Off-Topic > Off-Topic - Tiny Tux's Corner
System-RescueCD and UEFI surprise!
PDP-8:
Here is yet another utility that can be used on uefi-only machines with nothing more than copy-n-paste to a fat32 usb drive.
This one has a small twist ...
So I nabbed the release (version 8.06 latest) from their project page:
https://system-rescue.org/
But instead of using dd methods to modern machines that may balk at bootable iso9660 iso's, I decided to do it manually.
Lowest common denominator install:
Downloaded amd64 iso.
Reformatted fresh usb stick so I could rename the volume "RESCUExxx" , where "xxx" = version number you are currently using. So my volume label was RESCUE806
Double-clicked the release iso to mount it and see the file folder/directories.
In one swoop, simply copied all the folder directories from the mounted iso to the newly formatted usb stick.
SUCCESS!! It boots on both my "big box store" recent Acer Aspire laptop, to a cheap "offshore" little hockey-puck mini pc - both of which are uefi-only.
The twist: project documentation says you need to be sure that your new stick has both the lba AND BOOT flags.
Yeah, I don't think so! The boot flag was totally unnecessary, so nothing more than copy-n-paste (and making sure your volume name reflects the RESCUExxx format.) is all that was needed. Verified using system-rescue's own version of gparted on board that my newly created stick does NOT have the boot flag. Just one big-ass fat32 partition with lba. Like Porteus. And Gparted Live.
Nerd-tantrum in effect!
Not actually needing the boot flag on the partition, but seeing it as being a requirement in the docs just proves to me how well-intentioned, but possibly not accurate information about uefi, can be spread. Maybe *some* machines need it, but not mine.
gadget42:
the layout of their website is nice and simple. probably a little overwhelming for the totally-uninitiated though.
here is a direct link to their webpage describing this procedure:
https://system-rescue.org/Installing-SystemRescue-on-a-USB-memory-stick/
thanks for sharing all your discoveries!
PDP-8:
No problem. Unfortunately, ALL those different methods have too much baggage.
Ok, so using glorified DD'ers or other 3rd party formatters and installers work. Look how much detail they have to go into and all this crap that they make a user think she has to obtain first.
Even the last method, which I used (mount the iso and copy the files), goes into great detail about using gparted (from another setup I assume) to check and create lba and boot flags.
Because my mind has been permanently warped by TinyCore, I asked myself "Is all this really necessary?" NO.
All one needs is the ability to mount an iso and copy files. Not even my beloved way of using dd with <> redirection instead of IF/OF pairs is needed!
This simplicity of just copying files is my mantra now. It means that the choice of operating system to initially create a bootable stick is irrelevant as long as it has the ability to open an archive and copy file(s). And that means nothing special, no 3rd party utils, not even dd for us og's that live and breathe that. :)
It also passes the "support by phone" test. That is, if I had to talk someone through making a stick over the phone using either Windows, or Ubuntu, or whatever - nothing special is needed. Not even talking them through dd. "So is it capital dd, do I put a space after it, don't you need an extra F after of=/dev/sda" ? :)
In the end, I think that iso's delivered in the iso9660 format are antiquated, would rather see compressed images to be unarchived, rather than iso's to be mounted to accomplish the file-copying task. But I can deal either way.
vinceASPECT:
Hello,
Yes, that seems applicable. Pertaining to boot.
Thx,
C
PDP-8:
Despite all my blathering, it is really astounding that all that is truly needed is to either unarchive a compressed file, or if distributed as an iso to mount it, and then drag-n-drop the files/folders to the fat32 drive.
Afterwards, one can squeeze, slice and dice the partition any way they desire if they want that kind of flexibility on a single stick.
What's incredible about this method (Porteus explains it and keeps it simple the best), is that there is no need for any 3rd-party utilities - heck not even dd. :)
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