16 replies to this topic

[hason]

Hi every body.
I get slax os from http://www.slax.org/. I try using it.
- For CD boot: need down load file iso and write it to cd.
- For usb boot: need down load file tar and extract it to usb; install boot loader (syslinux)
I try using slax (file iso) from usb with grub4dos. But it do not work. I know some linux version can boot file iso from usb. Please help me!!

[yggdrasil]

@hason


Quote: "But it do not work"

You can use "frugal solution" (simple solution)

As it seems you already have solved problem how to launch ISO-file of Slax from USB drive, I leave that issue behind

Use CD version of Slax on your USB drive (make an copy of slax CD.ISO-file to manipulate).
Do it this way:
Open Slax.iso (CD-version) and extract folder "slax" to the root of USB drive

Optional:
1. To save space on your USB drive - you can simply delete folder "slax" inside slax.iso as it isn't needed there anymore (you have folder "slax" extracted to the root of USB drive instead).

Note: Use FAT32 as file-system on your USB drive

yggdrasil

[steve6375]

See http://sites.google..../tutorials/slax for help.

[yggdrasil]

@steve6375

Quote: "Note: This method is not very efficient on file space as the slax files are on the USB drive twice"

No you do NOT need to have folder slax "twice" on the USB drive
And I quote from post #2:
"To save space on your USB drive - you can simply delete folder "slax" inside slax.iso as it isn't needed there anymore (you have folder "slax" extracted to the root of USB drive instead)."

I can agree that "frugal solution" presented in post #2 may not look elegant - but it sure works alright

regards yggdrasil

[Wonko the Sane]

"To save space on your USB drive - you can simply delete folder "slax" inside slax.iso as it isn't needed there anymore (you have folder "slax" extracted to the root of USB drive instead)."

I would like to know how you can simply (meaning without needing a specific tool like UltraISO or MagicIso or the like) delete the contents of a Read Only filesystem.

I can agree that you can delte it, but not "simply".

Then, say you have to burn the .iso to a "real" CD/DVD, you don't have anymore the "original" .iso source.....

If you have to modify the .iso anyway, wouldn't it be better to find the way to modify it in such a way that cheatcodes ( from= cheatcode) work?


Wonko

[yggdrasil]

@ Wonko the Sane

Quote: "I can agree that you can delte it, but not "simply"

He, he - well it is implicitly that you need some program to manipulate ISO-file and it is the (I quote again:) the "copy of slax CD.ISO-file" you make changes to.
What program to use is up to the user to decide.
UltraIso might be a good choice

And I quote again: "Optional: 1. To save space on your USB drive"
You do not need to manipulate ISO its optional
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote: "you don't have anymore the "original" .iso source"
I totally disagree - and I quote from post #2: "make an copy of slax CD.ISO-file to manipulate"


regards yggdrasil

[Wonko the Sane]

Quote: "you don't have anymore the "original" .iso source"
I totally disagree - and I quote from post #2: "make an copy of slax CD.ISO-file to manipulate"

My bad, I meant on the USB stick. You have it allright , BUT *somewhere else* and however NOT in your pocket (unless you also keep a copy of the .iso on the stick, but then you won't save space )


Wonko

[yggdrasil]

@ Wonko the Sane

Quote: "I meant on the USB stick"

Well I did not

Frankly this make no sense, quote: "BUT *somewhere else* and however NOT in your pocket (unless you also keep a copy of the .iso on the stick, but then you won't save space"

@hason asked for an solution and I presented one - including option to reduce size of ISO (though not needed)
And as @hason was able to create an bootable USB drive I'm pretty sure @hason have the "know-how" to manipulate ISO-file (but as said, it's optional not needed) - I think he understand my point(s).

I might overestimate other peoples skill, but that is a habit of mine - I like to think the very best of other peoples knowledge (may be a bad habit)

regards yggdrasil

[Wonko the Sane]

Frankly this make no sense, quote: "BUT *somewhere else* and however NOT in your pocket (unless you also keep a copy of the .iso on the stick, but then you won't save space"

I will try to expand on it.
There is nothing "wrong" in what you suggested .
As well there is nothing "wrong" in what Steve6375 commented on his own page .

The difference is in the following scenario ONLY (admittedly UNprobable, but possible):

• you go to a friend's or client's with your nice USB stick in your pocket.
  
• you need (for whatever reason) to actually boot Slax
  
• your USB thingy with the modified .iso (for whatever reason) does not boot
  
• so you decide to use the .iso as source to burn (on another working PC) it to a CD or DVD
  
• you cannot as the .iso is modified

If you have a slightly more filled stick with the unmodified .iso and the "external" slax you have no problem in the above scenario at the cost of some more space used on the stick.

So, right now we have two solutions, both working, each one with a drawback.

The only "perfect" solution would be to re-build the .iso in such a way that it continues working when burned to CD/DVD and works on USB stick without the external slax.

Note on Steve's page :
https://sites.google.../tutorials/slax

Note: This method is not very efficient on file space as the slax files are on the USB drive twice. However, it does mean that you do not have to have a boot folder on your USB drive which may also conflict with other linux versions that you already have on your USB drive. You could delete the slax folder from inside the ISO using MagicIso to reduce the size of the ISO file.

Wonko

[yggdrasil]

@ Wonko the Sane

Quote: "The only "perfect" solution would be to re-build the .iso in such a way that it continues working when burned to CD/DVD and works on USB stick without the external slax."

Agree to 100%

regards yggdrasil

[ilko]

Hmm, using the new kernel parameter "from" should allow ISO booting without modifications to the ISO or need to extract it:
http://www.slax.org/..._cheatcodes.php

from=/dev/hda1/Slax.iso
from=path/to/Slax.iso
from=/dev/hda1
from=path/to/Slax/

... load Slax data from different place instead of the boot device. First example will search for Slax.iso, only on hda1. Second example will search for 'path/to/Slax.iso' on all devices; the first device containing the path/file is used. Third example expects that the ISO is unpacked to hda1. Fourth example searches through all disks for a directory 'path/to/Slax' and expects content of unpacked ISO inthere.

Quick confirmation- just booted it in QEMU without any errors to kDesktop screen using:

title Start slax-6.1.2

find --set-root /slax-6.1.2.iso

map /slax-6.1.2.iso (0xff) || map --mem /slax-6.1.2.iso (0xff)

map --hook

root (0xff)

kernel  /boot/vmlinuz from=/slax-6.1.2.iso ramdisk_size=6666 root=/dev/ram0 rw

initrd /boot/initrd.gz

In root of a FAT32 formatted UFD are only grldr, menu.lst, default and slax-6.1.2.iso files.

[steve6375]

You are correct! if the ISO is in the root of the USB drive it works!
But if it is in a folder - e.g. ISO then it does not!

[ilko]

Steve, it also works from folder named "iso". Maybe doesn't work if folder is names "slax" as it expects other files in there. Don't have time to test that too right now.

[steve6375]

I can't get it to work if I move the file to /iso and change the menu.lst - how do you do it?

OK - figured it out - it is case sensitive! I had a folder called ISO but used iso in the menu.lst! Duh!

[ilko]

This must have been the case with folder "slax" too. It worked just fine using folder "slax" to hold the ISO.
It seems problem is solved

[Wonko the Sane]

You see :

If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.

... another piece of the puzzle finds it's place.


Wonko

[hason]

I read it from rmprepusb.com

title slax 6.1.2

map /ISO/slax-6.1.2.iso (0xff) || map --mem /ISO/slax-6.1.2.iso (0xff)

map --hook

root (0xff)

kernel  /boot/vmlinuz from=/ISO/slax-6.1.2.iso ramdisk_size=6666 root=/dev/ram0 rw

initrd /boot/initrd.gz

It work.