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Running Ubuntu from a USB Drive

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  • 13-03-2016 9:13pm
    #1
    funkey_monkey
    Registered Users Posts: 8,061 ✭✭✭


    I'm trying to check a hard drive using an old computer. I've swapped the connections to its hard drive to instead connect to the drive under test.

    As I've done this, I need an OS in order to read the HDD and see whether it is working. To do this I've downloaded the Ubuntu 14.04.4 desktop i386 iso file to a USB drive at the top level (not within a subfolder).

    I've inserted the USB drive into the old computer and fired it up. I then changed the boot sequence to only boot from a USB device but the computer is telling me that there is no Boot Device available.

    What step am I missing here. The last time I tried this it worked fine.

    I've now altered the boot sequence to 1. USB Device and 2. Onboard or USB CD-ROM Drive.

    The drive I'm checking is part of a media box and so would not have an applicable OS for this (I think). I tried it anyway but no success.

    Any ideas as to what I need to do here to get Ubuntu up and running to check the HDD?


    Thanks.


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    #2
    gctest50
    Registered Users Posts: 9,605 ✭✭✭gctest50


    You need to make the USB drive "bootable" - it needs a certain layout so the computer recognises it as something it can boot from

    download this :


    https://rufus.akeo.ie/downloads/rufus-2.7.exe

    from here :

    https://rufus.akeo.ie/

    make sure it's "pointed" at the USB drive !! or it'll delete your stuff


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    #3
    funkey_monkey
    Registered Users Posts: 8,061 ✭✭✭funkey_monkey


    Thanks.

    C: seems to be the USB drive. How do I figure out what drive designation the newly inserted HDD is? Is there a way to list all drives present? I've tried to go down through the drives using cd x: but the response is "Drive x: not responding.

    Is there a further step I need to do when I get to the c: prompt in order to get FreeDOS working properly?


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    #4
    funkey_monkey
    Registered Users Posts: 8,061 ✭✭✭funkey_monkey


    Ohh!

    I' just pulled out the data connection for the original C:. I thought having the power connection removed would disable it. Now with only my HDD under test connected when I type cd d: I get the message "CHDIR failed for ':d'.

    Just rebooted the machine and am now back to the original Drive D is not responding message.:confused:

    Any ideas as to what is happening here?


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    #5
    gctest50
    Registered Users Posts: 9,605 ✭✭✭gctest50


    ? not sure

    what you need to do is click the disc icon in Rufus and select the Ubuntu .iso image you downloaded

    ( run Rufus on your "good" computer )


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    #6
    funkey_monkey
    Registered Users Posts: 8,061 ✭✭✭funkey_monkey


    Ahh, I used the OS they had and didn't select the Ubuntu ISO. Trying again now...


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    #7
    funkey_monkey
    Registered Users Posts: 8,061 ✭✭✭funkey_monkey


    Sweet. It works! The drive is alive :)

    Many thanks for your help - I appreciate it. :D


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    #8
    webwayz
    Registered Users Posts: 75 ✭✭webwayz


    One annoyance I have is when Linux Distros issue ISOs which are over 700mb so they dont fit on a CD or indeed so large they wont fit on an old USB key


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    #9
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users Posts: 13,990 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    webwayz wrote: »
    One annoyance I have is when Linux Distros issue ISOs which are over 700mb so they dont fit on a CD or indeed so large they wont fit on an old USB key

    You cannot have modern GUI and full functionality and lots of applications in a small size.
    No doubt there are small releases too to cater for the minimalists amongst us :D


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