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Can't boot from external SSD

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NewHere
Posts: 15
Joined: 2017-10-22 09:34

Can't boot from external SSD

#1 Post by NewHere »

Hi,
yesterday I decided to use Debian Sid as my default OS for gaming (to have all new drivers and other stuff like this) so I downloaded the stable installer (CD) but there were missing some drivers for my WiFi Network though I had LAN inserted. Then I tried the testing installer (CD) and the weekly & the normal non-free (CD) installer with the same result. Only the non-free (DVD) installer worked (the only one that has detected LAN) and I installed Debian stable to my external SSD (GRUB too). Now I wanted to boot from this SSD but it only shows a black screen with an flashing underscore at the upper left hand corner.

Best,
NewHere :D

Edit: BIOS detected SSD after using it inside another OS.

n_hologram
Posts: 459
Joined: 2013-06-16 00:10

Re: Can't boot from external SSD

#2 Post by n_hologram »

Does grub load at all? Or, is it that when you choose your external SSD from grub, it takes you to the black screen with flashing cursor?

Also, to be clear, are you using Sid yet, or still on stable (Stretch)?
bester69 wrote:There is nothing to install in linux, from time to time i go to google searching for something fresh to install in linux, but, there is nothing
the crunkbong project: scripts, operating system, the list goes on...

NewHere
Posts: 15
Joined: 2017-10-22 09:34

Re: Can't boot from external SSD

#3 Post by NewHere »

I tried to start GRUB but ut doesn't load or doesn't show.
No, this would be the first boot (i.e. not changed the config to use unstable repository yet).

n_hologram
Posts: 459
Joined: 2013-06-16 00:10

Re: Can't boot from external SSD

#4 Post by n_hologram »

NewHere wrote:I tried to start GRUB but ut doesn't load or doesn't show..
If you're able to load in a live environment (I'm assuming that's what you meant by "another OS", but please clarify if you meant something else), try chrooting into your SSD install, and take care of grub from within the chroot.
You might need to install grub to your device first. On my system, for example, I would run the command: grub-install /dev/sda; if you have a separate boot partition, you'll probably want to install it there, instead of the whole device. Being an external ssd, you may want to do some research on the best place to install grub. I want to say it would be an internal location (ie, your internal hard drive/ssd), but I've never done that, so don't quote me on it.
Then, run update-grub, and check to see if grub actually notices your Debian install.
bester69 wrote:There is nothing to install in linux, from time to time i go to google searching for something fresh to install in linux, but, there is nothing
the crunkbong project: scripts, operating system, the list goes on...

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Head_on_a_Stick
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Re: Can't boot from external SSD

#5 Post by Head_on_a_Stick »

Can we please see the output of these commands (with the SSD connected):

Code: Select all

# parted --list
# efibootmgr -v
https://packages.debian.org/stretch/parted
https://packages.debian.org/stretch/efibootmgr

Those commands can be run from the "live" environment.
deadbang

NewHere
Posts: 15
Joined: 2017-10-22 09:34

Re: Can't boot from external SSD

#6 Post by NewHere »

I runned

Code: Select all

parted --list
with Knoppix (hope this'll work as well) with the following output:
Model: ATA Samsung SSD 850 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 250GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 1049kB 525MB 524MB primary ntfs boot
2 525MB 250GB 249GB primary ntfs
3 250GB 250GB 489MB primary ntfs diag


Model: SanDisk Ext SSD (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 240GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 33.6MB 223GB 223GB primary ext4
2 223GB 240GB 17.0GB extended
5 223GB 240GB 17.0GB logical linux-swap(v1)


Model: Verbatim Store n Go (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdc: 7748MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 1049kB 7748MB 7747MB primary fat32 boot, lba


Model: Unknown (unknown)
Disk /dev/zram0: 4295MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 4096B/4096B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size File system Flags
1 0.00B 4295MB 4295MB linux-swap(v1)


Warning: Unable to open /dev/cloop0 read-write (Read-only file system).
/dev/cloop0 has been opened read-only.
Error: /dev/cloop0: unrecognised disk label
Model: Unknown (unknown)
Disk /dev/cloop0: 10.3GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: unknown
Disk Flags:

Warning: Unable to open /dev/cloop1 read-write (Read-only file system).
/dev/cloop1 has been opened read-only.
Error: /dev/cloop1: unrecognised disk label
Model: Unknown (unknown)
Disk /dev/cloop1: 1059MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: unknown
Disk Flags:
Knoppix has no efibootmgr installed but I can tell you that I have netheir UEFI nor secure boot on.

andre@home
Posts: 398
Joined: 2011-10-02 08:00

Re: Can't boot from external SSD

#7 Post by andre@home »

To boot your system from a USB key / disk I used this:
http://cosmolinux.no-ip.org/raconetlinu ... tence.html

Works great, I've enabled webdav under 443 so that it does the same as by normal boot disk (internal).
In case of emrgency I can boot from usb and ahve the whole server back inot the air in a few minutes with the same features...

Some changes are needed on webdav config files, but if you know how to install that normally.. you will finds your way.\

PS: Change the iso names to the right one to be able to install it....

p.H
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Re: Can't boot from external SSD

#8 Post by p.H »

Try to set the boot flag on the ext4 partition.

NewHere
Posts: 15
Joined: 2017-10-22 09:34

Re: Can't boot from external SSD

#9 Post by NewHere »

How can I set this on the partition?

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GarryRicketson
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Location: Durango, Mexico

Re: Can't boot from external SSD

#10 Post by GarryRicketson »

You could do a search and find the answer to that:
keywords:

Code: Select all

How to to set the boot flag on the ext4 partition
I did it for you this time, and there are some links that go into details:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GNU_Parted
Installation
Install the parted package. For a graphical interface, install the gparted package, the graphical frontend to parted.
You can install partd and gparted if you don't have it:
https://packages.debian.org/stable/parted
https://packages.debian.org/stable/gparted
Then there is "gparted"
https://gparted.org/display-doc.php%3Fn ... elp-manual

You can also use the 'fdisk' command,( the simplest and easiest method)
for details :

Code: Select all

man fdisk
There also is a tutorial here:
https://superuser.com/questions/643765/ ... om-console
Command action
a toggle a bootable flagL
Last edited by GarryRicketson on 2017-10-25 16:50, edited 1 time in total.

NewHere
Posts: 15
Joined: 2017-10-22 09:34

Re: Can't boot from external SSD

#11 Post by NewHere »

Thanks for the research, I did a research on my own but wanted to be sure this time :wink:
I'll try it out.

NewHere
Posts: 15
Joined: 2017-10-22 09:34

Re: Can't boot from external SSD

#12 Post by NewHere »

It wasn't set but after choosing the right partition for booting it's still not working.

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