USB boot not working to format CentOS 6.2 (64 bit) in DELL SERVER?

bharathmedmeme · 03-19-2013, 11:11 PM

Hello,
am trying to install CentOS 6.2 in Dell Server 1950 (optical drive is not working). so i need to format via USB, prob here is,usb is taking as /dev/sda and HDD as /dev/sdb...when i boot to /dev/sda and continue installing, after partitioning its show "cant find the source to install" and server gets restarted.
i use the following usb loader :
1 iso2usb.exe
2.RMPrepUSB,
3 rufus_1.3.exe,
4 unetbooting-windows.exe
5. YUMI (pendrive linux)

no luck.
its a long time issue i have to fix it soon.
suggestions pls..

John VV · 03-20-2013, 03:36 AM

first thing
Do NOT install CentOS 6.2 !
centos 6.2 is unsupported

Please install the Current CentOS 6.4

do you ONLY have a Microsoft windows computer to do this on

Quote:

1 iso2usb.exe
2.RMPrepUSB,
3 rufus_1.3.exe,
4 unetbooting-windows.exe
5. YUMI (pendrive linux)

it would be a lot easier to use a linux computer
and use "dd" to put the iso on the usb

Code:

dd if=/centos.iso of=/dev/sd??? bs=512k

replace " /dev/sd???" with the location of the usb thumb drive
one line of typing and then wait

bharathmedmeme · 03-20-2013, 08:58 AM

Hello John VV ,

i tried of what you described, but when i boot from USB in my server (USB loaded with centos by dd command) it not booting. keeps on struck, manually i have power off my server.

any idea to proceed further.

Thanks
Bharath

John VV · 03-20-2013, 01:10 PM

what exact iso image is it
mind you that cent6.2 is dead and unsupported

http://mirrors.arsc.edu/centos/6.4/isos/x86_64/
CentOS-6.4-x86_64-bin-DVD1.iso
or the net install image
CentOS-6.4-x86_64-netinstall.iso
[b]or preferred for a server -- no gui
CentOS-6.4-x86_64-minimal.iso ]/b]

you did reformat the usb to remove the ntfs partition on it ? right
leave it as a blank unformatted usb thumb drive

plugit into a the computer that has the iso image on it
run "fdisk -l" to get it's correct mount point ( i have many usb ports but the two on top of the computer are "/dev/sdg and "/dev/sdh")
the normal port i use is sdh
so i would use ( with the cent iso in my home folder )

Code:

cd ~
dd if=CentOS-6.4-x86_64-minimal.iso of=/dev/sdh bs=512k

your server is set,in the bios, to boot from usb ? right ?

remember your terminal session needs to be in the same folder the image is , or use the full path to the image
/home/YourNormalUserName/Downloades/CentOS-6.4-x86_64-minimal.iso

Steve6375 · 03-20-2013, 07:02 PM

If you make a USB flash drive using RMPrepUSB and install grub4dos, you can use this menu.lst

title centos
map /CentOS-6.4-x86_64-minimal.iso (0xff)
map --hook
partnew (hd0,3) 0 /CentOS-6.4-x86_64-minimal.iso
root (0xff)
chainloader (0xff)

Note that this destroys the 4th primary partition entry on the boot device so it may not be suitable for use on a hard disk with multiple partitions.

Once it boots, select Hard Disk and \dev\sda4 (or sdb4) and it should boot OK.

If you make an Easy2Boot flash drive, most linux ISOs will just work - just copy them onto the stick.

Lilgamesh · 03-20-2013, 08:06 PM

DiskImager may work as it worked for me for Fedora.

bharathmedmeme · 03-25-2013, 01:47 AM

Hello,
'dd' command works fine.what i did was i didn't unmount the device before running the dd command. now everything is fine.
thank you so much for your valuable time