Sorry for the delay in responding... 

Tried the suggestions...

- I used the HP format tool to format the 512 MB USB key to FAT16

and then tried install again and it made no difference.

 

- I tried the changed files (which was actually just a different command switch),

and instead of the previously reported error, I now got "Boot error"

 

I did try installs for all 3 (USB- ZIP/FDD/HDD) and no difference except that only USB-ZIP is

giving me the "Boot Error", while the other give the same previous error.

 

NewEgg sent me the wrong IDE-CF converter, so I still don't have that working either.

Sorry it's not working for you.

 

I'll do some more experimentation after the holidays.

 

downloaded & extracted makebootfat.

extracted unraid 4.4.2 to makebootfat\unraid directory.

ran bat files & they generate a error 21.

It got further and tried booting Syslinux 3.71 but then dies at

<<

Could not find the kernel image: linux

boot:

>>

 

Edit the bootup config file?

I thought the image was supposed to be bzimage

what does your bootup config file look like?

I also got this same error message when trying to run UnRAID on one of my older machines (I already have a newer installation working nicely). I couldn't run the scripts attached to this thread since at the moment I only have a windows laptop available and it's hdds seem to connected through USB (they are listed in the "Safely Remove Hardware list). But I found a package which is originally made for testing USB linux booting capabilities (link below). I extracted the contents to UnRAID USB and run the makeboot from the flash. Now the boot worked and memtest was run. After that I replaced the syslinux.cfg with the UnRAID one. UnRAID booted without problems. To my (not so high) knowledge this makeboot batch file makes the flash USB-ZIP compatible but does not force you to remove other USB-drives. So I assume this kind of problem would be fixed also by the original scripts if you have a possibility to run them.

 

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/testing-your-system-for-usb-boot-compatibility/

Talking to myself...  Unfortunately the script contains only the code below. The syslinux command is identical to UnRAID standard installation command. I don't get it, somehow running it the second time fixed the booting problem  Well anyways it worked for me. My third machine, Asus M2NPV-VM still refuses to boot from USB, just "Boot error" printed. I have to find a windows machine with no other critical USB-drives attached.

 

@echo off
rem This batch file was created by ©2007 PDLA http://pendrivelinux.com
rem SYslinux ©1994-2006 H. Peter Anvin http://syslinux.zytor.com
cls
echo -----------------------------------------------------------------
echo This batch file will prepare drive %~d0 for boot using syslinux!
echo -----------------------------------------------------------------
echo.
echo.
echo --------------------- WARNING!: ---------------------------------
echo.
echo Run this file from your portable USB device ONLY.
echo Running this file from your hard drive may overwrite your current
echo Master Boot Record (MBR) and render your Windows Operating System 
echo un-bootable. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
echo.
echo This batch file is offered in hopes that it will be useful and
echo comes with absolutely no warranty. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!
echo.
echo -----------------------------------------------------------------
echo.
echo.
echo Press any key to make drive %~d0 bootable
echo or close this window to abort...
pause > nul
cls

syslinux\win32\syslinux.exe -ma %~d0
echo.
echo ~~~~~~~~ Congratulations ~~~~~~~
echo. 
echo The hidden file ldlinux.sys has been installed
echo Your %~d0 drive should now be bootable.
echo.
echo.
echo Press any key to exit this window!
pause > nul

 

 

Just to report back, I got the Asus M2NPV-VM booting using the "make_USB-ZIP_compatible_unraid.bat" script. Worked perfectly, thanks for brainbone for his/her contribution!

I have been trying to get the unraid to work off my kingston 512 mb zip drive and have been having alot of issues.  I even tried using the make unraid batch files posted on this forum. 

I keep getting this message:

 

Creatig USB-ZIP compatible UNRAID disk on USB device.  PLease wait ...

The system cannont find the path specified

 

~~~~~~~Complete~~~

 

Set BIOS to boot USB-ZIP compatible devices

 

and on the Zip drive there are no new files  added.

 

help please!  its getting very frustrating!  I have tried ths scrip using WIndows VISTA on my dell and also tried using it on my MAC using parralels 5

 

!!!!!

bump... i got

" Error 21 writing the device."

 

So all it did was clean my USB key.

 

Help?

 

Just updated my older Unraid server that is still running this old DFI Infinity p965 motherboard to Unraid 5.0 and figured I'd dig up this old thread to share my results with USB booting and Unraid 5.

 

The bad: makebootfat is apparently no longer an option with Unraid 5 -- at least I couldn't get it to work.

 

The (very) good: makebootable.bat and syslinux with Unraid 5 appear to work just fine with this old motherboard when simply treating the USB stick like a HD (Set boot priority to hard disk, not USB-FDD or USB-ZIP), where this didn't work with older versions of Unraid*. YMMV.

 

* The last version I had tried this on with this server was Unraid 4.7.