Boot Arch Linux from an ext4 harddisk image

COLDFUSION · 2021-03-26 22:00:34

Hi everybody. I have an Arch Linux installed in an ext4 hdd image on a ntfs partition, which I need to boot PC from (frankly because It's not possible for me to create extra partition(s) for Linux installation).
Ok here's the problem; I made a grub entry to setup a loopback and boot Linux images from .img file, but after initial loadings, I'm throwed into a initram cli. Supposedly because the img file isn't mounted as the rootfs, right? I have already looked into Arch Linux forums and wiki and am completely in the dark how to deal with it! Is there something that should be going into fstab or... Any help would be highly appreciated.

Maniaxx · 2021-03-26 23:23:35

Maybe take a look at Ventoy how they boot images.

COLDFUSION · 2021-03-28 17:55:57

Tried Ventoy. It said the image wasn't bootable. Tried installing grub on it by setting up a loop dev. Same result

Maniaxx · 2021-03-28 18:46:04

No, i meant you should take Ventoy "apart", look at the source code, try to figure out how they set up the boot chain. Ventoy does boot images as you want (actutally ISO files but it should be similar). Other than that its quite an exotic method to boot a system like this and probably not so easy. You add another filesystem layer to the whole system. I'm not even sure if it wouldn't have any side effects though. The best solution would be to place it on a proper partition how its meant to be done.

Last edited by Maniaxx (2021-03-28 18:46:36)

Arch Linux

#1 2021-03-26 22:00:34

Boot Arch Linux from an ext4 harddisk image

#2 2021-03-26 23:23:35

Re: Boot Arch Linux from an ext4 harddisk image

#3 2021-03-28 17:55:57

Re: Boot Arch Linux from an ext4 harddisk image

#4 2021-03-28 18:46:04

Re: Boot Arch Linux from an ext4 harddisk image

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