Linux boot error

[8uhbbhu8]

So I've been trying to get Linux to run off of a USB drive and every time I have it installed I get a Boot Drive error from the computer when trying to boot. I have tried 4 different USB Drives, 2, 8, 16 and 32 GB variants. 4 Different Linux Distros. Racy Puppy, Lucid Puppy, Wary Puppy, and linux mint. I also have used 4 different installers. Xbootvs 1.0 beta 14, Rufus 1.4.12, YUMI 2.0.1.5, and Universal-USB-Installer-1.9.5.9. Non of them have worked. The only indication I get that anything is wrong when installing on to the drive is from YUMI and it cant seem to load the Syslinux bootloader. Anyone got any ideas?

[cloclo8003]

Try formatting it. Is it FAT32?

[cloclo8003]

I had the same problem once. I took my MacBook, opened up disk utility and found that the problem, in my case, was that it was set as a GPT partition table, I set it to MBR, I dunno if this is the problem though. Try formatting it first. (again, make sure you format it as FAT32)

[8uhbbhu8]

yes it is Fat32 every time I redid the install i reformatted from My Computer and the Reformatted it again using the option in the installer

[Rohith_Kumar_Sp]

i'm sorry i read that as Linus boots error , no kidding , carry on 

[8uhbbhu8]

Is it possible that I will need to install a seperate bootloader before or after I install The linux OS?

[ekv]

Is it possible that I will need to install a seperate bootloader before or after I install The linux OS?

 

Nop, i think is just problem with .ISO, try to test it. If not, try to use: http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/

It's better for windows users.

[Satlen]

Nop, i think is just problem with .ISO, try to test it. If not, try to use: http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/

It's better for windows users.

This, and download iso's using torrents if you can because of integrity check.

[Kiyuubi]

Try UNetbootin.

[bradscoolio]

On windows I use Rufus to burn images to USBs

[Albatross]

On Windows, try using "Linux Live USB Creator", instead. I use it all the time and it even allows you to download ISOs directly from the program. It has a huge list of distros and will automatically run "compatibility" whichever distro you pick. If it isn't on the list and you select an ISO from your computer, it will automatically find the best settings for it.

 

If the error continues, I would say it is how you are formatting the drive or the brand you have. When you say you tried other USBs you only listed size differences. What are the brands of the USBs?

[8uhbbhu8]

3 Generic USB sticks and a 16 GB Sandisk.

 

Rufus UNetBootIn, and Linux Live USB Creator dont work

 

If it werent for the fact that I only have a very limited number of CD-R I would use one of them instead but I dont want to have some distros not work or to not like the distro and then have to throw out the CDs.

[8uhbbhu8]

Nop, i think is just problem with .ISO, try to test it. If not, try to use: http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/

It's better for windows users.

Tried it and getting the same problem

[8uhbbhu8]

I know that the USB Drive do work with my computers as bootable disks because I originally had a couple Bootable rescue CDs on them. Unfortunately I cant remember the program i used to make them. (Rescue cds were AVG, Bit Defender, and Kaspersky)

[Albatross]

They may have been able to have other programs/things on them, but they might not work with Linux.

 

What error did Linux Live USB Creator give you? The very same error as the OP? Format your drive manually, before using the program, and then launch the program again. Uncheck "format" and then try again. Does it give the same error? If that doesn't work and I know this will sound odd, but can you try formatting to NTFS and test the install?

[8uhbbhu8]

They may have been able to have other programs/things on them, but they might not work with Linux.

 

What error did Linux Live USB Creator give you? The very same error as the OP? Format your drive manually, before using the program, and then launch the program again. Uncheck "format" and then try again. Does it give the same error? If that doesn't work and I know this will sound odd, but can you try formatting to NTFS and test the install?

Nothing works. And non of my USB drives support NTFS. Only FAT32, exFAT, and one FAT. Another thing I forgot to mention is that the computer I want to run it from; my dell dimension 4600i shows this (Note the error text):

 

Boot Device Menu

============================

 

1. Normal

2. Primary Master Drive

3. Hard-Disk Drive C:

4. IDE CD-ROM Device

5. USB Flash Drive

 

6. System Setup

7. IDE Drive Diagnostics

8. Boot to Utility Partition

 

Enter a Choice: 5

 

 

Disk error

Press any key to restart

 

No boot device available-

Disk error

Press any key to restart

[Albatross]

Doesn't support NTFS? That's weird...did you try formatting outside of the program to FAT32 as well? Also, tell me, do you have any anti-virus software on your Windows? Particularly Macafee or Microsoft's?

 

Okay, try changing "5. USB Flash Drive" to Number 1 to boot the USB and see if that helps with that particular error.

[8uhbbhu8]

I did try formatting the drive by itself to FAT32. No difference. Yes I do have antivirus. Right now running Bitdefender Free Edition. I will try the other boot option. post back when done.

[Albatross]

I did try formatting the drive by itself to FAT32. No difference. Yes I do have antivirus. Right now running Bitdefender Free Edition. I will try the other boot option. post back when done.

 

If nothing works still:

 

Disable your anti-virus entirely and add Linux Live USB Creator to the firewall (to be safe) and then open it as Admin. Use the Download option, select your distro, let it download and then uncheck Format and then set persistence to 1000. Does that work?

[8uhbbhu8]

So I still cant get it running on a usb so I caved and used a CD. Well it works on the cd....

[Albatross]

It was your generic brand USBs then.

 

 

Glad you got it on CD though!