>> Is there a quick way to install a bootloader manually, so I can see if >> that works? I tried to adapt this but couldn't come up with a >> procedure I though would be correct: > > Don't know about the distro you were trying to install, but when I > need a bootable USB disk with utils, I usually go with System Rescue > CD > > http://www.sysresccd.org/Sysresccd-manual-en_How_to_install_SystemRescueCd_on_an_USB-stick
Great success! Thank you for that link. Here's what I needed to do: 'cfdisk /dev/sdb' and select type LBA FAT32 'mkfs.vfat -F 32 -n DSLinux /dev/sdb1' 'dd if=/usr/share/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sdb' 'sync' Maybe that dd would have been sufficient, I'm not sure. I was using ext3 before. New problem: Booted into DSLinux, my HD does not appear so I can't wipe it. blkid and fdisk -l only show the USB stick assigned to /dev/sda which is how I accidentally wiped it in the first place. I'll try another distro on the USB stick. - Grant
