OS on usb stick..[SOLVED]

[OleWilly]

Hi

From a live PCLinuxOS 2012.02 KDE disk I have installed the OS onto a 32gb usb stick. All went ok i.e. installing, updating, localizing and personalizing the OS. I am using the OS right now. - Trouble is now that I can not reboot from the stick when it is in place. I have to stop the computer. Boot the computer with the internal hd, then put in the stick and then reboot with the usb in place. - Any idea  

OW

[Just17]

Check your BIOS boot options .....  there are often two locations which affect this so do look carefully for listing of drives and boot order.

Also there is likely a 'magic key' to press during POST which will present a list of drives from which to boot.

[OleWilly]

Hi Just18

Thank You for reply. My bios is set to optimized defaults except for boot sequence. I have first the usb, then cd/dvd and thirdly hd.

OW

[agmg]

Is your computer a laptop or a desktop?
If it is a laptop, check if there is an "F" key that can be pressed before disk boot and give you the option to select the booting device.
If it is a desktop, check in your BIOS for options like "boot order" and "hard disk priority" with your USB drive plugged in. For example, my kids' desktop PC has a Gigabyte mainboard in which I have to set USB-HDD first in boot order and also select the specific USB drive in Hard Disk Boot Priority so I can boot from it successfully.

[OleWilly]

HI agmg

Thank You much for reply.
If it is a desktop, check in your BIOS for options like "boot order" and "hard disk priority" with your USB drive plugged in

My bios is set to optimized defaults except for boot sequence. I have first the usb, then cd/dvd and thirdly hd.

 

OW

[luikki]

"boot order" and "hard disk priority"

pls. notice the two options.

[Just17]

Hi Just18

Thank You for reply. My bios is set to optimized defaults except for boot sequence. I have first the usb, then cd/dvd and thirdly hd.

OW

I have no idea if you located the two BIOS settings or if you tried the 'magic key' .......  can you please clarify?

[OleWilly]

Hi

Code: [Select]

[color=blue]Also there is likely a 'magic key' to press during POST which will present a list of drives from which to boot. [/color]
But my bios is set to boot first from a possible usb. And booting is ok when I reboot from the hd and
put in my stick. But when I have booted that way with the stick in and will reboot from the stick something  happens the screen/monitor get hick ups and no picture is seen  

OW

[Just17]

It might be necessary to introduce a delay in the BIOS so that the POST has time to recognise the USB stick.

Try booting from power off with the USB stick in place ......

from what you have said it will show the boot screen of the HDD installed OS

then do Ctrl,Alt+Del which should cause a reboot

does the boot now go to the USB stick?

If yes, then it might be a timing problem .....  the BIOS needs more time to recognise the USB stick as a bootable device.

if not do Ctrl,Alt+Del again

and use the 'magic key' to get a boot list from which to select the USB stick .....  does this work?

Your motherboard manual should tell you what key you need to press to get the boot list on screen.

[Bald Brick]

Is your computer a laptop or a desktop?
If it is a laptop, check if there is an "F" key that can be pressed before disk boot and give you the option to select the booting device.

That's the 'magic key' Just18 mentioned. You'll find it on many desktops too. For instance on my Acer desktop it's F12. To use it I have to press it before the machine starts booting.

[OleWilly]

Hi
 
Thank You for replies. I got the idea to remove compiz and related packages because I remembered that this previously have caused me trouble. And I have just rebooted on the stick and all ok.

OW

[Just17]

Hi
 
Thank You for replies. I got the idea to remove compiz and related packages because I remembered that this previously have caused me trouble. And I have just rebooted on the stick and all ok.

OW

That makes no sense to me at all .......  whether compiz is installed or not can have no effect on whether the USB stick is recognised as a boot device.
A boot device does not even need an operating system to be recognised as such!