Hello, new guy Robert here. I recently decided to try making a liveCD using SantaFeCTR3.iso, syslinux 3.51, and my 1G usb stick. I copied the iso unmodified to the stick, ran syslinux.exe from the win32 folder of the unzipped syslinux.zip file, [syslinux.exe f:], and rebooted, using F8 to select the boot drive, and waited. I got the error message: Could not find kernel image:linux
boot:
I have no clue what to do since everything I've read so far on this subject seems to assume a passing familiarity with linux programming. I am like an infant learning how to feed himself (this is a spoon, NO, don't eat that!). I do not have the space for a full install, nor can I afford a new harddrive. I don't know all the commands and slang which so many linux users take as much for granted as breathing. I hope this defines the context of my problem sufficiently as to allow an appropriately contextual response. Thanks.

This from the Syslinux documentation explains why: http://syslinux.zytor.com/errors.php#dotzero.
Scroll down to the section labeled "{ What's the real name of that kernel? }".

The explanation seems to be missing a bit of vital information. Add this to the end of that section: When you have mounted the .iso image as instructed, look into the /boot directory to get the name of the linux kernel.

Note: the kernel will probably be vmlinuz or vmlinuz-<kernel version number>, where <kernel version number> represents the actual version number.

My current OS is WindowsXP Pro. Please read the post completely, as I know nothing about linux commands, much less about the syslinux command line. I COPIED the unextracted iso to the stick, NOT mounted. I ran syslinux.exe from the start/run menu with NO command line parameters except f: (the drive letter), since I find the documentation practically incomprehensible, except perhaps to a linux veteran. The result was a file on the stick named ldlinux.sys. There is a directory in the iso named [BOOT] which contains a 16K file named Bootable_NoEmulation.img. BTW, from what I DO understand (which is admittedly microscopic,) I can't mount anything unless I'm in linux, which presents a catch-22 situation. Just to let you know my level of linux knowledge, what size wrench would I need to mount that iso, and would it be standard or metric?

http://devel.santafelinux.com/
http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=01962

The distro is dormant.

Are you trying to make a Linux live CD or a bootable usb Linux drive? Which one?

If it's a live CD you don't install it. You run it from the CD. Your USB is 1GB, it is large enough also.
Let me help you get started. You wont learn Linux/BSD in a day. You'll have to study a little to get some basic knowledge.

http://rute.2038bug.com/index.html.gz
http://tldp.org/
http://tldp.org/LDP/intro-linux/html/
http://linux-newbie.dotsrc.org/

For a live CD just burn the .iso to CD. Not copy it, burn it to CD. Nero, K3b etc. will do this. Then put it into your CD drive and boot from it and use it.

If you are trying to make a bootable live usb drive then your BIOS will have to support booting from USB or you'll have to make a boot floppy or CD. Life of the Pen Drive wont be much either. Do a search on making a bootable usb drive.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...archid=1551777
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LiveUsbPendrivePersistent
http://www.weethet.nl/english/hardwa...omusbstick.php
http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Boot_floppy

Thanks. I decided to lose Santa Fe, since no one speaks English here. LiveCD is not a term I coined, but it seems to apply to bootable usb drives also, so I used that term in the thread. Sorry, I don't eat, drink, breathe, and dream sourcecode. Now, all I have to do is figure out how to get Feather "distro" to detect all of my hardware. BTW, I haven't had a functioning CD burner since mine crashed along with my old 17G harddrive. For the merely curious, my system information follows. Please pardon the verbosity.

Operating System

Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Service Pack 2 (Build 2600)

System Device Information

Processor

Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.80GHz 2792.9 Mhz

Memory

System Total 496.1
Virtual Total 2047.9
Pagefile Total 1895.8

Monitor Information

Monitor Name NEC MultiSync LCD2010X
Refresh Rate 60 Hz

Network Card Information

Name abit AirPace Wi-Fi Wireless Network Adapter -
Packet Scheduler Miniport - WLP-01 PCI-E

Media Device Information

Mass Storage Devices

Type Fixed
File System FAT32
Total Space 18.6 GB
Free Space 6.0 GB

Mass Storage Devices

Type Fixed
File System FAT32
Total Space 18.6 GB
Free Space 4.2 GB

Mass Storage Devices

Type CD / DVD Drive
File System UDF
Total Space 7.7 GB
Free Space 0 Bytes

Display Device (Primary Only)

Intel(R) Q965/Q963 Express Chipset Family
Manufacturer Intel Corporation
GUID D7B78E66-6AD2-11CF-F373-E9A1ADC2CD35

Driver
Version 6.14.10.4670
Module igxprd32.dll
Date 8-14-2006

Memory
Local 256.0
Local 247.0
Non-Local 0.0
Texture 247.0

Sound Device (Primary Only)

SoundMAX HD Audio
Manufacturer Analog Devices, Inc.
GUID BD6DD71A-3DEB-11D1-B171-00C04FC20000

Driver
Version 5.10.01.6110
Module ADIHdAud.sys
Date 1-16-2007

Capabilities
Max 3D Buffers 33
Supports Mono Output True
Supports Stereo Output True

http://featherlinux.berlios.de/phpBB2/index.php
Since you are looking for a live cd I'll give you these too.
http://www.slax.org/
http://www.knoppix.org/
http://www.efense.com/helix/
http://www.freesbie.org
http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php
Knoppix (Linux) has great hardware detection and so does freesbie (FreeBSD).

Using a USB drive for an OS isn't the greatest thing. Read write life is limited. You might want to salvage a used optical drive if you don't want to buy one. A lot of the major distros also support a network install. Look at their docs. It will be a slow process though. The machine you have should run any modern Linux distro. You may have to study on how to get the wi-fi device working.
http://www.troubleshooters.com/lpm/200612/200612.htm
http://www.linuxhomenetworking.com/

Edit:
Also found this
http://learn.clemsonlinux.org/wiki/U...from_USB_drive

Thanks for your help and advice. Looks like I'd beetter hit the books and/or docs, websites, etc.

Robert