Arch Linux

arch_fan1

Member

Registered: 2015-07-26

Posts: 6

[SOLVED] Multiboot USB (Syslinux and memdisk)

I have read the wiki, and tried to follow instructions at:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Multiboot_USB_drive#Using_Syslinux_and_memdisk

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Syslinux#Installation

I have read "man syslinux", and "syslinux" wiki, searched on arch forum, but I am not getting nowhere.

I can't get to make a bootable USB using Syslinux. I am sure I am missing something, but I don't know what.

Could you please share all the steps of how to create a bootable USB flash drive using Syslinux and memdisk? I have honestly no idea what I am doing wrong....

Thanks in advance.

Last edited by arch_fan1 (2015-07-28 01:13:09)

Slithery

Administrator

From: Norfolk, UK

Registered: 2013-12-01

Posts: 5,776

Re: [SOLVED] Multiboot USB (Syslinux and memdisk)

We need more information from you.

Can you please post the exact steps you're taking along with any error messages as without these it's almost impossible for anyone to troubleshoot.

PS - Welcome to Arch

---

No, it didn't "fix" anything. It just shifted the brokeness one space to the right. - jasonwryan
Closing -- for deletion; Banning -- for muppetry. - jasonwryan

aur - dotfiles

arch_fan1

Member

Registered: 2015-07-26

Posts: 6

Re: [SOLVED] Multiboot USB (Syslinux and memdisk)

Thanks for the advice, slithery, and the warm welcome.

I will post what I have done, from what I have understand from the wiki.

My USB is /dev/sdf

1) I have used GPARTED to format the partition to FAT32

2)

syslinux -i /dev/sdf1

3)

mount /dev/sdf1 /mnt

4)

cp /usr/lib/syslinux/bios/memdisk /mnt

5)

nano /mnt/syslinux.cfg

6)

LABEL some_label
    LINUX memdisk
    INITRD /archlinux-2015.07.01-dual.iso
    APPEND iso

7)

umount /mnt

Last edited by arch_fan1 (2015-07-26 16:30:25)

Slithery

Administrator

From: Norfolk, UK

Registered: 2013-12-01

Posts: 5,776

Re: [SOLVED] Multiboot USB (Syslinux and memdisk)

Your steps 2 & 3 are wrong, you need to follow the syslinux manual installation steps described here replacing /boot/syslinux with the location where you've mounted your USB.

Last edited by Slithery (2015-07-26 16:37:18)

---

No, it didn't "fix" anything. It just shifted the brokeness one space to the right. - jasonwryan
Closing -- for deletion; Banning -- for muppetry. - jasonwryan

aur - dotfiles

arch_fan1

Member

Registered: 2015-07-26

Posts: 6

Re: [SOLVED] Multiboot USB (Syslinux and memdisk)

OK. Thanks for guiding me.

Here we go. No luck so far.

1) I have used GPARTED to format the partition to FAT32

2)

mount /dev/sdf1 /boot

3)

mkdir /boot/syslinux

4)

cp -r /usr/lib/syslinux/bios/*.c32 /boot/syslinux/

5)

extlinux --install /boot/syslinux

6)

dd bs=440 count=1 if=/usr/lib/syslinux/bios/mbr.bin of=/dev/sdf

7)

cp /usr/lib/syslinux/bios/memdisk /boot/syslinux/

5)

nano /mnt/syslinux.cfg

6)

LABEL some_label
    LINUX memdisk
    INITRD /archlinux-2015.07.01-dual.iso
    APPEND iso

7)

umount /boot

Last edited by arch_fan1 (2015-07-26 18:07:49)

arch_fan1

Member

Registered: 2015-07-26

Posts: 6

Re: [SOLVED] Multiboot USB (Syslinux and memdisk)

Update: I think I am making progress.

So one of the issues was that the bios boot menu had previous boot devices on "Boot Priority" menu.

So, when I was choosing kingston usb, it was booting another stuff, not syslinux... :\

I understand it by sheer luck, by selecting entries on ASUS UEFI bios on "Boot Menu".

I have now deleted the old entries from the boot menu. using "efibootmgr".

Next will try to install syslinux, memdisk, and see it works this time. At least, it should boot this time.

Last edited by arch_fan1 (2015-07-27 15:48:30)

arch_fan1

Member

Registered: 2015-07-26

Posts: 6

Re: [SOLVED] Multiboot USB (Syslinux and memdisk)

Solved.

Big thanks to slithery for guiding me to  syslinux manual installation steps, and the other issue was related to old previous boot devices on "Boot Priority" motherboard.

In comparison to Multiboot USB drive guide https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Mu … _USB_drive, only add a line to /boot/syslinux/syslinux.cfg:

UI menu.c32

Without that line, it would throw this error

SYSLINUX: No DEFAULT or UI configuration directive found!