Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

OK - I'm sure I just missed this somewhere. If I use an 8GB card to boot from SD, then want to install the KDE (boot from SD).deb on the same card... Will the KDE install eat up all the ext2 space on the card? Or will the new KDE .deb install install in a similar way to the older version i.e. Run KDE from Extra's menu?

Nate

Thanks again Penguinbait.

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

If you use the 8GB card, and install KDE, your install will be using about 1.3GB with about 5GB left

KDE is still started the same way from the extras menu

Just boot to SD and install the KDE deb

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

ok ta.
I wanted even more swap. And a pony. Onna stick.

Originally I could have more swap, but now it won't let me have any swap (from the UI). But I suppose if it has it, I don't need more.

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

perhaps there is something wrong with your fat partition, can you put files on it? Is it writable?

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

I had done this previously with the manual instructions, but had to reflash and messed things up, so I will try this method.

I have an 8GB card and a couple of 1GB cards. I will use a 1GB card as the internal for cloning. I have a probably stupid question. Is there any reason to have the 64MB FAT partition if I have an external card? If I use your deb, can I later manually run fdisk and expand the swap partition to 128MB, leaving out the 64MB FAT partition?

Is there any reason that I couldn't put OS2007 on one 1GB card and OS2008 on another 1GB card and swap out the cards when I wanted to? Will this cause any problems?

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

Well, after the first time through botching it. (as long as the 2g was in it wouldn't boot .. so it goes) I moved data around an installed it on my 4g.... then suddenly, I heard a familiar voice telling me how to pronounce Linux. I'm running off of the flash without a hitch.

One note it only let me extend memory to 112MB not the full 128 .... seems it does some sort of percentage thing with the available vfat space. Other minors. Nope MicroB doesn't load any faster (rats :( ) and I noticed that the icons in the control panel doubled in size. Otherwise... so far so good.

wii!

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

Installing the deb worked just fine the first time through (I cloned an OS2007). Booted from the internal 1GB SD card works fine and things seem a bit snappier.

I am having one problem. Every time I plug in the USB cable, I am told that the internal memory card is in use (it's not). I can access the external card via USB. When I unplug the USB cable, File Manager shows the internal card greyed-out and says it is not installed. If I reboot, things are back to normal. I am currently using the default partitions created by the deb. I still have a 64MB FAT partition.

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

I am having a problem, I have tried downloading to the n800, and downloading to a pc and transfer over, every time I get a message Installation file corrupted. Any ideas?

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

yep, it is writable, and claims to have 112.1MB in use and 7MB available (I have one 3k file on there, that I just copied over to test it was writable).
Which was the size of the swap I originally had on there (the largest it could be).
It won't let me format it, it says its in use.

I guess I don't get my pony ;)

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

When I am trying to install install-tools, I am getting a message Unable to install.
I was booting from SD card earlier but I wanted to change my partitions for KDE installation. So I formatted my SD Card.
But now I am not able to install this deb.

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

If you are having trouble installing, please PASTE your Application manager Log file here, so I can help you.

You can get to it in the application manager menu, Tools > Log

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

Got my N800 last week upgraded it an clone OS to mmc using this deb
Great work buddy !!!

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

I'm new to all this, and i'm pretty sure I'm missing something, I copy the file to main memory, I can run it, but it says unable to update install tools.....what am I doing wrong?


Figured it out, i needed to disable swap, then it seemed to work like a charm. Thanks

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

One more question, do i need to enable the 128 mb swap in the CP? Or is the larger swap already enabled by the program?

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

Swap will be enabled using a swap partition. The partition size will depend on what size card you installed it on.

card size = swap size
1gb = 64mb
2gb = 128mb
4gb = 256mb
8gb = 500mb

Note this is only in use on the SD partition, if you boot to flash, you would need a swap file for flash

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

i'm using an 8GB card, Thanks again!

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

For those who were asking, I created a N810 external slot version of the boot from SD deb.

Get it from http://penguinbait.com

"INSTALL TOOLS EXTERNAL 810 SLOT"


After install it can be uninstalled from both Flash and SD.

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

Thanks!

BTW, you have a typo in your 1st post

1GB
1: 64MB FAT
2: 872GB EXT2 (BOOT)
3: 64MB SWAP

Id like 872GB on my NIT!

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

Trying the N810 external version.

While writing it gave me an error: unable to install.
The log where reporting errors about unable to umount the card.
The file manager states that it can format the damaged card because it's being used as virtual memory.
Removed the virtual memory from the Settings panel, reformatted the card from the File Manager and trying again.

I am doing this from a freshly flashed unit with a 2Gb MiniSD card.

EDIT: is it supposed to SPEAK after it has cloned the SD and booted from it ???
Because I restarted the tablet (as it umounted the internal card and wanted to start "fresh") and I heard an "hello... something" !

the log file is attached.
From it looks like something is using the external card.
I have no idea of who's the process using it.
the deb file is on the Flash (internal main small flash memory), the only open application is the
Application Manager and I just did a flash of the unit before trying the cloning.

EDIT2: Also tried the n800 version. Removed the external SD card (it complained about having two sd cards). It gave me the very same errors. Card busy and plenty of errors after that.

In both cases it DOES repartition the cards, but is unable to format them.

EDIT3: Trying to "update" it after a reboot.. let's see.

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

Ok, after reboot worked.
Sorry to bother, but didn't go thru the whole (10 pages long) thread looking for the answer before...

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

OK, so what exactly was the problem, and how did you fix it?

I am thinking it sounds like what I have seen on some cards. It just fails, and until you reboot and run again it will continue to fail. It has something to do with the repartitioning. Some card handle it fine it seems, and some it seems need to be rebooted in order to be useable after a repartition.

Glad to hear you eventually had success.

I updated original post

IF YOU COMPLETE THE INSTALL AND THE CLONE WONT BOOT, OR IF THE INSTALL FAILS. BOOT/REBOOT BACK TO FLASH AND RUN IT A SECOND TIME (LET IT UPDATE) THIS SHOULD FIX IT. SOME CARDS SEEM TO NEED TO BE REBOOTED BEFORE BEING USEFULL AFTER PARTITIONING


If you look at the log output below you can see what is happening. Even though the script called it to reread the partition table, apparently it read the old one, and it did not create the needed devices we just created (/dev/mmcblk1pX) Rebooting and allowing the system to reread the card, it now will have the devices when it boots. Its possible that just removing the card, and then re-inserting it may work also, but I have not tested.

LOG OUTPUT
mke2fs 1.37 (21-Mar-2005)
Could not stat /dev/mmcblk1p2 --- No such file or directory

The device apparently does not exist; did you specify it correctly?
mkswap: can't open '/dev/mmcblk1p3': No such file or directory
swapon: can't stat '/dev/mmcblk1p3': No such file or directory
mkdir: cannot create directory '/device': File exists
mkdir: cannot create directory '/flash': File exists
insmod: cannot insert '/mnt/initfs/lib/modules/2.6.21-omap1/mbcache.ko': File exists (-1): File exists
insmod: cannot insert '/mnt/initfs/lib/modules/2.6.21-omap1/ext2.ko': File exists (-1): File exists
mount: mounting /dev/mmcblk1p2 on /device failed
ERROR
SD CARD IS IN USE - SAVE DEB TO FLASH AND RE-RUN
ERROR

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

I did not fix it actually.
I ran it, it failed, rebooted, "updated" it and this time it worked.
And yes, it HAS to do with repartitioning. And dunno if you CAN do something about it.
The very same issue appears if I repartition a card in the tablet from a Linux machine via USB. The tablet coninues to see the old partition map.

About your test I am sorry I can't try it. Just finished re-configuring almost everything.
The 'real' problem is if one wants to clone the FS to the internal 2Gb card of the N810.

Did you try a "sync" after the re-partitioning in your scripts ?

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

The original script install-tools.deb worked fine on the internal 810. But I did have to reboot and re-run. I do call it to reread, it just must not be working on some cards.

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

is it possible use firesystem with EXT3

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

I know EXT2/EXT3 just like fat32/ntfs

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

Yes... the issue is the "reboot" part.

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

While it may be an "issue" it is a very minor one, I think? As you said, even doing this manually you would have to reboot.

And I am pretty sure using this is way faster that doing it manually, even for me.

I dont see any way, I can fix this. OK OK, I dont see anyway, I am going to fix that.

I could create a two deb process with a reboot between them, but I am lazy and this is working good :D

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

I would have to change some scripting, but its possible to do. But I honestly am not sure you would want to do this?

I have not looked into the performance implications on using ext3 over ext2 on such a low power device. Its possible performance could be hurt by using ext3?

I am sure Fanoush or someone will jump in here clarify this?

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

Yes, absolutely. I know it's a minor one :)

It's not worth it :)
Spend you time in better ways.

Thanks! :)

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

OK, I did not use this .deb (I wanted some things rather more complicated; I'll post what all I did do later...), but I have a suggestion: If you open the cover for whichever SD you're working with, ITOS will refrain from trying to mount it. But the device remains accessible, so I think this should work well with the .deb. I think this might eliminate some of the reboot needs around here... Comments, PB?

(And if I was anyone considering using this trick, I would definitely wait for further input; I think what I just said makes sense, and it seemed to work, but you really should wait for someone who knows the stuff to at least say they don't think it'll break things...)

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

Makes a lot of sense...

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

Thats not goin to help, unfortunately. What is happening is when the device is inserted. Say its fresh from the factory.

New SD card plugs in, it reads the partition table and creates twp devices /dev/mmcblk0 and /dev/mmcblk0p1

/dev/mmcblk0p1 is the first partition, since its new, I assume its FAT..

What happens is my script is repartitioning the SD card, and creating 3 partitions.

These partitions would be accessed as /dev/mmcblk0p1 /dev/mmcblk0p2 and /dev/mmcblk0p3

The problem is that after the partitions are made, the DEVICES /dev/mmvblk0p2 and 0p3 are not being created, thus cannot be accessed immediately.

My scripts is calling a re-read of the partition table, but for some systems, it will not create the device files /dev/mmcblk0p2 and p3.

By rebooting, it forces the card to be reread, and the devices are available after a reboot.

rerunning the script again will allow it to finish cleanly.

Perhaps, as I mentioned, actually physically removing the card, and re-inserting it (instead of reboot) MAY WORK, but as I already mentioned, its untested by me...

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

What you can get from Benson hint is that, instead of restarting the device, may be opening the tray and closing it again SHOULD force the re-creation of the devices and thus of the news ones (2 and 3).

Well this is much the same are removing and inserting the card :D

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

The original DEB has been updated.

This should be installed and then uninstalled once successfull.

There is a problem with the original DEB, that if you uninstall it (from flash), it will no longer fsck your cards when you boot to flash.

if you uninstall it (from SD partition), it will no longer mount swap space your cards when you boot to SD.

This new update will fix it, so after you install, you can uninstall and everything will stay in place.

I am now, calling testing phase over,

please enjoy!!!!!!

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

This deb rocks... thank you for your work on this!! Excellent tool.

Have a great day!

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

Thinks for your reply

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

i've followed the instructions exactly, and each time i try to install it says my memory card is corrupted, but it isn't...

man i've just terrible luck with this.

5 different sd cards - when i go to install the deb (which is located on flash) every time it corrupts the card.

**** i want KDE on my n800 but for the love of god i think it's never gonna happen.

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

You install one time, even if it fails, reboot
install it again ??

It should work, it has for everyone else?

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

when i install it give me a "memory card corrupted" - have yo uheard of other people getting this?

sorry, i REALLY REALLY appreciate all the work you've done, so i'm gonna give it another go.

nope, doesn't work... maybe i've just got a bum dl'd?

when i tried reinstalling i get severall popups saying the memory card is corrupted... sucks sucks sucks, maybe i've done something to the os?

Re: Clone OS to SD Deb!! Boot from SD made EASY!!
 

i dunno what i did but this works now,

YOU ARE AWESOME!