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<TITLE>RE: HD maker makes a Linux HD</TITLE>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Jonathan Hutchins wrote:</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> On Monday 30 August 2004 08:35 am, Garrett Goebel wrote:</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> > My brand spanking new Toshiba Tecra M2 can't... [boot from USB </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> > devices]</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> See if there's a BIOS update available.</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>I called Toshiba, they said they couldn't provide a BIOS update because the underlying hardware support wasn't there.</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Okay I looked it up.</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>You have to have a USB to ATA bridge controller that acts as a USB to ATA translator. Without this you can't access a USB HDD except via USB legacy floppy mode emulation. My guess is that the USB keychain distributions are setup like CD bootable distro's. I.e., they boot a floppy image and bootstrap the OS and USB device access from there.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Several workstation motherboards on the market have USB to ATA translators. Very few laptops do. In fact, the only laptop I found reference to is the IBM T41.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>--</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Garrett Goebel</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>IS Development Specialist</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>ScriptPro Direct: 913.403.5261</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>5828 Reeds Road Main: 913.384.1008</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Mission, KS 66202 Fax: 913.384.2180</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>www.scriptpro.com garrett at scriptpro dot com</FONT>
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