Install ReactOS to memory stick?

[geirergoy]

Hi!
I like ReactOS, and would like to test it on a real computer, using the installable version, not the LiveCD.
I know I cant boot ReactOS LiveCD or Installer from a memory stick.

But could I boot ReactOS from a CD, and install it onto a memory stick as if it were a hard drive, also installing the boot loader onto the memory stick, so I don's screw up anything om my computer's hard disk?

Would this memory stick become a portable system, which I can boot any computer from?

I want to install ReactOS, but not onto my computer's internal hard drive. Just on a memory stick, which is removable, and makes no change to the hard drive.

Testing it on real hardware should be faster than VirtualBox, which was just frustrating.

[gonzoMD]

no

[geirergoy]

Really?

What is the difference between an internal hard drive, and a USB one?
You CAN install it onto a internal one, so why not on a USB stick?

[Haos]

Internal HDD uses IDE or SATA interface we luckily support. We dont support USB Mass storage interface (nor AHCI) so you cant boot from USB nor AHCI device.

[geirergoy]

So the ReactOS could be installed onto a USB stick _IF_ ReactOS did support USB sticks?

What about the bootloader? Would it automatically go to the same storage unit as the OS?

[EmuandCo]

A bootloader always goes to the primary Disk. by default. and we do so, too afaik.

[andrewweb]

This might be possible.
You can install GRUB to a USB key, and you could use it to boot ReactOS.

[Posterbot]

This might be possible.
You can install GRUB to a USB key, and you could use it to boot ReactOS.

Have you tried this?

I'm not a Linux user so not familiar with Grub (or Wine for that matter except what I read) but grub is the bootloader Linux uses.. is this correct? Interesting idea. Anything to help ROS along until the devs can fix native driver support is cool I think. That's why Wine is used isn't it.

[dabski]

I have tried extracting the ISO image to the USB stick and also booting the ISO directly from grub. Freeloader works fine but a little after ReactOS freezes before getting to the desktop.

[vicmarcal]

I have tried extracting the ISO image to the USB stick and also just boot the ISO directly from grub. Freeloader works fine but a little after ReactOS freezes before getting to the desktop.

If you are using the Installer version, then try ReactOS(Debug) it will show where it stops loading

[dabski]

After the freeloader screen ReactOS displays the SOS screen showing a list of system files the last one being NDIS.SYS

When using debug mode it says something about unhanded kernel exemption pointers:
[ external image ]

[vicmarcal]

when KDBG appears, write "bt"(without quotes) and it will show you a backtrace.Take a photo and show it to us

[Haos]

So outputting to screen works! Good news.

[dabski]

Thanks vicmarcal, did'nt even notice the prompt at the bottom, I thought ReactOS had frozen
I figured out how to turn off the flash so these new photos are a lot easier on the eyes

[ external image ]

Their was more text at the top but it scrolled past. It would be nice if the bt command had a /p switch like dir does. Anyway I did try to get a picture as it scrolled past, its surprisingly readable:
http://users.adam.com.au/srdebski/reactos/IMG_0471.png