Need to create a bootable Linux usb flash drive

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Level 3

828 points

Need to create a bootable Linux usb flash drive

I downloaded Slax and want to get the files on a USB thumb drive so that I can boot from it. It only came with a windows installer, and hunting around the internet has not turned up anything concrete. I used DU to format the thumb drive to OSX Extended format. I also took the Slax files folder (from the .tar achive) and created a .dmg of it using DU. I'm on my G5 runing Tiger. I'm not sure how to proceed from here, any advice? Thanks.

24" 2.4 GHz iMac(10.5.8) MacMini(10.4.11) 2GHz G5(10.4.11) Airport Ext. (n), Mac OS X (10.5.8), 23" Cinema Display, Epson 836XL scanner, Epson R1800 Printer

Posted on Apr 18, 2011 2:15 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

250,595 points

Apr 18, 2011 2:40 PM in response to Kort

Hi Kort,

The rEFIt should be installed in your iMac, not in USB drive. All Intel-mac can run SLAX. Please refer following steps.

1. Prepare SLAX live CD and boot SLAX CD by pushing "C"-key.

2. After booting SLAX, format your USB drive through LINUX, if you need a partition you can make

it at the same time.

(USB drive over 512MB of slax area and FAT32 is recommended.)

3. Copy all files,extracted from SLAX tar file, in the USB drive.

4. Run "bootinst.sh" from boot directory for making USB drive bootable.

5. Install rEFIt in your iMac, and confirm the rEFIt screen is come up after power on.

6. Set the USB drive and power on. rEFIt screen will show the USB drive.

7. Select USB drive, then SLAX will start.

No trick at all. If you apply format and partition through MAX OSX it will come up with different structure; consequently, it cannot boot.

My USB drive(1GB) has 2 partitions and SLAX is installed in the second partiton(700MB,FAT32) and the 1st partition(300MB,FAT16) is used for sharing files with other OS.

http://www.slax.org/forum.php?action=view&parentID=1230

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Answer 2

Kort Author

Level 3

828 points

Apr 18, 2011 3:11 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks BD.

My G5 is not and Intel Mac, but I'll bring the files home and try it using my iMac.

I'll give feedback when I see how that turns out.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

250,595 points

Apr 18, 2011 3:25 PM in response to Kort

Hmmm, I wonder if SLAX is Intel code?

You might need yaboot...

http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook-ppc.xml?part=1&chap=10#yaboot

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Answer 4

Kort Author

Level 3

828 points

Apr 19, 2011 6:22 AM in response to BDAqua

Well, actually I don't mind using any small form factor Linux build for a live USB drive, if you have any suggestions. Couldn't get the gentoo link to work.

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Answer 5

Apr 19, 2011 6:32 AM in response to Kort

I had success with Ubuntu. I downloaded an ISO, which claimed to be 693Mb, but took up 728Mb in Finder, larger than the 700Mb CDR I had. So I opened the ISO, copied the files to the root directory of the USB stick, and Bob was my Uncle.

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Answer 6

Kort Author

Level 3

828 points

Apr 19, 2011 8:31 AM in response to rbrian Scotland

rbrian - I downloaded the latest Unbuntu to give your suggestion a try. They have instructions for installing it onto a USB drive Disk Util and Terminal, but I found them rather confusing couldn't seem to get it to work. I loaded the disk image and copied the files within straight to the USB stick. I'm in the middle of work so have yet to reboot, but is this how you did it? If not, any other directions?

Thanks.

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Answer 7

Apr 19, 2011 1:05 PM in response to Kort

I couldn't get those instructions to work either. After much googling I found a free utility which copied it to the USB stick instantly. So far as I can tell, all it did was copy the files. I'd tell you what the utility is, but I'm not near my mac right now, and I forgot. I'll check tomorrow.

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Answer 8

Kort Author

Level 3

828 points

Apr 19, 2011 1:10 PM in response to rbrian Scotland

Thanks. Copying directly to the USB stick did not result in a bootable stick, so I guess that utility is the key.

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Answer 9

Apr 19, 2011 1:22 PM in response to Kort

The utility is unetbootin - but the download site says the resulting USB sticks only boot on Windows PCs, not Macs. This didn't make sense to me - I didn't try it on my mac, just my friends pc. It was a Windows PC, but the hard drive died, so we put in the old drive from my mac.

Maybe it's Intel only? In that case it won't work on a G5, and I've wasted your time. Sorry.

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Answer 10

Kort Author

Level 3

828 points

Apr 19, 2011 1:38 PM in response to rbrian Scotland

Hrm. Well, if so, thanks anyway. I can try it on my iMac at home.

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Answer 11

JPsMom

Level 1

9 points

Mar 19, 2016 12:41 PM in response to Kort

Try Puppy Linux. They are very friendly and have versions for almost anything you need. Their user community is very helpful and patient. :-)

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