Booting from USB if the BIOS doesn't support it?

nitromaster

Basically have this set up. Just installed the latest version of Ubuntu to a USB flash drive.
I want to boot the machine into this installation, however it doesn't support USB booting.

I came across: http://www.plop.at/ but the default image once burned onto a CD doesn't seem to load, looks like it's trying for about 10 seconds or so before the system just loads windows from the hard drive. couldn't find a solution to this, whether it was my fault or not...if anyone has any ideas that'd be great though

Also came across this page: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootFromUSB#The_minimal_Linux_methodand "the minimal linux method" seems like it might be worth a shot..seems complicated and possibly out-dated though. anyone know any similar ideas to get a minimal CD up and running which will then boot the USB drive?

or lastly the GRUB option, haven't used Linux/GRUB since about 2007 so i'm a bit iffy about it...but creating a GRUB CD, booting to that, and then USB...is this even possible?

Or if anyone has any other ideas they'd be greatly appreciated! thanks

Johnboy1951

nitromaster wrote: »

Basically have this set up. Just installed the latest version of Ubuntu to a USB flash drive.
I want to boot the machine into this installation, however it doesn't support USB booting.

I came across: http://www.plop.at/ but the default image once burned onto a CD doesn't seem to load, looks like it's trying for about 10 seconds or so before the system just loads windows from the hard drive. couldn't find a solution to this, whether it was my fault or not...if anyone has any ideas that'd be great though

Also came across this page: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootFromUSB#The_minimal_Linux_methodand "the minimal linux method" seems like it might be worth a shot..seems complicated and possibly out-dated though. anyone know any similar ideas to get a minimal CD up and running which will then boot the USB drive?

or lastly the GRUB option, haven't used Linux/GRUB since about 2007 so i'm a bit iffy about it...but creating a GRUB CD, booting to that, and then USB...is this even possible?

Or if anyone has any other ideas they'd be greatly appreciated! thanks

Using grub will not work ........ no drivers for the USB.

Plop should work for you ...... it has worked well on anytime I tried it.
I have used it on floppy and CD.

I suggest you revisit PLOP ....... there is also a means of setting the defaults, which I did to USB.

PLOP can also be installed to the HDD ..... not something I tried, as I would prefer to leave the HDD alone.

..... back to PLOP is my suggestion ......

107

Might be a bit of 'fun' :

http://www.coreboot.org