How to use syslinux to boot a full install of ubuntu/linux mint

[benbrockn]

Hi,

So I have a problem booting Ubuntu and Linux Mint from one specific laptop I have (HP Pavilion dv6z laptop). What happens is a plain black screen with blinking cursor. If you want to read more about that click here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2237349&p=13088125#post13088125


But anyway, I know that my HP laptop works fine with Live USBs that use syslinux. Since my linux OS won't boot, what I want to try is to make a small fat32 partition on my USB stick right in front of my ROOT partition and set the flag to boot. This small partition will house the basic syslinux structure and when the laptop reads from the stick, it will boot syslinux which boot my Linux OS. As for the original grub loader found in the root partition, I was thinking to just leave that alone and let syslinux bypass it to load the Linux OS.

So.... How do I do this? How can I install syslinux on a newly made fat32 partition and let it chainload the fully installed OS?


My current partitions are like so:


16GB USB flash drive

Root 7500 MiB (7.86 GB) [1.22 GB unused]
Home 7766 MiB (8.14 GB) [5.41 GB unused]

Thanks!

[oldfred]

I do not think your issue is solved by the choice of boot loader. It is the configuration of the system and or boot options that you can add.

The live installer is configured for the lowest common denominator to boot just about anything. But once installed "better" configuration is installed but then you may need boot options or additional drivers.

It also can be related to BIOS settings.

I do not know AMD as I have nVidia, but I always have to use nomodeset boot option until I install proprietary drivers.

At grub menu you can use e for edit, scroll to linux line and replace quiet splash with nomodeset.
How to set NOMODESET and other kernel boot options in grub2 - both BIOS liveCD & grub first boot ( also UEFI with grub)
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1613132
Possible boot options suggested by ubfan1
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2184839&p=12871710#post12871710
Installer BIOS screens shown
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootOptions

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Troubleshooting/VideoDriverDetection
Ubuntu Precise Installation Guide - AMD/ATI
http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubuntu_Precise_Installation_Guide#Video_Tearing
Add Hardware Graphics - ATI: After installing ATI Driver: From QIII
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2050320



I did the opposite with my Windows 7 repair flash drive. Syslinux is a Windows type boot loader that uses boot flag and has boot code in Partition boot sector. With my Windows repair flash drive I just installed grub to it and chainloaded a standard Windows boot stanza to the partition boot sector. The only issue I had to be careful of was Windows already had a /Boot partition can grub wants to create a /boot partition. In Linux those would be different, but in Windows you cannot have both as it is not case sensitive. So grub & BCD coexist in same boot folder.

[sudodus]

Some HP computers have problems booting from USB with grub, except the grub version that came with Ubuntu 13.04, 'Raring'. I made a chainloader for that purpose, see these links

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick#Booting_the_Computer_from_USB

Howto help USB boot drives (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2196858)

[benbrockn]

I do not think your issue is solved by the choice of boot loader. It is the configuration of the system and or boot options that you can add.

The live installer is configured for the lowest common denominator to boot just about anything. But once installed "better" configuration is installed but then you may need boot options or additional drivers.

It also can be related to BIOS settings.

I do not know AMD as I have nVidia, but I always have to use nomodeset boot option until I install proprietary drivers.

At grub menu you can use e for edit, scroll to linux line and replace quiet splash with nomodeset.
How to set NOMODESET and other kernel boot options in grub2 - both BIOS liveCD & grub first boot ( also UEFI with grub)
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1613132
Possible boot options suggested by ubfan1
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2184839&p=12871710#post12871710
Installer BIOS screens shown
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootOptions

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Troubleshooting/VideoDriverDetection
Ubuntu Precise Installation Guide - AMD/ATI
http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubuntu_Precise_Installation_Guide#Video_Tearing
Add Hardware Graphics - ATI: After installing ATI Driver: From QIII
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2050320



I did the opposite with my Windows 7 repair flash drive. Syslinux is a Windows type boot loader that uses boot flag and has boot code in Partition boot sector. With my Windows repair flash drive I just installed grub to it and chainloaded a standard Windows boot stanza to the partition boot sector. The only issue I had to be careful of was Windows already had a /Boot partition can grub wants to create a /boot partition. In Linux those would be different, but in Windows you cannot have both as it is not case sensitive. So grub & BCD coexist in same boot folder.


Hey thanks for the reply, unfortunately grub doesn't even load. The only way I get it to work is through virtualbox (i'm sure my really old xp laptop will work too, but I can't test it atm). But using virtualbox I can get into the grub file and change parameters. I already tried nomodeset, I'm unsure of other parameters I can use though. I don't have time tonight, but I'll look into those links, thanks.

[benbrockn]

Some HP computers have problems booting from USB with grub, except the grub version that came with Ubuntu 13.04, 'Raring'. I made a chainloader for that purpose, see these links

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick#Booting_the_Computer_from_USB

Howto help USB boot drives (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2196858)


Thanks for the links as well, I'll be able to check them later.