Install Linux to USB from Windows (actual install, not just live Linux)

If you're looking to install Linux to a USB key from within Windows, and not just to create a Linux Live USB key, then this will be of interest to you.

I started with a laptop with Windows 8, no CD drive, and 1 blank USB disk on key. I wanted to install Linux to the USB key. I wanted that USB key to be bootable.

1. Download and install Oracle Virtual Box.

2. Download ISO of Linux version that you want to install.

3. Create raw vmdk that points to USB:

Go to Virtual Box installation folder in an administrative command prompt:

VBoxManage.exe internalcommands createrawvmdk -filename "c:\Users\<Username>\VirtualBox VMs\USB.vmdk" -rawdisk \\.\PhysicalDriveX

The PhysicalDrive # comes from the disk #. To find the appropriate value go to Disk Management and find what disk is the USB key. For example Disk 2 maps to \\.\PhysicalDrive2, Disk 3 would be \\.\PhysicalDrive3.

4. Load Virtual Box as an administrator. Create new VM. I chose Debian as that was the distribution I was installing. Do not allocate a new virtual disk. Instead select "Choose existing". Choose the vmdk file you created above.

Now you have a virtual machine that uses your USB key as it's hard disk.

5. Run the installation through Virtual Box. Make sure your USB key is not being used. Close all windows to it. Be prepared to lose any data that is on it, as this process WILL format the USB key.

If you finish the installation, you should now be able to use the same USB key to boot your system with. That's what I did. It's a great way to get Linux installed to USB without needing a CD or CD ROM drive (or an extra USB key for the installation).

I can now boot my laptop on from USB. The nice thing is that while I was debugging wireless I would sometimes want to add packages. I could reboot into Windows and download packages from there on the USB key. I then reboot back to a non-vm run and I can then debug and attempt to get wireless working. Not only is wireless working now, but the desktop environment I installed (XFCE) from the non-vm boot is actually working fine when loaded within Virtual Box.

Nachum

x220t Windows 8 Camera upside down

I have had Windows 8 installed for a while and the only thing that never seemed to work right has been the camera. It has been upside down. I searched for all sorts of drivers, registry modifications, and anything I could find. I couldn't get the camera to flip right side up. To the point -> I got it right side up!

Short of all of it is that if Windows 7 settings indicates to flip the camera, then Windows 8 doesn't flip it back. Seems like the camera stores internally whether to flip its output. Once that option is set, Windows 8 drivers don't yet have the option to change them back. Go into Windows 7 and flip the camera back. That'll solve the problem.

x220t Windows 8

I spent the last couple days installing Windows 8 on my x220t tablet convertible and a new SSD CT128M4SSD3.

Here are some hitches and solutions:
1. Won't install to SSD. Keeps saying that Windows can't be installed to this partition or something like that. Using Shift-F10, you can get to the command prompt. Using DiskPart you can play with this disk. I physicall removed my HDD first as to not risk affecting my Windows 7 partition and data. In the end, I finally got it working by converting the SSD to GPT, and NOT doing anything else. Once the disk was marked as GPT, all went well.

2. Windows Update installs updates and then reverts them saying they failed to install. Update the Conexant audio driver first (through Windows Update). That fixes the rest of the updates so they all update smoothly.

3. From my experience, do NOT install Wacom driver from Wacom. It makes the accuracy of the touch screen go way down. Not sure why. After I uninstalled Wacom's generic Tablet PC driver, touch got more accurate.

4. Camera stays upside down, haven't yet figured out how to fix that. The Lenovo Integrated Camera Driver for Windows 7 doesn't work on Windows 8 (Ricoh Bison). Even though it looks like it's installed, it won't show up in the camera app or skype.

5. Microphone doesn't work. Disable the mic's Audio Enhancements option through the sound applet in the control panel.

6. Auto rotate doesn't work. Install Windows 7 version of Tablet Shortcut Menu. Go to location of Tablet Shortcut Menu link, and set compatibility mode to "Run as Administrator". It only opens from the desktop mode of Windows 8, will not open from the Start screen. Once in the tablet utility, choose settings. Then check the Auto Rotate checkbox.

Feel free to leave additional tips in the comments section.
Nachum