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Comment: more typos, removed one unrefeence section about "ISO and other type"...
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This page is about boot Linux via ["USB"] pendrives in any computer with or without USB-BIOS capability (in this last case, using a BootFloppy). You can install Linux in your USB pendrive or buy it installed. This page is about boot Linux via ["USB"] pendrives in any computer with or without USB-BIOS capability (in this last case, using a BootFloppy). You can install Linux in your USB pendrive or buy it preinstalled.
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Most computers (just about all Dells, for example) made today have a BIOS that supports the USBHDD method so it's expect that this will eventually become the standard way to boot a USB device. However, many motherboards will support BOTH methods, and many older motherboards have USBZIP support. Most computers (e.g. just about all Dells) made today have a BIOS that supports the USBHDD method so it's expected that this will eventually become the standard way of booting a USB device. However, many motherboards will support BOTH methods, and many older motherboards have USBZIP support.
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You need a USB device with standard mass storage interface and with, '''at least, 128 MBytes''' (the distros uses generally 50 -64  MB)  to work with Linux. You need a USB device with a standard mass storage interface and with '''at least 128 MB''' storage capacity (the distros generally use between 50 and 64 MB) to work with Linux.
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Most USB pendrives are located at device name ["sda"] after they are plugged into the USB port. Most USB pendrives are located at device node ["/dev/sda"] after they are plugged into the USB port.
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and it should tell you the device name for your USB (SCSI emulated) devices and vendor name. and it should tell you the device name for your USB (SCSI emulated) devices, along with the vendor name.
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If you cannot find it, you have to load the UsbStorage ["module"] (type in a ["terminal"] ''modprobe usb-storage'') and ["mount"] the usb FileSystem s (''mount -t usb-devfs none /proc/bus/usb ). If you cannot find it, you have to load the UsbStorage ["module"] (type in a ["terminal"]:
{{{
modprobe usb-storage
}}}
and ["mount"] the usb filesystems
{{{
mount -t usb-devfs none /proc/bus/usb
}}}
.
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=== Format the USB key ===
Store your USB pendrive data and the ["root"] used must format it with ["fdisk"] (the USB key must not be mounted).
=== Partitioning the USB key ===
Partition the USB pendrive with ["fdisk"] (the USB key must not be mounted!).
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Press P to see the list of all ["partition"]s and D to exclude the first partition. Unmark all partitions and clean them. Create a new partitin pressing N , P and L . Make it a boot partition selecting the A option (t > 6 create a FAT16 partition, that detects upto 4 GB volumens) and finally press W to store and exit from fdisk. Press P to see the list of all ["partition"]s and D to exclude the first partition. Unmark all partitions and delete them. Create a new partition pressing N, P and L . Make it bootable partition selecting the A option (t, 6 to create a FAT16 partition, which allows access to up to 4 GB) and finally press W to store the new partition table and exit from fdisk.
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Press P to see the list of all ["partition"]s. Use D repeated to delete all partitions. Press P to see the list of all ["partition"]s. Use D repeatedly to delete all partitions.
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Set bootable flag with A, press T, 6 to create a FAT16 partition and press W to store and exit from fdisk.
Enter mkdosfs /dev/sda1 at the prompt to create a filesystem because otherwise installation described later under 'Unburned using DSL' won't work.
Set the bootable flag with A, press T, 6 to create a FAT16 partition and press W to store and exit from fdisk.
Enter {{{mkdosfs /dev/sda1}}} at the prompt to create a filesystem because otherwise the installation steps described under 'Unburned using DSL' later on won't work.
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There is two installation methods: There are two installation methods:
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 * Burned: from a LiveCD using the utility Install to USB.
 * Unburned: downloading the files and installing them in the USB pendrive. There is two file types : ISO and other types.
 * Burned: from a LiveCD using the 'Install to USB' utility.
 * Unburned: download the ISO file and copy its contents into the USB pendrive.
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==== Unburned using DSL ====
To install DamnSmallLinux download the ISO image and as ["root"] user go the directory with the dsl-0.9.2.iso file and:
==== Unburned using DamnSmallLinux ====
To install DamnSmallLinux download the ISO image and as ["root"] user go the directory with the dsl-*.iso file and type the following:
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  * DamnSmallLinux, that uses FluxBox , where the majority of Debian USB distros are based .   * DamnSmallLinux (uses FluxBox as window manager), upon which the majority of Debian USB distros are based.
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  * PuppyLinux , that uses FVWM-95 graphical environment.   * PuppyLinux, uses FVWM-95 as window manager.
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=== More aditional links === === More additional links ===
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 * [http://rz-obrian.rz.uni-karlsruhe.de/knoppix-usb/ Boot KNOPPIX from an USB Memory Stick].  * [http://rz-obrian.rz.uni-karlsruhe.de/knoppix-usb/ Boot KNOPPIX from a USB Memory Stick].
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["USB"]


This page is about boot Linux via ["USB"] pendrives in any computer with or without USB-BIOS capability (in this last case, using a ?BootFloppy). You can install Linux in your USB pendrive or buy it preinstalled.

BIOS and USB standard mass storage interface

There are two common BIOS methods for direct USB booting:

  • One method is called the "USBHDD" method and it is used to support the booting of standard USB mass storage devices that are configured like a normal PC hard drive.
  • The other method is called the "USBZIP" method and it supports booting from a USB storage device that behaves like the original IOMEGA ZIP drive with USB support.

Most computers (e.g. just about all Dells) made today have a BIOS that supports the USBHDD method so it's expected that this will eventually become the standard way of booting a USB device. However, many motherboards will support BOTH methods, and many older motherboards have USBZIP support.

You need a USB device with a standard mass storage interface and with at least 128 MB storage capacity (the distros generally use between 50 and 64 MB) to work with Linux.

See StandardPendrive.

USB pendrive location and mount

Most USB pendrives are located at device node ["/dev/sda"] after they are plugged into the USB port.

However, you can verify this location by typing this command inside a ["terminal"] window:

dmesg | grep scsi -A 3

and it should tell you the device name for your USB (SCSI emulated) devices, along with the vendor name.

See : ["dmesg"].

If you cannot find it, you have to load the ?UsbStorage ["module"] (type in a ["terminal"]:

modprobe usb-storage

and ["mount"] the usb filesystems

mount -t usb-devfs none /proc/bus/usb

.

Partitioning the USB key

Partition the USB pendrive with ["fdisk"] (the USB key must not be mounted!).

Press P to see the list of all ["partition"]s and D to exclude the first partition. Unmark all partitions and delete them. Create a new partition pressing N, P and L . Make it bootable partition selecting the A option (t, 6 to create a FAT16 partition, which allows access to up to 4 GB) and finally press W to store the new partition table and exit from fdisk.

Using fdisk on SuSE (probably other as well): Press P to see the list of all ["partition"]s. Use D repeatedly to delete all partitions. Create a new partition pressing N, P, 1 and accept all defaults concerning the size (minimum partition size necessary will be around 60 MB). Set the bootable flag with A, press T, 6 to create a FAT16 partition and press W to store and exit from fdisk. Enter mkdosfs /dev/sda1 at the prompt to create a filesystem because otherwise the installation steps described under 'Unburned using DSL' later on won't work.

Installation methods

There are two installation methods:

  • Burned: from a LiveCD using the 'Install to USB' utility.
  • Unburned: download the ISO file and copy its contents into the USB pendrive.

Unburned using DamnSmallLinux

To install DamnSmallLinux download the ISO image and as ["root"] user go the directory with the dsl-*.iso file and type the following:

  mkdir dsl_temp
  mkdir dsl_usb
  mount -o loop dsl-*.iso dsl_temp
  cp -a dsl_temp/* dsl_usb
  cd dsl_usb
  mv boot/isolinux/* ./
  rm -Rf boot 
  mv isolinux.bin syslinux.bin
  mv isolinux.cfg syslinux.cfg
  cd ..
  mkdir usb_pen
  mount -t vfat /dev/sda1 usb_pen
  cp -a dsl_usb/* usb_pen
  umount usb_pen
  syslinux /dev/sda1

See also BootUsb2, IsoBuster, ["Isolinux"], ["Grub"] .

USB Debian distros

  • Debian:
  • Fedora / RedHat:

    • ?PuppyLinux, uses FVWM-95 as window manager.

  • Gentoo :
    • SPB-Linux , with XFCE4 environment

More information

See also:

  • ?BootingFromFloppyToUsb .

  • ["growisofs"].