[SOLVED] no boot from usb key installing slack 14 on HP mini

pirozzi · 10-08-2012, 06:08 AM

Hi everybody,
I'd like to install Slackware 14 on my netbook (HP mini 210 series with Atom N450).
I've prepared my 2 usb stick - one with the package to be installed and the second where I've put the usbboot.img using dd command.
When I turn on the netbook with the 2 key inserted the boot is made from the usb key and I can see the first welcome screen but at this stage the system hang and does not accept any further command - the prompt stay blinking.

I do hope to have expalined properly the issue.
Any suggestion?
Thank you in advance for your support.
Piero

ReaperX7 · 10-08-2012, 11:47 PM

I installed Slackware on one of these a while back, but I had to use a USB DVD Drive as the USB Drive wouldn't work for me. Wish I could help more.

Didier Spaier · 10-09-2012, 05:55 AM

I would try booting with only the USB key including usbboot.img inserted.

If that works, you will be able to insert the other one afterwards, and mount it yourself if need be.

If that doesn't work, use the dd command again to write the usbboot.img on the USB key and/or use another USB key.

mlpa · 10-09-2012, 06:47 AM

I also could not install Slackware 14 from a USB pen.
I already tried with to different USB pens.

The bootable pen as created using the script that is inside the DVD.

camorri · 10-09-2012, 08:55 AM

I had success using Unetbootin from here -->http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/. I installed 13.37 this way. I had to enter the BIOS to get the system to look at the USB ports first. My system is a HP mini 210-1000, it has a N450 as well.

I'm about to upgrade it to 14.

Habitual · 10-09-2012, 09:32 AM

If you use Unetbootin, I'd like to suggest to ignore the "Distribution" drop-down list and just select the /path/to/file.iso and burn.

camorri · 10-09-2012, 11:51 AM

Quote:

/path/to/file.iso and burn.

That is how I did.

pirozzi · 10-09-2012, 11:52 AM

I was just thinking to this workaround using unebootin to put the complete disto on the stick and go installing from there.
I hope I'll give it a try tonite and I'll keep you updated about the outcome.
Thanks by now.
Piero

camorri · 10-09-2012, 12:53 PM

Quote:

I was just thinking to this workaround using unebootin to put the complete disto on the stick and go installing from there.

That is exactly what you do. Download the .iso file to the system you are going to use to setup the USB stick. You install UNetBootin on the stick, and load the .iso image on the stick. Put the stick in the USB port on the target system, and boot it. You have to set the USB as the first point to boot from in the BIOS. There is a HowTo set of instructions on the link I posted above.

mariostg · 10-09-2012, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlpa

I also could not install Slackware 14 from a USB pen.
I already tried with to different USB pens.

The bootable pen as created using the script that is inside the DVD.

I have an HP mini 1000. It refused to boot just by dd if=img.iso of=/dev/sdc. But it work after when using the usbimg2disk.sh. Is usbimg2disk.sh the script you are refering to?http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...0/#post4786222

BloomingNutria · 10-09-2012, 07:14 PM

This is my favorite method for installing Slackware via usb. I have done it several times on netbooks and it is very easy.

http://slackwiki.com/Install_Slackware_Using_A_USB_Flash_Drive

I have tried unetbootin (which is my standard method for other distros), and could not get it to work for Slackware. The resulting usb stick was not bootable. I also tried the method on Alien's wiki, but at the time I did not understand enough to follow it. But the above worked like a charm.

Edit: you're welcome to try Camorri's method (he knows a lot more about this than I do), but I found something I came across a while back when I was trying to figure out why my unetbootin install wouldn't work. It seems this guy with the blog from 2010 (who of course must be an expert, since he has a webpage

) says you have to choose "custom" from the unetbootin menu and specify a location for both the kernel and the initrd.

However, in my version of unetbootin, I did not even have this option. I had the one to manually load the iso file (which is what I had already tried) as opposed to using the drop-down list of distros that Habitual mentioned, but that's it.

http://quantcareer.blogspot.com/2010/03/install-slackware-13-using-unetbootin.html

Anyway, if others have gotten it to work without doing this then you may be fine. This may just refer to an old version of unetbootin. I just thought I'd throw it out there.

pirozzi · 10-10-2012, 05:17 AM

Unfortunately I ahd no luck at all yesterday.
Here the list of my try and relevan failure:
1- reinstall usbboot.img on a different usb stick => no boot
2- using unebotin on a laptop with ubuntu => the usb stick was not identified
3- using unebotin on a imac => pcocess completed but booting the netbook I got the message "kernel corrupted"
I'm really frustrated as you can imagine

Now I'm downloading a new iso and I'll start again
I'll keep you posted
bye
Piero

BloomingNutria · 10-10-2012, 06:48 AM

Make sure to check the md5 sum on the iso you download. I assume you deleted the old one and that is why you have to download again?

manwichmakesameal · 10-10-2012, 06:53 AM

It sounds like the OP is having the exact same problem I had while trying to install 14.0 from usb last night. Using dd to put the usbimg works fine, but when you boot, the keyboard does not work. I tried the keyboard on the laptop, and a usb one. Neither worked.

BloomingNutria · 10-10-2012, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manwichmakesameal

It sounds like the OP is having the exact same problem I had while trying to install 14.0 from usb last night. Using dd to put the usbimg works fine, but when you boot, the keyboard does not work. I tried the keyboard on the laptop, and a usb one. Neither worked.

The method I referenced in post number 11 works. I suggest you give it a try.