BIOS/operating system question

BuildingFirstRig

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Jan 16, 2014
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10,510
Hey, I just set up my first open-air mining rig, and I'm trying to follow this guide: http://www.cryptobadger.com/2013/04/build-a-litecoin-mining-rig-linux/

Few questions:
1. Can I access the BIOS without an OS installed yet? When I turned on the computer for the first time I was taken to the "ASRock Utility" screen: http://imgur.com/4NF2sEo

2. If not, is it safe to install Xubuntu onto my USB and plug it into the computer while it's running or do I have to shut it off? I don't have a power button, so I'd rather "jump" the power as little as necessary.

Thanks.
 
Solution
The ISO is just an image that a burner program uses to burn the real program.

There are programs that can read an ISO directly, but you want to burn it to a USB stick.

If you have the ISO on your laptop, then use your laptop to burn the ISO to the first USB memory stick.
Then use that stick to install it on the computer, using the other memory stick, as the hard drive.

You can then use the first stick, for anything you want, as it is not needed, anymore.


EDIT
Your burner program will have a separate option to burn ISOs to Disk, or a USB stick

millwright

Distinguished
BIOS can be accessed, without an operating system.
You don't even need a drive of any kind.

It is safe to plug in a USB with the computer running.

I haven't used a USB for installing Linux Before, but with a disk, it will ask to restart, to do the install
 

BuildingFirstRig

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Jan 16, 2014
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10,510


Do you know how to access the BIOS from the pic I showed you? There's no tab for it. The cryptobadger guide says hit delete three times when the computer is turning on but I'd really rather access it now if possible so I don't have to shut it down and jump it again
 

millwright

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That screen won't tell you.

You need to be able to see the POST screen.
It is probably defaulting to the manufacturers splash screen.

It is almost always DEL, or F2, and on rare occasions F1.

Try each key, one one at a time, pressing the key repeatedly from the start.
Don't hold it down.

 

BuildingFirstRig

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Jan 16, 2014
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Yeah, I pressed F1 and it brought up all the keyboard shortcuts and none of them were to access BIOS. So millwright is my only way to access BIOS to shut down the computer and restart it and press delete three times upon restart? I don't even know how to shut it down without pulling the plug, since there's no power button on an open-air rig...
 

millwright

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I have never heard 3 times before, but yes, you have start from off.

Don't worry about pulling the plug, that is just an old wives tale, that it will hurt anything.
I'd rig up a button, it is not that hard.
Don't you have any old computers laying around, you can take the start, or reset button, and wire out of.
They are the same type button.
 

BuildingFirstRig

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Jan 16, 2014
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No old computers around, I should only have to do this once a month or so to clean the setup so it's not a big worry for me. Otherwise it'll just be sitting around mining litecoins. Should I turn the PSU off or just flip the switch on the surge protector? No idea if it makes a difference I'm just being super cautious haha
 

millwright

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I'd flip the switch. Either switch.
The theory behind not pulling the plug, is that it might arc a little, when you pull the plug,
An arc increases voltage, or amperage, I can't remember which.
Electrical devices can handle this.

The switch will decrease the chance of an arc.
 

BuildingFirstRig

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Jan 16, 2014
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10,510


So should I just download Xubuntu first, so I only have to shut it off and jump it on once more? Seeing as I could go straight to the BIOS then go to my OS
 

BuildingFirstRig

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Jan 16, 2014
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Basically I'm trying to follow this guide: http://www.cryptobadger.com/2013/04/build-a-litecoin-mining-rig-linux/

It says: Download the Xubuntu Desktop x64 v12.10 installation image.

You’ll need to either burn the installation image onto a CD, or write the image to a second USB stick. If you use a CD, you’ll need to temporarily hook up a CD-ROM drive to your mining rig for the installation (make sure you temporarily enable your SATA controller if you disabled it in step 1!).

Once you have the installation media prepared, you’re ready to install Xubuntu to the blank USB stick on your miner. Make sure your blank USB stick is inserted into a USB port on your mining, and then boot into your installation media. The Xubuntu installer should appear.


I still don't see why you need two USB cards though, this shit is so confusing to me
 

millwright

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I don't know much about it, but it looks like they are running without a hard drive.

You need a running computer to download the ISO.
You then need a running computer to burn the ISO to a disk, or a USB stick.

Probably to reduce cost, you then use a USB stick, instead of a hard drive, to run the computer.

The first stick is just the installation program, and the second stick is what you install it on to run the computer, like a hard drive would.

If you are using a hard drive, you don't need the second USB stick.

That's what it looks like to me.
 

BuildingFirstRig

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Jan 16, 2014
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10,510
Yeah it's running without a hard drive because it's an unnecessary expense for mining.

I have two USB sticks, but do I transfer the ISO on my laptop that I'm using now, or on the new rig? Since there is no OS on the new rig until I can run it off the USB, I don't see how it'd be possible to do it there. Thanks for all the help btw.
 

millwright

Distinguished
The ISO is just an image that a burner program uses to burn the real program.

There are programs that can read an ISO directly, but you want to burn it to a USB stick.

If you have the ISO on your laptop, then use your laptop to burn the ISO to the first USB memory stick.
Then use that stick to install it on the computer, using the other memory stick, as the hard drive.

You can then use the first stick, for anything you want, as it is not needed, anymore.


EDIT
Your burner program will have a separate option to burn ISOs to Disk, or a USB stick
 
Solution