Boot Ubuntu From USB

[maxximilian]

Hiya

I just made a bootable Ubuntu 11.04 USB Flash drive. Rather than dual boot, like on another machine, I chose this USB with casper-rw option so that I could transfer the drive between a new netbook and a very old laptop as needed. Now I don't foresee any trouble with the new netbook even though I have not tried it yet....but I already ran into trouble with the old laptop. It's a Sony Vaio pcg-grz630 that is over 8 years old. Phoenix BIOS. I went in to change the boot order, but the BIOS has no option for USB or external device. Just optical, floppy, hard drive and network. Questions:

1. What can I do with this seemingly outdated BIOS that won't even list USB options?

2. If I boot into WindowsXP, can I run Ubuntu on top of it....and still make use of the Casper-rw persistence function?

Thanks

[SuperSparks]

1) The easiest way would be to burn the Ubuntu ISO to a CD, then you can boot your laptop from that instead of the USB stick.

2) You can only run Ubuntu "on top of" XP, by using virtualisation software. MS Virtual PC is very poor with Linux, so you would be best to use Virtual Box or VMWare Player, both of which are free.

[maxximilian]

Thanks, but CD Ubuntu doesn't get where I need to go. Need the USB with persistence. The VMWare option might work. I will look into that..

BTW.....Sony only offers one BIOS utility which only restores the original. Is the computer manufacturer the only place to find a BIOS upgrade? One would think that somewhere there should be an upgrade to allow for USB boot in the past 8 years. I understand caution is strongly advised when flashing the BIOS...but if there is a compatable one out there....I want to have a look.

[SuperSparks]

Absolutely do not get a BIOS update from anywhere but the original manufacturer. And even then triple-check that it is for the correct model. There is no easier way to brick a computer than flashing the incorrect BIOS

[maxximilian]

OK....I think I will go the VMWare option for the laptop and the netbook should have no problem booting from USB. This should allow me to do what I want to do between the two. Actually VMWare gives me an idea for something else too.

Thanks

[SuperSparks]

You're very welcome