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-   -   Linux ignoramus needs help using USB Flashdrive as boot device (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/linux-ignoramus-needs-help-using-usb-flashdrive-as-boot-device-918842/)

macnab 12-15-2011 03:46 AM

Linux ignoramus needs help using USB Flashdrive as boot device
 
Firstly, I have DamnSmallLinux on a USB flashdrive and I can set up my PC to boot from it. Also, I have read a few FAQs and Wikis here and there and I understand very little, if anything.

I am not a computer ignoramus, just Linux. I program Windows in a number of languages.

Background to problem. I use Windows 7 Pro. I backup my hard-drives. Currently all drives are in the same PC - not a good scenario if lightning strikes. Want a backup device in spare room, booting from flashdrive so that all HDDs are my backup drives - HDD wasted for boot device. Will connect two devices with a simple LAN.

Needs:
1. To share the HDDs so that they are accesible to main PC via LAN.
2. To save configuration/settings to flashdrive so if I switch on the backup sustem is up and running.

Any and all help welcome.

adamk75 12-15-2011 07:50 AM

Your post doesn't make a whole lot of sense (at least to me). Your title suggests you're not able to boot your computer from a USB flash drive with linux on it. But your first sentence says that you can...

Adam

macnab 12-15-2011 09:08 AM

Sorry for the misunderstanding of my wording. The problem is what to do after I have booted, as per list of needs.

opticks 12-16-2011 12:48 AM

As for booting from USB, you could use Universal USB Creator, or LiLi (LinuxLive), or you can go to pendrivelinux.com or .org I think, but I use the Katana 2.0 suite from hackfromacave.com (recommended).

After successfully booting from a USB device, that drive then becomes your sysroot directory. I dont see where or how youre having problems connecting any locally connected hard drives or LAN / network drives.

More details?

-opticks

macnab 12-16-2011 01:31 AM

Thanks.

Firstly, I have since switched to Puppy Linux, on a LiveCD (DVD-RW). This easily allows mw to save my setup to the LiveCD disk. So, first 1st problem solved.

I have also found out that I need to use Samba to share the HDDs. But I can't even play with it until I have setup a LAN (I am currently booting from the LiveCD on my Windows machine) which means I must first buy the box, install my backup HDDs in it, buy a wirelss LAN system, and then only can I start setting it up and getting it working. So 2nd problem solved.

At least it means that I can do what I want to do, so I can go ahead.

Now all I need is an app that will allow me to synchronise the files between the main and backup HDDs. But that is in the future.

Thanks again.


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