Re: help with grub command sought

From	Doug Laidlaw <laidlaws@hotkey.net.au>
Newsgroups	comp.os.linux.setup, comp.os.linux.portable
Subject	Re: help with grub command sought
Followup-To	comp.os.linux.setup
Date	2014-06-22 23:27 +1000
Organization	Aioe.org NNTP Server
Message-ID	<v72j7b-108.ln1@dougshost.douglaidlaw.net> (permalink)
References	<lo3oqv$lak$1@dont-email.me> <lo4otd$qh6$1@dont-email.me>

Cross-posted to 2 groups.

Followups directed to: comp.os.linux.setup

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Charles T. Smith wrote:

> On Sat, 21 Jun 2014 11:03:59 +0000, Charles T. Smith wrote:
> 
>> I'm looking for the proper grub command to write a boot sector to a
>> removable USB drive.
>> 
>> After installation, the disk won't normally boot.
>> 
>> I am creating a portable SuSE 13.1 system on a removable usb drive.  I
>> choose minimal X desktop to avoid Gnome and Kde.  I also chose to
>> install the boot sector in the partition where I was installing linux.
>> 
>> I can boot the system via the installation system.  I can boot it and
>> run grub and could write a boot sector from there, but I'm worried that
>> I might blow away my main system if I enter the wrong command.
>> 
>> Any help is appreciated.
>> cts
> 
> 
> Okay, I may have found it: http://lwn.net/Articles/253587/
> 
> But I haven't had a chance to test it yet.

GRUB doesn't create a boot sector; it writes to an existing one.  I seem 
to remember hearing that a USB key can't be partitioned like a HD.  What 
seem to be partitions are really something else. This was raised on the
alt.os.linux.mageia group a while back.  If what you have is an external 
SD disk, that might be different.  The only way I have done it is to 
install a distro complete with GRUB and boot it alone.

Another thing I found was that my BIOS would see the key ONLY if every other 
USB device was removed. If there was more than one, the BIOS would skip to 
the second choice.  As an afterthought, this would not apply if the key
is called by GRUB, not by the BIOS.  And make sure that it mounts when
attached.  It can start a file manager without being mounted.

Hoping this is of some help.

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Thread

help with grub command sought "Charles T. Smith" <cts.private.yahoo@gmail.com> - 2014-06-21 11:03 +0000
  Re: help with grub command sought "Charles T. Smith" <cts.private.yahoo@gmail.com> - 2014-06-21 20:11 +0000
    Re: help with grub command sought "Charles T. Smith" <cts.private.yahoo@gmail.com> - 2014-06-22 10:20 +0000
      Re: help with grub command sought Pascal Hambourg <boite-a-spam@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2014-06-22 13:14 +0200
        Re: help with grub command sought "Charles T. Smith" <cts.private.yahoo@gmail.com> - 2014-06-22 12:19 +0000
          Re: help with grub command sought Pascal Hambourg <boite-a-spam@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2014-06-22 15:00 +0200
            Re: help with grub command sought "Charles T. Smith" <cts.private.yahoo@gmail.com> - 2014-06-22 13:38 +0000
              Re: help with grub command sought Doug Laidlaw <laidlaws@hotkey.net.au> - 2014-06-23 15:58 +1000
    Re: help with grub command sought Doug Laidlaw <laidlaws@hotkey.net.au> - 2014-06-22 23:27 +1000

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