Live USB problems-Problem Solved

[jsalpha2]

Downloaded the pclinuxos-kde-2012.08.iso and burnt to DVD.  Boots fine, everything works.  Went to More Applications > Configuration > PCLinuxOS Live USB creator.  Formatted the USB drive correctly.  Chose look for .sqfs file on live media.  Noted cd drive not shown.  See someone elses's picture from other thread. He has cd,  I don't show anything there.  I don't know how to do a screen shot under linux.  This pic looks like my screen with that exception.

Started over,  this time selected from .iso and browsed to the folder on thee hard drive.  Thought everything went smoothly.   Could not find "Safely remove USB drive"  Rebooted,  hit F11, selected USB drive,  just a black screen with a flashing white cursor in the upper left corner.  Waited ten minutes or so.  Nothing.
About to try for the third time.  Wish me luck.  Going to dig around the BIOS again.  It has the option selected to boot from Sandisc USB, then harddrive.

[Just17]

Chose look for .sqfs file on live media.  Noted cd drive not shown.  See picture from other thread.

I see the cdrom drive in your pic  

See picture from other thread.

How is anyone expected to see it? You did not supply a link!

Rebooted,  hit F11, selected USB drive,  just a black screen with a flashing white cursor in the upper left corner.

Did this happen before you got to the Grub boot selection screen or sometime after it began to boot?

If the first it might indicate that you did not write Grub to the MBR of the USB drive.

[jsalpha2]

The picture is from someone else's link, in mine it is not there.  Sorry if that is confusing.  I was trying to point out my screen
looked like his except I did not have cdrom.  Was I supposed to mount it?

There were three options for Grub.  I think they were
1. Grub is already installed
2. Install grub to the hard drive
3. This is a fresh install, there is only one OS on the flash drive, you don't need Grub.

I did not install grub.

[Just17]

For the USB drive to be bootable you must install Grub to the MBR of the drive.
That is what makes the drive bootable.


Your Grub installation choices were

1.   Do not install Grub .....  this is for when you add a second OS to the partition and Grub was installed when the first OS was installed.

2.  Install Grub to the boot sector of the partition .....  this is used when you have a non-standard set up that you edit yourself

3.  Install Grub to the MBR of the USB drive .......  this is used to make the drive bootable; is used for the first OS installation to ensure the drive is bootable.

Using an ISO from the HDD is much faster as the optical drive is slow. So an ISO is the recommended source of the OS.

You might be best served, if you can, to start again.
When you install the 'first' OS (which is what you would be doing) the previous contents of the partition are wiped.

So I suggest you use an ISO; install a 'first' OS; select to install Grub to the MBR of the USB drive.

That should give you a properly bootable USB stick.

[jsalpha2]

Thanks, grub was the problem.  Some of the other choices were confusing too.  Boot Options 1Standard 2 Persistent  3 Copy to RAM  4 Memory Test
I just went with standard.
One problem left.  Every time I start, the KDE Daemon has closed unexpectedly error pops up.  Just closing out of the error, then everything works.

Three questions
1  Where is the safely remove flash drive box?
2  How do you take a screen shot?
3  Why does my cd drive not show?  The DVD was in it, but I could find no way to see the files on the DVD.

[sling-shot]

1. Taking screenshot : This is done by pressing the Prt Sc or Print Screen key in your keyboard. Depending on the keyboard it could be available for direct use (desktop keyboard) or by pressing with a Fn or Function key.

2. Safely remove : Unless you have actually viewed any content from the flash drive in a file manager or accessed a file from that drive, it is not mounted. Hence it is not available for safe removal. If it is mounted, then it can be removed by either right clicking on its entry in the Places panel of Dolphin or Device Notifier in the system tray.

3. DVD Contents not seen : Probably for the same reason as above. The actual DVD is not mounted although it is in the drive. Observe the screen carefully once the DVD is inserted. You should see a pop-up message from the system tray with option to view the content.

4. KDE Daemon closing is commonly reported occurrence in the Live system 2012.08. Does no harm and you could safely ignore it. It will not appear once installed.

EDIT : Added 3 and 4.

[Just17]

Thanks, grub was the problem.  Some of the other choices were confusing too.  Boot Options 1Standard 2 Persistent  3 Copy to RAM  4 Memory Test
I just went with standard.
One problem left.  Every time I start, the KDE Daemon has closed unexpectedly error pops up.  Just closing out of the error, then everything works.

Three questions
<snip>

3 questions answered above by sling-shot

If you are confused by the options available then you need to read a little about them.  

Yes there is a plasma crash when running live, which automatically recovers. It does not affect anything unduly and does not happen after an install.

[jsalpha2]

Sorry, I did not know where to read.  I read several of the threads here as well as the on screen instructions.
If you are booting from a live DVD, then how can it not be mounted?
If I just installed PCLinuxOS onto my flash drive, then it must be mounted, right?
For people who are coming from windows, a little extra help is appreciated.
I've been a member here since 2006 and still don't feel comfortable to use linux on a daily basis.
Perhaps under the Grub installation options they should reverse #3 and #1. 
Install Grub to the MBR of the USB drive .......  this is used to make the drive bootable; is used for the first OS installation to ensure the drive is bootable.
If this was the default I would have had no problems.  Most people probably have small flash drives and only install one OS, right?
If your not sure pick option number 1 and hope for the best.
In the past everyone here was polite and helpful, even though I never was able to get my wireless setup correctly.
Thanks for all the help.

[Just17]

Sorry, I did not know where to read.  I read several of the threads here as well as the on screen instructions.

If you did not find answers for your questions after a search, then please start a new thread to ask for better/clearer/fuller  explanations of the things that are not clear.

If you are booting from a live DVD, then how can it not be mounted?
If I just installed PCLinuxOS onto my flash drive, then it must be mounted, right?

It is normal for an installer to unmount and clean up after it does the installation.
So, yes, the filesystem is mounted during the installation, but would be unmounted immediately afterwards.

For people who are coming from windows, a little extra help is appreciated.
I've been a member here since 2006 and still don't feel comfortable to use linux on a daily basis.

That is unfortunate, but a discussion for another thread I think ...  about what it is that makes you uncomfortable.

It would appear you have not really made an effort to get comfortable and have your questions answered and problems solved, in this forum ....... 6 posts in 6 years up to this thread gives some indication of why I say this. It is not a criticism, but might be a reason for your 'uncomfortable' situation.

Perhaps under the Grub installation options they should reverse #3 and #1. 
Install Grub to the MBR of the USB drive .......  this is used to make the drive bootable; is used for the first OS installation to ensure the drive is bootable.
If this was the default I would have had no problems.  Most people probably have small flash drives and only install one OS, right?
If your not sure pick option number 1 and hope for the best.

It is deliberately chosen so that the user does not inadvertently destroy an existing MBR.
The user must make a deliberate choice to install Grub.
That is the safest default and hence the reason it is the default.
 

In the past everyone here was polite and helpful, even though I never was able to get my wireless setup correctly.
Thanks for all the help.

Please start a separate thread for help with your wireless set up.
I feel sure someone would be able to help.

On a general note, dealing with partitions and boot managers and such is not something that can be done with any confidence without some background reading.
A tool like LiveUSB Creator has options that are easy to understand with a little background knowledge, but no doubt are confusing for those who know nothing of such things.
IMO, the answer to that situation is for the user to inform themselves so they can make the best use of the tool .......  and as you have said, this forum is helpful to those who ask questions with a view to gaining some knowledge.

For background on the LiveUSB Creator tool you might have a look at this two year old thread ...
http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,74878.0.html

It explains the concepts as well as some of the options etc.

[sling-shot]

[jsalpha2]
Is it safe to assume that whatever problem/doubts you had have been cleared by now and that you have been successful in doing whatever you set out to do?

Lessons:
1. Read-up before beginning anything new.
2. Ask what you do not know still.
3. Be very polite with the questions.
4. Nobody is entitled to an answer here. Each answer is a gift; not a right.
5. Follow the instructions carefully and always report back with the results.
6. Post the final results / end of task results.
7. Modify the thread title with "[SOLVED]" if all of your questions/troubles were resolved successfully.
8. Enjoy

[jsalpha2]

1. Read-up before beginning anything new.  I did that.
2.Please start a separate thread for help with your wireless set up.  I did that 6 years ago.
3. Be very polite with the questions.  I always do that.
4.It would appear you have not really made an effort to get comfortable and have your questions answered and problems solved, in this forum ....... 6 posts in 6 years up to this thread gives some indication of why I say this. It is not a criticism, but might be a reason for your 'uncomfortable' situation.
It sounds like a criticism,  I generally check back every year or so when I hear of a new version.
5.In the past everyone here was polite and helpful(said tongue in cheek, cause Just17 seems very unfriendly)
6.Won't be back - Problem Solved.

[Just17]

2.Please start a separate thread for help with your wireless set up.  I did that 6 years ago.

     

[sling-shot]

5.In the past everyone here was polite and helpful(said tongue in cheek, cause Just17 seems very unfriendly)
6.Won't be back - Problem Solved.

Ha ha ha eh eh he he he he serves you well Just17 for being so helpful in solving the problem.

[Just17]

Yeah, that's me   
 


(stolen from darkages )