Creating LiveUSB from LiveDVD, and Installing

niero · n00b Joined: 28 Sep 2011 Posts: 4

I've been reading through the install docs, FAQ's, several net searches, and these forums, but I have found an understand regarding this.

I have a Windows 7 desktop.
I have a Dell Inspiron B130 laptop, currently running Debian.
I burned the Live DVD and booted it in the laptop and it was awesome! This was the first time a Linux distro played music and easily recognized a USB key. Very cool.
I'm looking to do one of two things:
1. Either install from my LiveDVD onto the laptop. I like that the DVD has everything, almost 3 GB of stuff, as this laptop has no access to the internet.
or
2. From my Windows machine, create a LiveUSB with the contents of the LiveDVD and boot my laptop that way.
My preference is # 1.

I'm still quite a novice w/ Linux, especially regarding configuring things by hand (ie lots of commands).
Again, I haven't found anything in the documentation yet.

Thank you

Jaglover · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 2:11 pm Post subject:

Welcome to Gentoo!

niero,

you should understand Gentoo is not a regular Linux where you install binaries from an install media.

In Gentoo you boot into Linux from any media, be it already installed Debian on your hard drive or some liveCD on CD/DVD or USB stick. SystemRescueCD is a popular choice because it has good hardware support.

Once in Linux environment you follow Gentoo Handbook to download the sources from internet. Then, using tools provided by Gentoo, you build your own Linux.

Gentoo without internet is possible, but not much fun, you'll get lots of hassle instead.
_________________
My Gentoo installation notes.
Please learn how to denote units correctly!

niero · n00b Joined: 28 Sep 2011 Posts: 4

Hi Jaglover,

Thanks for the reply.
Hmm, interesting. Well, I'll have to wait until I can get internet access. In the meantime, is it possible to run Gentoo from my USB stick? Just like the LiveDVD? The documentation I was reading didn't make it sound as straightforward as the DVD. I think this would be the best option for me at the moment.

Thank you again

niero · n00b Joined: 28 Sep 2011 Posts: 4

If someone could throw me a bone here, that'd be great : )

Can I run a LiveUSB version of Gentoo from my USB stick? Is there a special procedure? I looked through that part of the docs, but I am doing this off a Windows machine.

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:15 pm Post subject:

niero,

The liveDVD iso file can be copied block by block to a USB stick.

Boot the liveDVD and mount the filesystem where teh liveDVD.iso file is.
Insert your USB. It must be at least 4G.
Run the dmesg command to see what block device name the USB stick has. It will be /dev/sd..
Close to the end of the dmesg output.

Now you can do

mp342 · Apprentice Joined: 03 Aug 2010 Posts: 165 Location: France

http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/pr/releases/10.0/faq.xml#usb

niero · n00b Joined: 28 Sep 2011 Posts: 4

Thank you, NeddySeagoon and mp342,
I really appreciate it. I will try that out and see what happens. I'm not very good with the CLI so this will be good practice.