Freshly installed Easy not starting from live-usb

[szept]

Cutting long story short... I've downloaded the latest Scarthgap 6.5.4.2 image and I used EasyDD (from my Easy 5.8.3) to write in on the pendrive. It looked like everything was fine (got the green notice that I may unplug the drive). However when I picked the pendrive from the bootmenu after reboot I only got black screen with a flashing underline symbol. I tried another pendrive, thinking that one might have been faulty, but got the same behaviour. Hence I tried older Easy, Scarthgap 6.5.4, but same thing happened again. I thought I'll try even older version, the one I started my adventure with Easy (I think) - Dunfell 4.5.5 as I know then I've used that EasyDD and it worked (after that I think I only updated every version, so newer used EasyDD since again). Yes, that worked fine...

So my question is - has anything changed in the installation procedure between Dunfell 4.5.5 and Scarthgap 6.5.4 or maybe the EasyDD is different now and I need to get a new one?

[CF-DKS]

I've occasionally had a similar experience, in my case it depends on what computer I am trying to boot the USB drive on. Most often if I encounter this behaviour it is on a desktop and the USB stick works on a laptop. And yes, there is a difference between the early versions and the recent ones. Used to be the system was on the boot drive, in my case sdc1, but with later versions it was on sdc2. I have sometimes encountered error messages on my desktop computer that the O/S can't be found. Also, I have an older laptop on which I have installed Easy to the internal drive. It installs the older versions just fine, but with the later versions I get exactly what you described, just a blinking cursor and it does not boot.

[szept]

Ok, so indeed these versions start and work normally on my laptop, but not on my older PC from 2009 (Motherboard Asrock G31M-S).

The strange thing is it must be due to the "startup/boot code" (or whatever you call it) in Easy itself. I mean, I started using Easy from Dunfell and I did an auto-update since, up to Scarthgap 6.4.5 and everything was working fine (I'm running Easy from live-USB). The only manual work I had to do inbetween was the Kirkstone update to Scarthgap 6.0. The only reason I came across this issue was a bad block bitmap checksum error on my Easy Scarthgap 6.4.5 on my primary pendrive. I run Easy from it few more times with that error until Easy went down at one point. Then I formatted that pendrive dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdd bs=1M status=progress, created new partition and badblocks -sv /dev/sdd1 haven't detect any errors, so I installed the latest Easy Scarthgap 6.5.4.2 on it via EasyDD. When I've tried to start it up on my PC, once I selected the pendrive from boot menu, instead of Easy startup menu, I could only see a blinking cursor. Obviously I thought it is the pendrive, so I installed same Easy on another pendrive, which I knew was fine, but exactly the same happened. After @CF-DKS response I tried both pendrives on my laptop and Easy started and run fine from both of them.

What I have noticed was the Easy Limine Boot Manager menu has changed - in my updated Scarthgap the menu was in the top left corner, while in freshly installed Scarthgap it's in the middle. Also, the SAVE and EXIT is much quicker on newly installed Scarthgap - my updated Scarthgap was very slow in saving session and exit, sometimes it took up to 5-10 minutes (on multiple computers and laptops, even quite new ones), while newly installed Scarthgap takes less than a minute! In the meantime, when I had an idea to re-do all the updates from Dunfell to Scarthgap (thinking it might be my only option, but then I've noticed there's no Scarthgap 6.0 files available to download), I've tried to install older versions and Kirkstone 5.8.5 didn't work as well on my old PC, but it started and run fine on laptop, but I've noticed an odd thing - the Easy Limine Boot Manager menu was in the middle! Also, that newly installed on a pendrive Kirkstone was also quick in saving session. My conclusion was the Easy's Limine Boot Manager (code) has changed somewhere between Dunfell 4.5.5 (which is working on my PC if I freshly install it onto the pendrive) and Kirkstone 5.8.5 (which is NOT).

Any ideas how to get the latest Scarthgap running on my PC?
Right now I'm running Easy Kirkstone 5.8.3 from my backup pendrive which is working fine on my PC, but that's the "updated Easy" (all the way from Dunfell).

P.S.
How to check version of Easy while running that Easy (if I miss the loading info)?

[BarryK]

The Limine menu changed to being in the middle because it is a later version of Limine.
I forget what version made the change, but developer mintsuki thought it looked better in the middle of the screen.
Easy is currently using Limine 7.12.0, which isn't the latest.

You can see what version of Easy is currently running in /etc/DISTRO_SPECS
also in /etc/lsb-release

[Caramel]

...

So my question is - has anything changed in the installation procedure between Dunfell 4.5.5 and Scarthgap 6.5.4 or maybe the EasyDD is different now and I need to get a new one?

The only change I see is the limine version.

You should test Easy Scarthgap with the limine of Easy 4.5.5. Overwrite the directory /EFI and the .sys file in the first partition with the files from Easy 4.5.5 . Do not change limine.cfg

[szept]

The only change I see is the limine version.

You should test Easy Scarthgap with the limine of Easy 4.5.5. Overwrite the directory /EFI and the .sys file in the first partition with the files from Easy 4.5.5 . Do not change limine.cfg

I just wanted to post this idea and ask if I could copy old Limine boot loader (from Dunfell) to latest EasyOS Scarthgap to make it work!

Ok, so I need to overwrite the directory /EFI (where are two .EFI files inside BOOT folder) and the limine.sys file (all in the first partition) with the files from Easy 4.5.5. Can I do it from EasyOS running on live-USB I'm changing (I assume yes, because it's just a boot loader, so not in use when Easy is running) or do I have to do it from another OS?

[Caramel]

...
Ok, so I need to overwrite the directory /EFI (where are 2 BOOT files inside Boot folder) and the limine.sys file in the first partition with the files from Easy 4.5.5. Can I do it from EasyOS running on live-USB I'm changing (I assume yes, because it's just a boot loader, so not in use when Easy is running) or do I have to do it from another OS?

I also think that there should be no problem.

[BarryK]

@szept ,
Let us know if Caramel's suggestion works.

Mintsuki has had a lot of trouble getting quirky old PCs to work with Limine, and it is possible that she fixed it then in a later version it got broken again. There are lots of conflicting requirements, and I can imagine that if she figured out a fix for someone, there is the possibility that it broke some earlier fix.

It would be good also to try the latest version, go here and download the v8.7.0-binary tarball:

https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/tags

...open it up and you will find BOOTX64.EFI and limine-bios.sys

Probably best to try that first, make sure the latest limine still has the problem.

Note, if booting on an old bios pc, not uefi, then if you roll back to limine from easy 4.5.5, the file limine-bios.sys has a different name ...off the top of my head, it is limine.sys, and to get it to work you might have to rename it to limine-bios.sys
Note also, booting on a uefi pc, limine-bios.sys isn't used.

[tallboy]

I don't know if it is relevant, but one of my old PC's refuses to accept my 64Gb USB3.0 flash stick, even if it should be back compatible with older USB verions. All my 32Gb sticks works OK.

tallboy

[szept]

@szept ,
Let us know if Caramel's suggestion works.

Ok, so I downloaded the latest Limine 8.7 - sdc1 is the Kirkstone 5.8.3 (my backed up Easy), sdd1 is the latest Scarthgap 6.5.4.2

I copied over the 3 files, without renaming anything and I on the old PC it's still not booting, while on the laptop I get this.

But normal Limine menu (in the middle - new style) after this message is gone.

Then I copied same 3 files (and I deleted the limine-bios.sys) as @Caramel suggested from my backup Easy Kirkstone 5.8.3 and unfortunately I only get the blinking underscore on my old PC, while on laptop Limine boot menu (old style - top left corner) loads fine.

Any suggestions what to try next?

[Caramel]

...

Then I copied same 3 files (and I deleted the limine-bios.sys) as @Caramel suggested from my backup Easy Kirkstone 5.8.3 and unfortunately I only get the blinking underscore on my old PC, while on laptop Limine boot menu (old style - top left corner) loads fine.

Any suggestions what to try next?

I am surprised by the result.

So other test,
if you have a empty pendrive, install easy 4.5.5 on it with EasyDD. Just after, replace the 3 files (vmlinuz, initrd and easy.sfs) in the easyos directory of the second partition by the Scarthgap versions of these files.

[BarryK]

Yes.

Or, if you have latest Easy on a pendrive, that is not booting, and you tried the change of Limine and that didn't work, you can try just to rollback the kernel.

For $WKG_DEV and $WKG_DIR for the new pendrive, say "sdc2" and "easyos/", you can copy these from the old easy 4.5.5, if you have booted up the old pendrive:

Copy vmlinuz to /mnt/sdc2/easyos/
Copy /lib/modules to /mnt/sdc2/easyos/.session/usr/lib/
Copy /lib/firmware to /mnt/sdc2/easyos/.session/usr/lib/

Or booted up any distro. The exercise is to copy the kernel, modules and firmware from one pendrive to the other.
Then try and boot it.

EDIT:
I just remembered something.
The above instructions will not work if the new pendrive has a password to encrypt folders in the working-partition.
That's because easy 4.5.5 uses an older v1 fscrypt technique.

[szept]

If you have a empty pendrive, install easy 4.5.5 on it with EasyDD. Just after, replace the 3 files (vmlinuz, initrd and easy.sfs) in the easyos directory of the second partition by the Scarthgap versions of these files.

I'll try that later on today!

Or, if you have latest Easy on a pendrive, that is not booting, and you tried the change of Limine and that didn't work, you can try just to rollback the kernel.

Can I rollback on a newly installed Easy Scarthgap 6.5.4.2? Cuz right now the only Easy-live-pendrive with older versions is the backup pendrive with Kirkstone 5.8.3 (updated since Dunfell). My primary pendrive, where I had Scarthgap 6.4.5 (updated since Dunfell and the backup pendrive is a backup of this one made at some point in the past) had a fault (bad blocks) and has been formatted. Currently it has a fresh install of Scarthgap 6.5.4.2. I also have another pendrive, also with a fresh install of Scarthgap 6.5.4.2 - just to make sure it's not a pendrive fault.

I just remembered something.
The above instructions will not work if the new pendrive has a password to encrypt folders in the working-partition.
That's because easy 4.5.5 uses an older v1 fscrypt technique.

Rite! That was the reason of the Kirkstone update to Scarthgap 6.0!

[FeodorF]

Hi!

No problems to report while using my old Lenovo BIOS box from 2010.
I have used Kirkstone 5.8.4 easydd and a 32GB USB 3.0 stick for the image.

Side note: I do not use encryption for the stick only password for root/zeus.

-Computer-
Processor : 2x Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU E3400 @ 2.60GHz
Memory : 3545MB (305MB used)
Machine Type : Physical machine
Operating System : EasyOS Scarthgap64
User Name : root (root)
Date/Time : Mon Jan 20 11:49:17 2025
-Display-
Resolution : 1920x1080 pixels
OpenGL Renderer : Mesa Intel(R) G41 (ELK)
X11 Vendor : The X.Org Foundation
-Audio Devices-
Audio Adapter : HDA-Intel - HDA Intel
-Input Devices-
SEM USB Keyboard
SEM USB Keyboard Consumer Control
SEM USB Keyboard System Control
PixArt USB Optical Mouse
Power Button
Power Button
PC Speaker
HDA Intel Front Mic
HDA Intel Rear Mic
HDA Intel Line
HDA Intel Line Out
HDA Intel Front Headphone
-Printers (CUPS)-
CUPS-PDF
Samsung_SCX-3400_Series : <i>Default</i>
-SCSI Disks-
SMI USB DISK

[Caramel]

If you have a empty pendrive, install easy 4.5.5 on it with EasyDD. Just after, replace the 3 files (vmlinuz, initrd and easy.sfs) in the easyos directory of the second partition by the Scarthgap versions of these files.

I'll try that later on today!

...

It is possible that the directory easyos in Easy 4.5.5 is too small. In this case it would be necessary to enlarge the partition

EDIT: it is enough to plug and launch once the Easy 4.5.5 pendrive so the second partition grows. And then deletion and recreation of the directory /easyos (Deletion to be sure the hidden files was removed)

[Caramel]

...

Then I copied same 3 files (and I deleted the limine-bios.sys) as @Caramel suggested from my backup Easy Kirkstone 5.8.3 and unfortunately I only get the blinking underscore on my old PC, while on laptop Limine boot menu (old style - top left corner) loads fine.

Any suggestions what to try next?

I am surprised by the result.

...

I made a few tests.

The .sys file (that serves to boot in BIOS mode) is related to the first 446 bytes of the MBR of the pendrive. The copy of the sys file from a version to another do not work as this part of the MBR is not copied.
I'll try with the copy of these bytes.

A curious thing in the tests, if the sys file is not correct, the boot in UEFI mode do not work(There is only a fixed underscore). If the file is totally removed the boot(UEFI) works!

So if the computer can boot in UEFI, a thing to try is to remove the limine-bios.sys from the first partition of the pendrive (and test the boot in UEFI mode)

EDIT: test of utilisation of the sys file from version 4.5.5 with Easy Scarthgap in a pendrive, with also copy of the 446 first bytes of the MBR of the 4.5.5 version.
This time , no error message but the flashing underscore.

EDIT2 : Maybe the bootloader in the MBR(the 446 first bytes) contains the physical address of the sys file in the first partition and the address of the copied file is not the same ? (EDIT3: other test proved this assumption was wrong)

[szept]

If you have a empty pendrive, install easy 4.5.5 on it with EasyDD. Just after, replace the 3 files (vmlinuz, initrd and easy.sfs) in the easyos directory of the second partition by the Scarthgap versions of these files.

It is possible that the directory easyos in Easy 4.5.5 is too small. In this case it would be necessary to enlarge the partition

EDIT: it is enough to plug and launch once the Easy 4.5.5 pendrive so the second partition grows. And then deletion and recreation of the directory /easyos (Deletion to be sure the hidden files was removed)

Ok, so I see a trouble with replacing these 3 files...

This is how Easy Dunfell 4.5.5 easy folder looks like:

and this is how it looks for Easy Scarthgap 6.5.4.2

Quite straightforward to replace initrd and vmlinuz, but what about .sfs? Shall I copy easy.sfs from Scarthgap 6.5.4.2 to sdd2/easyos/sfs/easyos/oe/dunfell/ and rename it to easy_4.5.5_amd64.sfs?

Another question is the encryption issue - I use a password - isn;t that a problem?

In the meantime I replaced the 3 Limine files in Dunfell 4.5.5 to the latest Limine 8.7. I wasn't sure shall I rename the limine-bios.sys to limine.sys or just leave it as it is.

On the first go I just removed old limine.sys and I left limine-bios.sys with the original name. During startup I get an error that stage 3 file cannot be found. Hence I rename it and on the second try I get this:

[BarryK]

A curious thing in the tests, if the sys file is not correct, the boot in UEFI mode do not work(There is only a fixed underscore). If the file is totally removed the boot(UEFI) works!

So if the computer can boot in UEFI, a thing to try is to remove the limine-bios.sys from the first partition of the pendrive (and test the boot in UEFI mode)

That's interesting.
On my UEFI computers, I leave out that limine-bios.sys (or limine.sys) file -- didn't know there would be a problem if it was left in and was the wrong version.

[Caramel]

...
In the meantime I replaced the 3 Limine files in Dunfell 4.5.5 to the latest Limine 8.7. I wasn't sure shall I rename the limine-bios.sys to limine.sys or just leave it as it is.

@szept
-The first idea was to start with an fresh Easy Scarthgap pendrive and to replace the Limine files in the boot patition (the first partition) by those of the 4.5.5 version.
Unfortunately it did not work

-The next idea is to start with an Easy 4.5.5 pendrive (used at least once so that the second partition has been enlarged).

This time we replace completely the content of the second partition by the initial content of the second partition in the Scarthgap version (initial content = the 3 usual files vmlinuz, initrd, easy.sfs)
We do not modify the first partition

I repeat:
After creation and launch of the Easy 4.5.5 pendrive. the directory easyos in the second partition must be totally deleted. Then a new empty easyos directory is created in the same place
The 3 usual files from the Scarthgap version are added in this directory

(Ad for my script: If you do this from a running Scarthgap version you can test my script viewtopic.php?p=140424#p140424 to copy the 3 files , notably easy.sfs. You just have to enter the good partition name . End of ad)

The first partition must remain unchanged

All that remains is to test the obtained hybrid Easy pendrive

Another question is the encryption issue - I use a password - isn;t that a problem?

If Easy in the pendrive starts, the firt launch will be a normal first launch and you could enter a password.

[szept]

This time we replace completely the content of the second partition by the initial content of the second partition in the Scarthgap version (initial content = the 3 usual files vmlinuz, initrd, easy.sfs)
We do not modify the first partition

I repeat:
After creation and launch of the Easy 4.5.5 pendrive. the directory easyos in the second partition must be totally deleted. Then a new empty easyos directory is created in the same place
The 3 usual files from the Scarthgap version are added in this directory

Done and working!!!

Thanks a lot for help guy. If anyone would like to do some more investigation into old computers booting, then I'm happy to do more tests

[n00b]

This time we replace completely the content of the second partition by the initial content of the second partition in the Scarthgap version (initial content = the 3 usual files vmlinuz, initrd, easy.sfs)
We do not modify the first partition

I repeat:
After creation and launch of the Easy 4.5.5 pendrive. the directory easyos in the second partition must be totally deleted. Then a new empty easyos directory is created in the same place
The 3 usual files from the Scarthgap version are added in this directory

Done and working!!!

What is the partition type of the boot partition (0xef EFI (FAT12/16/32) or something else like 0x01 FAT12)?
Some computers may not boot if the partition type is 0xef.

This terminal command will show the partition type:

Code: Select all

# lsblk -o +PARTTYPE

[szept]

What is the partition type of the boot partition (0xef EFI (FAT12/16/32) or something else like 0x01 FAT12)?
Some computers may not boot if the partition type is 0xef.

This terminal command will show the partition type:

Code: Select all

# lsblk -o +PARTTYPE

Code: Select all

lsblk -o +PARTTYPE
NAME   MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINTS            PARTTYPE
fd0      2:0    1     4K  0 disk                        
loop0    7:0    0 879,3M  1 loop /mnt/.easy_ro/easy_sfs 
sda      8:0    0 465,8G  0 disk                        
├─sda1   8:1    0   100M  0 part                        0x7
├─sda2   8:2    0   100G  0 part                        0x7
├─sda3   8:3    0   100G  0 part                        0x7
├─sda4   8:4    0     1K  0 part                        0x5
├─sda5   8:5    0 168,3G  0 part                        0x83
├─sda6   8:6    0     2G  0 part [SWAP]                 0x82
└─sda7   8:7    0  95,4G  0 part                        0x83
sdb      8:16   0 465,8G  0 disk                        
├─sdb1   8:17   0 234,4G  0 part                        0x7
└─sdb2   8:18   0 231,4G  0 part                        0x7
sdc      8:32   1  28,9G  0 disk                        
├─sdc1   8:33   1     7M  0 part                        0xef
└─sdc2   8:34   1  28,9G  0 part /mnt/sdc2              0x83
sr0     11:0    1  1024M  0 rom                         
zram0  252:0    0     0B  0 disk                        
zram1  252:1    0   4,6G  0 disk /mnt/.easy_rw          
zram2  252:2    0     0B  0 disk

If anyone would like to do some more investigation into old computers booting, then I'm happy to do more tests

[Caramel]

...
What is the partition type of the boot partition (0xef EFI (FAT12/16/32) or something else like 0x01 FAT12)?
Some computers may not boot if the partition type is 0xef.

It was a good idea, but here the partition type of the boot partition in Easy 4.5.5 pendrive is EFI (FAT-12/16/32) and in this case the boot works.

@szept , can your computer boot in UEFI mode or can it boot only in BIOS mode ?

In the photography, message viewtopic.php?p=140832#p140832, the boot was in BIOs mode

[szept]

@szept , can your computer boot in UEFI mode or can it boot only in BIOS mode ?
In the photography, message viewtopic.php?p=140832#p140832, the boot was in BIOs mode

As I mentioned before it's a PC from 2009, so I don't think it has UEFI. I was looking for it in BIOS settings, but haven't find anything. I can do pictures of every BIOS page if you'd like check yourself.

[Caramel]

Observation (Maybe useless)

The command fdisk (with subcommand i) applied to the boot partition of the Easy img gives:

For Easy 4.5.5

Device: /files/downloads/easy-4.5.5-amd64.img1
Boot: *
Start: 2048
End: 16383
Sectors: 14336
Cylinders: 4
Size: 7M
Id: ef
Type: EFI (FAT-12/16/32)
Start-C/H/S: 0/33/3
End-C/H/S: 4/16/16
Attrs: 80

For the last Easy Scarthgap:

Device: /mnt/wkg/easy-6.5.4.2-amd64.img1
Boot: *
Start: 2048
End: 16383
Sectors: 14336
Cylinders: 1
Size: 7M
Id: ef
Type: EFI (FAT-12/16/32)
Start-C/H/S: 0/32/33
End-C/H/S: 1/5/4
Attrs: 80

The structure are different (4 cylinders in Easy 4.5.5, only 1 in Scarthgap)

But maybe it has nothing to do with the problem

EDIT
Observation 2
The version of limine in Easy Kirstone 5.8.5 of december 2024 is 7.12 as in the last Easy Scarthgap but the size of limine-bios.sys files are different.

[Caramel]

(Example with the 7.12.0 version and a pendrive with EasyOS Scarthgap installed by Easydd)

The files limine-bios.sys used in the Easy Scarthgap and in Esy Kirkstone 5.8.5 were apparently compiled from the code source (available page https://github.com/limine-bootloader/li ... ag/v7.12.0)

But it is not neccessary to compile the .sys file.
It is not launched in EasyOS. It is launched by the Bios (or something like that, I'm not sure of the exact stages).

There is already a .sys file available on github in the binary release (https://github.com/limine-bootloader/li ... 2.0-binary).
But ,as seen in tests, It is not enough to copy it in the first partition so that limine works in Bios mode.

It is necessary to install a suitable bootloader in the MBR of the pendrive. We achieve this thanks to a program named limine.

In the binary release there is a version of this program(limine.exe) usable on Windows.

It is not difficult to create one usable on Easy.
Download the entire binary release (via the Code button and then Download Zip). In the extracted directory, execute make.

Code: Select all

cd /files/downloads/limine-7.12.0-binary
make

The program limine is quickly created

To install the bootloader of the MBR on the device, if the pendrive is /dev/sdb :

Code: Select all

./limine bios-install /dev/sdb

Then copy the .sys file from the binary release on the first partition

Code: Select all

cp limine-bios.sys /mnt/sdb1

All that remains is to test the pendrive with EasyOS

Note the versions 7.12.0 to 7.13.3 can be tested like this

[szept]

Download the entire binary release (via the Code button and then Download Zip). In the extracted directory, execute make.

Code: Select all

cd /files/downloads/limine-7.12.0-binary
make

The program limine is quickly created

To install the bootloader of the MBR on the device, if the pendrive is /dev/sdb :

Code: Select all

./limine bios-install /dev/sdb

Then copy the .sys file from the binary release on the first partition

Code: Select all

cp limine-bios.sys /mnt/sdb1

All that remains is to test the pendrive with EasyOS

Note the versions 7.12.0 to 7.13.3 can be tested like this

Shall I do that all on Scarthgap 6.5.4.2?

[Caramel]

Download the entire binary release (via the Code button and then Download Zip). In the extracted directory, execute make.
...

Shall I do that all on Scarthgap 6.5.4.2?

It's a test for limine.
As previously seen with the limine from EasyOS 4.5.5, if it if he succeeds in displaying the menu with Easy 4.5.5, it also succeeds with Easy Scarthgap 6.5.4.2

So any Easy is suitable for the test. (In fact, any version of Easy from the version 4.2)

There may be differences between the various compiled limine (the executable that installs the bootloader in the MBR) but I do not think the problem comes from it). Similary the Windows version can be used to install the code in the MBR (Edit2: In the term programm was replaced by executable)

EDIT:
To be clearer, it's a test for the limine bootloader and Easy is not necessary for that.
You just need an OS to create a boot FAT partition on the pendrive, install the bootloader code on the MBR and copy files in the partition. A valid limine.cfg file is also necessary..
The use of installed EasyOS on the pendrive simplifies the work.

(Edit2: In the post, the term programm was replaced by executable)

[szept]

So any Easy is suitable for the test. (In fact, any version of Easy from the version 4.2)

Ok, so let me recap, so I'll do it properly.
I've just created a pendrive with Dunfell 4.5.5.

Download the entire binary release (via the Code button and then Download Zip). In the extracted directory, execute make.

Code: Select all

cd /files/downloads/limine-7.12.0-binary
make

The program limine is quickly created

I've downloaded Limine bootloader v7.12.0-binary.

To install the bootloader of the MBR on the device, if the pendrive is /dev/sdb :

Code: Select all

./limine bios-install /dev/sdb

Then copy the .sys file from the binary release on the first partition

Code: Select all

cp limine-bios.sys /mnt/sdb1

All that remains is to test the pendrive with EasyOS

Do I do this on the newly created Dunfell 4.5.5 pendrive? Shall I perform the initial launch, so the partitions' size are settled or can I do it straight after the installation?

[Caramel]

So any Easy is suitable for the test. (In fact, any version of Easy from the version 4.2)

Ok, so let me recap, so I'll do it properly.
I've just created a pendrive with Dunfell 4.5.5.

Download the entire binary release (via the Code button and then Download Zip). In the extracted directory, execute make.

Code: Select all

cd /files/downloads/limine-7.12.0-binary
make

The program limine is quickly created

I've downloaded Limine bootloader v7.12.0-binary.

To install the bootloader of the MBR on the device, if the pendrive is /dev/sdb :

Code: Select all

./limine bios-install /dev/sdb

Then copy the .sys file from the binary release on the first partition

Code: Select all

cp limine-bios.sys /mnt/sdb1

All that remains is to test the pendrive with EasyOS

Do I do this on the newly created Dunfell 4.5.5 pendrive? Shall I perform the initial launch, so the partitions' size are settled or can I do it straight after the installation?

To be honest, I had a doubt because I don't understand the difference in structure between 4.5.5 and Scarthgap (see viewtopic.php?p=140984#p140984)

But let's keep it simple, you can test with 4.5.5 and do it straight after the installation.

If it works, it would also be necessary to test with Scarthgap to be absolutely sure that the structure in 1 cylinder is not a problem.