Booting Damn Small Linux off a USB Keydrive... not working

Mr. Ksoft · 04-02-2006, 04:32 PM

I'm posting this here because I'm getting no help from the official DSL forums or their tech support IRC channel.

I have downloaded the latest Damn Small Linux 2.3 and installed it onto my 256 MB USB keydrive. It successfully went through the installation, and I rebooted my computer. I told my computer to boot off USB. It did. I get to the splash screen and press enter. It starts to load. It scans for USB devices, and once it's done, says "looking for KNOPPIX CD-ROM in /dev/sda1...". (before anyone asks, it is not looking for a physical CD-ROM, just a KNOPPIX image) After about a minute, it says "Cannot find KNOPPIX CD-ROM. Dropping you to a limited command prompt". I can't see what's wrong, as the keydrive is, in fact, located in Linux at /dev/sda1 and all the files are visible if I browse the drive via windows. Anyone have a clue why it's not booting?

batty_professor · 04-12-2006, 10:13 PM

Did you write the data on the USB drive as an ISO format? I believe this is what the system is looking for. And does the computer have at least 128 megs of ram? (DSL may run with less than that, but I don't know the system requirements).

ursahoribl · 04-13-2006, 02:06 AM

The following is copied from DSLs FAQs.

How Do I Install to a USB Pendrive?

First, boot up your computer from the DSL livecd, frugal, or USB-frugal. Note that it is not possible to do a USB install, or any other kind of install from a DSL Embedded system.

In the Fluxbox menu, go Apps >> Tools >> Install to USB Pendrive and choose either USB-ZIP emulation or USB-HDD emulation, depending on what is supported by your computer's bios.

04-02-2006, 04:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mr. Ksoft Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 32 OS: Main Computer: Windows XP MCE2005. Other computer: Kubuntu 7.04 My System	Booting Damn Small Linux off a USB Keydrive... not working I'm posting this here because I'm getting no help from the official DSL forums or their tech support IRC channel. I have downloaded the latest Damn Small Linux 2.3 and installed it onto my 256 MB USB keydrive. It successfully went through the installation, and I rebooted my computer. I told my computer to boot off USB. It did. I get to the splash screen and press enter. It starts to load. It scans for USB devices, and once it's done, says "looking for KNOPPIX CD-ROM in /dev/sda1...". (before anyone asks, it is not looking for a physical CD-ROM, just a KNOPPIX image) After about a minute, it says "Cannot find KNOPPIX CD-ROM. Dropping you to a limited command prompt". I can't see what's wrong, as the keydrive is, in fact, located in Linux at /dev/sda1 and all the files are visible if I browse the drive via windows. Anyone have a clue why it's not booting?

04-12-2006, 10:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
batty_professor Asst. Manager, Alternative Computing Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hooterville Il 45 mi. east of St. Louis mo Posts: 2,608 OS: Fedora Core 5 for now	Did you write the data on the USB drive as an ISO format? I believe this is what the system is looking for. And does the computer have at least 128 megs of ram? (DSL may run with less than that, but I don't know the system requirements). __________________ It's better to know me and not need me than to need me and not know me. B. While users are never under any obligation, if you feel the urge please feel free to visit our donation page. Every little bit helps. And we thank you for your support. Microsoft free Registered Linux user 397458

04-13-2006, 02:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
ursahoribl Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 8 OS: winxp/suse linux	Re: Booting DSL off USB Keydrive The following is copied from DSLs FAQs. How Do I Install to a USB Pendrive? First, boot up your computer from the DSL livecd, frugal, or USB-frugal. Note that it is not possible to do a USB install, or any other kind of install from a DSL Embedded system. In the Fluxbox menu, go Apps >> Tools >> Install to USB Pendrive and choose either USB-ZIP emulation or USB-HDD emulation, depending on what is supported by your computer's bios.