9 replies to this topic

[BigBrother]

I dont really know what it's called, but I've seen it before. Basically you cant start the computer up with out a USB device plugged in the computer. That the computer looks for some files on that drive.
I want to know how to do it on Linux and Windows. If someone knows what that's even called or can link me to a how-to I would be very happy.

[misternest]

I had a similar problem with my laptop, and the only solution i could find is to look for an updated bios that supports booting from USB, if not you are S.O.L.
Unless there is some way you can setup Grub or Lilo to mount the external storage device as a viable choice on boot up.

anyone else have any ideas?

[cyberpunk_hex]

Is this similar to what you're looking for?

http://sourceforge.net/projects/usl/

[xantr3x]

Its called modifying your boot order in BIOS. Download, lets say USBSLAXFULL. Unzip it to your flash drive, and then plug it in. Start up your computer, and look for some messageat the bottom of your screen before Windows or Linux starts. You should see BIOS, and go to boot order. Change the first boot option to USB or whatever is in your USB drive, and save and exit. Voila!

Edited by xantr3x, 18 February 2007 - 10:33 PM.

[misternest]

Its called modifying your boot order in BIOS. Download, lets say USBSLAXFULL. Unzip it to your flash drive, and then plug it in. Start up your computer, and look for some messageat the bottom of your screen before Windows or Linux starts. You should see BIOS, and go to boot order. Change the first boot option to USB or whatever is in your USB drive, and save and exit. Voila!

I understand how to do that, but what if your BIOS doesn't support booting from USB, what will you do then?

Edited by misternest, 19 February 2007 - 07:16 PM.

[tehbizz]

Its called modifying your boot order in BIOS. Download, lets say USBSLAXFULL. Unzip it to your flash drive, and then plug it in. Start up your computer, and look for some messageat the bottom of your screen before Windows or Linux starts. You should see BIOS, and go to boot order. Change the first boot option to USB or whatever is in your USB drive, and save and exit. Voila!

I understand how to do that, but what if your BIOS doesen't support booting from USB, what will you do then?

You can't fit a square peg in a round hole then.

[systems_glitch]

If your BIOS supports USB boot, throw GRUB onto a USB disk, and make the hard disk otherwise non-bootable. Maybe even remove everything else from the boot order, and set a BIOS password.

[xantr3x]

Its called modifying your boot order in BIOS. Download, lets say USBSLAXFULL. Unzip it to your flash drive, and then plug it in. Start up your computer, and look for some messageat the bottom of your screen before Windows or Linux starts. You should see BIOS, and go to boot order. Change the first boot option to USB or whatever is in your USB drive, and save and exit. Voila!

I understand how to do that, but what if your BIOS doesen't support booting from USB, what will you do then?

You can't fit a square peg in a round hole then.

But you can fit a round disk into a squaredrive. Read up on LiveCDs, Misternest

[BigBrother]

Is this similar to what you're looking for?

http://sourceforge.net/projects/usl/

Yep, that's exactly what I want. thanks '_hex.

[misternest]

Its called modifying your boot order in BIOS. Download, lets say USBSLAXFULL. Unzip it to your flash drive, and then plug it in. Start up your computer, and look for some messageat the bottom of your screen before Windows or Linux starts. You should see BIOS, and go to boot order. Change the first boot option to USB or whatever is in your USB drive, and save and exit. Voila!

I understand how to do that, but what if your BIOS doesn't support booting from USB, what will you do then?

You can't fit a square peg in a round hole then.

But you can fit a round disk into a squaredrive. Read up on LiveCDs, Misternest

Live cd's arent the issue, i have used several versions of Knoppix, Kanotix, Mandrake move, and Suse.
Im referring to a method that would preclude the necessity of having optical media. A thumbdrive would be much easier to carry about and use for this purpose.
On the other hand if you are referring to modifying the LiveCD to automatically mount a usb device and load the OS from there then that is another method that I haven't thought about, and if so I will look into that as an option, since beggars can't be choosers.
I do apologize in advance if my earlier reply wasn't clear enough