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Title: Booting from flash drive (Win 7 - XP)
Source:
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URL Source: http://ChuckW
Published: Mar 2, 2015
Author: Chuck_Wagon
Post Date: 2015-03-02 15:53:26 by Chuck_Wagon
Keywords: None
Views: 40580
Comments: 123
Just suppose that I wanted to create a machine that would
boot from a USB flash drive - a relatively big flash drive -
32gb to 64gb - or whatever is required.
And I wanted this thing to boot either Win7 or XP.
Anybody here have any experience with such an experience?
FYI - I am planning to create this thing on a new Zotac
'ZBox' with a Celeron processor and 4GB of memory (which I
have - the memory - not the Zbox).
So what I'm basically trying to do is create a 'disk-less'
computer. Shouldn't be fraught with problems - Eh?
Thanks for any help / insight!
ZBOX 1320-U:
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#30. To: sneakypete, Chuck_Wagon (#29)
I like for how-to threads to resolve themselves into action.
So did you find ever someone to trench that Ethernet cable out to your shop for Roku streaming there? I kinda wondered if the ground got too frozen for that to be a winter project.
#31. To: Willie Green (#27)
Just leave it there(?)
Shoprite (grocery store) has a policy that a bagger or
someone has to accompany 'riding cart' riders
out to their cars (then they ride the cart back) or at
least out to the front vestibule place (where all the
regular shopping carts are) in order to make sure that
it is plugged in for recharge.
I choose the 'vestibule' option, park the cart, and then
set out with my quad cane:
#32. To: TooConservative (#29)
I like for how-to threads to resolve themselves into action.
First I'm going to find my set of jewelers screwdrivers
(I'm pretty sure I know where they are) - then when
I take delivery on the bookshelf PC I shall place it
on the workbench and see if I can do the task at hand
myself. (Installing the internal drive, I mean.)
If yes - I shall proceed to do it. If no I will take the
mess to Staples and spend $40.
#33. To: TooConservative, Chuck_Wagon (#29)
I like for how-to threads to resolve themselves into action.
The Z-Box with 4 Gb RAM, a 2½" hard drive and 64-bit Linux Mint 17.1 "Rebecca" Xfce Edition is working great for me. That's what I'm using right now.
Of course, you're welcome to use Windows or whatever other Linux distribution you choose. I just hope I convinced you that installing an internal drive isn't too difficult. Using a USB drive is OK for installing Windows or Linux TO the internal drive, but they're much too slow for normal every day use. You'll be much happier with the internal 2½" drive.
#34. To: Chuck_Wagon (#32)
First I'm going to find my set of jewelers screwdrivers
Unnecessary...
There are only 3 knurled thumb screws to remove: 2 on the outside/back of the case and 1 inside the case holding the hard drive in place. Unless they're too tight, you should be able to unscrew them with your fingers. But just in case, they are slotted and you might be able to loosen them using a dime or a "regular" small screwdriver. Jewelers screwdrivers might be a little too small.
DON'T go spending $40 at Staples, for cripesakes. This is pretty easy to do and you'll make me feel bad that I talked you into buying this thing. I'm pretty sure you can do it.
#35. To: Chuck_Wagon (#31)
I choose the 'vestibule' option, park the cart, and then set out with my quad cane:
Yeah, that quad cane looks like it will be useful AFTER I get a prosthetic leg.
But right now, it just wouldn't provide enough support while I hop around on one leg. If I lose my balance, I'm doomed. That's why I use the walker. The walker works for short distances, but even then, I wouldn't trust it all the way from my car to the vestibule of the store.
#36. To: Willie Green (#35)
The walker works...
Not for me.
I've tried them - and you really need two arms
to support yourself on them. My right arm doesn't
have the steadiness nor the strength for it
unfortunately.
So it's: "Quad Cane Left! Proceed!" for me.
#37. To: Chuck_Wagon, TooConservative (#0)
Just suppose that I wanted to create a machine that would boot from a USB flash drive - a relatively big flash drive - 32gb to 64gb - or whatever is required. And I wanted this thing to boot either Win7 or XP. Anybody here have any experience with such an experience?
I had a 10gig netbook that was obsolete and I use as my bathroom wifi radio now and it ran on Windows XP - but barely. So I bought an Ubuntu loaded thumbdrive and ran it off of that and that was fine for a while until it stopped working and then I got a thumbdrive running Chrome and it works fine most of the time for wireless Pandora or radio.
#38. To: Pericles (#37)
I used to run Ubuntu on a couple of old Celeron machines.
In fact I think they are still in the basement -
and the may possibly still work!
(Actually ONE of them may still work, the other one
died now that I think of it.)
#39. To: Willie Green (#33) (Edited)
The Z-Box with 4 Gb RAM, a 2½" hard drive and 64-bit Linux Mint 17.1 "Rebecca" Xfce Edition is working great for me.
I'm impressed with these sweet tiny budget boxes. And my last new machine was a Mac Pro workstation, top of the line stuff, 2.6Ghz, lots of RAM. So I am used to being a power user.
It would be great if they could get the price of the i7 quad-core versions of these TinyPCs down under $300.
Zotec also have their Nano models. Small as a USB hub. Too cute.
I'm using an i7 Mac Mini, another tiny device. It has room for a second hard drive, two slots for RAM.
I put 16GB in it (Crucial 16GB kit, DDR3, $135 shipped from Amazon). My Mini never uses swap partition at all. Not even if I use VMWare and run Ubuntu Linux 14, Windows XP or Win7, and Apple's OSX 10.9.5 simultaneously on multiple virtual screens along with several browsers (Firefox, Chrome) with 50 or more browser tabs open at once. It's completely smooth, all the time. Virtually no hesitation at any time.
I like my Mini more than my Mac Pro workstation which I do still have. (It's a total power hog, scandalous really. It makes the meter spin!)
I'm trying to make the point that we can just virtualize these OSes (if we have adequate RAM and multiple cores) and run everything at once very smoothly if we have enough RAM and CPU cores. Years back, adding RAM beyond a certain point (2GB or 4GB) was a waste of time because the apps and OS didn't take advantage of it. That has changed on all platforms and they readily gobble up and use any amount of RAM well.
For serious use, you should have 8GB or 16GB. If running a single OS, 8GB will do well enough for everything but commercial Photoshop or 3ds Studio Max or other similar workstation class apps.
Here's one of those Zotec Nanos ($198.99 shipped):
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#40. To: Pericles, Chuck_Wagon (#37)
I had a 10gig netbook that was obsolete and I use as my bathroom wifi radio now and it ran on Windows XP - but barely. So I bought an Ubuntu loaded thumbdrive and ran it off of that and that was fine for a while until it stopped working and then I got a thumbdrive running Chrome and it works fine most of the time for wireless Pandora or radio.
Well, sure but Chuck seems to want Windows and some apps, not just a Chromebook browser setup with a few media extensions.
#41. To: Pericles, Chuck_Wagon, Willie Green (#37)
I had a 10gig netbook that was obsolete and I use as my bathroom wifi radio now and it ran on Windows XP - but barely. So I bought an Ubuntu loaded thumbdrive and ran it off of that...
When you ran Linux in your bathroom, did you invoke the toilet command? With or without the "gay" border option? : )
Linux.com: Fun with figlet and toilet
You make think this is an odd topic but a single web search revealed that there has been a formal conference on Linux In The Bathroom for some time.
ZDnet: Conference Encourages Linux In The Bathroom
Yes, they want to use Linux to flush their toilets, among many other tasks.
That's all I got for computer potty humor for today, I think.
#42. To: TooConservative (#39)
Isn't that just darling? What a sweet little box.
Yeah... I was looking at those higher spec Zotacs, as well as Intel NUCs & HP Chromeboxes. At least the ones that weren't out of my price range. But I finally decided on the more modestly priced ZBOX-BI320-U because it had both HDMI & DVI-D video output and my monitor only accepts VGA or DVI-D. Most of the other little boxes I looked at only have HDMI output, and I didn't want to go through a converter to hook up my monitor.
But yeah, the technology of these little boxes is simply amazing and so affordable compared to what's been available for the last 25+ years... It really makes you wonder where this old world is headed!
#43. To: Willie Green (#42)
But I finally decided on the more modestly priced ZBOX-BI320-U because it had both HDMI & DVI-D video output and my monitor only accepts VGA or DVI-D.
A smaller distro like Mint Linux needs no more than 4GB to really fly for ordinary uses (browsing, office suite, most games). And 4GB is enough for bigger distros like Ubuntu too.
But, yes, it is incredible when your big pricey Xeon workstation can be replaced by a 9"x9"x2" box with comparable or superior performance. A real eye-opener.
#44. To: TooConservative (#43)
A smaller distro like Mint Linux needs no more than 4GB to really fly for ordinary uses (browsing, office suite, most games). And 4GB is enough for bigger distros like Ubuntu too.
I've been using lightweight linux desktops (like Fluxbox, Xfce & LXDE) on old/cheap/obsolete PCs for almost 10 years now. So yes, I really am pleased at how well they run. But I did have the latest Ubuntu installed on my ZBox for a short period of time on Sunday/Monday as well. It worked well... but I just didn't like the weird "Unity" Ubuntu desktop, so I simply installed a lightweight environment that I was more familiar with. I suppose a more traditional, full featured desktop like KDE or Gnome would also work well with 4Gb... but why undergo the extra overhead when the lighter/faster desktops do everything I want to do anyway?
#45. To: TooConservative (#39)
Here's one of those Zotec Nanos ($198.99 shipped):
I like it.
More power than the cheap bookshelf Celeron,
but not that much more expensive.
Too bad that we're not coming up on Christmas -
a fax to Santa now will do no good -
he's in Bermuda.
#46. To: Willie Green, Chuck_Wagon (#44)
I've been using lightweight linux desktops (like Fluxbox, Xfce & LXDE) on old/cheap/obsolete PCs for almost 10 years now.
I used to admire Puppy Linux. It is a distro that can be booted from CD/DVD/USB-drive.
It's base config is only 85MB so you can load it entirely into memory. By default, it is a LiveCD type distro and no results or documents can be saved. However, it is set up so you can use a CD-RW/DVD-RW or USB flash drive and save your bookmarks, emails, documents, etc. Whichever way you want it to run.
With 85MB, it could do web browsing and email (both Mozilla), file browsing/management, had a few games, instant messaging, torrenting, basic Wordpad-style .RTF text editing, etc. Of course, you could easily add more programs if you had the RAM. And since it all ran out of system RAM, it was instantaneous. All the apps could load faster than you could remove your finger from the left mouse button to click-start them. So: really fast.
I used to run it some on a 256MB USB drive on machines with 384-768MB. So I could have an office suite and a few small games and apps along with the standard Puppy Linux apps.
The guy who started PL retired but the community keeps it going. When Chuck first described booting from a flash drive, I thought of Puppy Linux. When it became apparent he wants a Windows installation with some apps, I couldn't recommend it.
Puppy is not the only LiveCD distro with these features. There are some others out there that are just as flexible. Puppy focuses on being widely runnable on a broad variety of older and limited hardware.
#47. To: TooConservative (#46)
I've used Red Hat, Fedora, Ubuntu (and I forget what else) -
but never Puppy.
#48. To: TooConservative (#46)
I hate throwing away computers and Linux is a great way to keep old machines running super fast without the Windows that make the machines obsolete.
#49. To: Pericles (#48)
I hate throwing away computers...
Hey, old computers make great monitor stands, bookends,
doorstops - the possibilities are simply endless...
#50. To: Chuck_Wagon (#49)
Hey, old computers make great monitor stands, bookends, doorstops - the possibilities are simply endless...
I use them as radios in each room almost.
#51. To: Pericles (#50)
I use them as radios in each room almost.
My 'Todo' list is mirrored on several machines
around the house.
"What the heck was I doing? - Oh yeah..."
#52. To: Chuck_Wagon (#47)
I've used Red Hat, Fedora, Ubuntu (and I forget what else) - but never Puppy.
You can get Puppy in Ubuntu and in Slackware flavors. They have their own fairly standard aptget to add apps and support, like any other Linux.
Also, you can migrate the LiveCD directly on to a hard drive partition to make it permanent. Or just to have a pristine quick-boot Linux always ready.
#53. To: TooConservative (#52)
Yah. But I need a spare machine to experiment.
This warrants a trip to the basement...
#54. To: Chuck_Wagon, TooConservative (#51) (Edited)
A few years ago during the great crash a lot of offices closed and perfectly good but old computers with cathode ray monitors were tossed out on my office floor. I hoarded 8 sets of them and down to 6 working ones now. Plus I think I have a lifetimes worth of cables of all sorts.
#55. To: Chuck_Wagon (#53)
Just be safe on those stairs. Doubly so if no one is around. And with a cellphone in your pocket.
#56. To: Pericles (#54)
I have a lifetimes worth of cables of all sorts.
Always needed.
#57. To: Pericles (#54)
A few years ago during the great crash a lot of offices closed and perfectly good but old computers with cathode ray monitors were tossed out on my office floor. I hoarded 8 sets of them and down to 6 working ones now.
There was a problem of short component life from computers that age.
From 1999-2007, some big suppliers of capacitors cut corners on quality. As a result, many mainboards and PCI cards would fail catastrohically. On the end of the cylindrical capacitors, you would see bulging or scorch marks or even the oozing of the capacitor's "sweet candy filling".
Wiki: Capacitor plague
Sounds like the vintage of the machines you salvaged. So if they quit, look at those capacitors. The older they get, the more likely they'll blow up. This is not entirely unheard of with other components. The Nvidia 8600 video card found on many machines was subject to sudden failures and they ran a replacement program for dead ones for about 2 years then just stiffed the rest of these customers. Some hard feelings about it. Also, I recall a few AMD motherboard models over the years that had sudden failures of the front side bus controller (a chip that often had a heat sink or even a micro-fan just to cool it).
Power supplies failing is also not uncommon, even in name brands like Dell and HP, especially the cheaper models.
#58. To: Pericles, Willie Green, Chuck_Wagon (#54) (Edited)
Plus I think I have a lifetimes worth of cables of all sorts.
The next time I need a Centronics parallel printer cable or a 9-pin serial cable for my US Robotics 56k external modem, I know who to call. : )
#59. To: TooConservative (#55)
Just be safe on those stairs.
I've got one of those chair lift thing-a-ma-jigs.
Well, yeah - laundry is a needed thing...
#60. To: Chuck_Wagon (#59)
I've got one of those chair lift thing-a-ma-jigs.
How much did that run you? I saw a commercial on TV yesterday trying to sell them w/o revealing the price. I'm nosy, okay?
Maybe I'll need one in thirty years. Nah, I'll move sometime and have everything on one floor with no stairs.
#61. To: Fred Mertz (#60) (Edited)
http://www.acornstairlifts.com/chairlifts/
866-207-7544
(Made in England - by the way.)
#62. To: Chuck_Wagon (#61) (Edited)
Thanks for nothing, Chucky. I went to their web site. They want too much personal information for a free quote. I wouldn't trust them if they don't list a single price. They probably sized up your assets and net worth before they figured out how much to milk out of you. /TooconservativeAttitude.
I don't feel like calling them either.
Edit: I just did a Google search on: cost of stair lift for home stairs - It satisfied my curiosity on the price range.
#63. To: Fred Mertz (#62)
/TooconservativeAttitude
Uh-oh, I'm getting a certain reputation.
I wuz hacked!
#64. To: Fred Mertz (#62)
They want too much personal information for a free quote.
I'm sorry.
Just one hit on their web site.
And I've had their chairlift for almost a decade.
I guess you'd better shoot me - just to be safe...
#65. To: Chuck_Wagon (#64)
And I've had their chairlift for almost a decade.
Any maintenance requirements or problems in that time?
I'll guess you paid $2K +/- $500.
Don't get so defensive. I'm blunt sometimes. Maybe I have Tourettes.
#66. To: TooConservative (#30)
So did you find ever someone to trench that Ethernet cable out to your shop for Roku streaming there?
Yes,but right after I contacted him he got shingles,and has been out of action ever since. Then the ground did freeze,so there was no need to call him. I plan on getting in touch with him later this week. It's supposed to get warmer and rain a couple of days,so the ground should be pretty soft after that.
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
#67. To: Chuck_Wagon (#36)
So it's: "Quad Cane Left! Proceed!" for me.
Looks to me like it would be pretty stable.
Every consider making leather or rubber "boots" for it that have spikes for cold weather use?
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
#68. To: Chuck_Wagon, Willie Green (#36)
The walker works...Not for me. I've tried them - and you really need two arms to support yourself on them. My right arm doesn't have the steadiness nor the strength for it unfortunately.
So it's: "Quad Cane Left! Proceed!" for me.
Guys,one real bonus to having a walker is if you get one with wheels,you can sit down in the damn thing and use your feet to motivate it like a wheel chair. It's really stable when the ground is slick.
I have one wheels,a seat,and a basket,and even though I normally don't need it for what I do daily,if I am going off somewhere to a car show,swap meet,etc,etc,etc,I take it with me in case my back or knees give out so I have some place to sit and rest,and if need be roll myself out of the sun.rain/whatever.
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
#69. To: sneakypete (#66)
I plan on getting in touch with him later this week. It's supposed to get warmer and rain a couple of days,so the ground should be pretty soft after that.
Let us know how it works. How deep you'll trench it, whether you are using PVC with an indoor cable inside it, or some ready-made underground-certified cable, or even just standard indoor Ethernet cable buried with no shielding.
Amazon: 50' waterproof Ethernet cable $40
Amazon: 100' waterproof Direct Burial Ethernet cable
If you have the cabling already, you could string it up in the air from roof to roof, especially if you can route through a tree or two between house and shop. But we know that's really not a good solution and would involve ladders.
I can't recall anyone I know personally burying Ethernet to an outbuilding. Hence my curiosity.
#70. To: Fred Mertz (#65)
Maybe I have Tourettes.
The eldest son of a pair of good friends of mine
has Tourettes. But you'd never know it.
I think that Tourettes is just another scam to
sell pharmaceautical drugs.
I admit that the kid is a little bit goofy -
but does he need to be medicated? Really?
Heck, I'm goofy when you get right down to it...
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