Re: [gentoo-user] making bootable USB

[J. Roeleveld]

On Monday, September 01, 2014 10:00:43 AM Joseph wrote:
> On 09/01/14 11:32, J. Roeleveld wrote:
> >On Sunday, August 31, 2014 08:06:46 PM Joseph wrote:
> >> On 08/31/14 20:55, Will Tomlinson wrote:
> >> >On Sun, 31 Aug 2014 12:06:49 -0600
> >> >
> >> >Joseph <syscon780@×××××.com> wrote:
> >> >> I've re-run the setup but it still doesn't work.
> >> >>
> >> >> df -h
> >> >> /dev/sda1       3.8G  190M  3.6G   5% /run/media/joseph/4GB_ysa
> >> >>
> >> >> /dev/sda1 *     2048   7864319 3931136   b W95 FAT32
> >
> >Which command did you use to create the filesystem?
>
> I used to format usb stick flash drive - bootable
> create partition if it doesn't exist
> # fdisk /dev/sda
> n
> p
> 1 enter, enter
>
> t
> b
> w
> q
>
> format it for 1GB
> # mkfs -t vfat /dev/sda1
>
> format it for 4GB
> # mkfs -t vfat -F 32 /dev/sda1

The script sysresccd uses runs:
mkfs.vfat -F 32 /dev/.....

> >> >> while usb not mounted:
> >> >>
> >> >> dd if=/usr/share/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sda
> >> >> 0+1 records in
> >> >> 0+1 records out
> >> >> 440 bytes (440 B) copied, 0.00121707 s, 362 kB/s

Sysresccd uses a tool called "install-mbr", does anyone know what this 
actually does?

> >> >> While usb mounted:
> >Which command do you use to mount?
>
> To mount USB I use from my desktop XFCE icon drop down menu after icon
> showed up "Mount Volume"

Please try to mount using the commandline, just in case XFCE adds some 
additional options causing issues during the "Mount Volume" step.

> ><SNIP>
> >
> >> >Joseph, I am assuming you are trying to create an install disk? If so,
> >> >you shouldn't have to do all these steps. I normally just download the
> >> >minimal install ISO and write it to a USB drive with the following
> >> >commands:
> >> >
> >> ># dd if=/path/to/minimal-install.iso of=/path/to/usb-drive bs=4096
> >> ># sync
> >> >
> >> >You don't have to mount the USB drive. Use sync to ensure that all the
> >> >data has actually been written to the device before you remove it.
> >> >
> >> >I have run across problems with some ISO files that don't play nice
> >> >with this method, but this one seems to work well with the Gentoo
> >> >minimal CD. Also, keep in mind that you don't really need to have the
> >> >Gentoo install disc to install Gentoo. It's certainly EASIER to follow
> >> >the handbook when you have the minimal install disc, but just about any
> >> >Linux live CD will work as long as the architecture matches (chroot
> >> >from x86 to amd64, for example, will not work). Anyway, if this is not
> >> >what you are trying to do, maybe you can give us more details.
> >>
> >> I run it on 1MB USB stick, it did not work:
> >> dd if=/path/to/minimal-install.iso of=/path/to/usb-drive bs=4096
> >> sync
> >>
> >> I think the "dd" will work with LiveDVD but not liveCD.
> >
> >Why not use unetbootin?
> >
> >--
> >Joost
>
> I used LiveCD (SystemRescueCD)
> http://blog.kasunbg.org/2012/02/installing-gentoo-from-livecd.html
>
> mounted with "loop"
> mount -o loop,ro -t iso9660
> /home/joseph/Downloads/systemrescuecd-x86-4.3.0.iso /mnt/cdrom/
>
> cd /tmp/cdrom
> bash ./usb_inst.sh
>
> and their scrip made the bootable USB just fine, it works.
> But it bugs me that Gentoo instruction didn't work.

Best thing to do:
Check that that script actually does and figure out which step(s) are 
missing/wrong in the Gentoo instruction.

--
Joost