4GB PENDRIVE
WINDOWS XP PRO
Linux Mepis 8
what I tested:
1 - windows in pendrive, booting from pendrive
Result: Failed
Result: Failed
Tried to install windows on my pendrive (4Gb). After removing my hard disk from my computer, I was sure everything was working on my pendrive. I put windows cd in the driver and tried to install, everything goes fine until the setup process begins, when the copying files screen appears, it freezes, with 20 or something %. Something wrong happened, i rebooted.
I'm almost sure it can't be done. And it damaged my pendrive...1gb disappeared, now it is a 3gb pendrive.
2 - dimensioning pendrive:
Result: Success with warnings
I wanted a pendrive like this: 2.5 gb formatted in FAT32 and 0.5 gb formatted in ext3.
-step 1 - failed: used gparted to dimension it, but windows complains that is unformatted and it can't be formatted.
Even if you:
create and format FAT32 in gparted, its not accessible in windows.
create a FAT32 partition in gparted and format in windows.
in another words: format Fat32 in gparted DOES NOT work for me.
-step 2 - success: used windows to format all the pendrive in Fat32 type. After, I used gparted to resize the disk as above. So, the partition was visible, I just resized the Ext3 partition and applied.
3 - Writing test:
Result: Success
Linux as far as I knew, couldn't write in FAT32 partitions or was NTFS?. Now it is possible.
4 - Tried to make a bootable pendrive:
Result: Failed
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/create-a-mepis-8-usb-key-using-the-live-cd/
This procedure did not work for:
-unallocated, unformatted, formatted in EXT3. The application system assistant doesn't show my usb pendrive (sda) on the dropdown list.
-even REPAIR SYSTEM BOOT tab failed
5) tried this long procedure:
Result: Success with another laptop, failed with mine.
Booting XP From A USB Drive, Step By Step
no success, my laptop is not able to boot up from usb flash memory
6) installed this software to see if it works:
Result: Success with another laptop, failed with mine.
Result: Failed
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/create-a-mepis-8-usb-key-using-the-live-cd/
This procedure did not work for:
-unallocated, unformatted, formatted in EXT3. The application system assistant doesn't show my usb pendrive (sda) on the dropdown list.
-even REPAIR SYSTEM BOOT tab failed
5) tried this long procedure:
Result: Success with another laptop, failed with mine.
Booting XP From A USB Drive, Step By Step
no success, my laptop is not able to boot up from usb flash memory
6) installed this software to see if it works:
Result: Success with another laptop, failed with mine.
http://www.prime-expert.com/flashboot/features.php
It worked for linux Knoppix 5.x with another laptop.
my laptop is not able to boot up from a usb flash memory.
7) Tried to recover data from my sata notebook hard drive using linux mepis 8.
Result: Failed
I would mount the harddisk and copy the data to my pendrive.
During the mount stage I got this message:
"Mounted is denied because NTFS is marked to be in use. Logfile indicates unclean shutdown.
use -force option for your own responsability"
So, I did not use force option because my data could be damaged. I decided to buy an adapter.
It worked for linux Knoppix 5.x with another laptop.
my laptop is not able to boot up from a usb flash memory.
7) Tried to recover data from my sata notebook hard drive using linux mepis 8.
Result: Failed
I would mount the harddisk and copy the data to my pendrive.
During the mount stage I got this message:
"Mounted is denied because NTFS is marked to be in use. Logfile indicates unclean shutdown.
use -force option for your own responsability"
So, I did not use force option because my data could be damaged. I decided to buy an adapter.
Linux is not able to see the NTFS partition when it is marked in used or indicates unclean shutdown.
8) Tried to put my 2gb memory cards from my faulty laptop to my laptop, success!
Result: Success
8) Tried to put my 2gb memory cards from my faulty laptop to my laptop, success!
Result: Success
9) Adapter (Picture above). My harddisk has a special adapter that made me crazy, i thought it was a special type because i did not know it was, nor that it was removable.
Result: Luck
*********************************************************************
Lessons learnt:
1 - file called "ramdisk.sy_" in the i386 folder. The trailing underscore is Microsoft's way of telling you it's a compressed version of the file, which must be expanded before use.
to extract: "expand -r ramdisk.sy_ c:\destination_folder"
2 -extract service packs without installing:
enter the command "WindowsServer2003-KB889101-SP1-x86-ENU.exe -x" (without the quotes)
Remembered:
doskey is the command to setup a command in DOS. For example, if you are used to type ls linux command do this in DOS: "doskey ls=dir"
Conclusion:
-lost 1gb of my pendrive
-Gparted does not partition FAT32 well.
-I can't boot from a pendrive. But procedures exist.
-Gparted does not partition FAT32 well.
-I can't boot from a pendrive. But procedures exist.
-Linux Mepis CAN write on fat32 partitions.
-Gparted can resize fat32 partitions with files and folders without any damage.
-My laptop has 2gb memory now-Gotta buy an adapter SATA to usb to recover my data.
-My next laptop must have USB flash boot support.
-Remove the adapter saved sometime, I would probably return my SATA/USB to the store saying that my Harddisk is not SATA.
