[syslinux] USB boot problems on Gigabyte GA-M55Plus-S3G

[Mattias Schlenker]

Am 17.01.2014 11:03, schrieb Thomas Schmitt:
>  The only plausible theory in my mind would be that one of your USB 
> sticks does not work well with that single mainboard. But if the 
> Patriot can fail or succeed at will, then i am clueless.

Might have to do with drive geometries? Some boards might fail if the 
C/H/S entries do not indicate a LBA medium. This would explain why all 
externally created images are booting, but those that were locally 
prepared on existing partition tables are failing.

I would be personally interested in the following experiment:

 1. Download this LessLinux test build:
    http://download.lesslinux.org/testing/lesslinux-search-and-rescue/lesslinux-search-and-rescue-uluru-20140107-193740.iso
 2. dd it to the 8GB thumb that formerly failed
 3. Boot it
 4. Shut down
 5. Boot again

The ISO is a isohybrid image. But LessLinux converts the drive to a 
partitioned layout with a FAT partition as first partition and two boot 
partitions upon first boot. The intention behind the FAT partition was 
not to block the whole thumb drive with the live system, the boot and 
system partitions make updates easier.

If the thumb drive boots the first time and fails the second time, there 
is probably a problem with the drive geometry - either during 
partitioning or during detection upon boot time. If it boots both times, 
I can at least be sure that parted creates a working (protective) MBR 
and GPT.

Regards,
Mattias

-- 
Mattias Schlenker - Redaktion + EDV-Beratung + Linux-CD/DVD-Konzepte
August-Bebel-Str. 74 - 04275 LEIPZIG - GERMANY

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