Booting from USB without mobo support

I've installed Arch on a usb drive but my ancient hardware doesn't appear to support booting from usb devices. Is there a way to make this work? I have Debian on an internal drive. Is there some way to leverage Debian to boot Arch?

Statix wrote:
I would think with debian installed on your internal drive you should just be able to set up grub to boot your usb just as if it were an internal drive.
Just make an entry for Arch in grub's /boot/grub/menu.lst and use (hd1,0) as your root. (This is assuming you only have one hd in your computer. Adjust appropriately for the drive number of your usb drive.)
Thanks for the reply.:)
I'm getting grub error 21 "Disk does not exist":
Here is my entry in Debian's menu.lst:
title Arch Linux
root (hd2,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/disk/by-uuid/94e91a91-9cc2-401b-af27-09c24ff8037d ro
initrd /boot/kernel26.img
savedefault
boot
I also tried (hd1,0) and I get the same error.

Similar Messages

Mobo Support for booting from USB hdd

Hi,
I have a K8N Diamond.
How can I check whether my mobo can support booting from USB hdd?
I know it can boot from the USB-CDROM.
If not, do I need a bios update?

Quote from: Stu on 21-January-08, 00:38:45
How to identify your BIOS and m/b version
But please don't go flashing your BIOS just for the sake of doing so.
Your USB HDD will be listed under Hard Disks in BIOS, there won't be a USB-HDD option
Wow, thanks for the link and the pointer. I've found out where the USB hdd is now.
I won't flash my bios for the sake of that thanks to you, but I'm upgrading to a Dual-Core soon and I realised my bios is w7100nms v1.0.
So I have to flash my bios soon. Any tips regarding this?

How Can I boot from USB - Portege A200

Hi,
I've got an Portege A200 which is only a couple of years old but the hard drive no longer works. Initially I thought this was due to corrupting the boot record on the drive but after attempting to replace the hard drive (with two different drives) it is showing an IDE #0 error upon boot. I have therefore come to the conclusion the IDE controller chip has died.
In order to get the latop working I burned a cd with the ubunto ISO. This boots ok but due to only have 512Mb RAM the system is somewhat limited and anything installed is lost everytime I reboot.
I have now bought a 2Gb flash drive and installed ubuntu onto this. My next problem is that there appears to be no boot from USB HDD or USB Memory Stick option in the bios.
The possible options that I can think of are:
1) Upgade the bios so it supports boot from memory stick (although no HDD so not sure how I could reflash the BIOS or if there is even a BIOS upgrade that would support this functionality)
2) Create a cd which starts the boot process then tells the system to continue booting from the usb drive (Is this possible and does anyone know where I might be able to obtain such software)
3) Boot from CD but use the USB to retain any information saved / any installs etc (I guess similar to option 2 except the cd would manage the whole OS and the USB would just hold 'additional' information)
If there are any other options that anyone can think of I am happy to give them a go. Seems a shame to have to chuck a laptop that isn't particularly old because the IDE controller chip has failed on the mobo.
I apppriciate any help anyone can offer.
Many thanks,
Mark

Hi
First of all I have to say that its not possible to boot from the external USB device like the USB stick, USB CD/DVD drive or USB HDD.
Its possible only to boot from the external USB FDD (diskette) drive
However, not the booting possibilities are clear but I think you have misunderstood the IDE#0 error message. In m opinion the IDE controller is not faulty but only the new HDD is not compatible and not recognized by BIOS.
There are different reasons for this issue
Mostly this error message appears if the HDD master/slave/c-sel settings are not correct.
Usually such settings dont need to be changed or switched on 2.5 HDDs but some HDDs support an jumper which must be set in the right position. But I dont if your HDD supports this
Furthermore the not compatible HDD size could be the reason for such error messages!
So finally I would recommend contacting the ASP in your country to get a new, compatible HDD and to check if the same error persists.
Good luck

Satellite C50-A634 wont boot from USB or DVD

My new toshiba Satellite C50-A634 wont boot from usb, or dvd ,
i have downloaded win 8.1 and burn image to dvd but i still get an error message "no bootable device......please restart system" .
Can some one plz help?

Hi
Does Satellite C50-A634 supports internal CD/DVD drive or did you try to boot from external optical disk drive?
You have to know that _Satellite C50 & Satellite C50D models *without* a built-in ODD_ are not able to boot from an external ODD due to a technical limitation.
Details here:
[Limitation of external boot media for Satellite, Satellite Pro C50 & C50D devices|http://aps2.toshiba-tro.de/kb0/TSB3B03JA0000R01.htm]
Only USB flash drives are supported as external boot devices!
It is necessary you can use a USB flash drive as recovery media on notebooks without a built-in ODD.

[RESOLVED] "Isolinux.bin missing or corrupt" when booting from USB.

Just giving root cause explanation and resolution to closed topic:
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=107241
where "Isolinux.bin missing or corrupt" when booting from USB. I hope maybe someone will find it rather than closed topic 107241 :-(
Windows DD and unetbootin-windows are created for single ISO partition. That's why old Archlinux like 2010-05 will run.
The newest one archlinux-2014.01.05-dual.iso will not work like that because there is UEFI pre-boot (two partitions). That's why it can't find then Isolinux.bin and report it's missing. Of course this kind of issue will appear on old motherboard without / old UEFI support as they can't understand bootstrap and real root fs later.
unetbootin tool is partition driven so it can't do split well 32 UEFI + remaining root.
Resolution:
If you really don't have any Linux based machine to use Linux DD there is work around:
1. Install WIndows Virutalbox and extension pack
2. Download latest Archlinux ISO and run VM from it + USB support map real pendrive
3. In guest VM booted form Arch ISO just run DD if=/dev/sr0 of=/dev/sda (pay attention that SDA is real USB device then).
4. Wait about 8minutes. halt. unplug usb. Voila.
Last edited by varsovie (2014-01-15 22:20:37)

I am having this exact problem but with dd on Ubuntu 12.04 (my main distro on my main machine).
Perhaps my version of dd is too old?

K7T Turbo2 - how do I tell BIOS to boot from USB?

I have an old K7T Turbo2 system, and I'm trying to install Windows 7 on it. I guess that's my first question - am I going to run into any nasty problems running W7 on this board, other than RAM limitations? I have a version of "Tiny7" (which installs from CD-ROM) installed already and it seems fine, but I'd rather run a fuller non-pirated OS, and that means installing from a DVD/iso. I don't have a DVD drive installed and it would be a bit of a pain to acquire one, so I'm hoping to boot from USB to winstall W7.
I have a PCI USB2.0 card installed in the system, which seems to work fine. I've set the BIOS to boot from USB-FDD (but I've also tried USB-CDROM and USB-ZIP). I have BIOS 3.6. I've tried booting from the PCI USB2.0 hub (will that ever work or does the BIOS not recognize it?) and from the regular USB1 port on the mobo (but my USB flash drive is USB2).
Is there something else I need to do in the BIOS to get this to work? Will it never work no matter what I do?
I read somewhere about a BIOS setting to "enable legacy USB support" but can't see anything like that in my BIOS settings.
Any suggestions? (thanks in advance)

If there is no option to boot from USB-HDD then it may never work.
Long shot I know, but what if you connect your USB drive, then power on your system, and press F11 when the logo/POST screen appears, does the drive show in the Boot Menu that appears?
Quote
I don't have a DVD drive installed and it would be a bit of a pain to acquire one
Really? DVD drives are very common, and cheap as chips! You can pick up a brand new DVD writer, for the price of a (good) DVD movie.
http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=5&name=CD-DVD-Burners&Order=PRICE
(Obviously, you'll need an IDE/EIDE type )

Need to boot from USB device with my Portege 7020ct

hi!
i need help!!!
situation: me and my girlfriend go for a long trip on tuesday. we have to work, so we bought a second hand portege 7020ct.
it has no cd or floppy drive. win98 is installed but without drivers for the modem. the infra-red can locate other computers, but is not able to connect.
so the onliest thing i have is one usb slot.
i want to install win2000 or at least put some data on the hard drive.
so i need to use my external cd drive or a usb stick. the problem is, the system (usb slot) found the external drive and the usb sticks, but i need to install some drivers to get them ready! but how???? --> no internet, no floppy, no internal cd, no infra red....
what can i do????
i tried to get into the bios to find out, if it is possible to boot from the usb slot, to perhaps get the external drive runnin and then install win2000.
but i can´t find out how to enter the bios!!!! ...but i´m not sure if this will work.
how can i get into the bios?
do anybody has an idea what i can do? how can i get drivers into the system?
how can i get the external drive runnin or the usb sticks`??
please! i need very quick help, cause tomorrow is my last day...
thanks to everybody in advance,
deko

Hi Deko,
Pressing the <esc> button on power up takes you to the BIOS settings.
Installing the drivers could be difficult. I have a 7010CT and there's no option to boot from USB (just floppy - hard disk - cdrom - lan). I don't think Windows98 supports USB sticks without extra drivers. I upgraded from Windows98 to Windows2000 by using an external PCMCIA cdrom and starting the installer from Windows98. Maybe you could try a PCMCIA network card of try to find a floppy disk for the Portege.

Does KT4 boot from USB Flashdisk?

Unfortunately I don't have the KT4 board, but I could have a one.
Have anybody experience if KT4 boots from USB Flashdisk?
Thanks.

presumably most modern mobos allow for booting from USB devices such as floppy drives and flash disks
why not download the manual from here http://www.msi.com.tw/program/support/download/dld/spt_dld_list.php?kind=1&CHIP=4&NAME=Socket%20A%20(AMD%20K7) and looking through the BIOS instructions? i think there should be.

HP Pavilion 11 x2 not booting from USB

I have tried everything I can think of but my HP Pavilion 11 x2 will not boot from USB...I have Windows 10 currently installed on it and need to boot from USB to allow me to install a new OS on the machine.
I have gone into hte bios...(which I can see is a locked bios with very limited options)....I have turned off the Secure Boot option and have set the USB has the first boot device.
But when I hit F9 on startup...it just gives me 2 options:-
OS Boot Manager
Boot From EFI File
I have tried Boot from EFI File...but this does not work..
I know the USB is configured correctly as I can boot from it on my desktop computer.
How can I get this to work?
Thanks in advance

hi,
i stumbbled into your thread while i was looking for a similar answer for my Pavilion X2 10".
mine was delivered with win 8.1 with bing. it was alright to use, but i was unable to bring this machine to connect to my office domain. due to the lack of networking features which is only available in the pro or enterprise version of win 8.1.
i tried many ways to load in a win 8.1 pro os. the disc is authentic, keys are authentic, usb stick or optical drives; it makes no differences. the machine just refuse to boot into the usb disc / stick like all other previous system does.
there isnt an option for the bios to go into legacy mode. however there is an option to turn off the secure boot, but that does not gives legacy support to the make the system boot to usb.
i had probably done the same things you tried, no matter what setting is done to the bios, there is always only 'os boot manager' and 'ueif' when i hit boot sequence (f9).
had tired everything that i can think of, talking to HP was like talking to an answering machine, and they were asking the most bacis questions ... "were you able to select 'legacy boot' from the bios menu?" ... even when i tell them there isnt a legacy boot option in the bios ... they were too amature .
i concluded that the only way to boot to usb is to do it in uefi with secure boot off and encryption turn off in win 8.1 (else it will bring u to bitlocker).
but i am still unable to boot into the usb media to install win 8.1 pro today. i gave up.

MSI-6702;Booting from USB.

Hi,
Is it my imagination or does this board not allow booting from a USB device? Or am I missing something? Does this board not support booting from a USB storage device? I thought it did, but I could be mistaken.
I get no option to select USB to boot from in the BIOS, or when I select the boot menu. The device in question is an external Plextor DVD burner, as it's my only CD/DVD device I have an interest in getting this to work.
Thanks.

Quote from: Tiresmoke on 24-May-05, 11:13:28
Do you have the Case Front USB ports plugged in? If so remove them as most cases are wired incorrectly and try one of the rear ports. The front ports should not be plugged into the MB until the wiring is checked.
If you are having problems with USB ports, read this topic.
If you don't mind deleting/closing this topic.
I figured it out.
It usually helps to use a USB cable and not a Firewire when trying to boot from USB.
Both my USB and Firewire cable are silver, I thought I had triple checked it. I guess not.
Thanks for the quick responses though.

Boot from USB with A30

I have a Thinkpad A30 , Pentium 3 933 MHZ, 256 MB, and I would like to know if it's possible to boot from USB. I have an external HDD with windows XP installed (a clone from the internal HDD which doesn't work well anymore). In bios are all sort of options, like booting from network , booting from CD, from HDD, and from removable drive. But I didn't succeed to boot from that external HDD. It keeps saying : no operating system , or something.

Welcome to the forum!
Sadly said, older notebooks with USB 1.1 ports often don't tend to really support the booting from an external USB hdd drive.
Maybe things look a little bit different with a good cardbus USB 2.0 port card, but I can't tell you if those will then support for sure the booting from an USB hdd. - BTW, did you performed your tryouts with a mostly A30 actual BIOS-version?
--> BIOS update - ThinkPad A30/p
ThinkPad T60/X32/600/770 · IBM IntelliStation · 3x IBM SpaceSaver II

Prevent F9 boot device options or boot from USB HP 250 G3

Is there anyway to prevent users from booting from USB on these laptops, either be locking down the boot menu or disabling the boot option for USB. These are laptops to be used in a college and we need them to only be bootable on the HDD. Many thanks, Simon

Ok,
by enabling the lagacy bios support all worked.
Thanks anyway.
Damiano

Boot from USB pendrive

Hi!
I have installed PCLinuxOS on my Kingston 1 Gig USB pendrive. Problem is that it wont boot from my K8N-SLI. The pendrive boots fine from Dell, and I also tested it on a HP computer and its working there as well. I have tested every BIOS-settings I can think of and tried all available boot options when pressing F11 when booting. When I press F11 and select "Hard drive" I only get my hard drive (of curse) and "Bootable Add-in cards" but it don't see my pendrive. If I select "Bootable Add-in cards" or "USB-ZIP" I get "Invalid system disk".
Does this motherboard support booting from USB-pendrives?
Regards
Eazy

It's not detected and I cant find "USB Legacy support" anywhere in my BIOS (flashed to the latest version). Anything referring to USB (like keyboard, mouse etc.) in my BIOS is activated.
Today I tried the pendrive on an old Compaq and it worked there as well.

Can i try archlinux on usb if my pc cannot boot from usb?

it seems my old pc cannot boot from usb, only boot from hd or cd.
can i use usb? or i have to burn a cd?

If you have a floppy disk you can put the PLoP bootmanager on it:
http://www.plop.at/en/bootmanagerdl.html
This bootmanager has USB support and can boot from an usb stick even though your bios does not support it.
You can also burn PLoP on a CD. This is good if you want to burn only one generic CD and then be able to boot any usb stick instead of burning one cd for each OS you want to boot.

10-K010CA laptop cannot boot from USB

I try everything ( update BIOS, disable securiy boot, setup usb boot first ). But the laptop will not boot any other USB disk except the Recovery USB Disk create by the laptop.
I had a few USB Disk ( windows 7, linux ) which boot normally on HP Desktop PC which set to boot UEFI but will not boot from this laptop.
Will this laptop able to boot from USB Disk at all?

Hi there @azure-cheng
Welcome to the HP Support Forums! It is a great place to find the help you need, both from other users, HP experts and other support personnel.
I understand that you are trying to boot from media that will work on your desktop. I am happy to help with this.
Please post the full product number for your notebook. See the following, if you need help with that information.
How Do I Find My Model Number or Product Number?
Are all of these bootable media UEFI, or is there a mix, of UEFI and legacy?
Have you tried setting your notebook to legacy boot?
Malygris1
I work on behalf of HP
Please click Accept as Solution if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
Click Kudos Thumbs Up on the right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Booting from USB without mobo support

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