On Tue, Jan 15, 2013 at 11:11 PM, LANGLOIS Olivier PIS -EXT < olivier.pis.langlois@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > I did try using unetbootin to make a freedos usbkey using freedos from > the > > standard list in the available options within unetbootin but the key I > prepared > > would not boot! I don't know if it is critical to put the partition > table into the > > key in a particular way - but I tried using gparted and making a standard > > msdos partition table followed by making a new partition which was fat32 > > with boot and lba labels. I have seen some articles which have the old 63 > > sector start point for the first partition on the usbkey - but again > when I tried > > that the key would not get recognised by the arch system when I plugged > it > > in. > > > > So is there any magic incantation in formatting the usbkey in the first > place > > before putting writing the MBR and placing the syslinux boot files and > image > > files in the key? If using grub2 via grub-install on the key is there > any magic > > incantation for that ? I guess if I can get freedos to boot on the key > I may be > > closer to getting something going! (Or getting sysylinux to boot - either > > would be a solution) > > > You remember me when I had to burn Windows7 dvd on a USB key because in > the middle of the installation the setup program was suddenly complaining > about a missing dvd player driver even if it got loaded fine from the dvd > drive! > > I was in a hurry to find a magic incantation or a magical recipe from the > internet to do just that for literally a whole night. Before that, the last > time I had to create a bootable disk was back from DOS where everything was > simply done with just format /b a: > > I failed and after a couple of hours of sleep. I decided to take some time > to just read grub2 documentation. Just by stopping trying to take shortcuts > and just read the grub documentation, I have been able to build my first > bootable USB key! > > I suggest you to do the same. Just half an hour and bootloading won't have > any secrets to you anymore. > > Yes - good idea - I will go and re-read the grub docs.... -- mike c
