Arch Linux

fredszaq

Member

From: France

Registered: 2009-04-23

Posts: 26

USB installation problem

Hi!

I'm trying to install archlinux on an HP Proliant DL360 G4p, it has no optical drive, so I have to do the install with an USB key,

the problem is that grub is not working... when i make the server booting on the USB key, (using  2009.08.x86_64 installer) i simply get a flashing underscore...

I managed to make it boot using the deprecated method from here http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Ins … lash_drive, but all I get is a kernel panic , just before I've an error saying that the fs type of the Key is unknown (it is FAT16, so that syslinux can be installed on it)

i've also tryed the isolinux image, but even on my others PCs it doesn't want to boot (missing operation system...)

do you have any ideas how could I solve these problems? 

thanks !

Fredszaq

bgalakazam

Arch Linux f@h Team Member

From: California, USA

Registered: 2008-09-01

Posts: 76

Re: USB installation problem

Did you use the .img instead of the .iso? I had the flashing underscore when I was using .iso file. When I made the USB drive with .img, it worked instantly.

Also, which method did you use to get it on the USB drive? try dd if=image.img of=/dev/yourdevice, should work.

fredszaq

Member

From: France

Registered: 2009-04-23

Posts: 26

Re: USB installation problem

I tried with the img file and the dd method, and that's when i got the flashing underscore. When i tried with the isolinux i also used the dd method, but with the iso file (as there is no img file for it...)

And i forgot to mention that i tried a few times with unetbootin but it doesn't work either

Moose9999

Member

Registered: 2010-03-09

Posts: 32

Re: USB installation problem

does the usb stick have a MBR installed on it?  You might also check this forum, I haven't tried it yet but it looks like it should work: http://usalug.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=12377

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"The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you."
B.B. King

lilsirecho

Veteran

Registered: 2003-10-24

Posts: 5,000

Re: USB installation problem

fredszaq:

Just a reminder...

dd if=(file .img) of=/dev/sd(x)

The sd(x) must be just the drive ID.. not a partition on the drive.

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Prediction...This year will be a very odd year!
Hard work does not kill people but why risk it: Charlie Mccarthy
A man is not complete until he is married..then..he is finished.
When ALL is lost, what can be found? Even bytes get lonely for a little bit!     X-ray confirms Iam spineless!

Daso

Member

From: Denmark

Registered: 2007-04-20

Posts: 5

Re: USB installation problem

I get the exact same problem with the latest .img file. Been trying to get Archlinux installed from USB stick on my IBM T40 for hours now, and I still just get:

GRUB _ (blinking underscore)

I've been trying with the following commands:

sudo dd if=archlinux-2009.08-core-i686.img of=/dev/sdf
sudo dd if=archlinux-2009.08-core-i686.img of=/dev/sdf1

Any suggestions are much appreciated :-)

Last edited by Daso (2010-03-10 22:41:30)

bgalakazam

Arch Linux f@h Team Member

From: California, USA

Registered: 2008-09-01

Posts: 76

Re: USB installation problem

One more thing, I always like to completely wipe my USB drives with fdisk prior to installing an .img or .iso on them.

Last edited by bgalakazam (2010-03-12 05:06:31)

lilsirecho

Veteran

Registered: 2003-10-24

Posts: 5,000

Re: USB installation problem

bgalakazam has a good suggestion.....

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Prediction...This year will be a very odd year!
Hard work does not kill people but why risk it: Charlie Mccarthy
A man is not complete until he is married..then..he is finished.
When ALL is lost, what can be found? Even bytes get lonely for a little bit!     X-ray confirms Iam spineless!

Moose9999

Member

Registered: 2010-03-09

Posts: 32

Re: USB installation problem

Can you make a boot usb with an iso file on it and have it work right?  Also I'm guessing if you can boot with the iso image on a usb stick, the usb needs to be big enough to hold the expanded filesystem.

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"The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you."
B.B. King