Boot off USB key without bios support
Add (usb support via) plop boot manager in grub menu - Ubuntu 12.04 . (Console Mode)
This answer is based on tutorial from Ubuntu Greek Community
Now , the procedure is easiest from the Desktop Environment but for you, because you have to interfere with console mode, it will be little more difficult. If you pay attention and follow the steps I believe you will succeed.
Download Plop boot manager via wget
Current version is 5.0.14
wget "download.plop.at/files/bootmngr/plpbt-5.0.14.zip" -O ~/Downloads/plpbt-5.0.14.zip
Extract via 7z. If you don't have the package , install p7zip-full via apt-get.
cd Downloads && 7z e plpbt-5.0.14.zip
copy from Linux folder the two files plpbt.bin and plpcfgbt inside /boot.
sudo cp ~/Downloads/plpbt-5.0.14/Linux/plpbt.bin /boot/
sudo cp ~/Downloads/plpbt-5.0.14/Linux/plpcfgbt /boot/
Now is the difficult part for you (because you haven't graphical environment and I don't know any other way). You have to note down some lines from the /boot/grub/grub.cfg file. The easiest way (IMO) is a mobile HD photo but if you prefer the traditional way, paper and pencil.
Open the file
sudo nano /boot/grub/grub.cfg
find (scroll down with arrow keys) the Ubuntu entry. It will begin like
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.2.0-XX-generic-.....`
Note the 3 lines
insmod ext2
set root='(hdX,msdosX)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
replace X with your actual numbers. Close the file with Ctrl+X
Now open another file where you have to input these lines plus another. Root privileges required here
sudo nano /etc/grub.d/40_custom
at the end of this file add the lines you noted down before plus one more important line
important line is linux16 /boot/plpbt.bin and do not forget the brackets.
An example of the contents inside 40_custom
#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
menuentry "Plop Bootmanager" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hdX,msdosX)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
linux16 /boot/plpbt.bin
}
save the file with Ctrl+X then Y(es) then ENTER
Finally run
sudo update-grub
Plug in your usb flash drive, reboot and select plop boot manager from Grub menu , then select USB.
@NikTh Thank you your solution helped me out greatly, I spent some time stuck on an error and thought encase anyone else had the same error I would share how I (as a new user to Ubuntu) solved it.
I followed NikTh's steps exactly but got a "file not found" style error. I did two things after a few hours of struggling that helped.
-
In the boot directory I added more permissions to the plpbt.bin file:
chmod 777 /boot/plpbt.bin -
In the /etc/grub.d/40_custom file I changed the bin location:
linux16 /plpbt.bin
I realized this is probably common seance but I am new to Linux as a whole so for others like me I hope this help save a few hours of confusion. Also this would have been a comment if I had more rep (sorry).