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#1 911CD.net

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Posted 12 March 2020 - 05:15 AM

Has anyone here been able to boot the Clear Linux ISO directly via Grub2?  I've tried everything I know and failed.  Not saying much I know, so I'm asking the booting experts.  :)

 

They say it boots fine when installed to a USB drive and fine in VM machines but no help booting it directly.



#2 antonino61

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Posted 12 March 2020 - 11:21 AM

I am not sure I can fully answer your question, but AFAIK, because I have tried it here and it works excellent, why don't u use wubi with g4d (wbldr or something) and make linux in windows fs (for instance, on a vhd or on any windows directory it creates), it even boots into ram if u place wbldr inside and outside the vhd. AFAIMC, it has worked here with mint, ubuntu and deepin (nb, mint and deepin have different names for wubi from ubuntu itself).



#3 steve6375

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Posted 12 March 2020 - 02:45 PM

When booting from linux ISOs, you either use  the partnew method (where the ISO file is written as an entry into the MBR partition table of the USB drive) or you use a kernel parameter cheat code to tell the kernel the name of the ISO file you are using.

 

If it does not support the special cheat code then you have to use the partnew method.

 

Easy2Boot (grub4dos) can directly boot from most linux ISOs using partnew.

If you add a1ive's grub2, you can also use that to boot to it using Legacy or UEFI64.

 

https://www.easy2boo...2-file-manager/

 

If you want to 'roll your own' grub2 USB drive, then use a1ives grub2 which has much improved support for wimboot, partnew, NTBOOT, etc.

 

All the above boot clear-32580-live-desktop.iso with no problem.



#4 911CD.net

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Posted 12 March 2020 - 10:11 PM

Thanks guys. :)

 

I know there are ways to boot the distro via USB drives and VMs and etc but I was hoping for a simple grub2 ISO boot solution. 

 

I'll look into the alive approach.

 

Thanks again.  :)



#5 Blackcrack

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Posted 13 March 2020 - 05:09 AM

i have found in the past time this text:

DEVICE=/dev/sdb    (also partitions-id possible)
VOLUME=MultiBootUSB
 
 
# create filesystem on usb pen
sudo mkfs.vfat -n ${VOLUME} ${DEVICE}1
 
 
# mount usb
mount ${DEVICE}1 /mnt/
 
 
# install grub2 on usb pen
grub-install --no-floppy --root-directory=/mnt ${DEVICE}
 
 
# create grub config
cat <<EOF> /mnt/boot/grub/grub.cfg
menuentry "Ubuntu Live 11.04 64bit" {
        loopback loop /boot/iso/ubuntu-11.04-desktop-amd64.iso
        linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/boot/iso/ubuntu-11.04-desktop-amd64.iso noeject noprompt --
        initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.lz
}
 
menuentry "Ubuntu Live 9.10 32bit" {
 loopback loop /boot/iso/ubuntu-9.10-desktop-i386.iso
 linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/boot/iso/ubuntu-9.10-desktop-i386.iso noeject noprompt --
 initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.lz
}
 
menuentry "Ubuntu Live 9.10 64bit" {
 loopback loop /boot/iso/ubuntu-9.10-desktop-amd64.iso
 linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/boot/iso/ubuntu-9.10-desktop-amd64.iso noeject noprompt --
 initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.lz
}
 
menuentry "Grml small 2009.10" {
  loopback loop /boot/iso/grml-small_2009.10.iso
  linux (loop)/boot/grmlsmall/linux26 findiso=/boot/iso/grml-small_2009.10.iso apm=power-off lang=us vga=791 boot=live nomce noeject noprompt --
  initrd (loop)/boot/grmlsmall/initrd.gz
}
 
menuentry "tinycore" {
 loopback loop /boot/iso/tinycore_2.3.1.iso
 linux (loop)/boot/bzImage --
 initrd (loop)/boot/tinycore.gz
}
 
menuentry "Netinstall 32 preseed" {
  loopback loop /boot/iso/mini.iso
  linux (loop)/linux auto url=http://www.panticz.de/pxe/preseed/preseed.seed locale=en_US console-setup/layoutcode=de netcfg/choose_interface=eth0 debconf/priority=critical --
  initrd (loop)/initrd.gz
}
 
menuentry "debian-installer-amd64.iso" {
  loopback loop /boot/iso/debian-installer-amd64.iso
  linux (loop)/linux vga=normal --
  initrd (loop)/initrd.gz
}
 
menuentry "BackTrack 4" {
 linux /boot/bt4/boot/vmlinuz BOOT=casper boot=casper nopersistent rw vga=0x317 --
 initrd /boot/bt4/boot/initrd.gz
}
 
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
 linux16 /boot/img/memtest86+.bin
}
 
menuentry "BackTrack ERR" {
 loopback loop /boot/iso/bt4-pre-final.iso
 linux (loop)/boot/vmlinuz find_iso/filename=/boot/iso/bt4-pre-final.iso BOOT=casper boot=casper nopersistent rw vga=0x317--
 initrd (loop)/boot/initrd.gz
}          
 
menuentry "XBMC ERR" {
 loopback loop /boot/iso/XBMCLive.iso
 linux (loop)/vmlinuz boot=cd isofrom=/dev/sda1/boot/iso/XBMCLive.iso xbmc=nvidia,nodiskmount,tempfs,setvolume loglevel=0 --
 initrd (loop)/initrd0.img
}
 
menuentry "netboot.me" {
 loopback loop /boot/iso/netbootme.iso
 linux16 (loop)/GPXE.KRN
}
 
menuentry "debian installer amd64 netboot XEN pressed" {
  linux /boot/debian/linux auto preseed/url=http://www.panticz.de/pxe/preseed/xen.seed locale=en_US console-setup/layoutcode=de netcfg/choose_interface=eth0 debconf/priority=critical --
  initrd /boot/debian/initrd.gz
}
EOF
 
# create iso directory
mkdir /mnt/boot/iso
 
#
# download images
#
# maverick test
sudo wget http://releases.ubuntu.com/10.10/ubuntu-10.10-desktop-i386.iso -P /boot/ubuntu-10.10-desktop-i386.iso
sudo ln -s /boot/ubuntu-10.10-desktop-i386.iso /boot/ubuntu-live-desktop-i386.iso
 
cat <<EOF>> /etc/grub.d/custom.cfg 
menuentry "Ubuntu Live 32bit" {
 loopback loop /boot/ubuntu-live-desktop-i386.iso
 linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/boot/ubuntu-live-desktop-i386.iso noeject noprompt --
 initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.lz
}
EOF
 
#?# sudo update-grub
 
 
# Ubuntu Live 9.10 32bit
wget http://ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/linux/ubuntu.iso/9.10/ubuntu-9.10-desktop-i386.iso -P /mnt/boot/iso
 
# Ubuntu Live 9.10 64bit
wget http://ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/linux/ubuntu.iso/9.10/ubuntu-9.10-desktop-amd64.iso -P /mnt/boot/iso
 
# grml
wget http://grml.deb.at/grml-small_2009.10.iso -P /mnt/boot/iso
 
# tinycore
wget http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/2.x/release/tinycore_2.3.1.iso -P /mnt/boot/iso
 
# netinstall
wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/jaunty/main/installer-i386/current/images/netboot/mini.iso -P /mnt/boot/iso
 
# xbmc
# unzip http://downloads.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/xbmc/XBMC_Live-9.04.1.zip
 
# debian
wget http://ftp.debian.org/debian/dists/etch/main/installer-amd64/current/images/netboot/mini.iso -O /mnt/boot/iso/debian-installer-amd64.iso
 
# netboot.me
wget http://static.netboot.me/gpxe/netbootme.iso -P /mnt/boot/iso
 
# umount
sync
umount /mnt/
 
 
 
# test
# debian
wget http://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/5.0.2/amd64/iso-cd/debian-502-amd64-netinst.iso
 
 
menuentry "debian-502-amd64-netinst.iso" {
  loopback loop /boot/iso/debian-502-amd64-netinst.iso
  linux (loop)/install.amd/vmlinuz vga=normal --
  initrd (loop)/install.amd/initrd.gz
}
 
menuentry "debian installer amd64 netboot" {
  linux /boot/debian/linux auto=true priority=critical vga=normal --
  initrd /boot/debian/initrd.gz
}
 
# update debian installation files (/mnt/boot/debian/update.sh)
wget http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/installer-amd64/current/images/netboot/debian-installer/amd64/initrd.gz -O initrd.gz
wget http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/installer-amd64/current/images/netboot/debian-installer/amd64/linux -O linux
 
 
# links
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/94204
http://debianforum.de/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=111249
http://michael-prokop.at/blog/2009/05/25/boot-an-iso-via-grub2/
https://wiki.edubuntu.org/Grub2
http://wiki.ubuntuusers.de/GRUB_2/Konfiguration?highlight=cd

 


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#6 wimb

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Posted 13 March 2020 - 01:44 PM

I know there are ways to boot the distro via USB drives and VMs and etc but I was hoping for a simple grub2 ISO boot solution. 

 

 

Just to inform you that a1ive Grub2 File Manager supports UEFI Secure booting of Clear Linux ISO with partnew Or with map ISO.

 

USB_FORMAT-30 + Addon for a1ive Grub2 File Manager was used to prepare the USB-Stick.

 

The Clear Linux ISO file clear-32590-live-desktop.iso was simply copied to folder images on FAT32 Boot Drive.

 

Also booting in BIOS mode via Windows Boot Manager > Grub4dos > a1ive Grub2 File Manager is working OK for partnew Or map method and Clear Linux ISO.

 

http://reboot.pro/to...-tool/?p=214087

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#7 911CD.net

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Posted 14 March 2020 - 04:09 AM

Wow!  A lot of code there Blackcrack.  But I'm pretty sure some of it is bash rather than grub2.

 

I'll check out the map ISO function you refer to wimp.  That's more inline with what I'm looking for.  Not looking to create or modify a partition on my hard drive or buying a USB drive to test the ISO.  And don't care about the EFI Secure Boot option, I know how to do that but usually I just keep it disabled.

 

Years ago we got, or made, ISOs and burned them to CDs.  Then a means to boot the ISOs directly was developed and I've been hooked on that approach every since.  1st with Grub4DOS and now with grub2.  And I've worked hard on that approach with some ISOs to find a kernel parameter cheat code to tell the kernel the name of the ISO file being used.  Some ISOs I've installed on a USB drive or two but they are for rescue and recovery functions for my systems.

 

I've also learned that Clear Linux gets updated 4 or 5 times a week so it sounds like it is still in alpha mode so probably not worth trying at this point.

 

Thanks for your help guys.  :)



#8 alacran

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Posted 15 March 2020 - 08:37 PM

Has anyone here been able to boot the Clear Linux ISO directly via Grub2?  I've tried everything I know and failed.  Not saying much I know, so I'm asking the booting experts.  :)

 

They say it boots fine when installed to a USB drive and fine in VM machines but no help booting it directly.

 

I understand you desisted to test Clear Linux.iso, but following info can be useful for you or future readers of this topic, to help boot on a MBR/CSM PC almost everything from a USB device with grub4dos or grub2 environment.

 

Assuming your USB device is already capable to boot using grub4dos or grub2 and you are only MBR/CSM booting, as you mentioned in other of your post, on this page: https://github.com/a...ub2-filemanager

There is the code to run A1ve Grub Filemanager (agFM), by mens of grub4dos menu.lst or grub2 config file, once it loads you will be able to boot almost everything through its graphical environment, no need to type any code yourselt, agFM will do all requiered.

 

GRUB4DOS

map --mem /grubfm.iso (0xff)
map --hook
chainloader (0xff)

GRUB 2

linux /loadfm  
initrd /grubfm.iso  

 

Just download the last version from the link in same page.

I'll quote here the direct link of current last version for your convenience:

 

 

https://github.com/a...es/tag/v7-beta3

 

Select last version in your lang to download, extract it to a file and copy grubfm.iso (for MBR/CSM only that's required) to the root your USB device (it is a good practice to make sure your files are not fragmented), using the given code to load it from grub4dos or grub2 (as required), you will be now able to MBR/CSM boot almost everything from Windows WinPE.iso, WIM files or VHD, to Linux_Live.iso having several options to load each one.

 

alacran



#9 911CD.net

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Posted 15 March 2020 - 09:52 PM

Thank you alacran.

 

Can I boot the grubfm.iso from my hard drive using grub2?  Just not interested in buying another USB drive.

 

I may try something like this later:

menuentry " GRUBFM ISO"  --class debian --class icon-linux {
     set iso='/ISOs/grubfm.iso'
     search -f $iso --set=root
     loopback loop $iso
     linux /loadfm 
     initrd /grubfm.iso
     }

and let you know what I get.



#10 alacran

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Posted 15 March 2020 - 10:42 PM

As you never said from what device you were trying to boot that Linux Live.iso, I assumed it was a USB device, but I'm almost sure same concept applies also to any mass storage device, as long as it is capable to boot grub4dos or gru2 (as in your case).

 

Try your code first, but I don't think this is nessesary: --class debian --class icon-linux, in accordance with the author code in his page.

Or even better, try both ways so we can confirm if both work or only one.

 

I will be waiting for your comments.

 

alacran



#11 911CD.net

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Posted 17 March 2020 - 06:47 AM

Hi alacran.  I'm finally able to signon again.    The grub2 menu booted to a blank screen and I had to use the power button to reboot.  :(

menuentry " GrubFM ISO"               --class other --class icon-gnugrub  {

     set grubfm=/ISOs/grubfm
     set iso=$grubfm/grubfm.iso

     search -f $iso --set=root
     loopback loop $iso
     linux  $grubfm/loadfm
     initrd $iso
     }

My grub2 is from the Windows Grub2Win app that I run on my Windows 10 system and the --class parms relate to it.  My system is EFI and Grub2Win is EFI based on it.



#12 alacran

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Posted 17 March 2020 - 12:33 PM

For EFI (x64) you need to boot using grubfmx64.efi not grubfm.iso (grubfm.iso is only for MBR/CSM).

 

From: https://github.com/a...ub2-filemanager

chainloader /grubfmx64.efi

 

You can delete grubfm.iso, since it is not required, copy grubfmx64.efi to some folder on your HD root (I used a1ve as folder name here), add an entry like following to your grub.cfg (modify the path as required).

 

menuentry "grubfm x64 EFI Boot Manager of A1ive" {
  chainloader /a1ve/grubfmx64.efi
}
 

Now if Grub2Win loads/runs grubfmx64.efi properly, all should work fine having secureboot disabled.

 

alacran



#13 wimb

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Posted 17 March 2020 - 01:23 PM

More Info on How to Boot with a1ive Grub2 File Manager - agFM is here



#14 911CD.net

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Posted 17 March 2020 - 11:02 PM

Ok, grubfmx64 boots!! 

 

menuentry " GrubFM x64 EFI Boot Manager of A1ive" --class other --class icon-gnugrub  {
     set grubfm=/EFI/a1ive/grubfmx64.efi
     search -f $grubfm --set=root
     chainloader $grubfm
     }

 

Looks to be an interesting system.  But how does it boot a Clear Linux ISO file?  Where do I add it to the grubfm cfg file?  Or is there such a file?  And if not....



#15 alacran

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Posted 18 March 2020 - 03:53 AM

No need to add anything to grubfm cfg, in fact it doesn't exists.

 

Just navigate on the GUI to your XXX\ISOs\Clear_Linux.Iso file (or equivalent path in your PC) and select it and press ENTER, then you will get several options to boot it, as wimb already tested it can be booted as map or as partnew.

 

alacran



#16 911CD.net

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Posted 18 March 2020 - 04:42 AM

Thanks alacran.  An interesting approach that works. 

 

Unfortunately the map option for the Clear Linux ISO results in the same problem I started with.  "Searching for installer media.  Retrying" and I have to power off to break out of it.



#17 alacran

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Posted 18 March 2020 - 05:30 AM

Verify if the ISO file is defragmented, if not defragment it first and try again please.

Remember since we are experimenting this is just to make sure fragmentation is not affecting results.

 

You may use Wincontig or Defraggler

 

Wimb confirmed it ran from map or partnew, on this post:

 

From: http://reboot.pro/to...so/#entry214089

Just to inform you that a1ive Grub2 File Manager supports UEFI Secure booting of Clear Linux ISO with partnew Or with map ISO.

 

USB_FORMAT-30 + Addon for a1ive Grub2 File Manager was used to prepare the USB-Stick.

 

The Clear Linux ISO file clear-32590-live-desktop.iso was simply copied to folder images on FAT32 Boot Drive.

 

Also booting in BIOS mode via Windows Boot Manager > Grub4dos > a1ive Grub2 File Manager is working OK for partnew Or map method and Clear Linux ISO.

 

http://reboot.pro/to...-tool/?p=214087

 

EDIT: I missed first part of the post, sorry for my mistake, to avoid confusion on future readers, now I fixed the quote, after reading following post from wimb.

 

I have tested agFM booting several WinPE.iso and Linux_Live.iso from my USB device as MBR/CSM and also as UEFI, and so far all fine.

 

But never tested this Clear Linux ISO myself, in fact it is too heavy and I don't have enough space for it on my 32 GB MicroSD.

 

alacran



#18 wimb

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Posted 18 March 2020 - 06:06 AM

Just to inform you that a1ive Grub2 File Manager supports UEFI Secure booting of Clear Linux ISO with partnew Or with map ISO.

 

USB_FORMAT-30 + Addon for a1ive Grub2 File Manager was used to prepare the USB-Stick.

 

The Clear Linux ISO file clear-32590-live-desktop.iso was simply copied to folder images on FAT32 Boot Drive.

 

Also booting in BIOS mode via Windows Boot Manager > Grub4dos > a1ive Grub2 File Manager is working OK for partnew Or map method and Clear Linux ISO.

 

http://reboot.pro/to...-tool/?p=214087

 

Clear Linux ISO was tested both in BIOS mode and in UEFI Secure mode for booting with agFM using partnew Or map method.

I can say that the booting of Clear Linux ISO through agFM works but not always. So I reported booting through agFM is not reliable,

whereas booting straight with Grub4dos Or Grub2 is faster and always working OK for Ubuntu, Linux Mint and Knoppix using the supplied Linux ISO menu entries.

 

agFM is a blackbox which is useful for Clear Linux ISO for which we have no Grub4dos Or Grub2 menu entry available.

But preferrable is to boot straight with Grub4dos Or Grub2 with Ubuntu Or Knoppix which is faster and reliable and for which we have the Linux ISO menu entry available.


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#19 911CD.net

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Posted 18 March 2020 - 06:27 AM

The file was fragmented and I am defragging it now.  partnew was not an option booting the iso only map and it resulted in booting the same way booting the iso directly in grub2 does.



#20 alacran

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Posted 18 March 2020 - 06:31 AM

@ 911CD.net

 

JFYI

Patnew requires contiguous files to work.

 

@ wimb

 

Thanks wimb, I edited my previous post with right info, to avoid confusion for future readers.

 

alacran



#21 911CD.net

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Posted 18 March 2020 - 06:36 AM

Just retried with the defragged iso.   No Partnew option only Map and same result  "Searching for install media.  Retrying..."



#22 alacran

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Posted 18 March 2020 - 07:19 AM

Just downloaded and copied clear-32610-live-desktop.iso and copied it to NTFS partition (where I have espace available), on my 120 GB UEFI-MULTI USB 3.0 SSD (wich is MBR partitioned, not GPT) and tested booting it from agFM, map option didn't boot as MBR/CSM or UEFI, but partnew option worked fine in both ways.

 

As Clear Linux is still under very active development there are many versions, and this introduces a lot of variables that may affect a successful booting.

 

Also as my USB SSD is MBR partitioned and fourth partition is unused it is possible to use partnew option, I assume 911CD.net internal HD is GPT formated and then that's why don't have available partnew option when trying to boot an ISO located on the internal HD.

 

alacran



#23 911CD.net

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Posted 18 March 2020 - 06:51 PM

So basically what Steve said earlier.

 

When booting from linux ISOs, you either use  the partnew method (where the ISO file is written as an entry into the MBR partition table of the USB drive) or you use a kernel parameter cheat code to tell the kernel the name of the ISO file you are using.

 

If it does not support the special cheat code then you have to use the partnew method.

 

The ISO does not have a special cheat code, and the developers have no interest in adding one, so unless one buys a new USB drive testing is not possible on most Windows systems unless the user reconfigures their hard drives.  Yeah, a great way to get new users to test your ISO Intel.

 

Thank you for your help guys.  It was interesting and fun to try a1ive and see what it does.  It was like the old days. 



#24 steve6375

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Posted 18 March 2020 - 06:54 PM

or extract the contents of the ISO?






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