Linux pros please help me....

[zopzop]

Hey I've been messing around with different Linux distros and I think I've found one I really like (gOS) and want to stick with. I haven't actually installed it on any of my HDDs but I've been playing around with it on the livecd.

I recently purchase a 8gig USB pendrive and I wanted to see if I can install gOS on it. The thing is I was googling around and I found this link :
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2008/03...-from-windows/

I followed the instructions but it didn't work! Now I'm sort of confused. How do I install it on a usb pendrive?

NOTE : There is something I noticed on the livecd. When I run the livecd, I see an option on the gOS desktop called "Install". I realize this is the option if you want to install gOS on your HDD. But what I want to know is this : what happens if I choose the "Install" option and instead of choosing a HDD I choose my usb pendrive?

[Mrkvonic]

Hello,
It will work, except that you need to pay attention to where the bootloader is installed. And of course, you'll have to make sure the boot order in bios is set to boot usb devices first.
Mrk

[zopzop]

Originally Posted by Mrkvonic

Hello,
It will work, except that you need to pay attention to where the bootloader is installed.

Hello Mrkvonic. What is the name of the bootloader and where should it be located? I followed the instructions thinking that it was all automated. If all I have to do is move a file or two around to make it work it would be a relief, cause I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

And of course, you'll have to make sure the boot order in bios is set to boot usb devices first.
Mrk

Yeah it's set to boot from usb, then cd/dvd, then HDD.

[Mrkvonic]

Hello,

It's called GRUB and it should be installed to the mbr of the device. Normally, automatically, it's the device to where the distro is installed, but you can change it manually.

Furthermore, when you install via Windows scripts, I'm not really sure what gives. But I did install Debian this way and it worked fine from USB.

Mrk

[zopzop]

Thanks for the help Mrkvonic but it's still not working.

What would happen if I choose "Install" from the livecd and selected my usb pendrive?

[Mrkvonic]

Hello,

It would work, but then, at the last step, when you have to choose where to install the bootloader.

Now, let's say you have two devices, hard disk sda and usb device sdb.

If you choose to install to the partition table of the usb device (sdb), then it will have to be plugged on to run the usb distro. If the usb is not there, your hard disk will boot normally.

If you install to the local hard disk, grub will replace your normal boot screen, whatever it is. But then you'll have to have the usb device plugged in all the time, because stage2 of the boot process will be located on the root partition of the distro, in this case the usb device. Without it, you won't be able to boot.

I hope this is clear, but please take into account I'm trying to explain to your grub in 20 seconds.

Try this for details:
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/grub.html

Mrk

[zopzop]

Oh man I went ahead and booted the livecd and selected "Install". It asked me where I wanted to install gOS too and I selected my usb pendrive. It went through the process of installing the files and everything went well. I rebooted the computer and it successfully booted from my usb pendrive.

I messed around with it for a while and it seemed much faster than when I was running it from the livecd. Happy with the results, I decided to log off and restart the computer. I shutdown, removed my pendrive and the machine restarted. BUT.... I got an error message. Apparently if I don't have the usb pendrive with gOS inserted into my machine I can't boot into windows. If the usb pendrive is connected to my machine, I can choose what I want to boot into : Linux or Windows.

I made sure I did this :

If you choose to install to the partition table of the usb device (sdb), then it will have to be plugged on to run the usb distro. If the usb is not there, your hard disk will boot normally.

I check my HDD and linux isn't installed on it (I'm using the same amount of space as before) so I'm a 100% sure I didn't install it on the HDD. I check my usb pendrive and sure enough it's there.

My question is this : How do I get it so my machine boots normally into Windows? Fixmbr? Will that work?

[DasFox]

If you can't boot into windows, yes stick in the CD and run fixmbr...

[zopzop]

Hello Dasfox.

I can boot into Windows just fine IF the usb pendrive with my gOS linux is attached to my computer. A screen comes up asking me which OS I want to boot into : gOS Linux or Windows.

My problem is, IF the usb pendrive with gOS isn't attached to my compter, then I can't boot into Windows OR Linux.

I want to be able to boot into Windows normally when the usb pendrive with gOS linux isn't attached to my machine.

Man if I fix this I'll never mess with a linux distro again. Once bitten, twice shy.

[Mrkvonic]

Hello,
You installed GRUB stage 1 to your local hard disk... just the way I explained. But the GRUB menu (stage 2) is on the usb drive. See? That's all. Not a biggie. No need to overstress.
Mrk

[zopzop]

Hehe I'm in full panic mode

Should I run fixmbr from Windows Recovery Console to get rid of GRUB and allow my machine to boot into Windows normally? That's all I wanna do now is just boot up into Windows normally.

[Mrkvonic]

Yup, that would be it.
Mrk

[zopzop]

Thank you for you time and help Mrkvonic (and Dasfox).

But Mrkvonic, I do have one more question : What do you think of Dreamlinux?(seeing as how I couldn't get gOS to work right for me and I've given up on it, which is a shame because I think it's awesome). I see they have an option (either from livecd or HDD install) that automatically makes a liveusb version of dreamlinux for you.

[lodore]

btw pretty much any distro can be installed on usb pens
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/

[Longboard]

Hehe I'm in full panic mode

BTDT
It's just the learning curve and an occassional: Oh feck...what was that..( gooogle google google...wilders...mrK....)

That's all I wanna do now is just boot up into Windows normally

LOL: help : dirty *nix bootloader stole my Windows
Still there..just rejig a bit

Its just figgering out where to put the "booty stuff" that's tech talk that is.

DreamLinux is a good effort imo: nice graphics flashy 'Mac' animated icons gui, good baseline and v3.5 just about to be released.
Their installer used to be a complete pita.
Enthusiastic user group and forums: that is worth a lot

[Mrkvonic]

Hello,
Using Dreamlinux is an option - toward the livecd, but it's not much different from pendrivelinux scripts. But do try it - learning the whole thing is worth it, at the very least.
Mrk

[Longboard]

Just OOI:
Wolvix has USB installer in Control Panel: "Live CD mode" though

[zopzop]

@Longboard

Yeah Dreamlinux is gorgeous (not as pretty as gOS but it's damn close). I guess it will be the one I stick with (especially when showing it off to my "Windows only" friends).

I checked out Wolvix (since it has that "Install to USB" option). Let's just say it's not as "pretty" as gOS or Dreamlinux But thanks for the suggestion.

@Mrkvonic

I tried Dreamlinux and it's "Install to USB" option from the livecd (on my friend's pc though just in case ) and it worked flawlessly. I don't understand what I'm doing wrong while following the instructions from pendrivelinux.com. I hate not knowing.

[Mrkvonic]

Hello,
Probably the script had a problem writing to the usb device. Or something along the line. The most important thing is that it worked for you. And now, I'll be testing Dreamlinux ...
Mrk