Problem installing Backtrack to encrypted/lvm usb stick

[step5]

Hi there!

i have a problem installing backtrack with help of this video tutorial:
Infosec Ramblings

Like some other guy i get this error when trying to get past the point of partitioning and start to install...

This message appears:

The installer needs to commit changes to partition tables, but cannot do so because partitions on the following mount points could not be unmounted:

/

Please close any applications using these mount points.

Would you like the installer to try to unmount these partitions again?

And like i wrote in a comment on the totorial page i think i know why i get the error while not knowing how to avoid it. My comment from the page:

step5 September 6, 2010 at 10:23 am

Hi, i have this problem, too.

And i guess i know why… the (virtual)harddisk (in my case it is “hda”) shows up in the patitioner with its swap and the installer wants to format it but it is not possible because it is mounted…
there is no chance to tell the installer not to format the internal swap becuase you can’t check or uncheck it…

Scroll down in the “Ready to install” screen. In my case there is this:

The following partitions are going to be formatted:
partition #5 of IDE1 master (hda) as swap <<–this causes the error
LVM VG vg, LV root as ext3
LVG VG vg, LV swap as swap
partition #1 of SCSI3 (0,0,0) (sda) as ext3

If anyone knows how to supress formatting of the hda swap please help ;-(
kthxbye

Reply

131
step5 September 7, 2010 at 1:10 am

Forgot to mention that i use virtualbox with the vmware image of backtrack.
So the partitioner inside the installer shows the “virtual harddisk” besides the usb device and the encrypted partitions. And the partitioner wants to format the internal swap… no way to suppress this.
I hope you can understand what i mean…

I post it here again, because i saw the author of the video answers the comments really late. And i don't want to wait 2 weeks :-) i hope you understand...

So it would be great if anybody could help. thx

[lupin]

As has already been mentioned on this forum before, you don't install the VmWare BT4 system - its already installed within the VM. Just ignore the install icon on the desktop, once you boot and see the desktop you are already in an installed BT4 system.

[step5]

OK, so the point is that it is not possible to install BT on usb stick (encrypted) out of the VMWare image. Did i get you right?

I have no cd/dvd drive so i have to use the vmware image. I don't want a live usb stick i want to install it on encrypted usb stick.

[step5]

Sorry i don't want to annoy you but could anybody please approve or decline my statement as above?

Did i understand lupin right?

[lupin]

Im not sure if its impossible or not. What i can say for sure is that the error you were getting was caused by the installer trying to install to the VMWare partition and not a USB stick. Does your USB drive show up in the partitioner screen in the installer?

[step5]

Does your USB drive show up in the partitioner screen in the installer?

yes it does!
Everything went fine with partitioning, encrypting...

My usb drive is "sda" and the vmware harddrive is "hda". The error is caused by the patitioner inside the installer, because it automatically wants to format the vmware swap
The is no chance to uncheck it.

Do you understand it now?

I will add a screenshot later...

[notfaded1]

I can vouch that the following method worked for me using a 16 gig stick. I started by booting from dvd and then creating the crypted usb key but you could do the same thing by starting up BT4 using the vm first then follow the instructions.

Backtrack 4 – Bootable USB Thumb Drive with “Full” Disk Encryption

Also Kevin has been really cool about helping with issues that come up in the posts below on the link.

[step5]

you didn't get me right.

i used the vmware and started it with virtualbox. I KNOW THAT THE VMWARE IS A INSTALLED VERSION!!!

So you say it is possible to install BT on usb drive with the vmware image. NOT FOR ME!

I tried it following the steps in the tutorial. But as it comes to formatting the partitions the vmware "hda" shows up besides the usb drive "sda" and the installer wants to format the vmware "hda" swap as the installer AUTOMATICALLY FORMATS EVERY SWAP THAT SHOWS UP and you cannot uncheck it.

So there is an error because the vmware swap is mounted... but as mentioned above you can not suppress this.

So the question it how to hide the vmware partitions from the installer...

[sbaginov]

you didn't get me right.
So the question it how to hide the vmware partitions from the installer...

Suppose to start the host OS with no swap just once: then you might proceed as expected.

1. boot a live usb distro
2. fdisk your host disk (/dev/sda)
3. change partition type from swap to whatever type you like (type only!!! it's just a byte)
4. reboot your host OS that will boot up with no swap and that will probably be slow
5. install!
6. rechange the swap partition type value to its original

That's it

[morphout]

Hi there!

i have a problem installing backtrack with help of this video tutorial:
Infosec Ramblings

Like some other guy i get this error when trying to get past the point of partitioning and start to install...

This message appears:

The installer needs to commit changes to partition tables, but cannot do so because partitions on the following mount points could not be unmounted:

/

Please close any applications using these mount points.

Would you like the installer to try to unmount these partitions again?

And like i wrote in a comment on the totorial page i think i know why i get the error while not knowing how to avoid it. My comment from the page:



I post it here again, because i saw the author of the video answers the comments really late. And i don't want to wait 2 weeks :-) i hope you understand...

So it would be great if anybody could help. thx

here is a link to a video to show you how I havent read down all the messages but hope this helps I had to fin this again my self forgot where the original one is with no music lolz ha-ha Backtrack 4 Video – USB With “Full” Disk Encryption