HOWTO install Linux from grub with an USB pendrive

Ángel Ortega

I had a fucked up installation where only GRUB2 survived. The machine CD drive is broken and the BIOS is so old that it doesn't allow booting from USB.

1. Install an ISO onto an USB drive using pendrivelinux.com.

2. Insert the USB into the fucked linux and switch it on.

3. On the grub prompt, type

ls (hd

and press the tab key to auto-expand until you find the USB drive, it's most probably

ls (hd1,msdos1)

4. Type

set root=(hd1,msdos1)

5. Type

chainloader +1

6. Type

boot