Linux/ext2/3 help...

[The Talking Pie]

I'm guessing this is mainly a plea to Endy, but anyone might be able to help me here...

So, basically I want to install Linux on a USB key. Only, if I install it in FAT, it obviously won't boot. The installer doesn't have a formatting application, so what I need is a way to format a disk to ext2 or ext3 from inside Windows.

Does anyone know of such software?

[Endymion]

don't know of any, no. i'd say "livecd ftw" though.

[Cejus]

You can use Partition Magic, but I guess you'll have to donwload it from Emule or something, as it's not freeware.

[The Talking Pie]

That was the first thing I tried. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to do removable media. I don't think I have any LiveCDs with formatters on either... which is weird, because that's the kind of thing you'd expect to find on a LiveCD/rescue disc.

[Cejus]

That's weird, I thought Partition Magic was able to format USB's, too :( And, have you tried using:

mkfs.ext2 /dev/nameOfYourUsbDevice

on your Linux live-cd? I'm not sure if that'll work, but I'm pretty sure that you can format a USB with mkfs. =)

[The Talking Pie]

I shall definately give that a try, thank you!

[Endymion]

psh, nearly all of them have parted or mkfs, those will work. personally i'd use parted...

[The Talking Pie]

You'd think, wouldn't you? O' how I've searched for Parted... I must just have a poor choice of distros.

[Endymion]

DSL has parted.

[Endymion]

there's also this: http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php

i <3 having those business card sized cds.

[The Talking Pie]

<3

^ Both for tiny CDs and Endy.