Failing to boot from LiveCD or LiveUSB on HP EliteDesk

arshadnoor · n00b Joined: 01 Jul 2015 Posts: 4

I'm trying to install Gentoo on an HP Desktop mini http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/desktops/hp-elitedesk-705-g1-desktop-mini-pc-%28energy-star%29-p-j6d09ut-aba--1 and am having problems with both LiveCD and LiveUSB methods: the boot process keeps complaining that the media was not found.

I have confirmed that the LiveCD is fine since it works all the way through (with a regular HP desktop) to give me a shell prompt with an internal CDROM; however because the mini does not have a built-in CDROM, I'm using an external drive and the same LiveCD fails to follow through. (The desktop also fails to boot to the shell prompt with the external CDROM).

I have also confirmed that the LiveUSB works since the regular desktop finds the media on /dev/sdb1 and boots up to the shell prompt; but the mini complains it cannot find the media.

What am I missing? Thanks, in advance.

Keruskerfuerst · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 1:48 pm Post subject:

Where is the drive attached? USB or any other port?

arshadnoor · n00b Joined: 01 Jul 2015 Posts: 4

If you mean the CDROM drive, it is on a USB port; I've tried both USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports (this device has both) - but no joy.

Buffoon · Veteran Joined: 17 Jun 2015 Posts: 1369 Location: EU or US

Does SystemRescueCD boot? http://www.sysresccd.org/Sysresccd-manual-en_How_to_install_SystemRescueCd_on_an_USB-stick

arshadnoor · n00b Joined: 01 Jul 2015 Posts: 4

Yes, it does! And so does CentOS 6.x 64-bit. CentOS boots off the external DVD-ROM, while SystemRescueCD boots and executes off of a USB stick.

I'm new to Gentoo, so I have to ask: what makes SystemRescueCD different from the latest Gentoo Minimal CD? What options do I have now for installing Gentoo on this device?

Thanks.

Keruskerfuerst · Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2015 7:28 am Post subject:

To boot off a USB drive, the kernel (included in the image) must contain the drivers to access the the drive.
Centos does contain these drivers.

Which ones, i don´t know.
You can try to check the kernel config of the Centos kernel and gentoo kernel.

arshadnoor · n00b Joined: 01 Jul 2015 Posts: 4

I will check that, thank you.

But, is there a way to install Gentoo after booting up with the SystemRescueCD? Since I already have a Gentoo-based system booted up from USB and can see the CDROM now, can I begin at this point (https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Handbook:AMD64/Installation/Disks) and install the latest Gentoo from the CD or other distribution? TIA.

Keruskerfuerst · Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2015 4:36 pm Post subject:

Yes, if the Systemrescuecd contains a live enviroment (to install the stage3 tarball and execute bash instructions (have a look at manual)).