cant boot linux into gui from a usb drive

[docnascar]

I'm not to sure what I'm doing...  

I installed minime pclinux to a usb hard drive and I can't get it to boot into the gui login screen.

If I use acpi off (what ever that does) I can get into a command prompt. I setup XFdrake for my nvidia 6600 card, but thats all I know to do. I don't think the issue is related to my video card because the errors are something like this.

I get passed GRUB ok.
It starts to boot and then it says something about the sdc1 (my usb drive) using the wrong irq. So it tries a few address and continue on. Then it gets some more errors. Something like EXT4fs error entry 935 inode something... and Udev worker failed. Are these error because of the irq thing? Why does the drive load grub and boot some stuff if it can't read it?

Not sure how to proceed.

[docnascar]

Also in grub if i select the kernel 3 2 18 and use safe settings i can get to a prompt and login as root

[Yankee]

Also in grub if i select the kernel 3 2 18 and use safe settings i can get to a prompt and login as root

I would login as root and run apt-get install do-vesa, then run do-vesa and
reboot.    Provided ethernet is connecting with your hardware OK.   You
should boot into a vesa driver graphic screen, so we would know that vesa
works and the other hardware driver doesn't.

Post back.

Y

[Just17]

Boot into Linux (not on the USB), plug in the USB and do a fsck on the unmounted partitions of sdc

[Phil]

Hi Doc,

So you get to a root prompt with 3.2.18 (current kernel)(set to default?)
Assume you are using a current iso.

#

Try:

#XFdrake (or pcc or drakconf) to configure your graphics card, maybe select boring vesa for the time being.

Next try:

#startx

Did that work, any error messages?

Also maybe unplug then then re-plug the usb drive (should not make a difference from cold start)

[Yankee]

I don't think vesa will work unless the do-vesa command is used,
if vesa is req'd at all.

Just FYI

Y

[docnascar]

Also in grub if i select the kernel 3 2 18 and use safe settings i can get to a prompt and login as root

I would login as root and run apt-get install do-vesa, then run do-vesa and
reboot.    Provided ethernet is connecting with your hardware OK.   You
should boot into a vesa driver graphic screen, so we would know that vesa
works and the other hardware driver doesn't.

Post back.

Y

The apt-get... worked and ethernet connection appears good, however, this did not solve my bug. I do get the Booting to linux graphical screen, but I always hit esc to watch whats going on.

[docnascar]

Boot into Linux (not on the USB), plug in the USB and do a fsck on the unmounted partitions of sdc. I may be wrong, but I think the issue is something with the usb (since its showing those sdc ext4 errors) since the livecd works fine.

The only way for me to boot into Linux is with a live cd.  Which I have to use the Video safe Mode FBDEV.

Code: [Select]

[root@localhost guest]# fsck
fsck from util-linux-ng 2.18


[Old-Polack]

Boot into Linux (not on the USB), plug in the USB and do a fsck on the unmounted partitions of sdc. I may be wrong, but I think the issue is something with the usb (since its showing those sdc ext4 errors) since the livecd works fine.

The only way for me to boot into Linux is with a live cd.  Which I have to use the Video safe Mode FBDEV.

Code: [Select]

[root@localhost guest]# fsck
fsck from util-linux-ng 2.18


The command, as root, is;

[root@localhost ~]# fsck -f /dev/sdc1                                <Enter>

[docnascar]

[Just17]

Is the drive connected directly to a USB port on the PC or through a hub?
Is it a powered drive or does it take its power from the USB connector?

What you might be getting is a fluctuation of the power supplied to the drive ....

[docnascar]

Sometimes startx will let me on booting with the kernel option and safe settings.  However when i open anything X crashes and i get kicked out to a terminal saying fatal server error xinit connection to x server lost.

The drive is on a single usb cable. Worked fine when i used it with windows before i wiped it clean for pclinux

[Yankee]

How about some more info about your computer ?

Make, model, speed, configuration, usb drive make and model
and other info to start.

[docnascar]

Let me get back to you on the HW list.

How do I see the drive labels as HD0,0, etc...? This PC has two internal drives (which are purely windows only 1boot (shows as SDA with pclinux), 1storage (shows as SDB with pclinux)).

Will the USB (SDC) show up as a HDx,x?

[docnascar]

How about some more info about your computer ?

Make, model, speed, configuration, usb drive make and model
and other info to start.

This is my Windows XP machine.
·   Ultra Wizard Black ATX Mid-Tower Case with Front USB and Firewire Ports Sku No. ULT31580   -   Manufacturer Part No. ULT31580
·   Ultra 400w V-Series PSU Black  Mfg Part No!: ULT31840
·   Masscool / Socket 754, 939, 940 / AMD Athlon 64 / Ball Bearing / CPU Cooling Fan Mfg Part No!: 5T313
·   AMD Athlon 64 3700 ClawHammer Core Socket 754 CPU CP2-A64-3700 AV
·   Gigabyte K8U ULi Socket 754 ATX Motherboard / Audio / AGP 4x/8x / 10/100 Ethernet LAN / USB 2.0 / Se Sku No. G452-2206   -   Manufacturer Part No. GA-K8U
·   XFX GeForce 6600 / 256MB DDR / AGP 8X / Dual DVI / TV Out / Video Card Sku No. P450-6600   -   Manufacturer Part No. PVT43KUD
·   Seagate 250GB EIDE HD 7200/8MB/ATA-100 THD-250A2 SY
·   NEC ND3550 / 16x DVD±R Burn & Read / 8x DVD+RW / 6x DVD-RW / 8x DVD+R DL / 6x DVD-R DL / 48x32x CD-R Sku No. N27-1894 BULK   - Manufacturer Part No. N27-1894 BULK
·   Ultra 1024MB PC3200 DDR 400MHz Memory Mfg Part No!: ULT31664
.       20G Maxtor HDD


Linux is on this USB only and grub is not tied to the Windows machine, just set to boot from USB before HDD.
**Hitachi GST Travelstar 5K160 HTS541680J9SA00 (0A28842) 80GB 5400 RPM 8MB Cache 2.5" SATA 1.5Gb/s Notebook Hard Drive -Bare Drive