Re: Bootloader won't load after being installed to a USB Flash Drive

[Hunter Brady]

I'm just looking for how to launch the installed version (Not live version) of Android x86 with SysLinux instead of Grub, it can't be that hard, can it?

[P-O]

Just follow: http://www.android-x86.org/documents/installhowto

But observe, booting live is one thing (Virtual), booting android x86 is another thing (running OS, with hardware restictions)).

P-O

 

Den torsdagen den 30:e maj 2013 kl. 16:35:25 UTC+2 skrev Hunter Brady:

Hey Guys! I just started getting into Android x86, and so far it looks like a great little piece of software, way easier for use as a USB key than Ubuntu, but I am having some issues. I have two flashdrives, one I use for the installer, and the other to hopefully run Android x86 on. I can successfully install Android x86 on the flash drive using all of the File-systems available (Already tried them all), but when I restart the computer to get ready to boot, it throws me a "No operating system detected" error or "No bootable medium". When I use Fat32 it says "No bootable medium", and when I use NTFS it says "No operating system detected"

I feel like Grub isn't able to start on my computer, I checked the USB drive on Windows and it only contains two directories, the "Androidx86" directory and the "grub" directory. Since Grub doesn't appear to want to work, I'm wondering if it would be possible to install a different boot loader to launch Android x86. Maybe SysLinux or something (I know syslinux works, considering that is what is used to launch the installer).

So if anyone knows what I should do, that would be great! Right now I'm just running Android x86 in "Live" mode, which is very undesirable. I can access a Linux shell if need be.

Thanks!

[Hunter Brady]

I do notice that there is a usb-specific img, but it's only Android 1.6, incredibly too old for my taste, any of the newer apps surely won't be compatible. Are there any V4+ usb compatible images? I'm also still wondering if it would be possible to set up syslinux with the newest version of Android x86 (the one I have already tried to install to a usb and have not been able to boot).

Another thing to mention, I'm installing android to a usb because the computer I'm using it on is missing a hard drive, it broke a while back, so I'd like to just be able to tape a usb to the side of it and keep using it like that.

[Hunter Brady]

Nothing at all? I'm getting back home tomorrow night where I'll be trying the android 1.6 version, which is incredibly too old to even use any apps due to dependency issues.

[Joe Spencer]

I'm not sure what has gone wrong in your case.  I have Android-x86 4.0 installed on a USB (from an installation image from this site).  The file system is FAT32.

I'd give you an image for my install but I have my account details stored in it.

[Hunter Brady]

That seems to be for a Thinkpad though, and I'm sitting here with a Laptop. I could try that image to see if it would work in my case, the files do have "Universal" in the names so it's worth a shot.

Does Grub need to be installed to the internal HDD before trying to boot from the USB? Like, boot Grub from the HDD then select the USB from inside the boot loader? If that's the case I can't do this, because as I've stated before the computer I'm using does not have an HDD. That's why I'd like to get SysLinux or ISOLinux working instead of Grub, if that's possible.

Thanks for the help!

[Hunter Brady]

I'll look into converting the flash drive I'm currently using to "GPT" before installing. The second option you gave me is something I don't want to look into doing. Building my own image sounds like a little too much for something so simple, especially since I already know everything works perfectly fine with the default build, except booting. Sorry I missed your reply, I'm not sure why I did. Thanks for the info!

On Friday, May 31, 2013 6:07:23 PM UTC-4, GeunSoo Kim wrote:

Hi,

I had similar issue with you. the difference with your case is that my system trying to boot my flash but stuck in booting.

it looks "MBR" partition table is not good with GRUB. I don't know why, but it simply didn't work for me.

After formatting my flash drive with "GPT(GUID Partition Table)" scheme and "BIOS boot partition" option, I could boot with GRUB and run my installed android image on my flash drive successfully.

I have referred "Advanced" section of the following link. 

http://www.android-x86.org/getsourcecode 

In my case, I formatted the drive with "ext3" file syste. I think "ext4" should work for JB image but I didn't try any other file systems except "ext3".

If you want to keep all the settings in the flash drive during you are running your Android, you may have to use "ext3" files system rather than FAT or NTFS because the storage is mounted as a system volume on the android system in my guess.

(you can refer the above link for the information too)

good luck~

------------ Kim, GeunSoo (Andy) --------------

[Gus Finley]

I have a guide up for creating a 'hybrid' Windows/Android USB. Just ignore the windows part and you should have the info you need:

http://uncommonsense2000.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-to-make-hybrid-android-liveusb-and.html

[Hunter Brady]

Looks promising, I'll try this first along with my other 2 options (Tomorrow night, can't test now). Thanks for the help!

[Hunter Brady]

Okay so I tried this and it still does the same thing, but I figured out something. When I was trying to boot from the USB after following the steps "ISOLINUX" popped up and I was like ":D" but then it simply started the live linux I have installed on my CD drive. So I now know that when I try to but the USB it ends up booting the CD drive, which is why if nothing is in it, it yells at me about "NO BOOTABLE MEDIUM".

So, what do now. How fix.

Thanks!

On Monday, June 3, 2013 2:37:12 PM UTC-4, Gus Finley wrote:

[Hunter Brady]

Any ideas?

[GeunSoo Kim]

Well, I cannot sure what you want exactly, but it seems that you want use android-x86 installed on USB stick but not like "Live CD" style.

So.. I tell you how I made my USB stick version here.

1. preparing a Linux machine. 

In my case, it was Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. And make sure it can use "grub". 

if it does not have "grub", you should install "grub" first. (command "sudo apt-get install grub" will install grub for Ubuntu.

Actually Ubuntu uses grub 2, but I didn't use grub 2 for this setting.

2. preparing target files.

Extract the following files from ISO file,

"kernel", "initrd.img", "ramdisk.img", "system.sfs" (or "system.img")

(you can use 7zip to extract those files from ISO image on windows pc. I think Linux too but didn't check.)

then copy the files into Linux machine somewhere.

(In my case, in "~/test/jbo" folder)

3. plug in your target USB stick to Ubuntu machine and start "disk utility" in Ubuntu.

Then you can see your USB stick on left pane of "disk utility" screen. select the USB stick.

the "disk utility" will show the current partition and file system information of your USB stick.

Verify your drive node here. (for my case, "/dev/sdb")

4. select "Format Drive" button which is placed on above of partition diagram. (Don't be confuse with "Format Volume" button below. they are totally different.)

Then select "GUID Partition Table (GPT)" as partition scheme. (its default value is "Master Boot Record (MBR)".)

Then go ahead.

(In my experience, "MBR" didn't work well. it make my pc reboot every time.)

5. If the above step is finished, select "Create Partition" button.

Then the UI will ask you which file system will be used. select "ext3" and go ahead.

wait for formatting. it will take several minutes.

(do not make separate partition on your USB stick. In my experience, it didn't work. I don't know why.)

(If you want save changes during your android runs, you should use "ext3")

6. After formatting, select "Edit Partition" button and select "BIOS bootable partition" and label the volume name. (in my case, I labeled it as "ext3") save it.

7. now select "Mount Volume" button. default mount point is under "/media/<your volume name>" (for me, "/media/ext3")

8. open "terminal" in Ubuntu. and go to the mounted folder. (for me, "cd /media/ext3")

9. install grub by the following command. 

"sudo grub-install --root-directory=. --no-floppy <your drive node>" (for my case, "sudo grub-install --root-directory=. --no-floppy /dev/sdb")

** CAUTION: DO NOT CONFUSE with partition id which looks like "/dev/sdb1".  (no digit)

10. If there was no error, you can go to "boot/grub" foldr by "cd boot/grub".

and run this command "sudo gedit ./menu.lst" and paste the following lines. (between dash lines)

-----------------------------------------------

title Run Android

kernel /android/kernel root=/dev/ram0 androidboot.hardware=<your TARGET_PRODUCT> acpi_sleep=s3_bios,s3_mode SRC=/android

initrd /android/initrd.img

title Run Android (VESA mode)

kernel /android/kernel root=/dev/ram0 androidboot.hardware=<your TARGET_PRODUCT>  acpi_sleep=s3_bios,s3_mode vga=788 SRC=/android

initrd /android/initrd.img

title Run Android (Debug mode)

kernel /android/kernel root=/dev/ram0 androidboot.hardware=<your TARGET_PRODUCT>  acpi_sleep=s3_bios,s3_mode vga=788 SRC=/android DEBUG=1

initrd /android/initrd.img

---------------------------------------------------

11. replace <your TARGET_PRODUCT> part. If your using the official JB ISO, it should be "android_x86". 

Save it then exit to terminal.

12. go back to mounting point. ("/media/ext3"), by "cd /media/ext3"

and create "android" folder by this command "sudo mkdir android" then get into the folder. ("cd android")

Copy the kernel, initrd.img, ramdisk.img and system.sfs (or system.img) files to here.

("sudo cp ~/test/jbo/* .")

13. In the "android" folder, create "data" folder. ("sudo mkdir data")

now almost done. BUT DO NOT UNPLUG YOUR USB STICK YET!!

14. close terminal program, then select "Unmount Volume" button from "disk utility"

Linux system uses "write back" policy for its file system, you should unmount explicit to flush all disk buffers.

If successfully unmounted, it's done.

15. try to boot from your USB stick. If it goes well, enjoy it.

Thanks.

----------------------- Kim, GeunSoo (Andy) -----------------------------

[GeunSoo Kim]

I think I have missed on thing before the above "Step 4", you may need to "unmount" your USB stick before "Step 4".

2013년 6월 6일 목요일 오후 3시 34분 47초 UTC-7, GeunSoo Kim 님의 말:

[Hunter Brady]

Yes, this worked perfectly. Thank you so much! FINALLY something that worked! And so well detailed, anyone could do it! Thanks again, hoorah!