Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

tony · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 265 Location: Montreal.ca

Hi,

my IBM T42 boots and runs all the versions of puppy that I have tried.

It will also boot puppy on usb drives.

What it won't do is boot from a usb hard disk drive.

Are there any T42 users who can advise on booting a usb hdd.
My BIOS version is 1RETDJWW.

Regards Tony.

_Mark_ · Joined: 24 Sep 2009 Posts: 97

I have a T60 and am booting multiple puppies on a usb hdd with no probelems, on the odd occasion the drive does not get seen and I presume it is a power problem as it is powered through the usb

You don't say if your drive is mains or usb powered

tony · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 265 Location: Montreal.ca

Hi Mark_,

thanks for coming back. The drive is a WD sata, powered from a usb cable. The cable is doubled and can be connected to a 5 volt supply.

When in puppy the HDD can be seen and mounted using both the internal and external 5 volt supply.

It is just invisible at boot up.

I think the problem might be with the BIOS but am reluctant to try upgrading with GRUB installed.

Regards Tony.

russoodle · Posted: Sun 20 Feb 2011, 07:41 Post subject:

I have a T42P but no external SATA drives to try with it...you're probably right, perhaps it's that the BIOS on these can't recognise SATA.

_Mark_ · Joined: 24 Sep 2009 Posts: 97

How do you boot? Is it F12 (presume is the same on a T42) to get in the boot menu then choose, or do you have grub installed on internal drive to then boot puppy on the external drive?

Sounds like is not power then, you could try and update the BIOS if you feel that is the problem, not sure why you think updating the BIOS will cause a problem with grub or vice versa

tony · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 265 Location: Montreal.ca

Hi russoodle and mark,

boot order is set to USB >> optical >> HDD

F12 key shows usb key but not usb HDD. sata and ata drive both the same.

I'm not keen on updating bios because of all the warnings about bricking.

Regards Tony.

rjbrewer · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 4352 Location: merriam, kansas

What did you install on the drive and how did you install it?

T42 should see SATA okay.

http://www.google.com/search?q=t42+sata+hard+drive+caddy&hl=en&prmd=ivns&source=univ&tbs=shop:1&tbo=u&ei=-UBhTbehF4j0tgONtbjaCA&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=image&resnum=3&ved=0CDMQzAMwAg

You should have USB-FDD, USB-CD, and USB-HDD.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-laptop-and-netbook-25/ibm-t42-with-usb-external-hdd-install-question-283805/#post1485376

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-58302.html

I don't do bios updates unless recommended, and then only
from within Windows.

rcrsn51 · Posted: Sun 20 Feb 2011, 13:24 Post subject:

Is the "boot" flag set on the hard drive partition? Check with Gparted.

tony · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 265 Location: Montreal.ca

Hi,

thanks for all the suggestions.

Both hard drives are formated fat32 in the first partition where grub is installed. The boot flag is set. I have just tried the drives in a Dell Inspiron 550 and they boot OK

Question to rcrsn51 :-

Is it possible to boot via grub onto the internal hard drive, load drivers then jump to the grub menu on the external hard drive ?

Regards Tony.

rcrsn51 · Posted: Mon 21 Feb 2011, 10:27 Post subject:

rjbrewer · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 4352 Location: merriam, kansas

tony · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 265 Location: Montreal.ca

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=93894

Hi,

After a bit more googling, I have come to the conclusion that the problem is hardware related and results from poor electrical contact between the printed circuit board and a "south gate" chip.

Thank you all for the comments and suggestions.

Regards Tony