Need help booting from USB
January 12, 2024, 17:10
Hi,
I recently bought a Pi4 to use as server for Home Assistant. I also bought a USB to SATA-connector to use a old(ish) SSD as boot device. However, I am having issues booting from the USB.
From Googling I found that most people said you needed the official power adapter, which I bought and just got. Besides this, I've flashed a SD-card to get USB boot into the Pi. It works perfectly - the green light flashes rapidly. After this, I disconnect the power to the Pi, I insert the USB with the SSD, and give the Pi power. The red light is constantly on, with the green light flashing fast once, followed by keeping the light on for about 10 seconds. After that the green light turns off, and repeats after about 10 seconds.
Any help is appriciated!
ok just checking you did the same as this guide https://discord.com/channels/818384379197784084/1193923435789824050 except with the ssd
a single fast and single long flash isn't on the list so maybe send a video
do you have a display by chance?
How much A does your power supply deliver?
Did you execute the command sudo poweroff before disconnecting the power?
Posted video above.
ok it is 1 short and 1 long
do you have a display? and answer the other questions above aswell
I did not. I inserted the SD-card, which after a few seconds its showing me it's sucessful according to documentation. After that I disconnect the power. Did not know I could even access bash during that state.
I don't have a micro HDMI so sadly no.
okay just be wheary you do need to shut it off before you remove the power
and what about your power supply?
This is what I've put on the MicroSD. According to documentation it should be done after it blinks green rapidly. Should I be able to run sudo poweroff when doing that?
So, to sum it up, my steps:
1. Took Micro SD-card and installed the bootloader USB Boot via Raspberry Pi Imager.
2. Inserted the SD-card into my RPi4.
3. Connected it to the power.
4. Waited a couple of seconds until it started blinking green, according to documentation it was succesful.
5. Disconnected the power (pulling the cord) from the RPi.
6. Removed the SD-card.
7. Took a SSD, using a USB -> SSD-adapter, and used Raspberry Pi Imager to install HomeAssistant OS.
8. Plugged in the USB/SSD into the Pi, plugged in the power.
9. The Pi gives a code with 1 long, 1 short (see video). It does not show up in the router (when it's connected with ethernet cable), which it did when having RPi OS on the Micro SD-card.
10. Cried.
ok good
you shouldnt need to set it so it can usb boot, the pi 4 has it on the boot order by default
oh and the 10th step is crucial π
ok do you have a usb stick?
Kind of is.. I spent a couple of hours earlier this week until I understood that using the incorrect power adapter could cause the issue, been waiting a couple of days to get it delivered, yet it's not working.
I do, should I try and see if it can boot from that if I install on it?
yes
without the home assistant
just follow this guide exactly https://discord.com/channels/818384379197784084/1193923435789824050 , no messing around with the boot order although youve already done something that changes it directly on the pi
Yeah that gives me 3 (would like to say 2 but I assume I'm blind) short blinks. Will see if I even can get it to work with the SD-card now.
Which OS do you have installed, Bookworm or Bullseye?
Bookworm 64bit, no desktop is what I'm trying with now.
Try it with Bullseye.
Using the SD-card I'm able to get it to run. Should I try with Bullseye on the USB?
Yes
Tried with Bullseye 64bit, no desktop, on the USB stick and same issue as before - 3 short flashes.
Would it help if I the SD-card running and being able to SSH into it?
To just disconnect the power without "shutdown" can cause your filesystem to be corrupt and unable to boot.
That is wrong, between step 4 and 5 you need to shut down the system with the command sudo poweroff
From my understanding, when using the bootloader I do not have access to any terminal. I assume I'm wrong then?
Isn't you using a OS, just the bootloader? Then your correct, the bootloader can be accessed via the keyboard/video or serial port if configured.
Using the SD-card, I am able to find both the USB stick and the SSD (via USB adapter), so atleast the USB ports are working:
pontus@raspberrypi:~ $ lsusb Bus 002 Device 004: ID 152d:0578 JMicron Technology Corp. / JMicron USA Technology Corp. JMS578 SATA 6Gb/s Bus 002 Device 003: ID 0781:5581 SanDisk Corp. Ultra Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub Bus 001 Device 002: ID 2109:3431 VIA Labs, Inc. Hub Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Nice
Are you from the nordics ?
I am from Sweden, yes.
Well guess where Im from π
A hint: Stockholm area
No idea π
Anyways.. Considering I find the USB devices, that must be a good sign?
After some trial and error, I actually got it to boot from my USB stick. No luck with the SSD, though.
ok thats a good sign
try formatting the ssd.
Okay, after some more trial and error (meaning pulling in and out the SSD a couple of times), I did get it to work aswell. Both of these are by using Bullseye 64 bit without desktop environment.
That being said, two issues remain. 1) It's not stable, as in I have to reboot the RPi a couple of times to get it to work, and 2) This is with a OS that's not the one I want to use.
Issue #2 might be a question for another forum, but someone here might be able to help me with the first one (hopefully).
have you tried bookworm with the same technique?
Well, kind of, before our discussion here. Do you reckon I should do that again?
yes make sure to formatt the card using the "erase" option at the bottom
just to make sure we have no problems
Erase to FAT32 and then install Bookworm?
yes
Jesus, how can I get all of the issues possible π
Will format it in some other way first
Hm, yeah. Worked with Bookworm, first time trying it. And I noticed that I've forgotten the SD-card in the RPi, which might be what has helped me to get it to work
that's probs booting from the SD card
FINALLY I got it working!
Not sure how, or why, it worked. I did now leave the SD-card with the USB bootloader in the RPi, which I assume somehow helped me. I used USB 2.0 ports instead of 3.0 - will have to try to move it to 3.0 one eventually. Since it's going to be a HA server, once it works I'm kinda done.
Thank you so much everyone for the help!
no problem
I am still suspicious that's it's not booting of of the SSD and instead of of the SD card or the usb stick
Atleast HA is showing me using the SSD, in terms of storage.