On Fri 07 Dec 2012 at 21:44:44 +0100, Didier Raboud wrote: > Thanks for the patches. But, FWIW, I'm opposed to advising users to go "on > the > internet" download a non-trusted (as in "there is no trust path to/from > Debian") blob to put on their machines. I think we should only do it if that > "plop" can be considered as part of Debian (as in "packaged", see e.g. win32- > loader or loadlin ).
Fair enough; makes sense and I should have realised that. Thanks. Let's look at the Guide again. There is extensive help on what to do if you cannot use the BIOS to boot a CD in Sections 4.1. and 5.1.1. Similar advice could be offered when unable to natively boot a USB device. Here is a patch replacing the first one. Regards, Brian.
--- manual/en/preparing/bios-setup/i386.xml 2012-12-07 11:41:09.000000000 +0000 +++ manual/en/preparing/bios-setup/i386_usbboot-2.xml 2012-12-09 13:14:03.000000000 +0000 @@ -68,6 +68,14 @@ <quote>USB CDROM</quote> helps on some BIOSes which will not boot from a USB stick in USB harddisk mode.</phrase> +</para><para> + +If you cannot manipulate the BIOS to boot directly from a USB stick you +still have the option of using an ISO copied to the stick. Boot &d-i; +using <xref linkend="boot-drive-files"/> and, after scanning the hard +drives for an installer ISO image, select the USB device and choose an +installation image. + </para> </sect2>
