Internet Linux pen-drive problem

[Spacethingy]

I've just realized that in 15-odd years of computing, I've only used Windows as an OS!

Anyway, OS wars aside, I decided to give Linux a go. I checked out the options and decided to get the latest version Ubuntu on a "test it out" memory/flash stick install.

I followed the instructions on the Ubuntu website, and put the disk image data onto a 1GB stick using the LinuxPenDrive software that was linked to from the Ubuntu website. I rebooted, changed the the boot-up order in the BIOS to check for USB devices first then tried it out.

I got a Ubuntu welcome screen (hooray!), but then got a load of unintelligable messages and the whole thing just stopped (boooo!). The only things I could see that I could guess were problems were "Kernel panic" and "LZMA corruption".

I tried several times, but no difference.

Any suggestions what I'm doing wrong?

 

[TSPenguin]

LZMA corruption indicates faulty data or a wrong way in reading it. Did you make extra sure to select the proper options for your particular image in the universal USB installer? Maybe the USB stick is faulty?!

Sometimes images just don't work with that tool in my experience. I've had some success in doing it manualy though. No fun.

 

[Zachstar]

Why use a USB stick. Just burn a DVD with Ubuntu or Linux mint and it boots into its live mode.

 

[TSPenguin]

Why use a USB stick. Just burn a DVD with Ubuntu or Linux mint and it boots into its live mode.

Persistency, speed and availability come to mind. It is also the greener alternative if you reuse the stick and easier to transport as well. Not to mention sturdier or rather, not as fragile. Much quieter too.

Anyone else want to chime in? :tiphat:

 

[Spacethingy]

The stick worked fine before! And there wasn't that many options to chose from in the installer...

 

[orbekler]

Why use a USB stick. Just burn a DVD with Ubuntu or Linux mint and it boots into its live mode.

Actually it is very practical to add boot sw to a USB key, as TSPenguin said.
I made a multiboot key that contains:

HDD Image Tools
Paragon Backup & Restore
Macrium Reflect

Windows Tools
Windows 7 Recovery (x86)
Windows 7 Recovery (x64)

Partition Tools
Easeus Partition Master

Antivirus
BitDefender Rescue CD

Linux
Knoppix

Booting up the key, through Main menu I decide which program/OS to start.
Of course, this multiboot can be made for DVD too, adding as many bootable programs/OS you want, provided you have enough space.

Instead of Linux Pendrive, I used Xboot:

http://sites.google.com/site/shamurxboot/

 

[Spacethingy]

Intersting. XBoot crashed while trying to work.

I wonder if my ISO's corrupted? I'll try downloading it again...

 

[Linguofreak]

The stick worked fine before! And there wasn't that many options to chose from in the installer...

I wouldn't suspect the stick itself, but rather that the file got corrupted during the download. Ubuntu provides checksums for the various iso's they distribute here. Find the hash corresponding to the file you downloaded (this is important, otherwise following the rest of the instructions may tell you you have a corrupted file when you don't).

Then use the instructions here to check if the file you downloaded has been corrupted.

If the checksum of the file you downloaded doesn't match the checksum you got from my first link, you'll just need to redownload the file and you should be golden (unless your Internet connection is so bad that it gets corrupted again, so you may want to compare the checksums again after the second download).

If it *does* match, then either something went wrong while installing it to the USB stick, or there's a hardware problem (possibly with the stick, possibly with your computer, but I wouldn't worry about that until we've ruled out everything else).

 

[Spacethingy]

OK, MD5s checked, my ISO was all right after all.

Looking at the xboot forums, my error message seems to have appeared for loads of other people too.

 

[orbekler]

Intersting. XBoot crashed while trying to work.

I wonder if my ISO's corrupted? I'll try downloading it again...

I'm pretty sure Xboot requires .Net 4. Be sure to have installed it in your system.

 

[agentgonzo]

I've always had a lot of strife trying to get anything useful booting off a pen-drive. I always use DVD-RWs these days for things like that.

Persistency, speed and availability come to mind. It is also the greener alternative if you reuse the stick and easier to transport as well.

Your-own-OS on a pen-drive is a handy thing to have. I used to carry around a credit-card-sized-CD with DamnSmallLinux on it for these situations a while ago but no longer has the need.

 

[luki1997a]

I suggest you should install ubuntu this way(worked for me)
-download newest iso file
-Download NeoSmart Technologies EasyBCD(it's free for not commercial use)
-mount iso using a special program(daemon tools or MagicDisc)
-Open usb-creator.exe located in mounted image
-select your mounted drive and pendrive
-remember to format your pendrive with FAT32
-press start in usb-creator to make bootable usb with ubuntu installation
-Install & open EasyBCD
-Press 'Add new entry' then 'ISO file'
-Name it whatever you want, select your ubuntu iso file
-select load from memory(or RAM, I don't remember)
-add it to boot menu
-after completing every process, unplug US and restart pc
-In boot menu select your newly added entry and press enter
-plug in pendrive
-install ubuntu

It worked for me, so maybe it will work for you too:thumbup:

 

[Spacethingy]

Ah well... I gave up on Ubuntu...

Coming to you from Linux Puppy!!!!! :woohoo:

Right, let's try to get a memory stick working...

 

[luki1997a]

Ah well... I gave up on Ubuntu...

Coming to you from Linux Puppy!!!!! :woohoo:

Right, let's try to get a memory stick working...

did you follow my little tut?