AB9IL.net: Installing SLAX Linux to a Flashdrive, Part 2

Written and curated by Philip Collier / AB9IL.
HOME Software Defined Radio WiFi Antennas Air and Space Radio Linux or Windows Digital Audio Liberation Tech Live Internet SDRs
Listen:
Radio Caroline Radio 208 BBC Radio 4 LW RNZ-Auckland

Advertisement
Move from Windows to Linux
Eescape the walled garden and liberate your computing.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Installing a fast, versatlile, and modern Linux operating system in a commonly available flash memory device. Bootable USB linux systems are useful tools for handling many of today\'s computing challenges.

  1. Using your ISO editor, copy the entire contents of your ISO file onto the flashdrive (or copy from the optical disc). In SLAX, for example, copy the "boot" and "slax" folders.

    Boot and slax folders on USB flash drive


  2. Copy the "grub" folder (from step 2, unziped) from your hard drive into the flashdrive\'s "boot" folder.
  3. Open a console and type "grub." (or "sudo grub" in Knoppix or Ubuntu).
  4. Within grub, type "find /boot/grub/menu.lst" and note the location of the flashdrive boot directory as seen by the operating system for example: sd1,0.
    grub>  find /boot/grub/menu.lst
     (sd0,0)
     (sd1,0)
    Note: In Linux, drive numbers start at zero.

     

  5. Next, type "root" followed by a space and the drive within parenthesis, for example: "root (sd1,0)" and note no error messages.
    grub>  root (sd1,0)
     Filesystem is fat, partition type is 0xC

    Now we have specified the flash drive (sd1), so GRUB will be installed to the first sector of that device.

  6. Finally, type "setup" followed by a space and the drive within parenthesis, for example: "setup (sd0)" and note no error messages.
    grub>  setup (sd1)

     

    And GRUB is installed to the flash memory device...

     Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists...yes
     Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists...yes
     Checking if "/boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5" exists...yes
     Running "embed /boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (sd1)"... 16 sectors are embedded...succeeded
     Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (sd1) (sd1)1+16 p (sd1,0)/boot/grub/stage2 /boot/grub/menu.list"... succeeded
     Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 d (sd1,0) /boot/grub/stage2 p /boot/grub/menu.lst"... succeeded
     Done.
  7. Type "quit" to exit grub. Then close the console window.
  8. Logout and Shutdown your computer.
  9. Remove the flashdrive and optical disc, then reboot your computer. At this point you are returning to your main system for finishing steps.
  10. Insert the flashdrive, and navigate to the base directory. To better protect your Linux system folders while in Windows, make them "hidden" via the "FOLDER OPTIONS" dialog.
  11. Create a regular folder for storing your documents, for example, "My Portable Documents."
  12. Congratulations, you now have created a bootable flash drive. Reboot into the flashdrive and check operation. Make sure you can open and run the included programs, access the internet, etc.

Please continue to the next page for information on customizing and troubleshooting your bootable Linux flash drive.



© 2005 - 2024 AB9IL.net, All Rights Reserved.
About Philip Collier / AB9IL, Commentaries and Op-Eds, Contact, Privacy Policy and Affiliate Disclosure, XML Sitemap.
This website is reader-supported. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.