Apple TV not using the usb drive to boot

[cduclos]

Hi,
I followed the instructions described in http://code.google.com/p/atv-bootloader/wiki/LinuxUSBPenBoot
to create a bootable usb drive. I extracted boot.efi from Apple update
as explained in http://code.google.com/p/atv-bootloader/wiki/BootEFIExtraction.
However, when I finally try to boot the device, it does not use the
USB drive at all. The lights on the USB drive lights and for a second
or two it seems that is being read, however the Apple TV continues to
boot and presents me a menu with three options:
1. Restart the device
2. Run diagnostics
3. Factory settings

I tried each one of those and the results are the same, the Apple TV
does not use the usb drive. Option 1 continues the normal boot
sequence, Option 2 runs some diagnostics and says that everything is
ok and Option 3 restores the Apple TV to the factory settings.
I'm using a first generation Apple TV, with a 32GB Kingston USB
pendrive.
I can run any tests that you ask me to run, I just need some guidance
since this is the first time that I'm playing with an Apple TV.

Thanks in advance

Regards

[Robert Baptista]

You have to hold down two buttons on the remote while booting. I think it's "Down" and "Menu", but it should be on the wiki.

Robert

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[cduclos]

Hi,
I did that and the Apple TV restarts (correctly according to the
Wiki), but instead of booting from the usb drive it boots from the
hard drive and shows me the menu that I mentioned before.
If I continue to hold the buttons after the Apple TV restarts, then it
just keeps rebooting and never gets anywhere.
So, my question is: Do I need to do something else? Or am I doing
something wrong?

[robbi...@gmail.com]

I would try to use a smaller usb drive. I think I used a 128m or so. Its been over 3 years since made the one I have but I just used it again last night on a new atv I just picked up. Other than that just follow the directions carefully step by step I had a few issues as you and all I did was redo the steps carefully and it worked eventually. I love my ATV frontends I'm up to 5 now.

[robbi...@gmail.com]

I just looked and my flash drive is a generic chinese 1gig.

-----Original Message-----
From: robbi...@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 23 May 2011 13:51:24
To: <atv-boo...@googlegroups.com>
Reply-To: robbi...@gmail.com
Subject: Re: [atv-bootloader] Re: Apple TV not using the usb drive to boot

I would try to use a smaller usb drive. I think I used a 128m or so. Its been over 3 years since made the one I have but I just used it again last night on a new atv I just picked up. Other than that just follow the directions carefully step by step I had a few issues as you and all I did was redo the steps carefully and it worked eventually. I love my ATV frontends I'm up to 5 now.
-----Original Message-----
From: cduclos <carlos...@gmail.com>
Sender: atv-boo...@googlegroups.com
Date: Mon, 23 May 2011 06:45:06
To: atv-bootloader<atv-boo...@googlegroups.com>
Reply-To: atv-boo...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [atv-bootloader] Re: Apple TV not using the usb drive to boot

[Peter Schneider GMail]

My past experience is that the cheap USB drives do not work as well with Apple based products. You are better off to buy a SanDisk or Kensington (the smaller ones are not that much money) and save yourself the headache.

[Robert Baptista]

Ok, at that point I think something is wrong with the patchstick you made. Check the patchstick for gpt partition format and HFS primary partition with atvrecv flag set.

parted -s /dev/sdx should show you this info.

Robert

[Robert Baptista]

Sorry, it should've been 'parted -s /dev/sdx print'

Robert

[Carlos Manuel Duclos Vergara]

Ok, I have redone the steps several times now on different days to make sure I follow them in the right order and the result is still the same.
Has any of you seen the menu that I'm talking about?

I would get another usb drive and try with that one.

[Bharath Ramesh]

On Jun 6, 2:01 pm, Carlos Manuel Duclos Vergara

I am not sure what the problem is but when I am using my 2G Sandisk
drive I dont even have to hold the "Menu + Down" button. It boots
directly into the USB drive. One thing I do though is power it on with
the USB drive. I pull the power chord out, plug in the USB drive and
then put the power chord back in. I have seen this working with
patchsticks created by both the atv-bootloader and atv-usbcreator.

--
Bharath

[DFishburn]

I see this behaviour when I plug in a USB extender (powered).
If I plug it in, then plug in my USB key into it, ATV skips the USB
and boots directly to Apple.
If I unplug the USB extender and plug in my USB key directly, then it
boots via the USB key.
Once booted, I unplug the USB key, plugin the extender, plug the USB
key into the extender and all it good.

Not sure if you are doing something similar.

--
Dave