USB stuck at "SYSLINUX 4.05... *"

littlebigman · 02-27-2012, 06:07 PM

Hello

I followed the instructions on how to build a bootable USB key drive with Clonezilla, but for some reason, the computer gets stuck at boot-time: "SYSLINUX 4.05... *".

Here's what I tried:
1. On Windows, quick formated in FAT32
2. Downloaded clonezilla-live-20120127-oneiric.zip, and unzipped whole ZIP onto key
3. Ran utils\win32\makeboot.bat
4. Booted PC: Stuck at "SYSLINUX 4.05... *". Hit Enter, nothing. Waited a few minutes, nothing.

Next
5. Back on host, ran "syslinux -sfmar G:"
6. Booted PC: Same error.

Next
7. Back on host, downloaded clonezilla-live-20120127-oneiric.iso
8. Quick formated in FAT32
9. Ran Universal-USB-Installer-1.8.8.3.exe to install ISO onto USB key
10. Booted PC: Same error.

Has someone seen this and knows what to do?

Thank you.

sundialsvcs · 02-27-2012, 07:18 PM

You probably have a hardware failure. Perhaps the firmware of your computer does not know how to boot from a stick.

jefro · 02-27-2012, 08:50 PM

You can't just change syslinux versions but that is not your issue.

How old is the target system? Can you test this install on the host system?

Other issues like bad download, any data issue along the way to the usb. Usb failing. Usb not able to boot. May have to try another known good bootable usb or try to fix it with hp tools.

I'd try a few of the how-to's at pendrivelinux.com for some other distro just to see if the thing could work.

In some bios's there is an issue where you tell it to boot from usb-hd or such and you really needed to tell it to change the order in the installed hard drive instead.

littlebigman · 02-28-2012, 04:37 AM

Thanks for the tips, but this very USB key worked fine to boot that very laptop before I reused that keydrive to try a different live distro. I was just trying to put Clonezilla back on the drive. So it's most likely not a hardware issue. Very strange :-/

littlebigman · 02-28-2012, 05:09 AM

More information:

Next, used UnetBootin to build a Clonezilla live keydrive: Stuck

Next, used Universal-USB-Installer-1.8.8.3.exe to build a linuxmint-12-gnome-cd-nocodecs-32bit live keydrive: Booted OK!

Next, unzipped Clonezilla onto keydrive: Stuck again.

So it looks like the Clonezilla ZIP contains files that don't work right. Someone else seems to have the same issue:

https://answers.launchpad.net/unetbo...uestion/166470

jefro · 02-28-2012, 04:34 PM

Then I think you are solved. It is some issue with the distro.

Look at the makebat and see what it does. It could be some easy mistake that you can fix.

littlebigman · 02-29-2012, 07:40 AM

It looks like it's something in the binaries, not the batch file, as the latter is very basic. All it does is get the drive letter and run "syslinux.exe -mafi %~d0":

Code:

@echo off
rem This batch file was modified by Steven Shiau.
rem The original one is from PDLA http://pendrivelinux.com
rem This batch file was created by ©2007 PDLA http://pendrivelinux.com
cls
echo -----------------------------------------------------------------
echo This batch file will prepare drive %~d0 for boot using syslinux!
echo -----------------------------------------------------------------
echo.
echo.
echo --------------------- WARNING!: ---------------------------------
echo.
echo Run this file from your portable USB device ONLY.
echo Running this file from your hard drive may overwrite your current
echo Master Boot Record (MBR) and render your Windows Operating System
echo un-bootable. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
echo.
echo This batch file is offered in hopes that it will be useful and
echo comes with absolutely no warranty. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!
echo.
echo -----------------------------------------------------------------
echo.
cd | "%windir%\system32\findstr.exe" /B /I "%systemdrive%" && echo You can _NOT_ RUN makeboot.bat from your local system hard drive! It should only be run from your USB flash drive or USB hard drive. && goto end
echo.
echo Press any key to make drive %~d0 bootable
echo or close this window to abort...
pause > nul
cls

syslinux.exe -mafi %~d0
echo.
echo ~~~~~~~~ Congratulations ~~~~~~~
echo.
echo The hidden file ldlinux.sys has been installed
echo Your %~d0 drive should now be bootable.
echo //NOTE// If your USB flash drive fails to boot (maybe buggy BIOS), try to use "syslinux -sfmar %~d0".
echo.
echo.
:end
echo Press any key to exit this window!
pause > nul

No reply after two days in the relevant mailing list. Too bad there's no alternative open-source to Clonezilla :-/

jefro · 02-29-2012, 05:51 PM

makeboot then only makes it bootable.

http://clonezilla.org/liveusb.php Looks complex. This is way more easy. http://www.pendrivelinux.com/install-clonezilla-on-usb/

How are you supposed to copy the files to the usb? Also we would need to have some confirmed statement that this is supposed to work. I may get time this weekend to try it.

Did you try universal usb installer with this?

littlebigman · 03-01-2012, 05:21 AM

The PenDrive method is the same as "MS Windows Method B: Manual" method, and both fail.

I've tried the other two methods (A and C), and they fail. I've tried a bunch of other ways, but they all failed, with the same error (stuck at "SYSLINUX").

The only way that worked is to create the bootable USB keydrive with Universal-USB-Installer-1.8.8.4.exe using the linuxmint-12-gnome-cd-nocodecs-32bit.iso file and checking the "Format" option.

If I used the same tool, check the Format option, and used clonezilla-live-20120127-oneiric.iso, I'm back at the error.

Bottom line: There's something fishy about the Clonezilla image.

jefro · 03-01-2012, 03:23 PM

I guess it is possible they borked the distro. Universal usb has been used with success.

Guess you could double check this flash drive on another system. Be sure you power down. Boot to bios and see the usb as a hard drive order choice.

littlebigman · 03-02-2012, 04:46 AM

I'll report on their forum and see if it rings any bell.