Hello, I am attempting to install BackTrack 5 GNOME x64 onto a USB key containing GRUB2. I would like to be able to use the USB key to load multiple distributions of Linux and other various tools, which is why I chose GNOME as the bootloader.
Because I want to be able to boot ISO files from GRUB and have one large USB key with a bunch of useful tools, including BackTrack, a UNetbootin burned ISO is not much use of mine. I do not have difficulties creating one. I am looking specifically for a way to be able to chainload to GRUB or use GRUB with BackTrack.
My current grub.cfg file is:
Code:
set timeout=10
set default=0
menuentry "Ubuntu 10.10 Desktop ISO 64-bit" {
loopback loop /ubuntu1064.iso
linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/ubuntu1064.iso noeject noprompt splash --
initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.lz
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 11.04 Desktop ISO 32-bit" {
loopback loop /ubuntu1132.iso
linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/ubuntu1132.iso noeject noprompt splash --
initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.lz
}
menuentry "BackTrack 5" {
loopback loop /BT5-GNOME-64.iso
linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/BT5-GNOME-64.iso noeject noprompt splash --
initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.gz
}
menuentry "Linux Mint 10 Gnome ISO" {
loopback loop /linuxmint10.iso
linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/mint.seed boot=casper initrd=/casper/initrd.lz iso-scan/filename=/linuxmint10.iso noeject noprompt splash --
initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.lz
}
menuentry "DBAN ISO" {
loopback loop /dban.iso
linux (loop)/DBAN.BZI nuke="dwipe" iso-scan/filename=/dban.iso silent --
}
menuentry "Tinycore ISO" {
loopback loop /tinycore.iso
linux (loop)/boot/bzImage --
initrd (loop)/boot/tinycore.gz
}
menuentry "Memtest 86+" {
linux16 /memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Grub4dos"{
linux /grub4dos/grub.exe
}
For convenience, here is the BackTrack 5 entry by itself:
Code:
menuentry "BackTrack 5" {
loopback loop /BT5-GNOME-64.iso
linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/BT5-GNOME-64.iso noeject noprompt splash --
initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.gz
}
Unfortunately, upon boot, after sitting on the splash screen for several seconds (no text, just the BT5 background), I eventually get "(initramfs) Unable to find a medium containing a live file system" and I get dropped into the Ubuntu minimilist shell. I would provide more information, however I do not know what information specifically to look for or is applicable here.
Is it possible to boot BackTrack 5 GNOME x64 in such a way? If not, what are my alternatives? I did notice this guide:
http://www.backtrack-linux.org/wiki/...Persistent_USB
I attempted it, hoping I could chainload GRUB from syslinux somehow, however the USB drive does not boot (it simply black screens with a white blinking cursor and hangs the system). I did not get any error messages during the process, and a Linux OS recognizes the USB, it just will not boot (I have tested other USB boots on the system in question, including a UNetbootin of BackTrack which works fine).
Questions:
1) Is it possible to boot BackTrack directly from ISO from GRUB?
2) If it is not possible, what are my alternatives? Am I able to have a (preferably persistent) installation of BackTrack be loaded by GRUB in a different fashion?
3) I've considered using two partitions on my USB, one with BackTrack installed without a bootloader, the other the active boot partition with GRUB that has an entry for BackTrack. Is this possible, and a good alternative to using the ISO directly?
Thank you for your time and assistance.
BackTrack 5 GNOME on GRUB USB? [Persistent preferred]
