Re: Waking from the Dead

[Chris Brennan]

On Sat, May 14, 2011 at 9:44 PM, Andrew Reid  wrote:

 Hi --
>
>  The instructions I used don't seem to have that requirement -- you just
> need "dd", which Macs can do, I think.
>
>  According to my (slightly dated, and possibly fragmentary) notes,
> I got "boot.img.gz" from:
>
>  i386/current/images/hd-media/boot.img.gz>
>
> (NB 32-bit, and probably was Lenny when I did this, but others are
> supposed to work...)
>
>  Then, plug in your USB device, do "zcat /path/to/boot.img.gz > /dev/sd"
> (substitute OS-specific nomenclature for /dev/sd), mount /dev/sdx (it
> will
> have a bootable FAT32 file-system), and copy the ISO of your choice to the
> root of the device.
>
>  Then unmount, and boot your installation target system from it.
>
>  I have a dim recollection that the name of the ISO file mattered,
> and had to match a config entry on the USB device somewhere, but my
> notes, alas, don't cover that case.
>
>  Also, the ISO can't be too big -- you'll want the net-install ISO
> for this.
>


dd if=/path/image.iso of=/path/device is all you need. What you should pat
attention to is this

1) the image is bootable, all debian iso images are.
2) the size of the iso, make sure it will fit on your device

Andrew's directions would work but it seems an ass-backwards way
to achieve the same result in 1 cmd vs 2. But hey, if it works, it works.
cating an iso onto a device is pretty much a surefire way to fail at some
point. Your better off doing it in a prescribed, known to work method.



-- 
> A: Yes.
> >Q: Are you sure?
> >>A: Because it reverses the logical flow of conversation.
> >>>Q: Why is top posting frowned upon?

Re: Waking from the Dead

[Andrew Reid]

> This just got harder.
> I'm trying to just do a reinstall but I only have a macbook to work from.
> And the installation media can only be a USB drive.
> 
> I am having all kinds of trouble getting an ISO image onto the USB that
> will work.
> 
> I can 'cat debian.iso > /dev/disk1s1' well enough.
> And the machine will recognize the disk at start up, but it never sees it
> as a bootable device and just hangs.
> 
> Many of the other instructions are assuming you have a working linux box,
> which I don't.  The files/packages I need to download to build a bootable
> image I don't have and I can not get either -- apt-get is locked up on
> dependencies that I'm unable to resolve.

  Hi --

  The instructions I used don't seem to have that requirement -- you just
need "dd", which Macs can do, I think.

  According to my (slightly dated, and possibly fragmentary) notes, 
I got "boot.img.gz" from:



(NB 32-bit, and probably was Lenny when I did this, but others are
supposed to work...)

  Then, plug in your USB device, do "zcat /path/to/boot.img.gz > /dev/sd"
(substitute OS-specific nomenclature for /dev/sd), mount /dev/sdx (it will
have a bootable FAT32 file-system), and copy the ISO of your choice to the
root of the device.

  Then unmount, and boot your installation target system from it.

  I have a dim recollection that the name of the ISO file mattered,
and had to match a config entry on the USB device somewhere, but my
notes, alas, don't cover that case.

  Also, the ISO can't be too big -- you'll want the net-install ISO
for this.

-- A.
--
Andrew Reid / rei...@bellatlantic.net


-- 
To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org 
with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Archive: http://lists.debian.org/201105142144.39055.rei...@bellatlantic.net

Re: Waking from the Dead

[Tom Allison]

On Sat, May 14, 2011 at 9:04 PM, Tom Allison  wrote:

>
>
> On Sat, May 14, 2011 at 8:26 PM, Chris Brennan wrote:
>
>> On Sat, May 14, 2011 at 8:02 PM, Tom Allison  wrote:
>>
>> This just got harder.
>>> I'm trying to just do a reinstall but I only have a macbook to work from.
>>> And the installation media can only be a USB drive.
>>>
>>> I am having all kinds of trouble getting an ISO image onto the USB that
>>> will work.
>>>
>>> I can 'cat debian.iso > /dev/disk1s1' well enough.
>>> And the machine will recognize the disk at start up, but it never sees it
>>> as a bootable device and just hangs.
>>>
>>> Many of the other instructions are assuming you have a working linux box,
>>> which I don't.  The files/packages I need to download to build a bootable
>>> image I don't have and I can not get either -- apt-get is locked up on
>>> dependencies that I'm unable to resolve.
>>>
>>> First: when I download a ISO for the Debian netinst image it's reported
>>> as 'unable to open' on mac.
>>> "no mountable file systems" is the exact error.
>>
>>
>> Don't top post. Don't use cat either, try dd if=/image.iso of=/disk1s1.
>> You will need to first turn the boot magic-bit on, w/ a/ sysctl cmd (I know
>> it works in *bsd, not sure about OS X.
>>
>> Take the top posting up with Google.  I'll try to remember.  Even though
> it's lame, top posting seems to be pretty common.
>
> I can get the .iso loaded from a linux box via 'cat'  That is about the
> only thing that works with my linux box right now.
>
> Once i get that part done I have a directory of files on my USB image, but
> now the "stupid" machine won't recognize it as a bootable device.  As for
> your sysctl cmd -- I have not a clue of how this fits in with anything at
> sysctl reads system variables and doesn't seem to have much about it setting
> magic bits.  Is there something similar to this on a linux platform?
>

I think I found my very simple mistake.
Big difference between /dev/sda and /dev/sda1.  At least I'm getting the USB
to boot.  Nice graphics on the first page!
Now it's just a matter of time!!!

I forgot something about Linux.  Instructions are very precise, unlike many
things you run into.
Thanks!

Re: Waking from the Dead

[Tom Allison]

On Sat, May 14, 2011 at 8:26 PM, Chris Brennan  wrote:

> On Sat, May 14, 2011 at 8:02 PM, Tom Allison  wrote:
>
> This just got harder.
>> I'm trying to just do a reinstall but I only have a macbook to work from.
>> And the installation media can only be a USB drive.
>>
>> I am having all kinds of trouble getting an ISO image onto the USB that
>> will work.
>>
>> I can 'cat debian.iso > /dev/disk1s1' well enough.
>> And the machine will recognize the disk at start up, but it never sees it
>> as a bootable device and just hangs.
>>
>> Many of the other instructions are assuming you have a working linux box,
>> which I don't.  The files/packages I need to download to build a bootable
>> image I don't have and I can not get either -- apt-get is locked up on
>> dependencies that I'm unable to resolve.
>>
>> First: when I download a ISO for the Debian netinst image it's reported as
>> 'unable to open' on mac.
>> "no mountable file systems" is the exact error.
>
>
> Don't top post. Don't use cat either, try dd if=/image.iso of=/disk1s1. You
> will need to first turn the boot magic-bit on, w/ a/ sysctl cmd (I know it
> works in *bsd, not sure about OS X.
>
> Take the top posting up with Google.  I'll try to remember.  Even though
it's lame, top posting seems to be pretty common.

I can get the .iso loaded from a linux box via 'cat'  That is about the only
thing that works with my linux box right now.

Once i get that part done I have a directory of files on my USB image, but
now the "stupid" machine won't recognize it as a bootable device.  As for
your sysctl cmd -- I have not a clue of how this fits in with anything at
sysctl reads system variables and doesn't seem to have much about it setting
magic bits.  Is there something similar to this on a linux platform?

Re: Waking from the Dead

[Chris Brennan]

On Sat, May 14, 2011 at 8:02 PM, Tom Allison  wrote:

This just got harder.
> I'm trying to just do a reinstall but I only have a macbook to work from.
> And the installation media can only be a USB drive.
>
> I am having all kinds of trouble getting an ISO image onto the USB that
> will work.
>
> I can 'cat debian.iso > /dev/disk1s1' well enough.
> And the machine will recognize the disk at start up, but it never sees it
> as a bootable device and just hangs.
>
> Many of the other instructions are assuming you have a working linux box,
> which I don't.  The files/packages I need to download to build a bootable
> image I don't have and I can not get either -- apt-get is locked up on
> dependencies that I'm unable to resolve.
>
> First: when I download a ISO for the Debian netinst image it's reported as
> 'unable to open' on mac.
> "no mountable file systems" is the exact error.
>

Don't top post. Don't use cat either, try dd if=/image.iso of=/disk1s1. You
will need to first turn the boot magic-bit on, w/ a/ sysctl cmd (I know it
works in *bsd, not sure about OS X.

-- 
> A: Yes.
> >Q: Are you sure?
> >>A: Because it reverses the logical flow of conversation.

> >>>Q: Why is top posting frowned upon?

Re: Waking from the Dead

[Tom Allison]

This just got harder.
I'm trying to just do a reinstall but I only have a macbook to work from.
And the installation media can only be a USB drive.

I am having all kinds of trouble getting an ISO image onto the USB that will
work.

I can 'cat debian.iso > /dev/disk1s1' well enough.
And the machine will recognize the disk at start up, but it never sees it as
a bootable device and just hangs.

Many of the other instructions are assuming you have a working linux box,
which I don't.  The files/packages I need to download to build a bootable
image I don't have and I can not get either -- apt-get is locked up on
dependencies that I'm unable to resolve.

First: when I download a ISO for the Debian netinst image it's reported as
'unable to open' on mac.
"no mountable file systems" is the exact error.

On Sat, May 14, 2011 at 12:52 PM,  wrote:

>
> Tom Allison ask:
>
> I have some computers here that haven't been turned on for what looks
> like 2 years and 3 months.
>
> And so there are a few things I need refreshers on.  But I'll get to
> those later.  Right now I am not sure where all my sources are or should
> be.
>
> ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ has problems somewhere with the labels stable,
> main, contrib, non-free.
>
> is http://securty.debian.org/ stable/updates main contrib
> still viable?
>
> -
>
> In the url you have securty instead of security... Other than that, yes
> that is still the URL, but...
>
> A system that old means that at the very least your running Old Stable
> (Lenny) if not older, so you can't just update to current stable (squeeze)
> without major difficulties, I would suggest a format is in order..
>
> TeddyB
>
>
> --
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org
> with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact
> listmas...@lists.debian.org
> Archive:
> http://lists.debian.org/329541705-1305391961-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-1905889860-@b18.c1.bise6.blackberry
>
>

Re: Waking from the Dead

[Axel Freyn]

Hi Tom,
On Sat, May 14, 2011 at 12:43:22PM -0400, Tom Allison wrote:
> I have some computers here that haven't been turned on for what looks  
> like 2 years and 3 months.
>
> And so there are a few things I need refreshers on.  But I'll get to  
> those later.  Right now I am not sure where all my sources are or should 
> be.
>
> ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ has problems somewhere with the labels stable,  
> main, contrib, non-free.
Should work.
>
> is http://securty.debian.org/ stable/updates main contrib
> still viable?
Yes -- if you add the "i" in security ;-)
>
> After I get through the updates from Debian something (not sure what  
> version I have) I'll start working on the rest.
Be carefull! It is NOT supported to perform an update which skips
versions -- then you really can kill the installation.  You should
identify your version (/etc/debian_version contains a good indication
:-)) and then first do the last updates on this version, then perform to
the next debian-generation, and so on.
The old versions are:
Sarge:  3.1
Etch:   4.0
Lenny:  5.0 ("oldstable")
Squeeze: 6.0("stable)

Lenny and squeeze are on the standard-servers, Sarge & Etch only on the
old archives, like
http://archive.debian.org/debian/

So, my proposal would be:
 - identify your version from /etc/debian_version
1) if it's sarge:
 - remove security.debian.org from sources.list, and only use
   http://archive.debian.org/debian/ sarge main contrib
 - make a full upgrade on this version
2) if it's etch:
 - remove security.debian.org from sources.list, and only use
   http://archive.debian.org/debian/ etch main contrib
 - make a full upgrade on this version
3) if it's lenny:
 - use ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ lenny main contrib
 - make a full upgrade on this version
4) now you come to squeeze
 - use ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ lenny main contrib
   and http://security.debian.org/ stable/updates main contrib
 - make a full upgrade on this version

And after each upgrade, resolve all problems/errors that aptitude
reports ...

> Mostly right now I'm failing all over the place on Authentication.  
Most of the time, the problem for Authentication is the wrong keytable
for the keyboard -- try in box for the username whether all keystrokes
needed in your password give the right key...

Axel


-- 
To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org 
with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Archive: http://lists.debian.org/20110514170435.GA5994@axel

Re: Waking from the Dead

[Camaleón]

On Sat, 14 May 2011 12:43:22 -0400, Tom Allison wrote:

> I have some computers here that haven't been turned on for what looks
> like 2 years and 3 months.
> 
> And so there are a few things I need refreshers on.  But I'll get to
> those later.  Right now I am not sure where all my sources are or should
> be.
> 
> ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ has problems somewhere with the labels stable,
> main, contrib, non-free.

What problems? :-?

The only issue I could expect would be that while you are using an old 
Debian version now "stable" points to "squeeze" and that can give you 
lots of conflicts and problems.
 
> is http://securty.debian.org/ stable/updates main contrib still viable?

Yep... well, it should be:

http://security.debian.org/ stable/updates main contrib
^
(you missed the "i" of "security")

Also, be sure you really don't want to use the codenames instead (lenny/
squeeze...)

> After I get through the updates from Debian something (not sure what
> version I have) I'll start working on the rest.

To check the current version:

lsb_release -a

> Mostly right now I'm failing all over the place on Authentication.
> That's my biggest issue today.

Are you thinking in performing an upgrade or installing a new version 
from scratch... or maybe jump to Ubuntu (just kidding :-P)?

Now seriously, if you are think in upgrading it's recommended that you 
first read the corresponding Release Notes.

Greetings,

-- 
Camaleón


-- 
To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org 
with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Archive: http://lists.debian.org/pan.2011.05.14.17.03...@gmail.com

Re: Waking from the Dead

[teddieeb]

Tom Allison ask:

I have some computers here that haven't been turned on for what looks
like 2 years and 3 months.

And so there are a few things I need refreshers on.  But I'll get to
those later.  Right now I am not sure where all my sources are or should be.

ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ has problems somewhere with the labels stable,
main, contrib, non-free.

is http://securty.debian.org/ stable/updates main contrib
still viable?

-

In the url you have securty instead of security... Other than that, yes that is 
still the URL, but...

A system that old means that at the very least your running Old Stable (Lenny) 
if not older, so you can't just update to current stable (squeeze) without 
major difficulties, I would suggest a format is in order..

TeddyB


-- 
To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org 
with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Archive: 
http://lists.debian.org/329541705-1305391961-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-1905889860-@b18.c1.bise6.blackberry