How to run the Alternate CD from USB-Stick?

[Hadmut Danisch]

OK guys, 

I got it running. 


- Problem: Some parts of the installation process depend on 
  the symlink stable -> hardy  in the dists directory. The vfat does
  not provide symlinks. I tried to move hardy to stable, but ran
  into other problems. So vfat causes trouble. 

- I tried to copy the CDROM file by file into a second partition, 
  but ran into the problem that the system does not have any
  ext2, ext3 or other usable file system at that time. 

- And, btw. manually mounting the image causes problems because
  the installation system does not determine the codename of the 
  release and debootstrap fails. 


That's how it works: 

* split the USB device into two partitions. A small one with 
  vfat and the directories needed for booting (copy from alternate
  CDROM), copy isolinux.cfg to syslinux.cfg and run syslinux. 

* copy the iso image blockwise (dd ...) into the second partition. 
  (must be large enough, >= 720MB). It is important that it is 
  a iso file system. 

Now boot from the stick, wait for the error message  that the cdrom 
is not found. Skip the menu where additional modules can be loaded
and go for the question to manually enter the CDROM device. Enter
the device name (e.g. /dev/sdb2, use the second console to determine)
of the USB partition with the iso image. 

Works. :-)

regards