Here are some screen shots that I've taken during the USB install. Note that when installing a Fedora-based distro one has to change the disk order as anaconda want's to install grub on /dev/sda, the USB key. Specifying the target for installation http://www.jayeola.org/dump/SS-alpha/screenshot-0005.png using disk druid http://www.jayeola.org/dump/SS-alpha/screenshot-0007.png Installer wants to put grub on /dev/sda, the USB key http://www.jayeola.org/dump/SS-alpha/screenshot-0016.png Changing the disk order. http://www.jayeola.org/dump/SS-alpha/screenshot-0018.png It took me some time to work out what to do here. Funny though as I've used the same method to install CentOS from a USB key and this last step was never required. Can you chaps recommend any docs to read in order to get familiar with BIOS and anything else required? Want some preparation as to avoid bricking my laptop and USB key. On Sun, 28 Jan 2007 13:50:44 -0700 Phil Meyer <pmeyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Julius Maclean wrote: > > Hi Chaps, > > > > First post. Appologies in advance if this is the wrong list. This concerns installation of Fedora based distros from a USB key. I've read the guides that say one should run; > > dd if=diskboot.img of=/dev/sda > > > > This works fine and I've been able to install OS using this method. However the partition table that this command creates is rather unusable for any thing other than installations. [output of fdisk -l listed below]. > > > > It seems as if the USB key is partitioned in such a way that all of the nth scsi device is used. It would be nice to be able mount the USB key in order to say, out an iso image on it. Bit of a waste of a 1GB USB key in that I do have the sapce for diskboot.img *and* an iso image. > > > > The BIOS can divide USB devices into 4 types: > 1. USB Floppy > 2. USB ZIP > 3. USB CDROM > 4. USB DISK > > Some BIOS manufacturers glob them all together and test each type in turn. > > So, the more of these that a single device can satisfy, the more likely > that it will be bootable. > > When you dd the .img to the entire drive, most BIOSs will see it as a > super floppy, which is #1 on the compatibility list. > > It is necessary to know a bit about ZIP drives. They boot from > partition 4, and have specific geometry. Sometimes the geometry > matters, sometimes it does not. > > We have had reasonable success with creating a 13MB partition 4, and the > remainder on partition 1. > Make partition 4 bootable with the boot flag. > Then dd the .img file to partition 4. > mkfs -t vfat on partition 1 > mount and copy the iso(s) to partition 1 > > There is a current bug in anaconda that seems to cause grub to be > installed into the MBR of the USB drive when you install this way, and > if the USB drive during install is read by the BIOS as a disk drive. > Quite a nasty problem. > > Using the recent (very cool) program pungi, the process of building > custom iso(s) can be automated. > > The program pungi is followed in the buildsys list. > > > -- > fedora-list mailing list > fedora-list@xxxxxxxxxx > To unsubscribe: https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/fedora-list > >
