Attached 2 screenshots of my Potchan

[potchan]

Hi Team, this is a Linux one:

My sweet 16GB SunDisk is formatted as sdX1 on FAT32 (boot flag) and sdX2 with ext4. The 1st. part' is with the booties' stuff and data seen from Ms'. The 2nd. is for the Potchan system based on Puppy 431. As U see in screenshots - it works.

Problems:

1. I succeeded only with plpinstc, because for some reason it did not create any backup file as promised, so plpinst actually throws me out.

anyway, the main thing for me is -

2. PLoP bootmanager pops-up only at USB-HDD mode. What should I do relating to data on screenshots ? I have two more WRECKS with no BIOS support at all, but let's start with this one.

Thanks in advance.

[Elmar]

1. I succeeded only with plpinstc, because for some reason it did not create any backup file as promised, so plpinst actually throws me out.

how did you use plpinst?

i don't understand from your post, whats exactly the problem?

regards
elmar

[potchan]

Hi elmar and Team,

plpinst and plpinstc are put in a folder. I configured syslinux for both possibilities.
plpinst says it cannot make a backup file (suitable in writable media such as flash).

YES I DID SUCCEED doing the same with plpinstc, and it works (but no backup file).

I've already done it several times successfully. I also use plpcfgbt script I paste to Termit (console) and it modifies 1st. HD to my USB.

So IT IS OK but imperfect:

1. Why I cannot have a backup file ?

2. Why it works for me only on USB-HDD mode (checked over and over on some friends' PCs of various ages over last week).

3. Some wrecks in my room (absolutely no USB-HDD BIOS support) await also for salvation. I can boot my Potchan there successfully only with CD.

I add one more screenshot, my syslinux story.

Hope it's more clear now. Potchan.

[Elmar]

1. Why I cannot have a backup file ?

because plpinst.com is only to use it with the install floppy or to install the boot manager from dos (no windows dos shell).

when you start plpinst.com with syslinux, then the program is loaded to the ram and cannot detect whats the source hard drive/partition. so it cannot save the backup file. as you can see in the docu, there is no example with plpinst.com. there are only examples with plpinstc.com.

if you want a backup, then run for ex. dd if=/dev/hda of=backup.bin count=63 and then run plpinstc.com from syslinux.

2. Why it works for me only on USB-HDD mode (checked over and over on some friends' PCs of various ages over last week).

i assume you mean "why the boot manager can startup only in usb-hdd mode". because its designed to start from a hard disk. usb zip and usb floppy are different and not supported by the boot manager. however, i don't understand why you install the boot manager to the usb drive. other boot managers like syslinux or grub are better to use it on the usb drive.

regards
elmar

[potchan]

Hi elmar,

1. I'll check dd 'thing' later and report (now I'm on HDD session). Thanks.

2. Before finding PLoP I've visioned an obscure idea of 'drinkability' of things as my goal, besides of my idea of making a fine fork of Puppy. The idea is to stick my USB stick or even cellphone SD (via its USB cable & mass storage device "on") anywhere and have via-Qemu or directly a clean solid SAME basic screen to work with.

That's why I try technologies hopefully enable me to do this: openning computers anywhere anytime any BIOS. I think PLoP is close to my needs and easydoing comparing to Grub in my POV. I mean if I need to wipe it and configure it again for some reason.

Can PLoP help my USB wishes, and if it is not at the moment - when (about..) it will happen ?

regards,

Potchan 

[Elmar]

2. Before finding PLoP I've visioned an obscure idea of 'drinkability' of things as my goal, besides of my idea of making a fine fork of Puppy. The idea is to stick my USB stick or even cellphone SD (via its USB cable & mass storage device "on") anywhere and have via-Qemu or directly a clean solid SAME basic screen to work with.

the basic problem of booting anywhere from usb is that either the bios has support to boot usb or my boot manager must be booted on the pc (from hard disk, floppy, cd, network or rom). it doesn't help you when my boot manager is on your usb drive and the pc is not able to boot usb in any way.

regards
elmar

[potchan]

Dear elmar,

I do combine pieces from all over to make something good & stable, but it doesn't mean I know all about the inside of things.

For example, I put "Tuxracer" in my Potchan and I'm happy everytime I see it runs eventhough I cannot advance to stage #2 because I'm such a bad gamer. You know why I'm still happy ? because it indicates me SDL and openGL are still alive.

Everyone has its scratches, and mine is: booting needs to be smooth. Imagine tomorrow a ROBOT with my technology needs to boot a washing machine. If I find the technology the 'Grandson ROBOT' of Potchan will do it for cheap. Pehaps, elmar, in 5 years from now you'll have a smart robot in your house for $999. With cheap old ingredients Potchan can lite-up home robots (and it's a very 'green' thought too).

A hint to the specialist: when a boot-USB is put inside of a PC without a BIOS support it tells something to the PC. I Know it because it lights up flashing. Can't it tell the PC "I am the King here now !!!" or such ??

I link an old topic, some time before I heard about PLoP -

http://208.109.22.214/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=36098&sid=b9dba6c923c3fc4940551e7ad8cdf9f3

best regards -

Potchan 

[Elmar]

A hint to the specialist: when a boot-USB is put inside of a PC without a BIOS support it tells something to the PC. I Know it because it lights up flashing. Can't it tell the PC "I am the King here now !!!" or such ??

in which stage of booting do you see the light flashing? the flashing can mean does the device is powered and nothing more.

regards
elmar

[potchan]

Hi elmar & Team,

1. 'dd' thing you suggested:

As I understand it,

1st. I remove the bootmanager from my USB & reboot (even twice). Hopefully if not corrupted the USB will boot Potchan (or else I do mbr again, takes time).

2nd. I do this 'dd' from console. REBOOT.

3rd. I install bootmanager via plpinstC and NOT plpinst


2. about booting with no USB-HDD -

One of my wreck PCs acts beyond the power excuse: I put it on 1st. boot of HDD, reboot it with the boot USB aaaaandddddd...

it hesitates for some extra sec' before booting the HDD.

BTW, if I put CDROM BOOT as 1st. (with or without disk) it doesn't hesitate at all before passing USB. There I agree It's a matter of power. The other wreck PC I have is even slower & even now functions as bottom raf so I relate it other time.

It means, in my POV, good news and bad news:

The good news: a code line with some bigger value will tell PC who is the KING KONG USB over the usual HDD. So try to find it.

The bad ones: whatever we do - HDD is usually faster in responding comparing to USB media. A possible solution - to launch this tiny bootmanager to RAM as default.

Now think how to code that.


3. I'm glad to see a direction of booting virtual machines from USB. I'll refer to that later today in proper place at forum.

Regards -

Potchan