Installing Debian from USB

download files

• vmlinuz
• initrd.gz
• debian-6.0.0-i386-netinst.iso
• syslinux.cfg

      label linux
      kernel vmlinuz
      append initrd=initrd.gz ramdisk_size=12000 root=/dev/rd/0 init=/linuxrc rw
  
      default linux
      prompt 1
      timeout 0
  

Make bootable USB

• Note: in this example, the USB stick is SCSI device /dev/sdb
• $ sudo apt-get install mtools syslinux dosfstools
• $ sudo modprobe usb-storage
• $ sudo fdisk -l /dev/sdb
• $ sudo mkdosfs -I /dev/sdb
• $ sudo syslinux /dev/sdb
• $ sudo mount /dev/sdb /mnt
• $ sudo cp -f vmlinuz initrd.gz syslinux.cfg debian-6.0.0-i386-netinst.iso /mnt
• $ sudo umount /mnt

boot from USB stick

• set the first boot device in the BIOS to USB-ZIP.
• insert your USB drive, and boot your computer.