Difference between revisions of "LiveUSB"

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=Preamble=
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{{Warning|With current versions of ReactOS, USB support is '''NOT''' advanced enough to successfully boot, and ReactOS will crash when it begins loading system USB drivers. See e.g. {{JIRA|7826}}. The following details for older versions are left here for historical reference and for use in the future when this feature becomes supported again.}}
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In revision 55555 in [[ReactOS]] was introduced support for [[USB]] devices, and after some time it became possible to run the OS from a [[USB]] drive. In revision 55714 system was successfully installed and running from Patriot Xporter XT 8Gb [[USB]] stick.
 
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[[LiveCD]] revision 55995 has also been successfully executed from the same device using [[USB]] 1.1 [[OHCI]].
 
  
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Note: To install on [[USB]]-HDD is preferable to use Bootcd, and for [[USB]] flash drive more preferable option is [[LiveCD]]. Differences between installing on [[USB]]-HDD or [[USB]] flash drive are tiny, but keep in mind that the resource of a [[USB]] flash drive is much smaller than that of hard drives. Although [[ReactOS]] is not Windows, and intentional resource exhaustion (excessive overwriting of files by the system) should be small or even not present.
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== Preamble ==
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Revision {{rev|55555}} of ReactOS introduced support for [[USB]] devices, and after some time it became possible to run the OS from a USB drive. In revision 55714 ReactOS was successfully installed and running from Patriot Xporter XT 8Gb USB stick. [[LiveCD]] revision 55995 has also been successfully executed from the same device using USB 1.1 [[OHCI]].
  
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For more convenient use or testing of Live[[USB]] mode, you need to know the following things:
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Since 0.4.13-dev-942-g88cf5b0 revision completely new USB-stack (based on Vgal patches) is enabled. Boot from USB-drives is still very limited (read as "unsupported"). Only RAM-boot method works semi-reliable.  
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* If you install bootcd, the first phase of installation to a virtual HDD in a virtual machine is much faster than directly to the [[USB]]-stick. Therefore later in this article we will consider how to transfer files needed to start the second phase of the installation from a virtual machine to a flash drive/[[USB]]-HDD.
 
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* If you will setup [[ReactOS]] to a [[USB]]-drive and install the MBR/VBR using the installer(without formatting the disk), then it is likely that the system will be unable to boot. And if you want to load from a flash drive not only [[ReactOS]], please refer to the second paragraph of this article.
 
  
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=Installing the system to a [[USB]]-drive=
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Note: To install on a USB-HDD, it is preferable to use Bootcd; and for a USB flash drive, it is preferable to use [[LiveCD]]. Differences between installing on USB-HDD or USB flash drive are minor, but keep in mind that the resources (speed and storage space) of a USB flash drive can be much more limited than those of a hard drive. Flash drives also often have a limited lifetime of read and writes before they become damaged or unusable.
  
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==Transferring files from VM to [[USB]]-drive==
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For more convenient use or testing of LiveUSB mode, you need to know the following things:
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First of all, you need to install and run on your computer a virtual machine that supports virtual hard disks format vmdk. These VMs are, for example, [[VirtualBox]] and [[VMware | VMWare Player]]. Then, install [[ReactOS]] in a virtual machine, then close the VM.
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* If you install bootcd, the first phase of installation to a virtual HDD in a virtual machine is much faster than directly to the USB-stick. Therefore later in this article we will consider how to transfer files needed to start the second phase of the installation from a virtual machine to a flash drive/USB-HDD.
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Next, you need to download the command-line utility [http://downloads.vmware.com/d/details/disk_mount_utility_5_5_driver_tools/JSpiZGR0cGJkd2U= VMWare Disk Mount Utility]
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* If you install ReactOS to a USB-drive and install the MBR/VBR using the installer (without formatting the disk), then it is likely that the system will be unable to boot. If you wish to boot more than just ReactOS from a USB drive, please refer to the second paragraph of this article.
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Go using command line to the program's folder and execute:
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* You also need a motherboard capable of booting a USB drive. This guide assumes you have one and that it is already configured.
  
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vmware-mount x: path_to_the_vmdk_file
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== Vgal USB state ==
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Vadim Galyant the USB man has lots of work to revive our USB stack, including LiveUSB. You can take a look at the status of his patches '''[[USB|here]]'''.
  
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Copy the files from mounted drive to [[USB]]-Drive
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== Installing the system to a USB-drive ==
  
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Disassemble the image using next command:
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=== Windows ===
 +
This process is now extremely simple thanks to Rufus!  Rufus is a Windows/ReactOS application.  If you use a different system, you'll need to seek an alternate method (like [[Boot FreeLoader from GRUB|GRUB]] for Linux and BSD users, or [http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-mac-osx diskutil] for Mac users).
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# Get the latest version of Rufus from http://rufus.akeo.ie/
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# [http://reactos.org/getbuilds Download] a current '''livecd''' or '''bootcd''' image of ReactOS
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# Run Rufus (give admin rights if asked), and setup like this:
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## Select your USB drive from the Device drop-down menu
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## Select "Create a bootable startup disk using"
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## Choose "ISO Image" from that drop down menu
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## Click the disk icon next to that drop down menu, and select the .ISO file
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## (Optional) tweak the other Rufus settings – ONLY if you know what you're doing
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# Click "Start" in Rufus.  Acknowledge that this operating will erase everything currently on your USB drive.  Wait a few moments while Rufus does its magic.
 +
# Try to boot. (Please do not use a computer where you store important data in order to avoid data loss!)
  
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vmware-mount / d x:
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=== Linux ===
 +
You can make bootable USB stick by [https://github.com/slacka/WoeUSB WoeUSB].
 +
# Optional step: backup your data from the USB stick.
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# Get latest version of WoeUSB using your package manager or [https://github.com/slacka/WoeUSB#build-from-source build from source].
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# [http://reactos.org/getbuilds Download] a current '''livecd''' or '''bootcd''' image of ReactOS.
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# Run woeusbgui from application menu or terminal. Note: it need privileges to make work.
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## Choose ''Source: From disk image (iso)''. Then browse to image downloaded before.
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## Select target device. If it is not appear check if flash drive is connected and press {{Keyboard|Refresh}} button.
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## Press {{Keyboard|Install}} and wait a while.
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# Mount the flash drive.
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# Edit a configuration file grub2/grub.cfg according to [[Boot FreeLoader from GRUB|Boot FreeLoader from GRUB]] manual. The example of configuration file:
  
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Note: If you want to use other formats of virtual hard disks, then you have to use other similar utilities.
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menuentry "ReactOS" {
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    set root=(hd0,1)
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    chainloader +1
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    parttool (hd0,1) boot+
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    multiboot /loader/freeldr.sys
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}
  
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==Installing the MBR==
 
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To load [[ReactOS]] you can use Grub4Dos. Get the latest version of the archive [http://sourceforge.net/projects/grub4dos/files/GRUB4DOS/ GRUB], as well as  [http://sourceforge.net/projects/grub4dos/files/grubinst/ GUI installer].
 
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* Extract the installer, copy to its folder files from GRUB package.
 
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* Run the GRUB GUI, choose from the disk list your [[USB]] flash drive (if you're using Windows, then the number can be found in the Disk Manager). Click to install. Close the window with the message about successful installation.
 
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* Copy file called "grub" to your [[USB]] drive.
 
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* If a partition on a flash drive is not active, then make it activeusing any partition management utility.
 
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* Create a menu.lst using next template:
 
  
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color blue/green yellow/red white/magenta white/magenta
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Your bootable USB stick is now ready. Unmount it and try to boot.
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timeout 30
 
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default/default
 
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title [[ReactOS]]
 
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root (hd0, 0)
 
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kernel/freeldr.sys
 
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title ReactLive
 
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root (hd0, 0)
 
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kernel/loader / setupldr.sys
 
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title reboot
 
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reboot
 
  
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Done.
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==Testing and sending bug reports==
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If it works (hooray!) do NOT let ReactOS change the filesystem or the boot record.  Doing so will render ReactOS unbootable until you repeat the above process.
  
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Try to boot. If it doesn't work (damn) it could be either due to a bug in the [[USB]] driver or because the system regression (or regression of driver). Try to use working revision (check the beginning of the article). If they work then you're dealing with regression. Please [http://www.ReactOS.org/bugzilla/ report] about it to developers. If they also do not work then your [[USB]] controller or [[USB]] drive is not yet supported. Please report this too as new [http://www.ReactOS.org/bugzilla/ bug].
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If it doesn't work (damn) it could be either due to a bug in the USB driver or because of a system regression (or regression of driver). Try to use a working revision (check the beginning of the article). If they work then you're dealing with a regression. Please [http://jira.reactos.org/ report] about it to the developers. If they also do not work then your USB controller or USB drive is not yet supported. Please report this too as a new [http://jira.reactos.org/ bug].
  
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=References=
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== References ==
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[[Boot_FreeLoader_from_GRUB]]
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* [[Boot FreeLoader from GRUB]]
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* ReactOS Live-in-RAM USB-stick creation tutorial https://youtu.be/eancDwmWyCw
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[[Category:Tutorial]]

Revision as of 18:46, 22 August 2019

Icon speedy deletion.png Warning: With current versions of ReactOS, USB support is NOT advanced enough to successfully boot, and ReactOS will crash when it begins loading system USB drivers. See e.g. CORE-7826. The following details for older versions are left here for historical reference and for use in the future when this feature becomes supported again.


Preamble

Revision r55555 of ReactOS introduced support for USB devices, and after some time it became possible to run the OS from a USB drive. In revision 55714 ReactOS was successfully installed and running from Patriot Xporter XT 8Gb USB stick. LiveCD revision 55995 has also been successfully executed from the same device using USB 1.1 OHCI.

Since 0.4.13-dev-942-g88cf5b0 revision completely new USB-stack (based on Vgal patches) is enabled. Boot from USB-drives is still very limited (read as "unsupported"). Only RAM-boot method works semi-reliable.

Note: To install on a USB-HDD, it is preferable to use Bootcd; and for a USB flash drive, it is preferable to use LiveCD. Differences between installing on USB-HDD or USB flash drive are minor, but keep in mind that the resources (speed and storage space) of a USB flash drive can be much more limited than those of a hard drive. Flash drives also often have a limited lifetime of read and writes before they become damaged or unusable.

For more convenient use or testing of LiveUSB mode, you need to know the following things:

  • If you install bootcd, the first phase of installation to a virtual HDD in a virtual machine is much faster than directly to the USB-stick. Therefore later in this article we will consider how to transfer files needed to start the second phase of the installation from a virtual machine to a flash drive/USB-HDD.
  • If you install ReactOS to a USB-drive and install the MBR/VBR using the installer (without formatting the disk), then it is likely that the system will be unable to boot. If you wish to boot more than just ReactOS from a USB drive, please refer to the second paragraph of this article.
  • You also need a motherboard capable of booting a USB drive. This guide assumes you have one and that it is already configured.

Vgal USB state

Vadim Galyant the USB man has lots of work to revive our USB stack, including LiveUSB. You can take a look at the status of his patches here.

Installing the system to a USB-drive

Windows

This process is now extremely simple thanks to Rufus! Rufus is a Windows/ReactOS application. If you use a different system, you'll need to seek an alternate method (like GRUB for Linux and BSD users, or diskutil for Mac users).

  1. Get the latest version of Rufus from http://rufus.akeo.ie/
  2. Download a current livecd or bootcd image of ReactOS
  3. Run Rufus (give admin rights if asked), and setup like this:
    1. Select your USB drive from the Device drop-down menu
    2. Select "Create a bootable startup disk using"
    3. Choose "ISO Image" from that drop down menu
    4. Click the disk icon next to that drop down menu, and select the .ISO file
    5. (Optional) tweak the other Rufus settings – ONLY if you know what you're doing
  4. Click "Start" in Rufus. Acknowledge that this operating will erase everything currently on your USB drive. Wait a few moments while Rufus does its magic.
  5. Try to boot. (Please do not use a computer where you store important data in order to avoid data loss!)

Linux

You can make bootable USB stick by WoeUSB.

  1. Optional step: backup your data from the USB stick.
  2. Get latest version of WoeUSB using your package manager or build from source.
  3. Download a current livecd or bootcd image of ReactOS.
  4. Run woeusbgui from application menu or terminal. Note: it need privileges to make work.
    1. Choose Source: From disk image (iso). Then browse to image downloaded before.
    2. Select target device. If it is not appear check if flash drive is connected and press Refresh button.
    3. Press Install and wait a while.
  5. Mount the flash drive.
  6. Edit a configuration file grub2/grub.cfg according to Boot FreeLoader from GRUB manual. The example of configuration file:
menuentry "ReactOS" {
   set root=(hd0,1)
   chainloader +1
   parttool (hd0,1) boot+
   multiboot /loader/freeldr.sys
}


Your bootable USB stick is now ready. Unmount it and try to boot.

Testing and sending bug reports

If it works (hooray!) do NOT let ReactOS change the filesystem or the boot record. Doing so will render ReactOS unbootable until you repeat the above process.

If it doesn't work (damn) it could be either due to a bug in the USB driver or because of a system regression (or regression of driver). Try to use a working revision (check the beginning of the article). If they work then you're dealing with a regression. Please report about it to the developers. If they also do not work then your USB controller or USB drive is not yet supported. Please report this too as a new bug.

References

Retrieved from "https://reactos.org/wiki/index.php?title=LiveUSB&oldid=49262"