Damn Small Linux doesn't seem to want to boot.
 

It appears as though I have successfully installed Damn Small Linux 2.3 on my 256MB USB pendrive (HDD emulation). After looking through my BIOS settings I found there was an option to boot it. Nevertheless, it seems to ignore it every time. Even explicitly selecting the device at the boot menu doesn't seem to work. Suggestions?

does the partition its on need to be set bootable?

Also, it can occur that the right device in the BIOS menu to set is not always obvious- for example, on my machine there are about 4 different options for USB connected devices, and it's not obvious which one to choose. Also, there have apparently been cases where it shows up as an additional HDD rather than a USB device at all. Obviously I don't know your circumstance in this area, but perhaps you think you've set the right option but haven't?

To make sure you've done all the right steps, try a look through this guide: http://fuzzymunchkin.dyndns.org/tdot/?page_id=632 :)

Good thinking. Unfortunately, cfdisk said it was already set to be bootable. I should have thought of that though myself though.

There's only one option for the USB device.

That is way too much reading for 11:55 PM. I'll look through it tomorrow. :)