On Mon 01 Jun 2015 at 17:22:40 -0700, Charles Chambers wrote: > > 1. Create a second partition with fdisk or cfdisk. > > Done. By default, fdisk created a Type 83 partition. I added > "mkfs.ext2 /dev/sdc2" after physically removing/reinserting the drive > to give it a file system. This causes problems later on. I changed > the partition type to Type 7 (HPFS/NTFS/exFat) and formatted as such > because it mounts when I get to step 6.
Sorry, I omitted the advice to 'mkfs.vfat /dev/sdc2'. This is necessary to get the partition mounted at the start of the install > > 1a. Mount the partition and copy preseed.cfg to it. > > Done. I also ran "chmod 777 preseed.cfg" to eliminate any possible > permissions problems. > > 2. Boot into the installer. Select expert mode from the Advanced menu. > > Selected advanced options, cursor down to Expert Install. Done. > > > 3. Press TAB and add file=/mnt/preseed.cfg to end of the displayed > command. > > Done. > > 4. Boot the kernel. > > Done. > > > 5. At the first screen switch to a console (ALT-F2). 'ls -l /dev/sdb*' > > should help identify the second partition on the USB stick. Mount > this partition; e.g: mount -t vfat /dev/sdc2 /mnt. > > The first screen of the install is to select language, for which there > is an option in preseed.cfg. At this point, the install does not > appear to be parsing preseed.cfg, but I haven't yet customized > preseed.cfg. Note the fourth option - "Load debconf preconfiguration file". /dev/sdc2 has to be mounted to access the file. The preseed.cfg is not parsed until these steps are taken. I usually preseed language and keyboard on the command line for the kernel. For example: locale=en_GB.UTF-8 keymap=gb > However, setting the partition type of /dev/sdb2 to Type 7 lets me > mount /dev/sdb2 on /mnt as vfat, so I have some progress. Good. > 6. Proceed with the install. > > What makes it go? The objective is a totally hands off install, but I > exit the console and I'm still on the first screen of the Expert > Install with the process awaiting input. Just carry on with each main menu entry in turn. > ========================= > > > For an amd64 netinst ISO: > > > > Disk /dev/sdb: 15.5 GB, 15502147584 bytes > > 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 1884 cylinders, total 30277632 sectors > > Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes > > Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes > > I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes > > Disk identifier: 0x42a6671b > > > > Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System > > /dev/sdb1 * 0 454655 227328 0 Empty > > /dev/sdb2 3440 4335 448 ef EFI (FAT-12/16/32) > > > > Both look somewhat odd, but not so bad. > > > > I'd prefer using the amd64 image, if it gets that far. The Dells are all > > 64- > > bit. > > As above, but make sure the third partition starts after the end of the > first partition. > > I tried. Each and every attempt to create /dev/sdb3 ends up with the > tool trying to replace /dev/sdb1. I understand clearly that I may use > space from sector 454656 to the end of the drive, but what tool best > sets up that third partition? I tried fdisk, cfdisk, GNU parted, > Kparted, and Gparted. No need to create a partition using all the remaining space. 20M is enough for your purposes. Here is a record of what I did successfully: brian@desktop:~$ /sbin/fdisk /dev/sdb WARNING: GPT (GUID Partition Table) detected on '/dev/sdb'! The util fdisk doesn't support GPT. Use GNU Parted. Command (m for help): p Disk /dev/sdb: 515 MB, 515899392 bytes 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 62 cylinders, total 1007616 sectors Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes Disk identifier: 0x42a6671b Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System /dev/sdb1 * 0 454655 227328 0 Empty /dev/sdb2 3440 4335 448 ef EFI (FAT-12/16/32) Command (m for help): n Partition type: p primary (1 primary, 0 extended, 3 free) e extended Select (default p): p Partition number (1-4, default 3): 3 First sector (2048-1007615, default 2048): 455000 Last sector, +sectors or +size{K,M,G} (455000-1007615, default 1007615): +20M Command (m for help): p Disk /dev/sdb: 515 MB, 515899392 bytes 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 62 cylinders, total 1007616 sectors Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes Disk identifier: 0x42a6671b Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System /dev/sdb1 * 0 454655 227328 0 Empty /dev/sdb2 3440 4335 448 ef EFI (FAT-12/16/32) /dev/sdb3 455000 495959 20480 83 Linux -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: https://lists.debian.org/02062015195010.1c71da97a...@desktop.copernicus.demon.co.uk