Run PLoP from CD but can't boot usb

[bralmu]

Hi,

I have a Laptop without harddisk (Toshiba with Celeron1.6/512MB/DVD).
The bios doesn't support boot from USB so I tried PLoP.

I burned PLoP into a CD-RW. The program works but here comes the problem:

1) The program loads (with the stars moving in background).
2) I select USB and press enter.
3) A new screen says:
LOADING EHCI DRIVER
SEARCHING ON HOSTS
HOST 1
After that the background stars stops and the laptop get frozen (ctrl+alt+del doesnt work only power button).

I repeated this several times with the usb stick connected, disconnected, connected since power on, connected since PloP is loaded. Always happens the same thing.
Any ideas or suggestions?

PS: I'm trying to boot Ubuntu/Xubuntu from a USB in a laptop (without usb-boot bios support). If I can't with PLoP, is there any other alternative? I don't want to throw my computer in the garbage just because the harddisk died.

[Elmar]

hi,
what happens when you press SHIFT and U to force usb 1.1 without any usb device connected?

what is the exact laptop name?

regards
elmar

[bralmu]

I've try today. It happens the same thing.

Toshiba Tecra M1
MODEL NO. PT930E-03YQW-EN
SERIAL NO. X3550533G
PM 1.6GHZ / 2X256 / 40GB / 14"

According to this page it has a Intel 855PM motherboard chipset
http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/hardware/notebooks/0,39001745,39013020p,00.htm

This page have more hardware details
http://linux.toshiba-dme.co.jp/linux/eng/pc/tecraM1_report.htm

I tried Ubuntu 9.04 livecd and it works perfecty (except video need to be reconfigured) and I check usb ports are working. I connected 2 usb sticks and transfer data from one to other @ 3.8MB/s so I'm sure they are usb2.0 ports.

[Elmar]

please test if the cdrom boot option of my boot manager works with your laptop.

[bralmu]

LOADING CDROM DRIVER
DW-224E
WAITING FOR THE DRIVE...
LOADING BOOT SECTOR...

...........................................................................................
............
and PLoP again


CDROM works but USB dont. How unlucky I am 

[bouba]

I have exactly the same problem. But it works sometimes...

I tried with several distributions on differents PCs with the same result.

[Elmar]

here is a test version. the link is only temporary!
http://download.plop.at/files/tmp/plpbt.iso

how many "x" do you see on the top of the screen when you try usb without any device connected.

[bouba]

I don't have any "x". I have just an error to say there's non device (in red).

[Elmar]

oh, i uploaded the wrong version. download it again.

@bouba:
try it on the computer where it hangs with this output
LOADING EHCI DRIVER
SEARCHING ON HOSTS
HOST 1

[Elmar]

no answers, no solutions

[bralmu]

Finally I bought a new harddisk for the laptop.
I'm busy but maybe tomorrow I'll try the ISO you linked me.

[Elmar]

hi,
do you have any news for me?

[schlingel]

Hi Elmar,

thanks for the great application and your support!
I habe the same issue here: Just downloaded your debug version above and booted from it.
In the selection menu I press Shift+U (without the thumbdrive or any other USB device connected)

It says
Loading UHCI Drivers
Searching on Hosts
Host 1
Host 2
Host 3

and then in red:
*** Boot Error ***
No boot device found, Please retry it

No X-es or any other useful output.

If I start with the USB Key connected it stalls at "Loading Boot sector" both with the standard settings and with "enforce USB 1.1"

Any advice?

[Elmar]

hi schlingel,
its not the same problem like above. the problem above is with the ehci driver and not with the uhci driver. i think your problem will be fixed with the upcoming release.

regards
elmar

[schlingel]

Oh, true. Thanks

Reading closely helps sometimes 

[Elmar]

@schlingel
you can try this new test version
http://download.plop.at/files/tmp/plpbt-test.zip

[MartinS]

I have the same problem with the EHCI driver (system hangs) and would like to help debugging the problem because of selfish reasons. ;-)

[jqou]

Hi,

I have the problem as well. My hardware is also a Toshiba Notebook (Satelllite 5200-903 from 2003). If you provide a software with debug traces I will test it for you... So hopefully the problem can be fixed. Please let me know ...

[schlingel]

@schlingel
you can try this new test version
http://download.plop.at/files/tmp/plpbt-test.zip

Sorry, was away for some time and forgot about it all.

Could you please upload the file again. I'd test then.

[Elmar]

here is the current test version
http://download.plop.at/files/tmp/plpbt-test2.zip