How to boot from USB memory stick

[rlangset]

Hi
I have been using Linux Mint on my home PC for some time, and wanted to try Puppy to use as a mobile Linux.
I downloaded the latest stable version and made a bootable CD. Puppy really launched fast.

Then I installed puppy onto a 2GB PNY USB memory stick, and thought I could boot from that - but I couldn't.

Is this the correct way to do it, or is i another way?

Maybe it is my PC that can't boot from USB device?

[ieee488]

Maybe it is my PC that can't boot from USB device?

Probably. Check your BIOS.

[rlangset]

OK. This is what I have tried:
1.Booting on live CD
2.Inserting USB stick on 2GB PNY
3.Formatting to ext2 and setting boot flag
4.Menu-setup-puppy universalinstaller
5.Choosing usb flash drive sda1
6.Choosing to install puppy to sda1
7.Pressing ok button in dialog window
8.Installing from CD
9.Have now tried all the choices for MBR
10.Installing...
11.Rebbot PC
12. Entering into BIOS to set boot from USB
13. PC doesn't boot. It displays this text and stops: SPB: dx=0080 int13,8:cx F53F df=FE02 mbr=8001 0100 83FE 3FF5 3F00 0000 374D 3C00 int13,2 : CX = 0001 dx=0180 *E4*_

After this I booted on a DSL 4.2 live CD and made DSL USB pendrive installation. Rebooted and now the PC booted from the USB-pen.

My conclusion is that Puppy universal installer must improve to make success.

[Upgrayedd]

I'm having the same problem. I've been trying different Linux distros to boot off USB and thought Puppy would be perfect. SLAX booted fine off a FAT formatted pen drive but I hate having to convert packages to modules, their insistance on bloated KDE, etc. DSL is simply too simple for my taste.

Anyway, I partitioned a 2 GB USB flash drive with Gparted like so:
First: 780 MB ext2 for Puppy Linux
Second: ~1.1 GB FAT32 for document sharing, cross-compatibility, etc.

I used the same BIOS settings (USB HDD) that I used to successfully boot SLAX but I get "Missing Operating System" after POST. I even moved up all of the USB boot options in order (USB HDD, USB Floppy, USB Diskette on Key) with no luck. I flagged the ext2 to boot and used the default MBR upon Puppy's installation. What's going on? I could try the MBR alternatives provided at installation but it looks like rlangset already did to no avail. Is it that an ext2 partition won't boot and isn't that awfully ironic? I want ext2 so I don't have to save changes to a separate file.

[rlangset]

I don't think the problem is that a ext2 partition won't boot. After all DSL boots from a ext2 partition from USB memory stick.

[ahiemstra]

I ran into the same issue. When I format the USB drive as fat32, then the drive will boot. So it has to do with the partition type. I tried all boot magagers that the universal installer offers, but Puppy will not boot from the ext2 partition on the USB drive.

Try fat32.

[Pazzer1]

I've got Puppy Linux booting from CD on a Samsung Q1 but when I look for Universal Installer it's not listed. I have puppy-4.00-k2.6.21.7-seamonkey.iso installed on a 2GB Sd plugged into USB but under NTFS.
Can anyone see my mistake(s)?

[ahiemstra]

The universal installer is under <Menu><Setup><Puppy universal installer> (1st lightning icon).

[Pazzer1]

ahiemstra, brilliant, thanks. I see now the full list is not available from the desktop.

Puppy is giving me 3x battery life over my app-bursting XP install on the Q1 - and the little window locator/navigator at the bottom is a GODSEND for tablet users when buttons disappear off the sreen.

[rlangset]

After formatting my memory stick to fat32, and making a new install to it, the PC now boots from the USB stick with PUPPY on it.

So it had to be fat32, not ext2.

[freamon]

I'm running Puppy off a ext2-formatted usb stick at the minute.

I initially had problems booting too - I think it might be syslinux that only likes fat32. The solution is to install grub onto the stick after you've finished the Universal Installation process. Grub is in Menu->System -> grub bootloader config. When it asks, choose the 3rd option (the one that says it might not be safe).

Either change the TIMEOUT value to zero in /boot/grub/menu.lst to boot straight away or use the menu for different kernel options like "pfix=nox" or "pfix=ram".

My menu.lst looks like this:

Code: Select all

color light-gray/blue black/light-gray

timeout 0
default 0

title Puppy Linux
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/sda1 ro vga=normal pmedia=usbflash
initrd /initrd.gz

title Puppy Linux (console)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/sda1 ro vga=normal pmedia=usbflash pfix=nox
initrd /initrd.gz

and device.map is

Code: Select all

(hd0)	/dev/sda

[ahiemstra]

Good info! Thanks! Will try that out.

What is a shame is that these kind of forum posts do not result into a Wiki page.

Who manages the Wiki?

I am a new Puppy user and I think I could contribute to the Wiki.

[Béèm]

and device.map is

Code: Select all

(hd0)   /dev/sda 

Where can this device.map be found?

[Upgrayedd]

I'm running Puppy off a ext2-formatted usb stick at the minute.

I initially had problems booting too - I think it might be syslinux that only likes fat32. The solution is to install grub onto the stick after you've finished the Universal Installation process. Grub is in Menu->System -> grub bootloader config. When it asks, choose the 3rd option (the one that says it might not be safe).

Either change the TIMEOUT value to zero in /boot/grub/menu.lst to boot straight away or use the menu for different kernel options like "pfix=nox" or "pfix=ram".

I got GRUB to succesfully install to the USB drive and it shows up at boot, BUT if I select "Linux on partition /dev/sdb1" I get "Error 17" unknown partition type. :\ Nothing seems to like ext2. Should I replace the current menu.lst with yours?

[Trid]

Good info! Thanks! Will try that out.

What is a shame is that these kind of forum posts do not result into a Wiki page.

Who manages the Wiki?

I am a new Puppy user and I think I could contribute to the Wiki.

Do it.

I wrote a guide on how to do a really easy install using UNetbootin

http://www.puppylinux.org/wiki/how-tos/ ... 40-windows

Took less than 15 minutes including download, boot, reboot and configuration.

[ahiemstra]

OK the key here to understand is that when you run Grub, you use /dev/sdb or /sdv/sdb1, because that is how the OS sees your USB Stick.

But when you boot from it, it becomes the primary hard drive, like C: in MSDOS/Microsoft Windows. Therefore, after running Grub, you must change the menu.lst and the device.map files to look like mentioned above. With references to /sdb this will not work. Also, the USB will be hd0 at boot time and not hd1 when you booted from CD. Well, at least for Grub at boot time. After you booted from your USB, you will see that your USB will be /dev/sdb1 again. Here was the confusion I had.

Also, after using Grub, your menu.lst really contains wrong references to vmlinuz. So make sure you use the settings mentioned above.

If you want an easy ride and don't care about EXT2 or FAT32, go for FAT32. It is easier and if you install MBR.BIN in the Universal Installer, you are ready to go right away.

I got ext2 running on my USB now. Thanks for the help.

[Pazzer1]

Thanks for the good new understanding. I had pretty well given up in frustration. Now I'll have a go again when I get a chance.

[ahiemstra]

PROCEDURE

• Download ISO from http://www.puppylinux.org
• Burn CD with ISO using Nero for example
• Boot with CD
• Insert USB
• Run: Menu > System > GParted
  • Select "/dev/sdb1" in the top right corner (Careful! Don't select your hard drive!!!)
  • Right-click partition on USB and select: "Format EXT2"
  • Click "Apply" button in toolbar
  • Right-click formatted EXT2 partition and select:"Manage Flags"
  • Set boot flag
• Run: Menu > Setup > Puppy Universal Installer
  • Select "USB Flash Drive" from list
  • Select "/dev/sdb1" from list
  • Click top button to install
  • Click "OK" button
  • Click "CD" button
  • Click "OK" button
  • Select "default" from list
  • Press "enter" to confirm
  • Enter "y" followed by "enter" to confirm
  • Press "enter" to have files copied to RAM
  • Press "enter" to quit
• Run: Menu > System > Grub bootloader config
  • Select "Simple" from list, click "OK" button
  • Select "Standard" from list, click "OK" button
  • Enter: "/dev/sdb1" in field and click "OK" button
  • Select "MBR" from list, click "OK" button
  • Click "OK" button
• Mount USB using the Mount application from the desktop
• On the USB, go to "/boot/grub" and click device.map
• IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND: When you installed grub, the USB was /dev/sdb. But when Grub boots from your USB stick, it will see itself as being on the boot disk (much like C: in Windows), which is /dev/sda or hd0 and not /dev/sdb or hd1. Therefore we need to make changes:
  • Make the file look like:

    Code: Select all

    (hd0)	/dev/sda

  • Save the file
• On the USB, go to "/boot/grub" and click menu.lst
  • Make the file look like:

    Code: Select all

    timeout 5
    default 0
    color light-gray/blue black/light-gray
    
    title Puppy Linux (on /dev/sda1)
    root (hd0,0)
    kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/sda1 ro vga=normal pmedia=usbflash
    initrd /initrd.gz
    
    title Puppy Linux console (on /dev/sda1)
    root (hd0,0)
    kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/sda1 ro vga=normal pmedia=usbflash pfix=nox
    initrd /initrd.gz

  • Save the file
• DONE

LINKS

• How to boot from USB memory stick
  http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 063#223063

[ahiemstra]

Oh yes... If I only had a Wiki account to create Wiki entries... Sigh...

[Pazzer1]

You get a medal from me without being in the Olympics!
But hey! it's already evening here in England. how can I ever catch up with you streetwise Linux guys?