Me Tutorial
Installing Linux on your thumbdrive
So you’re wanting to install linux on your thumbdrive, eh? Well here’s how to do it with Feather Linux!
update I got a hold of 0.7.5, installation is a little different. I’ll add information on it in later. All boot files are inside the folder not called Knoppix. so move them out, and rename isolinux.cfg to syslinux.cfg
another update: I changed the download location, since berlios seems to be sucking lately. I also removed the portions about boot essentials, since they were useless.
Yet another update: HP decided to take down the usb format utility, so it’s now hosted on my site.
1) Download Feather Linux USB edition
The file you want to download is called feather-0.x.x-usb.zip, where 0.x.x is the version number, at the time of this posting, the latest version is 0.7.5, however, I used 0.7.4, but it should still work.If you’re computer can’t boot off usb, there is a boot floppy you can use, if that doesn’t work, there’s an alternate one you can use. I haven’t tried either of these, so don’t yell at me if they don’t work. These boot image links can be found on the Feather linux site. to extract the img to a floppy, download rawrite, from here. Also, here’s a mirror of the Boot Floppy.
2) Download Syslinux.
The file I downloaded was called syslinux-3.11.zip, as an alternate, you can download it from me.
3) Download and install HP USB disk storage device format tool.
We’re going to use this to completely whipe the drive and format it. Note: This step isn’t neccessary, but it makes the process easier.
4)Format Thumbdrive and get it ready.
To format the drive, we’re going to use the format utility we just installed. Run it. If you don’t remember where it is, it should be in start menu>all programs>Hewlett-Packard Company.For device, select your thumbdrive. make sure you don’t have any other usb storage devices attached, just in case.
For file system, select FAT, not FAT 32.
Give it a name, preferably “I love Ahmed” or something.
don’t check “quick format” and click start. a warning box will appear, continue through that.
5)Extract Feather Linux USB edition to thumbdrive.
That’s right, extract the Feather Linux archive you downloaded in step 1 to the thumbdrive.0.7.5 users: You will need to move all the files out of bootisolinux to root, then rename isolinux.cfg so syslinux.cfg
6)Run syslinux
Go find where you downloaded syslinux and extract it to a folder, like c:feathersyslinux-3.11go to your start menu and go to the run. type in cmd if your on XP, Command if you’re on a older Windows release.
type “cd” to return to the root of the hard drive, then navigate to where you extracted syslinux, if you extracted it where I suggested you to, just type “cd c:feathersyslinux-3.11” and it’ll take you right there. Navigate to a sub-directory called win32 by typing “cd win32”.
now depending on the drive letter of the thumbdrive, you would type “syslinux E:” if you’re thumbdrive were on the E drive.
7)Reboot your computer
When you reboot your computer, make sure you have the thumbdrive attached. The BIOS has to detect it in post, otherwise it’s not going to work. Enter Bios and change the boot order so that it boots off your thumbdrive before your hard drive.Save setting and exit bios. Your computer should now load Feather Linux off of the thumbdrive!
This worked on my first attempt at my own method. Obviously this was written for windows users. As soon as I get linux up and running on one of my computers, I’ll write a linux version.
If you decided to try this out, please comment with your experience!
About
Great tutorial and installing explanation, Ahmed! This is my first usage and migration from Win OS to Feather Linux. Currently i boot FL from USB thumb drive, but is possible to instal Feather Linux to my HDD? I have 3 patrition (c:, d: & e:). Is there a option to format e: in FAT and then permenently install FL to this drive?
Thanks
When you load up feather linux, right click on the desktop and inside system tool or enhancements (can’t remember which)there’s an option for HD install. choose the safer mode, you’ll need to reformat that partition as a ext3 and split off about 1 gig or so for a swap partition.
Now i got FL to HDD, but i can compile scripts, the option ./configure doesn’t work right: “configure: error: C preprocessor “/lib/cpp” fails sanity check” with apt-get i install gcc and g++, but no changes.
Interesting. That error generally means you don’t have your C compiler. try and apt-get update then apt-get upgrade your compilers.
try reading this thread too. it might help you understand your error.
Hi, I tried the instruction but when I boot FL from USB, I’ve a black blank screen, and on the top left on myscreen showing “j” (without “) and the USB just keep blinking and my computer hang.
Do you got an idea? I already tried combination with syslinux-2.11, feather-0.6.2-usb.zip, feather-0.7.4-usb.zip, replacing minirt24.gz, ....
Some combination works, for example :
1. extract feather-0.6.2-usb.zip
2. replace minirt24.gz
3. syslinux /dev/sda1 (under Linux RH, and using syslinux-2.11)
it works, i’ve got the welcome screen from FL, and prompting “boot : “, but after that i’ve got another problem :
”
Accessing Feather USB at /dev/sda1…cat: No file /KNOPPIX/etc/ld.so.cache.
Setting paths…rm: not found
awk: not found
awk: not found
Total memory found: kB
expr: not found
expr: not found
mkdir: not found
Creating directories and symlinks on ramdisk…mkdir: not found
/linuxrc: cannot create /var/run/utmp: directory nonexistent
FAT: bogus cluster size 48
Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 01:01 ”
Can you Help me about all this things
?
TIA
I believe the reason you’re having trouble with the 0.6.2 is because minirt24.gz is of a more recent version then the rest of the files so that may be causing your problems.
i also get the
awk: not found
awk: not found
Total memory found: kB
expr: not found
expr: not found
mkdir: not found
errors. However i used the .gz file packaged with 4.2 and also the alternate .gz file available on the website. Neither work. Could it be to do with file system? Im using FAT.
It’s probably not the file system you’re using. I’d recommend dropping by Their site, they can probably help you better then me.
Thanks! Finally got this working! I’m not sure whether it’s the HP Format tool or the newer syslinux (Berlios shows V2.11 as the only version to use) but you cracked my problem!
Hi I tried all steps but it does not work. During the boot process “Missing Operating System” message has been appeared on the screen. Do I have to give some extentions to syslinux.exe ?
Are you using 0.7.5 or 0.7.4? it sounds like syslinux isn’t finding the boot files for feather linux.
I’ve the same problem as wini. I made all the steps of your guide but when it should boot, only a “j” appears under the chart of system properties (that char that appears just before anything boots) and that’s all.
What could happen with this?
Greets.
is it possable it boot any kind of linux off a off a memory card like sd or memory stick duo… that would kick ass to boot from a psp or camera! + you would have a free cd drive to use…
I suppose it would be possible, If the device the memory is attached to registers as a usb mass storage device and the Bios detects it (shows up in boot options), then it would be possible.
Am using 1 gb USB flash drive that I can successfully get other distributions to work with, so I know the formatting/booting process is working. With 0.7.4-usb the initial boot to the prompt is working fine but after that I’m getting errors almost exactly the same as “wini” above. If I try to boot normally I get a blank screen, and if I try to boot using the “failsafe” command I get the “not found” messages and the kernel panic. I tried 0.7.5 (with copying the files in /boot/isolinux to the root and renaming isolinux.cfg to syslinux.cfg) and I still get the “boot:” prompt ok, and when I type “failsafe” with this version I eventually get a message saying “Can’t find Feather Linux filesystem…” and it drops me to a limited shell that I can’t do anything with. Is there some kind of path problem? I’ve used syslinux-2.11 and syslinux-3.20 with no difference. I also use the HP formatting tool to reformat the drive as FAT. Any ideas?
Thanks!
I have the same problem with the 0.7.5 feather.
I try with syslinux 3.31 3.35… no changes…
I have follow all the Ahmeds steps… and i have test my usb key with other linux system.
I had the same problem as wini.
But when I used feather-0.7.5.iso and latest syslinux syslinux-3.31.zip it booted up just fine.
Dont forget to follow Ahmeds step 5.
Now how about a Damn Small Linux (DSL) tutorial.
_
hey ahmed :).i have a problem and this is what i get. 1. i reboot my system and enter the BIOS. 2. i then change the first boot choice to USB:ZIP. 3. When it goes to boot up it sais “boot can not find kernel image” any ideas?
Sounds Like it can’t locate the kernel image. Which version are you working with? 0.7.5 or 0.7.4?
Hi, I’ve managed to get the feather linux-0.7.4 booting. I used the HP tool and syslinux 2.11 as recommended. I removed all USB device execpt the USB key. I also check the md5 hashes and in verified a correct download. However, at boot I get the following screen
Welcome to the Feather Linux live Linux-on-CD!
Found USB device(s) handled by usbcore.o.
Found USB device(s) handled by ehci-hcd.o.
Found USB device(s) handled by usb-ohci.o.
Found USB device(s) handled by usb-storage.o.
Accessing Feather Linux at /dev/sda1…cat: No file /KNOPPIX/etc/ld.so.cache.
Setting paths…/linuxrc: /KNOPPIX/bin/rm: not found
/linuxrc: /KNOPPIX/bin/ln: not found
egrep: not found
sed: not found
rm: not found
awk: not found
awk: not found
Total memory found: kB
expr: not found
expr: not found
mkdir: not found
Creating directories and symlinks on ramdisk…:mkdir: not found
chown: not found
/linuxrc: cannot create /var/run/utmp: directory nonexistent
FAT: bogus logical sector size 0
Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs in 01:03
It looks like the KNOPPIX image couldn’t be extracted. Anyone got an idea as where to look? I tried to post this question at the feather linux forum but the forum wouldn’t let me register…
Thanks in advance, Nebula
Ahmed, does this install linux on my computer or will i just be running linux off of my flash drive on top of windows? i can’t do this if it will be permenant or will affect windows.
thanks,
Philip S.
This will only setup your flashdrive to boot linux, so you’ll have it running completely off the flash drive. If you want to install to the drive, I believe there is a tool in feather linux to do that.
Well, This is my first try at migrating. and it’s not a big success yet. It seems that my cmd is bitchy, IDKW.
when I try to run the syslinux.exe, it says no suchs file, etc. I checked and it’s there. I tried to run if of serveral drives, c, H and G but yet no succes. Is it me or is it this crappy MicroShaft XP
Hey, I’m getting an “unsupported media” message in the command console when I run syslinux. Any ideas? Cheers
Double check that you’re giving it the correct drive letter.
Hey,
I’m trying to boot from my flash drive, but it won’t work. I downloaded the exact versions you said to, formatted my drive, and then loaded everything just how you said to. Please help, I can’t get it to boot. It’s u3, so could that cause a prob?
Check that you have your bios setup to boot from flash. And did you run syslinux on the appropriate drive?
when i bood i get this
welcome to ….
bound USB device(s)handled by …
Probing usb … elhi-hcd.o
its stuck at this place ! help !
Using the 0.7.4 Feather USB zip, I get exactly the same result reposted by Jasper on 2007-06-25 09:40:32 (above).
Did anyone ever come up with a solution to this?
Ok, 30 minutes later I can answer part of my own question for those after me who follow the instructions and end up with the “FAT: bogus logical sector size 0” message.
Don’t use Winzip to extract the image to your USB stick!! At least, not v6.2 which I used. A Drag and drop operation created a file named KNOPPIX rather than a directory of that name. Using the “extract” rather than drag and drop was better, but the problem remained the same. Finally, I put the USB into a Linux (FC5) box, cd’d to the root dir and issued:
gunzip
The stick will need syslinux re-run, but it now boots to a shell, but get a stack of
cloop: error -3 uncompressing block xxxx…
eventually leading to a stack of “no such file or directory” errors that prevent the X service starting. I get a shell though. Will keep digging.
hay, I was just wondering if this technique would work for any other small distributions of Linux. I want to try it a bit, and I know that I want to use NimbleX because they let you build what you want right into it (i feel thats better than a canned program like Feather, I just dont see using some of the programs, and therefore dont want them.) So does anybody know if the same steps: Download, Reformat to FAT, Extract, (or is there something different for an ISO?) and do the command prompt thing: (“cd” to the win32 folder) syslinux [DRIVE]:
Or by any chance, can I just cut all this out and DL the distro, syslinux, and syslinux the ISO onto the flashdrive? I figure I might as well ask. I have little to no EXP with any of this, please help?
Hi,
Excellent article. Helped me a lot from my changeover from MS Windows to Feather Linux.
Thanks
I just try the feather linux 0.7.4(d/l from http://ftp.nluug.nl/ftp/pub/os/Linux/distr/feather/feather-0.7.4-usb.zip) on 256 MB Flash drive.
I use syslinux 2.11 for your syslinux(3.11) have no syslinux.exe. (may be my d/l is corrupted. I extract it with zipgenius 6. staight to my flash drive.
It boot OK but stop when “Probing USB .. ehci-hcd.o” with both caps lock n scroll lock led on n num lock led off(on the keyboard). Any idea what’s the problem is?? How to fix it??
Thx
bgung
add
[quote]
I extract it with zipgenius 6. staight to my flash drive.
[/quote]
I mean the feather linux that extracted to the flash drive.
I think i got the same problem as Collin up there. I try the expert setting. It gives some text:
ehci_hdc 00:1d.7:bios handoff failed (109,1010001)
Unable to handle kernell null pointer dereference at virtual address 000000418
printing eip
d0b289fc
bla bla bla
Fat bogus logical sector size=0
Kernel Panic: VFS : Unable to mount rootfs on 01.03
PS: Sorry for not read the post carefully. I found the syslinux in win32 folder.
.
So it’s working for you now?
about the syslinux, yup but the kernel panic thing, nope .
There’s something wrong with the partition. Did you format it as FAT?
about the syslinux, yup. but the kernel panic thing, nope .
it was great!..i was able to run it..thanks for the tutorial…this was the only site that helped me out…_
Glad to know my guide is still helping people