Booting linux from usb using grub

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges of booting various Linux distributions from a USB drive using GRUB. Participants explore technical issues related to GRUB's configuration and behavior compared to LILO, as well as the bootability of USB devices.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, Daniel, reports encountering "Error 15: file not found" when trying to boot multiple Linux distros from a USB using GRUB, despite successful attempts with LILO.
  • Daniel questions whether GRUB's requirement for specific device names might be causing the issue, contrasting it with LILO's more straightforward approach.
  • Kerry expresses curiosity about the setup, asking if multiple operating systems are present on the USB and sharing their experience with booting Fedora from USB without needing GRUB.
  • Another participant suggests ensuring the USB is bootable and provides commands to use in GRUB to potentially resolve the issue.
  • A later reply reiterates that the USB's bootloader starts but fails to locate necessary files, prompting a request for clarification on the distribution used.
  • One participant shares a resolution, explaining that the device mapping used during GRUB installation was incorrect, leading to the booting issues experienced.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion reflects a mix of experiences and suggestions, with no clear consensus on the best approach to resolve the booting issues with GRUB from USB. Participants present differing views on the effectiveness of GRUB versus LILO and the specific configurations needed.

Contextual Notes

Some limitations include potential misunderstandings regarding device naming conventions in GRUB, the need for a bootable USB, and the specific configurations of different Linux distributions that may affect booting.

daniel_i_l
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I've tried booting multiple distros from a usb (slux, puppy, ubuntu) using grub. When I turn on the computer with the usb, grub loads. But when I select any of the distros I get:
Error 15: file not found.
I tried changing the root from root=(hd0,0) to all the possible combinations and nothing worked. Lilo on the other hand worked on two different usb's with all of the above distros. Does anyone have any ideas as to why lilo can boot from a usb and not grub? Is there anything special that has to be done to grub to make it boot from a usb?
One thing that seemed strange was that lilo doesn't make you specify a device name (just the fact that it's a usb) and grub does. Is grub having trouble with device names when trying to boot things from a usb?
Thanks,
Daniel
 
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I can't answer your question (so maybe I shouldn't be replying?), but I'm curious:

Do you have multiple OSs on the USB drive? What is it that you're trying to accomplish?

I boot Fedora from USB on occasion, and depending on what computer I'm using, I need to either change the bios to modify the boot order, or the computer recognizes the bootable USB and asks if I want to boot from it - no grub needed...

-Kerry
 
First you need to make sure that usb is bootable

then press C in grub, ( I assume hd0 is your harddisk, so hd1 will be usb)

enter these commands :
root (hd1,0)
chainloader +1
boot

it should give the control to usb's bootloader now.
 
Hi, the usb's bootloader starts, the problem is that it can't find the files (kernel + initrd) on the usb.
Thanks
 
I have had nothing but pain trying to boot from USB. My advice: stick with a regular live CD.
 
daniel_i_l said:
Hi, the usb's bootloader starts, the problem is that it can't find the files (kernel + initrd) on the usb.
Thanks

What distribution is this ? If you succesfully copied the contents, it shouldn't give such an error.
 
I've solved the problem:
While I was installing grub to the usb, grub called my usb device (hda1,0). But when grub boots from a usb it always calls it (hd0,0). So the device map I used to install grub was wrong.
Thanks for all the help.
 

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