VPCZ1 Boot From USB

Haven't really seen this addressed well elsewhere. I'm trying to boot linux live from a USB stick on my VPCZ1290X. I think I succeeded with this when I was doing the BIOS hack referenced elsewhere, but now I just can't get the laptop to boot from the USB. My stick has a power light, and it doesn't seem to come on until after Windows is already booting. Evidently there's no Fn-key combo to choose boot device. Of course, I have "External Devices" enabled and in the first of four boot slots set in BIOS. Any suggestions for how to get the laptop to see the USB, wait on loading the SSD OS, or otherwise get the thing to boot from USB? Thanks.

 

When all else fails, it might help to try a different brand/model of USB stick.

 

I've already tried 2 different kinds, but maybe will try more. I assume you have no problem booting from USB? Thanks.

 

Nope, I changed USB sticks I boot off CD readers using USB too.

 

Are you sure your usb drive is setup correctly to be bootable? Meaning have you succesfully booted this linux image from the usb drive on another pc?

 

I'm thinking this maybe isn't the issue for me, though. Previously, the same stick that isn't booting now, was. And right now I have two bootable sticks in, and neither powers on before Windows starts loading. It's really annoying, I have to say, that there isn't a key combo that allows selecting a boot device. I wonder how Sony justifies omitting this almost universal option.

 

When I google for linux on the z I find lots of people saying that only ubuntu seems to work, and it has problems with switchable graphics requiring you to boot back and forth with windows xp. my efforts to boot linux resulted in the system hanging, I didn't try ubuntu though.

 

You didn't disable usb legacy did you? You need that enabled.

 

Aha! You hit the nail on the head. I read elsewhere in the forums to do that to speed up boot. Guess that has side effects. Thanks, beaups.

@e14, I managed to boot into Kubuntu 10.10, but without touchpad functionality. Don't know what graphics drivers loaded, but I got into the desktop just fine. Will keep testing. I'll try "i8042.nopnp=1" (thanks also to beaups) and seee if that gets the touchpad to work.