4GB Flash Memory

[Karl Larsen]

Phil Meyer wrote:
> Karl Larsen wrote:
>>    Google tells me the little 4 GB flash memory is available from 
>> Amazon for $36.00 plus shipping. They are a good outfit. I might 
>> order one but I still have a question I have not answered.
>>
>>    The memory is format in VFAT. This is not a problem since I have 
>> used it to transfer Linux files. My question is how do I put a .iso 
>> file on the memory so it can be used to upgrade.
>>
>>    I have by accident put a .iso file on a cd-rom and it is 
>> worthless. All you see is the file name. Then I learn how to get the 
>> software to put the .iso on the cd-rom properly and it works fine. 
>> Not sure what the difference  is....
>>
>> Karl
>>
>>
>
> Simple answer -- you don't.
>
> Thumb drives, and all flash memory types, have a 'controller' on them, 
> and all computers will see them as disk drives as a result.  They are 
> not and cannot be the same as a CD ROM or DVD.  So no go on an ISO.
>
> They can certainly be made bootable, but as a disk drive, not a CD ROM.
>
> With pungi and revisor, you can certainly make a bootable thumb 
> drive.  The jury is still debating whether its best to configure them 
> like a regular drive, or use compressed/read-only file systems like a 
> 'live' CD does.
>
> This is an area that needs attention, so y advice is jump into the 
> pungi/revisor discussions and lend a hand!
>
> Many of us are dealing more and more with embedded systems now days.  
> It will be wonderful if and when pungi and revisor will make it easy 
> to build an image suitable for booting from compact flash and/or USB 
> for embedded systems.
>
> For my own uses, I cut off a small (13MB) partition of my thumb drive 
> to put the boot.img on.  I use the rest of the drive to hold a custom 
> DVD image and misc stuff.  It is then possibf to boot and install from 
> the single thumb drive, but this is not like a live DVD.
>
> Good Luck!
>
Thanks Phil. As I recall the boot partition on a Floppy drive was very 
small. I heard that the CD-Rom used the floppy boot software.

Karl