How to install PuppyLinux without CD drive
 

A couple of months ago I successfully booted from puppy-4.1-k2.6.25.16-seamonkey.iso and used the universal installer to set-up my USB-connected Maxtor as a bootable drive. It worked great!

What I want to do is to re-install (somehow it got damaged) the PuppyLinux operating system on the USB-connected Maxtor external drive. In the meantime my CD drive is broken and I don't know how to load the universal installer. I have an external cd/dvd burner but it doesn't seem to be bootable.

I've created an ext2 partition on the USB Maxtor and copies the puppy-4.1-k2.6.25.16-seamonkey.iso onto it. However when trying to boot from this drive I get the message that the NTLDR is missing.

Hope that someone can advise how to simply (I'm not an expert) set this up.

Actually, it's a pretty easy problem to solve.
I'm not really familiar with windows anymore; but it seems grub should be trying to boot
the externel drive, not NTLDR, isn't that a windows booter?

Was/is windows installed on the externel hd?

It's easy enough to manually install puppy to hd/usb, whatever.

No, windows is not installed on the external USB drive. All I have installed is an ext2 partition and copied puppy-4.1-k2.6.25.16-seamonkey.iso into the partition. Then when booting via the BIOS I select USB drive. That's when I get the NTLDR message. I have the impression that some drivers may be missing?

You say it's easy to install Puppy onto an external HD-USB. As I said, I'm not an expert and would appreciate step-by-step instructions.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Well, NTLDR should not even be involved?
you will have to probably install grub annd you should also
format external hd ext3, as your data will be safer.

First see this
( http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000465.htm )

I checked how to install GRUB but it seems I have to do this by booting a CD with the software on it. My problem is that my CD drive doesn't work anymore.

Is there another way to install GRUB?

Yep, you gotta net connection we can do many things:)

Now, first, we're gonna need to unhook your hd(for safety) and then your gonna need a bootable usb device or hd.

did you set boot flag on externel hd?
also, you should reformat it ext3, as it's journaling filesystem, data will be more secure from corruption.

so, do you have another small usb that you can boot from?

do you have floppy drive?

we can use the external hd to both boot and install puppy, but it''l be easier
with usb

Yep, you gotta net connection we can do many things
I have broadband + UNetBootin. Can we use this software)
Now, first, we're gonna need to unhook your hd(for safety) and then your gonna need a bootable usb device or hd.
I have an HP DVD300e external USB drive + Maxtor external HD-USB drive where I want to install Puppy
did you set boot flag on externel hd?
How do I do this?
also, you should reformat it ext3, as it's journaling filesystem, data will be more secure from corruption.
No problem to do this
so, do you have another small usb that you can boot from?
No other USB
do you have floppy drive?
No floppy drive
we can use the external hd to both boot and install puppy, but it''l be easier
with usb
Awaiting your next steps

OK, we need to boot either puppy or another linux and use gparted or cfdisk to set boot flag on external usb.

I don't believe Unetbootin can do grub, but it can do extlinux, which is for ext2 or ext3
formatted usb's.

Problem is gonna be setting boot flag on exteral usb, as windows can't do this?
I don't have windows.

Have you tried using Unetbootin to install puppy to usb hd?

OK, we need to boot either puppy or another linux and use gparted or cfdisk to set boot flag on external usb.
I use Acronis Disk Director Suite. Do you mean to set the partition to "active"?
I don't believe Unetbootin can do grub, but it can do extlinux, which is for ext2 or ext3
formatted usb's.
I've seen that Unetbootin can automatically download Super Grub Disk. Would this package do the job?
Problem is gonna be setting boot flag on exteral usb, as windows can't do this? I don't have windows.
I use Acronis Disk Director Suite. Do you mean to set the partition to "active"?
Have you tried using Unetbootin to install puppy to usb hd?I tried this and it copies the files correctly. I think the problem I had was that some drivers were missing, maybe Super Grub Disk will solve this problem. Awaiting your next instructions.

OK, that's right, "make partition active" should work...
re-format to ext3 first

OK, and yes supergrub disk can install grub to usb

Now, puppy is easy to install "manually" for frugal install.
using unetbootin, will it copy all files from iso image to usb hd?

try using unetbootin to install puppy to usb hd, just make sure you have the correct usb
and not your hd chosen.

have you already tried using unetbootin?

OK, that's right, "make partition active" should work...
re-format to ext3 first
OK, the 200MB partition has been reformatted to ext3 and made active.
OK, and yes supergrub disk can install grub to usb. Now, puppy is easy to install "manually" for frugal install.
using unetbootin, will it copy all files from iso image to usb hd?
Shall I use Unetbootin to copy Supergrub first or Puppy? Can I copy them on top of each other in the partition or would it be better to put them in folders?
try using unetbootin to install puppy to usb hd, just make sure you have the correct usb
and not your hd chosen. have you already tried using unetbootin?
Yes, I tried it successfully last night. Awaiting your advice before proceeding with Unetbootin.

Wait, you mean puppy is already on the usb?
all puppy files from cd?

if so we only need to install grub
did unetbootin put a file on usb named menu.lst, syslinux.cfg or extlinux.conf??
If it did please post that and which one?

if there is none of those it's ok, we will make a menu.lst

Wait, you mean puppy is already on the usb?
all puppy files from cd?
Not any more bacause formatting erased them.
if so we only need to install grub
did unetbootin put a file on usb named menu.lst, syslinux.cfg or extlinux.conf??
If it did please post that and which one?
I'd have to do it again to be able answer that question.
if there is none of those it's ok, we will make a menu.lst
How do we do that?

sorry I seem long winded dog, it's that I don't wanna screw up your windows stuff
as Unetbootin did to me:(
it installed to my hd instaed of usb, destroying my XP and I had no recovery disc

Does windows have an app that can mount and copy files from the iso?
if so we don't need unetbootin

here is example menu.lst for puppy(any)

where (hdx,x) equals usbhd
we will set it up as 1st hd which is easier (hd0,0)
you must unplug your windows hd from motherboard to do this.

either let unetbootin again install or find a way to copy files from iso to usbhd

to install grub to usbhd, so it runs as 1st hardrive is easy
making it boot before windows.

sorry I seem long winded dog, it's that I don't wanna screw up your windows stuff as Unetbootin did to me
it installed to my hd instaed of usb, destroying my XP and I had no recovery disc-
No problem, I have a mirror image of my c-drive in Acronis, so if there's a problem I can re-install it.

Does windows have an app that can mount and copy files from the iso? if so we don't need unetbootin.
Yes, I can copy / paste from Windows using Acronis Disk Director Suite. In the meantime I've copies all 7 files from Puppy into the ext.2 partition. These include:
1)boot.cat
2)boot.msg
3)initrd.gz
4)isolinux.bin
5)isolinux.cfg
6)pup_410.sfs
7)vmlinuz

here is example menu.lst for puppy(any)

Code:
default 0
timeout 10

title Puppy
root (hdx,x)
kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/ram0 pmedia=usbflash pfix=copy
initrd /initrd.gzwhere (hdx,x) equals usbhd
we will set it up as 1st hd which is easier (hd0,0)
you must unplug your windows hd from motherboard to do this.
I've really got no idea how to do this?
either let unetbootin again install or find a way to copy files from iso to usbhd
This has been done by copy / paste without Unetbootin.
to install grub to usbhd, so it runs as 1st hardrive is easy making it boot before windows.
How do I do this?