topic title: grub on MX14 CD?
Posts: 9
fsmithred
Joined: 02 Oct 2011
#1
In this thread, stevepusser mentioned that the MX14 liveCD/DVD uses grub to boot. Is this true, and if so, can you tell me how you did it? Thanks.

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Posts: 1,308
BitJam
Joined: 31 Aug 2009
#2
The MX-14 LiveCD uses the isolinux bootloader. The MX-14 LiveUSB uses the related syslinux/extlinux bootloader. But it is easy to boot LiveCDs (and LiveUSBs) with legacy grub. I can post instructions if you are interested.

For some reason, it is common for people to say the MX-14 LiveCD boots with grub. For example,
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perpetuates the misconception. I have repeatedly tried to get this misinformation corrected, but so far to no avail.
Posts: 2,238
dolphin_oracle
Joined: 16 Dec 2007
#3
For some reason, it is common for people to say the MX-14 LiveCD boots with grub. For example, this documentation page perpetuates the misconception. I have repeatedly tried to get this misinformation corrected, but so far to no avail.
I'm guilty of this myself. I thinks its because our custom menu screens are all look the same.
Posts: 9
fsmithred
Joined: 02 Oct 2011

18 Apr 2014, 20:20 #4

Thanks, BitJam. Yes, I'd like to see instructions for booting from grub. Chainload? Uh, what I'd really like to know is how to boot from a CD and get to a Live USB on a computer that won't boot from USB. Knowing that would give me another test computer that's currently sitting dormant on the floor next to my desk.
Posts: 1,308
BitJam
Joined: 31 Aug 2009
#5
fsmithred wrote: what I'd really like to know is how to boot from a CD and get to a Live USB on a computer that won't boot from USB. Knowing that would give me another test computer that's currently sitting dormant on the floor next to my desk.
That's trivial with antiX/MX Make a LiveUSB and a LiveCD from the same antiX or MX .iso file and then when you boot the LiveCD add this option:

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from=usb
If you read the thread you linked to in your first post you will see I'm quoted saying this there.

Booting a LiveCD with legacy grub is done by adding a /boot/grub/ directory with the usual files in it and then using this parameter with mkisofs (or genisoimage):

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-b boot/grub/stage2_eltorito
The full set of parameters I use is:

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 -R -b boot/grub/stage1_eltorito -no-emul-boot 
-input-charset iso8859-1  -quiet -gid 0 -uid 0 -V LiveCD
-boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table -o $ISO_FILE $ISO_DIR
We can provide you with a"message" file that will make the legacy grub bootloader look just like the isolinux bootloader, including all the fancy menus. However, I have been unsuccessful in chainloading from a LiveCD to a hard drive or a LiveUSB with legacy grub. It may not be possible. I've only tested it in VirtualBox.

edit: Include MX as well as antiX
anticapitalista
Posts: 5,955
Site Admin
Joined: 11 Sep 2007
#6
fsmithred - hello!

We use our own live init scripts (developed by BitJam) and they include the possibility to boot with a from=usb cheat. As far as I know, debian-live scripts do not have this option.

The code for our live init script is here:


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BTW for those that do not know, fsmithred is the dev of refracta and one of the original authors of the snapshot app adapted for antiX.
Posts: 9
fsmithred
Joined: 02 Oct 2011
#7
Thanks, guys. Wow. A lot there. I believe I've tried to boot a usb drive from a grub-legacy boot CD and couldn't do it, because the bios didn't see the usb drive. In my searches, I came across plop bootmanager, and I may try that for my test machine. Just need to add a couple files to /boot and a menu entry to grub2 on the hard drive. Not sure if I want to mess with the init script. I looked at it, but I'm lost. Gonna put that on hold for now, but I may have more questions about it later.