Using USB memory key as boot directory for older computer?

[Brian Kelsay]

You mentioned using a CD to install, but you want to boot from a USB
pendrive; you can do this with DamnSmallLinux, although I doubt it
fits in your plan for using a modern PC.  You didn't say how much RAM
the PC will have.  Debian or Ubuntu should work also, since DamnSmall
is based on Debian, but DSL specifically has this in their installer,
install to USB and the whole thing will fit in 64MB of space.  I
assume that to do so with Debian or Ubuntu  would just require you to
mkdir a mount point for the pendrive, then mount the pendrive as
read/write prior to starting the installation.  That will allow you to
designate /dev/sda1 or /mnt/sda1 as /boot when the time comes to setup
the filesystem with the installer.

Brian

On 6/28/07, Leo Mauler <> wrote:
> I have found a lot of articles on installing an entire
> Linux distribution onto a USB memory key.  What I want
> to do is install Linux on an older computer, with an
> 80GB hard drive, but the BIOS doesn't like hard drives
> bigger than 64GB.  The computer is one of those
> systems built to fit inside a compact case, so there
> is only room for one hard drive inside the case.
>
> As you know, Linux ignores the BIOS, so once it boots
> any size hard drive is okay.  In ye olden days I'd use
> a floppy to boot the computer, but I'd much rather use
> a 64MB memory key for /boot so that I can use modern
> kernels.  The computer itself will boot from a USB
> device.  I have all of the parts I've mentioned and
> not enough money to buy anything else.
>
> Can anyone direct me to some assistance in getting a
> distribution installer (CD distribution) to recognize
> the USB memory key at boot time, so that it can be
> used as /boot?  Also, does the USB key need to be
> initialized as bootable before beginning the Linux
> installation?
>
> I'm still deciding whether to use Ubuntu or Debian,
> though I am leaning towards Ubuntu.
>