[syslinux] Booting to USB Pen Drive

[James Courtier-Dutton]

Franz Henning wrote:
> I am trying to use Syslinux as my boot loader for a stripped down
> version of Knoppix (DSL) on a USB Pen Drive. I followed the instructions
> verbatim on
> http://rz-obrian.rz.uni-karlsruhe.de/knoppix-usb/knoppix-usb.html, but
> no luck. The system will start to boot to the USB, but gives a Kernel
> Panic. I will give all information that shows on the screen.
> 
> After I select Boot from USB (which on my system works for windows made
> boot keys)
> 
> SPB2: dx=0080  intl3,8:cxE7E0 dx=0702 mbr=8001 0100 0604 F2FF 3200 0000
> CEE7 0300 int13,2:cx0013 dx=0180
> SYSLINUX 2.06 2003-08-22 (then some copyright info flashes up here
> quickly)
> 
> Then the screen clears and I get the KNOPPIX Splash screen.
> KNOPPIX V3,3
> F2 for Help
> boot: Loading vmlinuz......
> Loading miniroot.gz.......
> 
> Screen clears again
> 
> There is a Penguin picture in the top left corner
> Kernel Panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 01:01
> 
> I have never been past this point.
> 
> This is the ls -lR of my usbkey. All usb modules are in the miniroot.gz
> I have tried this with 2 USB keys a 1.1 and a 2.0, both exhibit the same
> problem on multiple systems, which all are Dell Computers.
> 
> total 1576
> dr-xr-xr-x    2 root     root         4096 Mar 11 05:29 KNOPPIX
> -r-xr-xr-x    1 root     root           54 Mar 11 05:29 autorun.bat
> -r--r--r--    1 root     root           47 Mar 11 05:29 autorun.inf
> -rwxr--r--    1 root     root          107 Mar 11 05:30 boot.msg
> -rwxr--r--    1 root     root         1791 Mar 11 05:30 f2
> -rwxr--r--    1 root     root          256 Mar 11 05:30 german.kbd
> -r--r--r--    1 root     root          343 Mar 11 05:29 index.html
> -rw-r--r--    1 root     root         3262 Mar 11 05:30 knoppix.ico
> -r-xr--r--    1 root     root         7836 Mar 11 05:30 ldlinux.sys
> -rwxr--r--    1 root     root        21429 Mar 11 05:30 logo.16
> -rwxr--r--    1 root     root       613227 Mar 11 05:30 miniroot.gz
> -rwxr--r--    1 root     root         2424 Mar 11 05:30 syslinux.cfg
> -rwxr--r--    1 root     root       921593 Mar 11 05:30 vmlinuz
>  
> /home/franz/usbkeyboot/KNOPPIX:
> total 49040
> -r--r--r--    1 root     root     48673005 Mar 11 05:29 KNOPPIX
> -r--r--r--    1 root     root         2048 Mar 11 05:29 boot.cat
> -r--r--r--    1 root     root      1474560 Mar 11 05:29 boot.img
> -r-xr-xr-x    1 root     root           27 Mar 11 05:29 mkfloppy.bat 
> 
> Any Help would be GREATLY appreciated.
> Thanks you,
> Franz Henning
> 

In linux most USB devices appear as sdaX where X is the partition number.
Are you sure that when linux comes to mount the USB root partition, that 
the kernel has all the correct kernel modules loaded so that it can 
access the USB.
Up until that point, all access to the USB device has been done via the 
BIOS disk read routines. The "mount" is done using the linux kernel 
drivers, so for the mount to work, the linux kernel drivers have to be 
working. Either make an initrd with them on, and force them to load, or 
compile them into the kernel.

Cheers
James