3G  73% /
/dev/hda4        84G   57G   24G  71% /home

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Joseph]

On 09/01/14 11:32, J. Roeleveld wrote:
>On Sunday, August 31, 2014 08:06:46 PM Joseph wrote:
>> On 08/31/14 20:55, Will Tomlinson wrote:
>> >On Sun, 31 Aug 2014 12:06:49 -0600
>> >
>> >Joseph <syscon780@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> I've re-run the setup but it still doesn't work.
>> >>
>> >> df -h
>> >> /dev/sda1       3.8G  190M  3.6G   5% /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa
>> >>
>> >> /dev/sda1 *     2048   7864319 3931136   b W95 FAT32
>
>Which command did you use to create the filesystem?

I used to format usb stick flash drive - bootable
create partition if it doesn't exist
# fdisk /dev/sda
n
p
1 enter, enter

t
b
w
q

format it for 1GB
# mkfs -t vfat /dev/sda1

format it for 4GB
# mkfs -t vfat -F 32 /dev/sda1

>> >> while usb not mounted:
>> >>
>> >> dd if=/usr/share/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sda
>> >> 0+1 records in
>> >> 0+1 records out
>> >> 440 bytes (440 B) copied, 0.00121707 s, 362 kB/s
>> >>
>> >> While usb mounted:
>
>Which command do you use to mount?

To mount USB I use from my desktop XFCE icon drop down menu after icon showed up "Mount Volume" 


><SNIP>
>
>> >
>> >Joseph, I am assuming you are trying to create an install disk? If so,
>> >you shouldn't have to do all these steps. I normally just download the
>> >minimal install ISO and write it to a USB drive with the following
>> >commands:
>> >
>> ># dd if=/path/to/minimal-install.iso of=/path/to/usb-drive bs=4096
>> ># sync
>> >
>> >You don't have to mount the USB drive. Use sync to ensure that all the
>> >data has actually been written to the device before you remove it.
>> >
>> >I have run across problems with some ISO files that don't play nice
>> >with this method, but this one seems to work well with the Gentoo
>> >minimal CD. Also, keep in mind that you don't really need to have the
>> >Gentoo install disc to install Gentoo. It's certainly EASIER to follow
>> >the handbook when you have the minimal install disc, but just about any
>> >Linux live CD will work as long as the architecture matches (chroot
>> >from x86 to amd64, for example, will not work). Anyway, if this is not
>> >what you are trying to do, maybe you can give us more details.
>>
>> I run it on 1MB USB stick, it did not work:
>> dd if=/path/to/minimal-install.iso of=/path/to/usb-drive bs=4096
>> sync
>>
>> I think the "dd" will work with LiveDVD but not liveCD.
>
>Why not use unetbootin?
>
>--
>Joost

I used LiveCD (SystemRescueCD)
http://blog.kasunbg.org/2012/02/installing-gentoo-from-livecd.html

mounted with "loop"
mount -o loop,ro -t iso9660 /home/joseph/Downloads/systemrescuecd-x86-4.3.0.iso /mnt/cdrom/

cd /tmp/cdrom
bash ./usb_inst.sh

and their scrip made the bootable USB just fine, it works.
But it bugs me that Gentoo instruction didn't work.

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Joseph]

On 09/01/14 19:42, wraeth wrote:
>On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 09:51:10 Neil Bothwick wrote:
>> The ISO image has to be created as a "hybrid" image for this to work.
>
>I'm pretty sure the Gentoo minimal image is - I've been dd'ing the iso's for
>quite a while now, and it's always been a simple case of download, verify, dd.

If you burn the minimal install CD ISO image to CD it will work, but I think it will not work if one tries to put it on a USB stick. The structure is different for 
USB.

>
>Besides, running `fdisk -l /path/to/image.iso` does return a partition list
>(of one NTFS/Hidden partition) for me, using a standard unmodified minimal
>iso.

fdisk -l install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso

Disk install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso: 190 MiB, 199229440 bytes, 389120 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0x1047d058

Device                              Boot Start       End Blocks  Id System
install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso1 *        0    389119 194560  17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS

>
>It's certainly worth noting, but in this case, OP is using a minimal image
>(install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso).
>
>--
>wraeth

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Christopher Jones]

I had the minimal ISO on a usb stick so it can be done. 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 1, 2014, at 12:29 PM, Joseph <syscon780@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> On 09/01/14 19:42, wraeth wrote:
>>> On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 09:51:10 Neil Bothwick wrote:
>>> The ISO image has to be created as a "hybrid" image for this to work.
>> 
>> I'm pretty sure the Gentoo minimal image is - I've been dd'ing the iso's for
>> quite a while now, and it's always been a simple case of download, verify, dd.
> 
> If you burn the minimal install CD ISO image to CD it will work, but I think it will not work if one tries to put it on a USB stick. The structure is different for USB.
> 
>> 
>> Besides, running `fdisk -l /path/to/image.iso` does return a partition list
>> (of one NTFS/Hidden partition) for me, using a standard unmodified minimal
>> iso.
> 
> fdisk -l install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
> 
> Disk install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso: 190 MiB, 199229440 bytes, 389120 sectors
> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
> Disklabel type: dos
> Disk identifier: 0x1047d058
> 
> Device                              Boot Start       End Blocks  Id System
> install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso1 *        0    389119 194560  17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS
> 
>> 
>> It's certainly worth noting, but in this case, OP is using a minimal image
>> (install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso).
>> 
>> --
>> wraeth
> 
> -- 
> Joseph
> 

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Christopher Jones]

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 1, 2014, at 12:38 PM, Christopher Jones <christopher.jones1216@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I had the minimal ISO on a usb stick so it can be done. 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>>> On Sep 1, 2014, at 12:29 PM, Joseph <syscon780@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> On 09/01/14 19:42, wraeth wrote:
>>>> On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 09:51:10 Neil Bothwick wrote:
>>>> The ISO image has to be created as a "hybrid" image for this to work.
>>> 
>>> I'm pretty sure the Gentoo minimal image is - I've been dd'ing the iso's for
>>> quite a while now, and it's always been a simple case of download, verify, dd.
>> 
>> If you burn the minimal install CD ISO image to CD it will work, but I think it will not work if one tries to put it on a USB stick. The structure is different for USB.
>> 
>>> 
>>> Besides, running `fdisk -l /path/to/image.iso` does return a partition list
>>> (of one NTFS/Hidden partition) for me, using a standard unmodified minimal
>>> iso.
>> 
>> fdisk -l install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
>> 
>> Disk install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso: 190 MiB, 199229440 bytes, 389120 sectors
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
>> Disklabel type: dos
>> Disk identifier: 0x1047d058
>> 
>> Device                              Boot Start       End Blocks  Id System
>> install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso1 *        0    389119 194560  17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS
>> 
>>> 
>>> It's certainly worth noting, but in this case, OP is using a minimal image
>>> (install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso).
>>> 
>>> --
>>> wraeth
>> 
>> -- 
>> Joseph
>> 
Sorry for the top post. Still drinking my morning coffee. 

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Christian Kruse]

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Hi,

On 01/09/14 12:38, Christopher Jones wrote:
> I had the minimal ISO on a usb stick so it can be done. 

No, the current minimal ISO image can't be dd'ed to an USB
stick. Tried it yesterday for a fresh install on a new box, it doesn't
work. I used System Rescue CD then.

Regards,

-- 
Christian Kruse
http://ck.kennt-wayne.de/

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Joseph]

On 09/01/14 12:41, Christopher Jones wrote:
>
>
>Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Sep 1, 2014, at 12:38 PM, Christopher Jones <christopher.jones1216@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> I had the minimal ISO on a usb stick so it can be done.
>>
[snip]

Some ISO images already have the appropriate boot sector; for example, Arch Linux ISOs. In this case, all you need is to write the image using dd ... of=/dev/sda or 
similar. 

But if the ISO image is not specially prepared (like Gentoo minimal ISO's) to be used from a USB drive, you need to copy the .iso file to the disk as an 
ordinary file – mount, cp, all that – and install a bootloader such as Syslinux or lilo or GRUB. 

Unfortunately the instruction on Gentoo Wiki is missing something, so it doesn't work either.

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Will Tomlinson]

On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 20:53:37 +0200
Christian Kruse <cjk@defunct.ch> wrote:

> No, the current minimal ISO image can't be dd'ed to an USB
> stick. Tried it yesterday for a fresh install on a new box, it doesn't
> work. I used System Rescue CD then.
> 
> Regards,
> 

I have never used any other method to write the Gentoo minimal ISO to a
USB stick. And I also tried it on the most recent ISO as of yesterday
with no issues. I'm curious why there seems to be so much difference in
opinion on this. Maybe certain hardware doesn't work with this method?
I'm just guessing here as I can't seem to reproduce the problem.

As for your issue Joseph, have you tried using a tool like unetbootin?
It would certainly simplify the process for you. I am a CLI purist at
heart, but there comes a point where I would rather just get something
done than stick to my ideals.

-- 
Will Tomlinson

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 10:29:22 -0600, Joseph wrote:

> fdisk -l install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
> 
> Disk install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso: 190 MiB, 199229440 bytes,
> 389120 sectors Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
> Disklabel type: dos
> Disk identifier: 0x1047d058
> 
> Device                              Boot Start       End Blocks  Id
> System

That's a hybrid ISO, you can dd it to a USB stick.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Ask a silly person, get a silly answer

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 13:12:49 -0600, Joseph wrote:

> But if the ISO image is not specially prepared (like Gentoo minimal
> ISO's) to be used from a USB drive, you need to copy the .iso file to
> the disk as an ordinary file – mount, cp, all that – and install a
> bootloader such as Syslinux or lilo or GRUB. 

No you don't. See my previous posts.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Politicians are like nappies
Both should be changed regularly, and for the same reason

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 20:53:37 +0200, Christian Kruse wrote:

> > I had the minimal ISO on a usb stick so it can be done.   
> 
> No, the current minimal ISO image can't be dd'ed to an USB
> stick. Tried it yesterday for a fresh install on a new box, it doesn't
> work.

It definitely works here, and fdisk shows it to be a hybrid image. You
are writing it to the USB device itself and not a partition on it?


-- 
Neil Bothwick

@@@@ There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who are
good with words, and those who are... erm... thingy @@@@

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Alan McKinnon]

On 01/09/2014 22:13, Neil Bothwick wrote:
> On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 20:53:37 +0200, Christian Kruse wrote:
> 
>>> I had the minimal ISO on a usb stick so it can be done.   
>>
>> No, the current minimal ISO image can't be dd'ed to an USB
>> stick. Tried it yesterday for a fresh install on a new box, it doesn't
>> work.
> 
> It definitely works here, and fdisk shows it to be a hybrid image. You
> are writing it to the USB device itself and not a partition on it?
> 
> 


every single time I've had trouble using dd and unetbootin on a usb
stick it's because I yanked it out of the socket too early.

just sayin'


-- 
Alan McKinnon
alan.mckinnon@gmail.com

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Mon, 01 Sep 2014 23:58:17 +0200, Alan McKinnon wrote:

> > It definitely works here, and fdisk shows it to be a hybrid image. You
> > are writing it to the USB device itself and not a partition on it?

> every single time I've had trouble using dd and unetbootin on a usb
> stick it's because I yanked it out of the socket too early.
> 
> just sayin'

Yes, you MUST run sync after dd. When I tested the minimal install image
just now, dd returned after less than two seconds. sync took a little
longer...


-- 
Neil Bothwick

I thought the 10 commandments were multiple choice.

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Mick]

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On Monday 01 Sep 2014 23:03:46 Neil Bothwick wrote:
> On Mon, 01 Sep 2014 23:58:17 +0200, Alan McKinnon wrote:
> > > It definitely works here, and fdisk shows it to be a hybrid image. You
> > > are writing it to the USB device itself and not a partition on it?
> > 
> > every single time I've had trouble using dd and unetbootin on a usb
> > stick it's because I yanked it out of the socket too early.
> > 
> > just sayin'
> 
> Yes, you MUST run sync after dd. When I tested the minimal install image
> just now, dd returned after less than two seconds. sync took a little
> longer...

BTW, I bricked a USB stick when I impatiently pulled it out thinking that dd 
had finished.  I learned to be more patient and less stupid from that 
experience.

Run sync and wait for it to finish.  ;-)

-- 
Regards,
Mick

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Joseph]

On 09/01/14 15:50, Will Tomlinson wrote:
>On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 20:53:37 +0200
>Christian Kruse <cjk@defunct.ch> wrote:
>
>> No, the current minimal ISO image can't be dd'ed to an USB
>> stick. Tried it yesterday for a fresh install on a new box, it doesn't
>> work. I used System Rescue CD then.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>
>I have never used any other method to write the Gentoo minimal ISO to a
>USB stick. And I also tried it on the most recent ISO as of yesterday
>with no issues. I'm curious why there seems to be so much difference in
>opinion on this. Maybe certain hardware doesn't work with this method?
>I'm just guessing here as I can't seem to reproduce the problem.
>
>As for your issue Joseph, have you tried using a tool like unetbootin?
>It would certainly simplify the process for you. I am a CLI purist at
>heart, but there comes a point where I would rather just get something
>done than stick to my ideals.
>
>-- 
>Will Tomlinson

Will, I just installed "unetbootin" and selected image I've saved earlier:
install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso (yes, I verified md5sum)
The process was completed without errors, but my system still can not boot from this 1GB USB disk, I'm puzzled.

This the same USB disk had earlier Gentoo burn ISO I did it maybe 5-year ago and was booting just find from the machine I"m trying to make it to work.
I wanted to have current/updated ISO image on it.  But doesn't matter what I do it doesn't work :-/

I just tried "usb_instal.sh" script from systemrescuecd-x86-4.3.0.iso and my box boots just fine. So why do I have problem using "unetbootin" and generating 
bootable USB manually.

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Joseph]

On 09/01/14 23:03, Neil Bothwick wrote:
>On Mon, 01 Sep 2014 23:58:17 +0200, Alan McKinnon wrote:
>
>> > It definitely works here, and fdisk shows it to be a hybrid image. You
>> > are writing it to the USB device itself and not a partition on it?
>
>> every single time I've had trouble using dd and unetbootin on a usb
>> stick it's because I yanked it out of the socket too early.
>>
>> just sayin'
>
>Yes, you MUST run sync after dd. When I tested the minimal install image
>just now, dd returned after less than two seconds. sync took a little
>longer...
>
>
>-- 
>Neil Bothwick
>
>I thought the 10 commandments were multiple choice.

Yes, I did use "sync" after "dd" makes no difference.

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 17:42:47 -0600, Joseph wrote:

> I just tried "usb_instal.sh" script from systemrescuecd-x86-4.3.0.iso
> and my box boots just fine. So why do I have problem using "unetbootin"
> and generating bootable USB manually.

unetbootin uses some $MAGIC that doesn't work with all ISOs. isohybrid
seems to work with everything and is much simpler to use too.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

I cna ytpe 300 wrods pre mniuet!!!

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 17:51:29 -0600, Joseph wrote:

> >> > It definitely works here, and fdisk shows it to be a hybrid image.
> >> > You are writing it to the USB device itself and not a partition on
> >> > it?  

You didn't answer this.

> >Yes, you MUST run sync after dd. When I tested the minimal install
> >image just now, dd returned after less than two seconds. sync took a
> >little longer...

> Yes, I did use "sync" after "dd" makes no difference.

Have you tried this with more than one drive, to rule out hardware
problems?


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Microbiology: staph only.

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Joseph]

On 09/02/14 01:08, Neil Bothwick wrote:
>On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 17:42:47 -0600, Joseph wrote:
>
>> I just tried "usb_instal.sh" script from systemrescuecd-x86-4.3.0.iso
>> and my box boots just fine. So why do I have problem using "unetbootin"
>> and generating bootable USB manually.
>
>unetbootin uses some $MAGIC that doesn't work with all ISOs. isohybrid
>seems to work with everything and is much simpler to use too.
>
>
>-- 
>Neil Bothwick
>
>I cna ytpe 300 wrods pre mniuet!!!

I just tried it as root:
isohybrid  install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso of=/dev/sda bs=4096
sync

And the USB still can not boot it :-/

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Joseph]

On 09/02/14 01:09, Neil Bothwick wrote:
>On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 17:51:29 -0600, Joseph wrote:
>
>> >> > It definitely works here, and fdisk shows it to be a hybrid image.
>> >> > You are writing it to the USB device itself and not a partition on
>> >> > it?
>
>You didn't answer this.

Yes, when I writ the image to USB the USB is not mounted.
USB is /dev/sda1
and I'm writing it to /dev/sda

>
>> >Yes, you MUST run sync after dd. When I tested the minimal install
>> >image just now, dd returned after less than two seconds. sync took a
>> >little longer...
>
>> Yes, I did use "sync" after "dd" makes no difference.
>
>Have you tried this with more than one drive, to rule out hardware
>problems?

Well, I don't expect USB to be a problem as SystemrescueCD can generate bootable USB on the same stick and it boots correctly; so I don't suspect hardware to be an 
issue.

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[wraeth]

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On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 18:29:46 Joseph wrote:
> Well, I don't expect USB to be a problem as SystemrescueCD can generate
> bootable USB on the same stick and it boots correctly; so I don't suspect
> hardware to be an issue.

Just to make sure, you don't use UEFI on your host do you? The gentoo minimal 
CD doesn't support UEFI as yet (whereas I think sysrescd does).

--
wraeth

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Mick]

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On Tuesday 02 Sep 2014 01:26:05 Joseph wrote:
> On 09/02/14 01:08, Neil Bothwick wrote:
> >On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 17:42:47 -0600, Joseph wrote:
> >> I just tried "usb_instal.sh" script from systemrescuecd-x86-4.3.0.iso
> >> and my box boots just fine. So why do I have problem using "unetbootin"
> >> and generating bootable USB manually.
> >
> >unetbootin uses some $MAGIC that doesn't work with all ISOs. isohybrid
> >seems to work with everything and is much simpler to use too.
> 
> I just tried it as root:
> isohybrid  install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso of=/dev/sda
> bs=4096 sync
> 
> And the USB still can not boot it :-/

This is rather strange.

What do you see when you run 

 fdisk -l /dev/sda

*after* you have completed dd and sync as you show above?

-- 
Regards,
Mick

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Joseph]

On 09/02/14 06:36, Mick wrote:
>On Tuesday 02 Sep 2014 01:26:05 Joseph wrote:
>> On 09/02/14 01:08, Neil Bothwick wrote:
>> >On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 17:42:47 -0600, Joseph wrote:
>> >> I just tried "usb_instal.sh" script from systemrescuecd-x86-4.3.0.iso
>> >> and my box boots just fine. So why do I have problem using "unetbootin"
>> >> and generating bootable USB manually.
>> >
>> >unetbootin uses some $MAGIC that doesn't work with all ISOs. isohybrid
>> >seems to work with everything and is much simpler to use too.
>>
>> I just tried it as root:
>> isohybrid  install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
>> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso of=/dev/sda
>> bs=4096 sync
>>
>> And the USB still can not boot it :-/
>
>This is rather strange.
>
>What do you see when you run
>
> fdisk -l /dev/sda
>
>*after* you have completed dd and sync as you show above?
>
>-- 
>Regards,
>Mick

Yes, indeed I find it very strange as well.
I just re-run the dd on my faster box.

dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso of=/dev/sdb bs=4096
48640+0 records in
48640+0 records out
199229440 bytes (199 MB) copied, 318.573 s, 625 kB/s
sync

fdisk -l /dev/sdb

Disk /dev/sdb: 960 MiB, 1006632960 bytes, 1966080 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0x1047d058

Device    Boot Start       End Blocks  Id System
/dev/sdb1 *        0    389119 194560  17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Dale]

Joseph wrote:
>
> Yes, indeed I find it very strange as well.
> I just re-run the dd on my faster box.
>
> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
> of=/dev/sdb bs=4096
> 48640+0 records in
> 48640+0 records out
> 199229440 bytes (199 MB) copied, 318.573 s, 625 kB/s
> sync
>
> fdisk -l /dev/sdb
>
> Disk /dev/sdb: 960 MiB, 1006632960 bytes, 1966080 sectors
> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
> Disklabel type: dos
> Disk identifier: 0x1047d058
>
> Device    Boot Start       End Blocks  Id System
> /dev/sdb1 *        0    389119 194560  17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS
>

I don't know if it matters or not but on one of my sticks, I get this:

Device    Boot Start       End  Blocks  Id System
/dev/sde1 *        1   3915775 1957887+  c W95 FAT32 (LBA)

Mine is FAT32 where yours is NTFS.  Could that difference cause this
problem? 

Dale

:-)  :-) 

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Christian Kruse]

Hi,

At Tue, 02 Sep 2014 01:23:45 -0500,
Dale wrote:
> > Device    Boot Start       End Blocks  Id System
> > /dev/sdb1 *        0    389119 194560  17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS
> >
> 
> I don't know if it matters or not but on one of my sticks, I get this:
> 
> Device    Boot Start       End  Blocks  Id System
> /dev/sde1 *        1   3915775 1957887+  c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
> 
> Mine is FAT32 where yours is NTFS.  Could that difference cause this
> problem? 

I get HPFS/NTFS as well. The difference is weird.

Best regards,

-- 
Christian Kruse
http://ck.kennt-wayne.de/

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Neil Bothwick]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 712 bytes --]

On Tue, 02 Sep 2014 01:23:45 -0500, Dale wrote:

> > Device    Boot Start       End Blocks  Id System
> > /dev/sdb1 *        0    389119 194560  17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS
> >  
> 
> I don't know if it matters or not but on one of my sticks, I get this:
> 
> Device    Boot Start       End  Blocks  Id System
> /dev/sde1 *        1   3915775 1957887+  c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
> 
> Mine is FAT32 where yours is NTFS.  Could that difference cause this
> problem? 

No, it's just fdisk trying to guess the type of a filesystem that isn't
actually there. I've just run it over 7 distro ISOs and got "Hidden
HPFS/NTFS" for 5 of them.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Suicide is the most sincere form of self-criticism.

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Dale]

Neil Bothwick wrote:
> On Tue, 02 Sep 2014 01:23:45 -0500, Dale wrote:
>
>>> Device    Boot Start       End Blocks  Id System
>>> /dev/sdb1 *        0    389119 194560  17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS
>>>  
>> I don't know if it matters or not but on one of my sticks, I get this:
>>
>> Device    Boot Start       End  Blocks  Id System
>> /dev/sde1 *        1   3915775 1957887+  c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
>>
>> Mine is FAT32 where yours is NTFS.  Could that difference cause this
>> problem? 
> No, it's just fdisk trying to guess the type of a filesystem that isn't
> actually there. I've just run it over 7 distro ISOs and got "Hidden
> HPFS/NTFS" for 5 of them.
>
>

Well, it seems everyone is grasping at straws.  So far, that is the only
difference I have seen.  It's a head scratcher for sure.

Dale

:-)  :-)

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Alec Ten Harmsel]

On 09/02/2014 01:26 PM, Neil Bothwick wrote:
> On Tue, 2 Sep 2014 07:10:46 -0600, Joseph wrote:
>
>> I just did as you suggested 
>> dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=1
>> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
>> of=/dev/sdb sync
>>
>> make no difference, the USB still will not boot. 
> This is odd as you have created a bootable USB stick. Are you using EFI?
>
> If not, does your BIOS have options for booting from different devices,
> USB CD, USB HD, USB Zip, etc? You may need to try different
> alternatives, one system I have wants to boot USB sticks as Zip
> drives :-O
>
>
A couple days ago someone mentioned ArchLinux's ISO - in the interim,
you *could* use that if you just need something right now. The gentoo
devs are great, but the ArchLinux devs produce an amazing ISO - it
supports 32 and 64-bit as well as both non-EFI and EFI boot. Then it's
just a simple 'dd if=path/to/archlinux.iso of=/dev/sdX && sync'. I've
used the archlinux iso to install Gentoo since forever purely for this
reason.

Alec

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Christian Kruse]

Hi,

At Mon, 1 Sep 2014 21:13:14 +0100, Neil Bothwick wrote:
> > No, the current minimal ISO image can't be dd'ed to an USB
> > stick. Tried it yesterday for a fresh install on a new box, it doesn't
> > work.
> 
> It definitely works here, and fdisk shows it to be a hybrid image. You
> are writing it to the USB device itself and not a partition on it?

Yeah, I'm sure. But it might be a weird BIOS problem, since I can only
boot from USB sticks when they're sticked into a USB slot at the back.

Regards,

-- 
Christian Kruse
http://ck.kennt-wayne.de/

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Mick]

On 2 September 2014 09:00, Dale <rdalek1967@gmail.com> wrote:
> Neil Bothwick wrote:
>> On Tue, 02 Sep 2014 01:23:45 -0500, Dale wrote:
>>
>>>> Device    Boot Start       End Blocks  Id System
>>>> /dev/sdb1 *        0    389119 194560  17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS
>>>>
>>> I don't know if it matters or not but on one of my sticks, I get this:
>>>
>>> Device    Boot Start       End  Blocks  Id System
>>> /dev/sde1 *        1   3915775 1957887+  c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
>>>
>>> Mine is FAT32 where yours is NTFS.  Could that difference cause this
>>> problem?
>> No, it's just fdisk trying to guess the type of a filesystem that isn't
>> actually there. I've just run it over 7 distro ISOs and got "Hidden
>> HPFS/NTFS" for 5 of them.
>
> Well, it seems everyone is grasping at straws.  So far, that is the only
> difference I have seen.  It's a head scratcher for sure.
>
> Dale

There's some more straws to grasp, namely the partition table that the
OP created with fdisk, as well as the first partition on it:

Assuming the USB is still on /dev/sdb, then use fdisk to delete
partition /dev/sdb1.

Then manually delete the USB DOS partition table:

dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=1


Finally, reinstall the iso once more without creating any partitions manually:

dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso of=/dev/sdb

sync

NOTE: Make sure that /dev/sdb is indeed your USB stick or you'll cause damage
to whatever is on /dev/sdb.

-- 
Regards,
Mick

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Dale]

Mick wrote:
> There's some more straws to grasp, namely the partition table that the
> OP created with fdisk, as well as the first partition on it: Assuming
> the USB is still on /dev/sdb, then use fdisk to delete partition
> /dev/sdb1. Then manually delete the USB DOS partition table: dd
> if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=1 Finally, reinstall the iso
> once more without creating any partitions manually: dd
> if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
> of=/dev/sdb sync NOTE: Make sure that /dev/sdb is indeed your USB
> stick or you'll cause damage to whatever is on /dev/sdb. 

If I recall correctly, when I make my sysrescue USB stick, I don't
create anything.  I just run the script.  If I am updating it, I use dd
to erase everything off the stick then run the script.  I don't recall
creating partitions or anything tho. 

I'm sure this will be figured out eventually.  It's likely some small
thing that makes a big difference.  We have all been there before. 

Dale

:-)  :-) 

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[J. Roeleveld]

On Monday, September 01, 2014 10:00:43 AM Joseph wrote:
> On 09/01/14 11:32, J. Roeleveld wrote:
> >On Sunday, August 31, 2014 08:06:46 PM Joseph wrote:
> >> On 08/31/14 20:55, Will Tomlinson wrote:
> >> >On Sun, 31 Aug 2014 12:06:49 -0600
> >> >
> >> >Joseph <syscon780@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> >> I've re-run the setup but it still doesn't work.
> >> >> 
> >> >> df -h
> >> >> /dev/sda1       3.8G  190M  3.6G   5% /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa
> >> >> 
> >> >> /dev/sda1 *     2048   7864319 3931136   b W95 FAT32
> >
> >Which command did you use to create the filesystem?
> 
> I used to format usb stick flash drive - bootable
> create partition if it doesn't exist
> # fdisk /dev/sda
> n
> p
> 1 enter, enter
> 
> t
> b
> w
> q
> 
> format it for 1GB
> # mkfs -t vfat /dev/sda1
> 
> format it for 4GB
> # mkfs -t vfat -F 32 /dev/sda1

The script sysresccd uses runs:
mkfs.vfat -F 32 /dev/.....

> >> >> while usb not mounted:
> >> >> 
> >> >> dd if=/usr/share/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sda
> >> >> 0+1 records in
> >> >> 0+1 records out
> >> >> 440 bytes (440 B) copied, 0.00121707 s, 362 kB/s

Sysresccd uses a tool called "install-mbr", does anyone know what this 
actually does?

> >> >> While usb mounted:
> >Which command do you use to mount?
> 
> To mount USB I use from my desktop XFCE icon drop down menu after icon
> showed up "Mount Volume"

Please try to mount using the commandline, just in case XFCE adds some 
additional options causing issues during the "Mount Volume" step.

> ><SNIP>
> >
> >> >Joseph, I am assuming you are trying to create an install disk? If so,
> >> >you shouldn't have to do all these steps. I normally just download the
> >> >minimal install ISO and write it to a USB drive with the following
> >> >commands:
> >> >
> >> ># dd if=/path/to/minimal-install.iso of=/path/to/usb-drive bs=4096
> >> ># sync
> >> >
> >> >You don't have to mount the USB drive. Use sync to ensure that all the
> >> >data has actually been written to the device before you remove it.
> >> >
> >> >I have run across problems with some ISO files that don't play nice
> >> >with this method, but this one seems to work well with the Gentoo
> >> >minimal CD. Also, keep in mind that you don't really need to have the
> >> >Gentoo install disc to install Gentoo. It's certainly EASIER to follow
> >> >the handbook when you have the minimal install disc, but just about any
> >> >Linux live CD will work as long as the architecture matches (chroot
> >> >from x86 to amd64, for example, will not work). Anyway, if this is not
> >> >what you are trying to do, maybe you can give us more details.
> >> 
> >> I run it on 1MB USB stick, it did not work:
> >> dd if=/path/to/minimal-install.iso of=/path/to/usb-drive bs=4096
> >> sync
> >> 
> >> I think the "dd" will work with LiveDVD but not liveCD.
> >
> >Why not use unetbootin?
> >
> >--
> >Joost
> 
> I used LiveCD (SystemRescueCD)
> http://blog.kasunbg.org/2012/02/installing-gentoo-from-livecd.html
> 
> mounted with "loop"
> mount -o loop,ro -t iso9660
> /home/joseph/Downloads/systemrescuecd-x86-4.3.0.iso /mnt/cdrom/
> 
> cd /tmp/cdrom
> bash ./usb_inst.sh
> 
> and their scrip made the bootable USB just fine, it works.
> But it bugs me that Gentoo instruction didn't work.

Best thing to do:
Check that that script actually does and figure out which step(s) are 
missing/wrong in the Gentoo instruction.

--
Joost

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Matti Nykyri]

> On Sep 2, 2014, at 8:55, Joseph <syscon780@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> On 09/02/14 06:36, Mick wrote:
>>> On Tuesday 02 Sep 2014 01:26:05 Joseph wrote:
>>> On 09/02/14 01:08, Neil Bothwick wrote:
>>> >On Mon, 1 Sep 2014 17:42:47 -0600, Joseph wrote:
>>> >> I just tried "usb_instal.sh" script from systemrescuecd-x86-4.3.0.iso
>>> >> and my box boots just fine. So why do I have problem using "unetbootin"
>>> >> and generating bootable USB manually.
>>> >
>>> >unetbootin uses some $MAGIC that doesn't work with all ISOs. isohybrid
>>> >seems to work with everything and is much simpler to use too.
>>> 
>>> I just tried it as root:
>>> isohybrid  install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
>>> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso of=/dev/sda
>>> bs=4096 sync
>>> 
>>> And the USB still can not boot it :-/
>> 
>> This is rather strange.
>> 
>> What do you see when you run
>> 
>> fdisk -l /dev/sda
>> 
>> *after* you have completed dd and sync as you show above?
>> 
>> -- 
>> Regards,
>> Mick
> 
> Yes, indeed I find it very strange as well.
> I just re-run the dd on my faster box.
> 
> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso of=/dev/sdb bs=4096
> 48640+0 records in
> 48640+0 records out
> 199229440 bytes (199 MB) copied, 318.573 s, 625 kB/s
> sync
> 
> fdisk -l /dev/sdb
> 
> Disk /dev/sdb: 960 MiB, 1006632960 bytes, 1966080 sectors
> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
> Disklabel type: dos
> Disk identifier: 0x1047d058
> 
> Device    Boot Start       End Blocks  Id System
> /dev/sdb1 *        0    389119 194560  17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS
> 
> -- 
> Joseph

Hi,

Just wanna say few words to clarify few things about bootstraping. If you know what you are doing, this all is very simple.

What you need for a working system is a working root filesystem that contains all the scripts, modules and executables. A minimal cd contains this. You could also use stage3 tar ball.

Then you need a working kernel image and possibly a initrd. There is a working kernel on minimal cd.

All begins with boot loader. That loader is loaded by BIOS first. Then boot loader starts executing and loads kernel with right parameters. Kernel takes over and loads rootfs and so on.

On normal disk (USB, sata, ATA, SCSI (and DVD i think)) you have a normal MBR (first 512 bytes of disk) which BIOS loads to 0x07C0 address in memory and starts executing. So just install boot loader (like grub) to the beginning of the disk and it will boot. With right commands/config you can load the kernel correctly and boot.

CD is different. BIOS can't read ISO file system. For CD boot you will need to create image of a floppy-disk and install your boot loader into that image. The boot loader has to have drivers to read the real ISO file system so that it can load the kernel into memory and boot. Because of this a plain cd isoimage is unbootable although all necessary stuff is there. It is easily arranged so that it becomes a bootable USB disk.

-- 
-Matti
  

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Joseph]

On 09/02/14 10:56, Mick wrote:
>On 2 September 2014 09:00, Dale <rdalek1967@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Neil Bothwick wrote:
>>> On Tue, 02 Sep 2014 01:23:45 -0500, Dale wrote:
>>>
>>>>> Device    Boot Start       End Blocks  Id System
>>>>> /dev/sdb1 *        0    389119 194560  17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS
>>>>>
>>>> I don't know if it matters or not but on one of my sticks, I get this:
>>>>
>>>> Device    Boot Start       End  Blocks  Id System
>>>> /dev/sde1 *        1   3915775 1957887+  c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
>>>>
>>>> Mine is FAT32 where yours is NTFS.  Could that difference cause this
>>>> problem?
>>> No, it's just fdisk trying to guess the type of a filesystem that isn't
>>> actually there. I've just run it over 7 distro ISOs and got "Hidden
>>> HPFS/NTFS" for 5 of them.
>>
>> Well, it seems everyone is grasping at straws.  So far, that is the only
>> difference I have seen.  It's a head scratcher for sure.
>>
>> Dale
>
>There's some more straws to grasp, namely the partition table that the
>OP created with fdisk, as well as the first partition on it:
>
>Assuming the USB is still on /dev/sdb, then use fdisk to delete
>partition /dev/sdb1.
>
>Then manually delete the USB DOS partition table:
>
>dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=1
>
>
>Finally, reinstall the iso once more without creating any partitions manually:
>
>dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso of=/dev/sdb
>
>sync
>
>NOTE: Make sure that /dev/sdb is indeed your USB stick or you'll cause damage
>to whatever is on /dev/sdb.
>
>-- 
>Regards,
>Mick

I just did as you suggested 
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=1
dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso of=/dev/sdb
sync

make no difference, the USB still will not boot. 

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Neil Bothwick]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 628 bytes --]

On Tue, 2 Sep 2014 07:10:46 -0600, Joseph wrote:

> I just did as you suggested 
> dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=1
> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
> of=/dev/sdb sync
> 
> make no difference, the USB still will not boot. 

This is odd as you have created a bootable USB stick. Are you using EFI?

If not, does your BIOS have options for booting from different devices,
USB CD, USB HD, USB Zip, etc? You may need to try different
alternatives, one system I have wants to boot USB sticks as Zip
drives :-O


-- 
Neil Bothwick

why do kamikazee pilots wear helmets?

[-- Attachment #2: signature.asc --]
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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[thegeezer]

On 02/09/14 14:10, Joseph wrote:
> On 09/02/14 10:56, Mick wrote:
>> On 2 September 2014 09:00, Dale <rdalek1967@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Neil Bothwick wrote:
>>>> On Tue, 02 Sep 2014 01:23:45 -0500, Dale wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>> Device    Boot Start       End Blocks  Id System
>>>>>> /dev/sdb1 *        0    389119 194560  17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS
>>>>>>
>>>>> I don't know if it matters or not but on one of my sticks, I get
>>>>> this:
>>>>>
>>>>> Device    Boot Start       End  Blocks  Id System
>>>>> /dev/sde1 *        1   3915775 1957887+  c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
>>>>>
>>>>> Mine is FAT32 where yours is NTFS.  Could that difference cause this
>>>>> problem?
>>>> No, it's just fdisk trying to guess the type of a filesystem that
>>>> isn't
>>>> actually there. I've just run it over 7 distro ISOs and got "Hidden
>>>> HPFS/NTFS" for 5 of them.
>>>
>>> Well, it seems everyone is grasping at straws.  So far, that is the
>>> only
>>> difference I have seen.  It's a head scratcher for sure.
>>>
>>> Dale
>>
>> There's some more straws to grasp, namely the partition table that the
>> OP created with fdisk, as well as the first partition on it:
>>
>> Assuming the USB is still on /dev/sdb, then use fdisk to delete
>> partition /dev/sdb1.
>>
>> Then manually delete the USB DOS partition table:
>>
>> dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=1
>>
>>
>> Finally, reinstall the iso once more without creating any partitions
>> manually:
>>
>> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
>> of=/dev/sdb
>>
>> sync
>>
>> NOTE: Make sure that /dev/sdb is indeed your USB stick or you'll
>> cause damage
>> to whatever is on /dev/sdb.
>>
>> -- 
>> Regards,
>> Mick
>
> I just did as you suggested dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=1
> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
> of=/dev/sdb
> sync
>
> make no difference, the USB still will not boot.
What actually happens when you try to boot ?
do you get any messages?
some bios will require you to specify usb boot device type of cdrom or
hard disk
do you have a press F11 for boot choices menu or similar?
it could be that you have usb cdrom selected as primary boot device, ide
disk as secondary and then "other removables" after this.
please confirm your bios boot orders

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Joseph]

On 09/02/14 14:38, thegeezer wrote:
>On 02/09/14 14:10, Joseph wrote:
>> On 09/02/14 10:56, Mick wrote:
>>> On 2 September 2014 09:00, Dale <rdalek1967@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Neil Bothwick wrote:
>>>>> On Tue, 02 Sep 2014 01:23:45 -0500, Dale wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>> Device    Boot Start       End Blocks  Id System
>>>>>>> /dev/sdb1 *        0    389119 194560  17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> I don't know if it matters or not but on one of my sticks, I get
>>>>>> this:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Device    Boot Start       End  Blocks  Id System
>>>>>> /dev/sde1 *        1   3915775 1957887+  c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Mine is FAT32 where yours is NTFS.  Could that difference cause this
>>>>>> problem?
>>>>> No, it's just fdisk trying to guess the type of a filesystem that
>>>>> isn't
>>>>> actually there. I've just run it over 7 distro ISOs and got "Hidden
>>>>> HPFS/NTFS" for 5 of them.
>>>>
>>>> Well, it seems everyone is grasping at straws.  So far, that is the
>>>> only
>>>> difference I have seen.  It's a head scratcher for sure.
>>>>
>>>> Dale
>>>
>>> There's some more straws to grasp, namely the partition table that the
>>> OP created with fdisk, as well as the first partition on it:
>>>
>>> Assuming the USB is still on /dev/sdb, then use fdisk to delete
>>> partition /dev/sdb1.
>>>
>>> Then manually delete the USB DOS partition table:
>>>
>>> dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=1
>>>
>>>
>>> Finally, reinstall the iso once more without creating any partitions
>>> manually:
>>>
>>> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
>>> of=/dev/sdb
>>>
>>> sync
>>>
>>> NOTE: Make sure that /dev/sdb is indeed your USB stick or you'll
>>> cause damage
>>> to whatever is on /dev/sdb.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Regards,
>>> Mick
>>
>> I just did as you suggested dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=1
>> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
>> of=/dev/sdb
>> sync
>>
>> make no difference, the USB still will not boot.
>What actually happens when you try to boot ?
>do you get any messages?
>some bios will require you to specify usb boot device type of cdrom or
>hard disk
>do you have a press F11 for boot choices menu or similar?
>it could be that you have usb cdrom selected as primary boot device, ide
>disk as secondary and then "other removables" after this.
>please confirm your bios boot orders
>

Booting sequence is USB and HD.  If I will not insert bootable USB it will boot from HD
It works, as the bootable USB I created with Systemrescue CD script it worked.  When I plug in the USB stick it boots from it.

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Peter Humphrey]

On Tuesday 02 September 2014 08:10:08 Joseph wrote:
> On 09/02/14 14:38, thegeezer wrote:
> >What actually happens when you try to boot ?
> >do you get any messages?
> >some bios will require you to specify usb boot device type of cdrom or
> >hard disk
> >do you have a press F11 for boot choices menu or similar?
> >it could be that you have usb cdrom selected as primary boot device, ide
> >disk as secondary and then "other removables" after this.
> >please confirm your bios boot orders
> 
> Booting sequence is USB and HD.  If I will not insert bootable USB it will
> boot from HD It works, as the bootable USB I created with Systemrescue CD
> script it worked.  When I plug in the USB stick it boots from it.

Yes, I thought you'd say that. I think you have something odd in your BIOS, 
which is objecting to (or not recognising) some feature of the various 
bootable ISOs you put on that stick. Is it a very old BIOS? I remember you did 
say it was an old machine.

You may simply have to accept that some things will boot, others not.

-- 
Regards
Peter

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Neil Bothwick]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 678 bytes --]

On Tue, 2 Sep 2014 08:10:08 -0600, Joseph wrote:

> Booting sequence is USB and HD.  If I will not insert bootable USB it
> will boot from HD It works, as the bootable USB I created with
> Systemrescue CD script it worked.  When I plug in the USB stick it
> boots from it.

How does the output of fdisk -l from the sysreccd stick compare with that
from the Gentoo stick? What happens when you try to boot the Gentoo USB
stick? I think you've already been asked that but I don't recall seeing
an answer.

I'm inclined to blame your motherboard's USB controller for this failure
to boot.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

She's fine, upstanding, and wonderful laying down.

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Alan McKinnon]

On 02/09/2014 15:10, Joseph wrote:
> On 09/02/14 10:56, Mick wrote:
>> On 2 September 2014 09:00, Dale <rdalek1967@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Neil Bothwick wrote:
>>>> On Tue, 02 Sep 2014 01:23:45 -0500, Dale wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>> Device    Boot Start       End Blocks  Id System
>>>>>> /dev/sdb1 *        0    389119 194560  17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS
>>>>>>
>>>>> I don't know if it matters or not but on one of my sticks, I get this:
>>>>>
>>>>> Device    Boot Start       End  Blocks  Id System
>>>>> /dev/sde1 *        1   3915775 1957887+  c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
>>>>>
>>>>> Mine is FAT32 where yours is NTFS.  Could that difference cause this
>>>>> problem?
>>>> No, it's just fdisk trying to guess the type of a filesystem that isn't
>>>> actually there. I've just run it over 7 distro ISOs and got "Hidden
>>>> HPFS/NTFS" for 5 of them.
>>>
>>> Well, it seems everyone is grasping at straws.  So far, that is the only
>>> difference I have seen.  It's a head scratcher for sure.
>>>
>>> Dale
>>
>> There's some more straws to grasp, namely the partition table that the
>> OP created with fdisk, as well as the first partition on it:
>>
>> Assuming the USB is still on /dev/sdb, then use fdisk to delete
>> partition /dev/sdb1.
>>
>> Then manually delete the USB DOS partition table:
>>
>> dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=1
>>
>>
>> Finally, reinstall the iso once more without creating any partitions
>> manually:
>>
>> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
>> of=/dev/sdb
>>
>> sync
>>
>> NOTE: Make sure that /dev/sdb is indeed your USB stick or you'll cause
>> damage
>> to whatever is on /dev/sdb.
>>
>> -- 
>> Regards,
>> Mick
> 
> I just did as you suggested dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=1
> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso of=/dev/sdb
> sync
> 
> make no difference, the USB still will not boot.

what *does* happen when you try boot of the usb.
Something must happen on the screen, please describe that

-- 
Alan McKinnon
alan.mckinnon@gmail.com

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[thegeezer]

On 02/09/14 15:10, Joseph wrote:
> On 09/02/14 14:38, thegeezer wrote:
>> On 02/09/14 14:10, Joseph wrote:
>>> On 09/02/14 10:56, Mick wrote:
>>>> On 2 September 2014 09:00, Dale <rdalek1967@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Neil Bothwick wrote:
>>>>>> On Tue, 02 Sep 2014 01:23:45 -0500, Dale wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Device    Boot Start       End Blocks  Id System
>>>>>>>> /dev/sdb1 *        0    389119 194560  17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I don't know if it matters or not but on one of my sticks, I get
>>>>>>> this:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Device    Boot Start       End  Blocks  Id System
>>>>>>> /dev/sde1 *        1   3915775 1957887+  c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Mine is FAT32 where yours is NTFS.  Could that difference cause
>>>>>>> this
>>>>>>> problem?
>>>>>> No, it's just fdisk trying to guess the type of a filesystem that
>>>>>> isn't
>>>>>> actually there. I've just run it over 7 distro ISOs and got "Hidden
>>>>>> HPFS/NTFS" for 5 of them.
>>>>>
>>>>> Well, it seems everyone is grasping at straws.  So far, that is the
>>>>> only
>>>>> difference I have seen.  It's a head scratcher for sure.
>>>>>
>>>>> Dale
>>>>
>>>> There's some more straws to grasp, namely the partition table that the
>>>> OP created with fdisk, as well as the first partition on it:
>>>>
>>>> Assuming the USB is still on /dev/sdb, then use fdisk to delete
>>>> partition /dev/sdb1.
>>>>
>>>> Then manually delete the USB DOS partition table:
>>>>
>>>> dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=1
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Finally, reinstall the iso once more without creating any partitions
>>>> manually:
>>>>
>>>> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
>>>> of=/dev/sdb
>>>>
>>>> sync
>>>>
>>>> NOTE: Make sure that /dev/sdb is indeed your USB stick or you'll
>>>> cause damage
>>>> to whatever is on /dev/sdb.
>>>>
>>>> -- 
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Mick
>>>
>>> I just did as you suggested dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=1
>>> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
>>> of=/dev/sdb
>>> sync
>>>
>>> make no difference, the USB still will not boot.
>> What actually happens when you try to boot ?
>> do you get any messages?
>> some bios will require you to specify usb boot device type of cdrom or
>> hard disk
>> do you have a press F11 for boot choices menu or similar?
>> it could be that you have usb cdrom selected as primary boot device, ide
>> disk as secondary and then "other removables" after this.
>> please confirm your bios boot orders
>>
>
> Booting sequence is USB and HD.  If I will not insert bootable USB it
> will boot from HD
> It works, as the bootable USB I created with Systemrescue CD script it
> worked.  When I plug in the USB stick it boots from it.
>
However, there is a difference between USB-CDROM and USB-HDD and USB-FDD
each of these is a different type of device.
which is set in your BIOS ?
the systemrescue-cd must be a version that your bios recognises, if your
bios doesn't like USB-HDD boot then that is most likely the issue you have.

have you tried installing grub2 and doing a direct iso boot ?  the
gentoo minimal install cd support doing this for a long time now, and is
my preferred route as you can load on the iso images and just change the
grub conf menus

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Joseph]

On 09/02/14 16:46, Alan McKinnon wrote:
>On 02/09/2014 15:10, Joseph wrote:
>> On 09/02/14 10:56, Mick wrote:
>>> On 2 September 2014 09:00, Dale <rdalek1967@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Neil Bothwick wrote:
>>>>> On Tue, 02 Sep 2014 01:23:45 -0500, Dale wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>> Device    Boot Start       End Blocks  Id System
>>>>>>> /dev/sdb1 *        0    389119 194560  17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> I don't know if it matters or not but on one of my sticks, I get this:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Device    Boot Start       End  Blocks  Id System
>>>>>> /dev/sde1 *        1   3915775 1957887+  c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Mine is FAT32 where yours is NTFS.  Could that difference cause this
>>>>>> problem?
>>>>> No, it's just fdisk trying to guess the type of a filesystem that isn't
>>>>> actually there. I've just run it over 7 distro ISOs and got "Hidden
>>>>> HPFS/NTFS" for 5 of them.
>>>>
>>>> Well, it seems everyone is grasping at straws.  So far, that is the only
>>>> difference I have seen.  It's a head scratcher for sure.
>>>>
>>>> Dale
>>>
>>> There's some more straws to grasp, namely the partition table that the
>>> OP created with fdisk, as well as the first partition on it:
>>>
>>> Assuming the USB is still on /dev/sdb, then use fdisk to delete
>>> partition /dev/sdb1.
>>>
>>> Then manually delete the USB DOS partition table:
>>>
>>> dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=1
>>>
>>>
>>> Finally, reinstall the iso once more without creating any partitions
>>> manually:
>>>
>>> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
>>> of=/dev/sdb
>>>
>>> sync
>>>
>>> NOTE: Make sure that /dev/sdb is indeed your USB stick or you'll cause
>>> damage
>>> to whatever is on /dev/sdb.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Regards,
>>> Mick
>>
>> I just did as you suggested dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=1
>> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso of=/dev/sdb
>> sync
>>
>> make no difference, the USB still will not boot.
>
>what *does* happen when you try boot of the usb.
>Something must happen on the screen, please describe that
>
>-- 
>Alan McKinnon
>alan.mckinnon@gmail.com

I have tried it on two boxes, they are both small units without CD
1.) First is an older box that can not boot from Gentoo ISO USB generated with "dd"
BIOS setting are:
USB-ZIP
USB-FDD
Hard Disk

2.) The second box is an  ATOM-330 and the same USB boots OK.

So the issue might be with the Bios on the first box.

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Neil Bothwick]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 846 bytes --]

On Tue, 2 Sep 2014 10:50:02 -0600, Joseph wrote:

> I have tried it on two boxes, they are both small units without CD
> 1.) First is an older box that can not boot from Gentoo ISO USB
> generated with "dd" BIOS setting are:
> USB-ZIP
> USB-FDD
> Hard Disk
> 
> 2.) The second box is an  ATOM-330 and the same USB boots OK.
> 
> So the issue might be with the Bios on the first box.

There's no "might" about it. At no time in this long thread did you
mention that you had successfully booted the stick in another computer
AFAIR. All along the stick was fine and the problem was limited to one
particular computer, and old one that apparently has problems booting
from some USB devices.

You may find that toggling some of the USB settings in the BIOS helps.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

You can't teach a new mouse old clicks.

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Joseph]

On 09/02/14 18:21, Neil Bothwick wrote:
>On Tue, 2 Sep 2014 10:50:02 -0600, Joseph wrote:
>
>> I have tried it on two boxes, they are both small units without CD
>> 1.) First is an older box that can not boot from Gentoo ISO USB
>> generated with "dd" BIOS setting are:
>> USB-ZIP
>> USB-FDD
>> Hard Disk
>>
>> 2.) The second box is an  ATOM-330 and the same USB boots OK.
>>
>> So the issue might be with the Bios on the first box.
>
>There's no "might" about it. At no time in this long thread did you
>mention that you had successfully booted the stick in another computer
>AFAIR. All along the stick was fine and the problem was limited to one
>particular computer, and old one that apparently has problems booting
>from some USB devices.
>
>You may find that toggling some of the USB settings in the BIOS helps.
>
>
>-- 
>Neil Bothwick
>
>You can't teach a new mouse old clicks.

It is very confusing. 
The box 1.) (above) I was testing it on my old USB stick I generated few years ago (it boots OK), it boots USB stick generated by Systemrescue CD.
It does not boot USB stick I generated a new one (manually), nor does it boot USB stick generated by "DD" or UNetbootin

The second box after checking second time it boots USB stick generated by "dd" and Systemrescue CD but it will not boot USB stick generated manually or by UNetbootin

Apology the this long thread, but I'm still confused.  I could understand why it would not boot USB stick generated manually but why it will not boot USB stick 
generatd by UNetbootin but it boots stick generated by Systemrescue CD

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[J. Roeleveld]

On 2 September 2014 18:50:02 CEST, Joseph <syscon780@gmail.com> wrote:
>On 09/02/14 16:46, Alan McKinnon wrote:
>>On 02/09/2014 15:10, Joseph wrote:
>>> On 09/02/14 10:56, Mick wrote:
>>>> On 2 September 2014 09:00, Dale <rdalek1967@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Neil Bothwick wrote:
>>>>>> On Tue, 02 Sep 2014 01:23:45 -0500, Dale wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Device    Boot Start       End Blocks  Id System
>>>>>>>> /dev/sdb1 *        0    389119 194560  17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I don't know if it matters or not but on one of my sticks, I get
>this:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Device    Boot Start       End  Blocks  Id System
>>>>>>> /dev/sde1 *        1   3915775 1957887+  c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Mine is FAT32 where yours is NTFS.  Could that difference cause
>this
>>>>>>> problem?
>>>>>> No, it's just fdisk trying to guess the type of a filesystem that
>isn't
>>>>>> actually there. I've just run it over 7 distro ISOs and got
>"Hidden
>>>>>> HPFS/NTFS" for 5 of them.
>>>>>
>>>>> Well, it seems everyone is grasping at straws.  So far, that is
>the only
>>>>> difference I have seen.  It's a head scratcher for sure.
>>>>>
>>>>> Dale
>>>>
>>>> There's some more straws to grasp, namely the partition table that
>the
>>>> OP created with fdisk, as well as the first partition on it:
>>>>
>>>> Assuming the USB is still on /dev/sdb, then use fdisk to delete
>>>> partition /dev/sdb1.
>>>>
>>>> Then manually delete the USB DOS partition table:
>>>>
>>>> dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=1
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Finally, reinstall the iso once more without creating any
>partitions
>>>> manually:
>>>>
>>>> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
>>>> of=/dev/sdb
>>>>
>>>> sync
>>>>
>>>> NOTE: Make sure that /dev/sdb is indeed your USB stick or you'll
>cause
>>>> damage
>>>> to whatever is on /dev/sdb.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Mick
>>>
>>> I just did as you suggested dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512
>count=1
>>> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
>of=/dev/sdb
>>> sync
>>>
>>> make no difference, the USB still will not boot.
>>
>>what *does* happen when you try boot of the usb.
>>Something must happen on the screen, please describe that
>>
>>-- 
>>Alan McKinnon
>>alan.mckinnon@gmail.com
>
>I have tried it on two boxes, they are both small units without CD
>1.) First is an older box that can not boot from Gentoo ISO USB
>generated with "dd"
>BIOS setting are:
>USB-ZIP
>USB-FDD
>Hard Disk
>
>2.) The second box is an  ATOM-330 and the same USB boots OK.
>
>So the issue might be with the Bios on the first box.

It takes 62 emails in this thread before you mention that the USB works in 1 of 2 machines.
Most logical conclusion from that little fact:
- the not working computer has an issue with some USB boot types.

In future. Please be more complete in your reports and supply the requested information sooner.

Kind regards,

Joost
-- 
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Neil Bothwick]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 1666 bytes --]

On Tue, 2 Sep 2014 12:12:43 -0600, Joseph wrote:

> It is very confusing. 
> The box 1.) (above) I was testing it on my old USB stick I generated
> few years ago (it boots OK), it boots USB stick generated by
> Systemrescue CD. It does not boot USB stick I generated a new one
> (manually), nor does it boot USB stick generated by "DD" or UNetbootin

How do you generate a USB stick manually? What does that even mean?
 
> The second box after checking second time it boots USB stick generated
> by "dd" and Systemrescue CD but it will not boot USB stick generated
> manually or by UNetbootin

UNetbootin only works with some distros, it is not a universal solution
like hybrid ISOs. IMO it is redundant now we have hybrid ISOs and in my
experience, very few distros are not hybrid nowadays. So forget
Unetbootin.
 
> Apology the this long thread, but I'm still confused.  I could
> understand why it would not boot USB stick generated manually but why
> it will not boot USB stick generatd by UNetbootin but it boots stick
> generated by Systemrescue CD

Because they create the stick in different ways, and there are several
different types of USB device to emulate when doing so. If the only ISO
that will boot from your computer on a USB stick is System Rescue Cd, use
that. It's one of the best distros for installing Gentoo anyway.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

"There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make
it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way
is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies.
The first method is far more difficult" -C.A.R. Hoare

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Walter Dnes]

On Tue, Sep 02, 2014 at 10:50:02AM -0600, Joseph wrote
> 
> I have tried it on two boxes, they are both small units without CD
> 1.) First is an older box that can not boot from Gentoo ISO USB
> generated with "dd"
> BIOS setting are:
> USB-ZIP
*********
*********
*********

> USB-FDD
*********
*********
*********

> Hard Disk
> 
> 2.) The second box is an  ATOM-330 and the same USB boots OK.
> 
> So the issue might be with the Bios on the first box.

  A USB stick is ***NOT*** a zip-drive or a floppy drive.  That could be
your problem right there.  Do you have any other USB options in your
BIOS boot menu?  Is there anything like "usb key" or "usb thumbdrive"?
They would make more sense.

BTW, I have a machine with weird behaviour.  If I...
* insert the USB stick
* boot to BIOS setup
* select the boot-order menu

  Then the USB key shows up as an option in the boot-order menu...
complete with manufacturer name and model of the USB key.

-- 
Walter Dnes <waltdnes@waltdnes.org>
I don't run "desktop environments"; I run useful applications

Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Frank Steinmetzger]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 964 bytes --]

On Mon, Sep 01, 2014 at 11:14:10PM +0100, Mick wrote:

> > > every single time I've had trouble using dd and unetbootin on a usb
> > > stick it's because I yanked it out of the socket too early.
> > >
> > > just sayin'
> >
> > Yes, you MUST run sync after dd. When I tested the minimal install image
> > just now, dd returned after less than two seconds. sync took a little
> > longer...
>
> BTW, I bricked a USB stick when I impatiently pulled it out thinking that dd
> had finished.  I learned to be more patient and less stupid from that
> experience.
>
> Run sync and wait for it to finish.  ;-)

The problem here is that more and more USB stick models don't have a LED
anymore so the manufacturer can shave off another 2 cents from the bill.
-- 
Gruß | Greetings | Qapla’
Please do not share anything from, with or about me with any Facebook service.

The best way of getting a bad proposal from the table
is to make a better one.

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Frank Steinmetzger]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 1552 bytes --]

On Tue, Sep 02, 2014 at 08:10:08AM -0600, Joseph wrote:

> >> I just did as you suggested dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=1
> >> dd if=/home/joseph/Downloads/install-amd64-minimal-20140828.iso
> >> of=/dev/sdb
> >> sync
> >>
> >> make no difference, the USB still will not boot.
> >What actually happens when you try to boot ?
> >do you get any messages?
> >some bios will require you to specify usb boot device type of cdrom or
> >hard disk do you have a press F11 for boot choices menu or similar?
> >it could be that you have usb cdrom selected as primary boot device, ide
> >disk as secondary and then "other removables" after this. please confirm
> >your bios boot orders
> 
> Booting sequence is USB and HD.  If I will not insert bootable USB it will
> boot from HD It works, as the bootable USB I created with Systemrescue CD
> script it worked.  When I plug in the USB stick it boots from it.

It is my observation with many (if not all) of my systems that the USB stick
was in fact not considered a USB device but an HDD. So to boot from a stick,
instead of changing the boot order to USB → HDD → CD-Rom → whatever I had to
put HDD at the top and then – within the HDD selection – move the USB stick
above the internal HDD. But then again, those were mostly laptops, whose
BIOSes always seemed very crippled to me.

-- 
Gruß | Greetings | Qapla’
Please do not share anything from, with or about me with any Facebook service.

“An itching nose must be scratched.” … Kosh (Star Wreck)

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Neil Bothwick]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 539 bytes --]

On Wed, 3 Sep 2014 00:27:12 +0200, Frank Steinmetzger wrote:

> > Run sync and wait for it to finish.  ;-)  
> 
> The problem here is that more and more USB stick models don't have a LED
> anymore so the manufacturer can shave off another 2 cents from the bill.

That's why it is important to run sync, so you know when the data has
been written even if there is no LED.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

There was a young man from the border
Who had an attention disorder.
When he reached the last line
He would run out of time
And

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Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[Dale]

Frank Steinmetzger wrote:
> On Mon, Sep 01, 2014 at 11:14:10PM +0100, Mick wrote:
>
>>>> every single time I've had trouble using dd and unetbootin on a usb
>>>> stick it's because I yanked it out of the socket too early.
>>>>
>>>> just sayin'
>>> Yes, you MUST run sync after dd. When I tested the minimal install image
>>> just now, dd returned after less than two seconds. sync took a little
>>> longer...
>> BTW, I bricked a USB stick when I impatiently pulled it out thinking that dd
>> had finished.  I learned to be more patient and less stupid from that
>> experience.
>>
>> Run sync and wait for it to finish.  ;-)
> The problem here is that more and more USB stick models don't have a LED
> anymore so the manufacturer can shave off another 2 cents from the bill.

If you run sync and the prompt comes back for the next command, then
sync should be finished.  I guess one could try the eject command too. 
I think, THINK, it makes sure things are synced before it finishes. 

I do like the ones with the LED tho. 

Dale

:-)  :-)