Wanted: Bootable USB Flash Drive

BigV · 09-19-2006, 02:08 PM

I am trying to create a bootable usb flash disk. I have what I reckon are all the right pieces, a usb drive with plenty of space (512mb), numerous tools to format, partition, and otherwise slice and dice the drive, choices of boot items, although ultimately, I want to boot to and load specific application. I have a system for testing whose bios will allow me to boot from a usb device. I have an .iso image of such an application, and when burned onto a cd, it boots just fine.

If I could arrange to have the usb drive (a flash drive, not a usb connected hard disk) formatted CDFS, I'd just copy the .iso to it and boot away. Sadly that did not work.

Have any of you successfully created (or bought or whatever) a bootable usb flashdrive? If I could make one, I would have an awesome diagnostic/repair tool I could carry around in my pocket. Yes, this could be done with a disc and that's what I'm doing right now. But I want to try to advance my toolkit. Ultimately, I would like to have a multi boot manager on the usb drive that lets me pick from among an array of startup choices. Then I could use the password recovery tool, or the disk image tool, or any of the myriad tools from the "ultimate boot cd", etc etc all on one usb drive. My leatherman for the 24th and a half sbs-bsb-sbs-century! [/Duck Dodgers].

dar512 · 09-19-2006, 02:39 PM

I've never done it, V. But this looks promising.

Pie · 09-19-2006, 03:45 PM

My PC at home always tries to boot off my iPod, if I have it connected. There's nothing on it but mp3s, so it just sits there with some odd hieroglyphics on the screen. Damned annoying.

JayMcGee · 09-19-2006, 06:09 PM

mmmmm........ bootability is a BIOS function..... somewhat bemused by the Ipod scenario.....

BigV · 09-19-2006, 06:23 PM

Arrgh, but the "ayepahd", as ye call tis a haaard drive a' th bottom o' its mechanical an devious heart. I seek to boot from a flash drive, lassie.

Undertoad · 09-19-2006, 06:32 PM

Arrr, if yer BIOS does nay ken the booting of this so-call'd "flashdrive", ye canst not thar boot that I can reckon, matey. Accordin to this fack-you, ye flashdrive must ken the boot as well, arrrrrhhh, and ye slackey seller or pillager of drives would provide software to boot from ye drives, arrrrrhhhh.

tw · 09-19-2006, 08:26 PM

The initial booting process involving the boot record is easy. BIOS will read that. But then the boot record must know how to read 'sectors', know where to look for the directory, and understand that directory format. You need a bootstrap program that understands the CDFS data structure. If the bios has such a routine, then no problem. But BIOS typically only understand enough to read first few sectors on a hard disk. Your bootstrap loading program must be larger to include a driver to do what is normally done by BIOS (motherboard Eprom) software.

I don't know what that USB boot program reads and I don't know where one finds tech material to explain how it works. I simply reverse engineered and single stepped through MBR, BIOS and other software to learn how a computer boots from FAT and NTFS drives. And I did so by using DOS because Windows NT makes that information 'secure'.

A great idea. It would be so easy if using a hardware emulator. And I am sure you don't want to buy or rent one of those.

Undertoad · 09-19-2006, 08:56 PM

Arrrrh.

09-19-2006, 02:08 PM	#1
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Wanted: Bootable USB Flash Drive I am trying to create a bootable usb flash disk. I have what I reckon are all the right pieces, a usb drive with plenty of space (512mb), numerous tools to format, partition, and otherwise slice and dice the drive, choices of boot items, although ultimately, I want to boot to and load specific application. I have a system for testing whose bios will allow me to boot from a usb device. I have an .iso image of such an application, and when burned onto a cd, it boots just fine. If I could arrange to have the usb drive (a flash drive, not a usb connected hard disk) formatted CDFS, I'd just copy the .iso to it and boot away. Sadly that did not work. Have any of you successfully created (or bought or whatever) a bootable usb flashdrive? If I could make one, I would have an awesome diagnostic/repair tool I could carry around in my pocket. Yes, this could be done with a disc and that's what I'm doing right now. But I want to try to advance my toolkit. Ultimately, I would like to have a multi boot manager on the usb drive that lets me pick from among an array of startup choices. Then I could use the password recovery tool, or the disk image tool, or any of the myriad tools from the "ultimate boot cd", etc etc all on one usb drive. My leatherman for the 24th and a half sbs-bsb-sbs-century! [/Duck Dodgers]. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

09-19-2006, 02:39 PM	#2
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	I've never done it, V. But this looks promising. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

09-19-2006, 03:45 PM	#3
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	My PC at home always tries to boot off my iPod, if I have it connected. There's nothing on it but mp3s, so it just sits there with some odd hieroglyphics on the screen. Damned annoying. __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

09-19-2006, 06:09 PM	#4
JayMcGee Cardigan-wearing man Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Much Binding In The Marsh Posts: 1,082	mmmmm........ bootability is a BIOS function..... somewhat bemused by the Ipod scenario..... __________________ I like wearing cardigans...... my current favourite is an orange cable-knit with real leatherette buttons.

09-19-2006, 06:23 PM	#5
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Arrgh, but the "ayepahd", as ye call tis a haaard drive a' th bottom o' its mechanical an devious heart. I seek to boot from a flash drive, lassie. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

09-19-2006, 06:32 PM	#6
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Arrr, if yer BIOS does nay ken the booting of this so-call'd "flashdrive", ye canst not thar boot that I can reckon, matey. Accordin to this fack-you, ye flashdrive must ken the boot as well, arrrrrhhh, and ye slackey seller or pillager of drives would provide software to boot from ye drives, arrrrrhhhh.

09-19-2006, 08:26 PM	#7
tw Read? I only know how to write. Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 11,933	The initial booting process involving the boot record is easy. BIOS will read that. But then the boot record must know how to read 'sectors', know where to look for the directory, and understand that directory format. You need a bootstrap program that understands the CDFS data structure. If the bios has such a routine, then no problem. But BIOS typically only understand enough to read first few sectors on a hard disk. Your bootstrap loading program must be larger to include a driver to do what is normally done by BIOS (motherboard Eprom) software. I don't know what that USB boot program reads and I don't know where one finds tech material to explain how it works. I simply reverse engineered and single stepped through MBR, BIOS and other software to learn how a computer boots from FAT and NTFS drives. And I did so by using DOS because Windows NT makes that information 'secure'. A great idea. It would be so easy if using a hardware emulator. And I am sure you don't want to buy or rent one of those.

09-19-2006, 08:56 PM	#8
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Arrrrh.

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