How to boot from USB pendrive

pscotto1234

Hi all,
I completed my system based on RetroPie with this configuration:

Raspberry Pi 4 2GB
uSD Samsung 128GB
PSU 5V 3.5A
Encoder ZeroDelay with 4way joystick and sanwa like arcade buttons.

Now I would to have the possibility to boot another distro connecting a usb drive to the raspberry. Is there a way to set the boot from USB pendrive with a higher priority than the uSD?
I cannot remove the uSD because the raspberry is closed in a case.
Thanks for your help.

Crush

I have not used this function yet, but i noticed in the options of the official Raspberry Pi Imager, that there are images available that let you change boot order on your Pi.
Obviously you'll have to open your case, no way around that if your Pi is not now able to boot from usb.

mitu

@pscotto1234 said in How to boot from USB pendrive:

Now I would to have the possibility to boot another distro connecting a usb drive to the raspberry. Is there a way to set the boot from USB pendrive with a higher priority than the uSD?

Yes, you can configure the boot loader on the Pi4 and specify the order - I think you can do that now from raspi-config. More details about configuring the boot order on the Pi4 is at https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/hardware/raspberrypi/booteeprom.md.

pscotto1234

@mitu said in How to boot from USB pendrive:

@pscotto1234 said in How to boot from USB pendrive:

Now I would to have the possibility to boot another distro connecting a usb drive to the raspberry. Is there a way to set the boot from USB pendrive with a higher priority than the uSD?

Yes, you can configure the boot loader on the Pi4 and specify the order - I think you can do that now from raspi-config. More details about configuring the boot order on the Pi4 is at https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/hardware/raspberrypi/booteeprom.md.

@mitu I configured the pi and I wrote an image in a USB pendrive using Win Image writer But the pi continue to reboot.
In raspi-config I selected the option to boot from USB and, if fails, boot from SD.
Any suggestion?

dave

Yes you can do it !! But you have to do part of it from within PI OS or Twister OS . What you want is a Settings 2 settings in the
"""raspi-config""" file. My pi 4 is set up with Retopie from within PI OS and boots to the prompt where you type either """startx"""
or ""emulationstation"""" Yes it boots from usb first option. Remember the setting are in the """raspi-config""" file and to
get that you are going to have to install""pi os"" It's easy!!
Click on"" Retropie""" Click on"" Retropie Setup"""
Click on"" Configuration"""
Click on item "" 213 Pixel desktop""" ( PI OS) Install it.
This will install a basic """pi os """which you find under """Ports """with Kodi if you have Kodi installed.
""Reboot""" Click on"" Ports""" Click on"" pixel desk top""" or Click on"" Pi Os""" my have changed
You will boot into """Pi Os""". Do the normal set up including update and upgrade.
""Reboot""" Click on"" Ports""" Click on"" pixel desk top""" or Click on"" Pi Os"""
This is what you want.
Open up a terminal window and type """ sudo raspi-config """ enter
Click on"" Advanced Configuration """ Click on"" Boot Configuration """
You have to set back to """Default Configuration """ then """Latest Configuration """ then """Boot USB priority""

In """Advanced Configuration """ there are 2 headings """Boot Order """ and then """Boot Configuration """
From memmory """Boot Configuration """ does what you wan't but remember the order???
You have to set """Default Configuration """ then """Latest Configuration """ then """Boot USB priority"""

"" Boot Order """
"""Boot Order """ you choose """Boot to Desktop """ or """Boot to Desktop with Login"""
and """Boot to Prompt """ or """Boot to Prompt with Login"""
"""Boot to Desktop """ type """ startx """ or """Boot to Retropie """ type """ emulationstation """

2 Systems on one SD or SSD. Use SD Card Copier under """Accessories""" in Pi Os to copy SD to SSD and you
have no need for a SD CARD. Remember click on the new uuid box.
Good Luck

mitu

@pscotto1234 said in How to boot from USB pendrive:

@mitu I configured the pi and I wrote an image in a USB pendrive using Win Image writer But the pi continue to reboot.

Which image did you write ? Did you run raspi-config on the system you're trying to boot via USB ?
You can look at the boot loader diagnostic screen and see which is the boot order and bootloader version - https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/hardware/raspberrypi/boot_diagnostics.md.

pscotto1234

@mitu said in How to boot from USB pendrive:

@pscotto1234 said in How to boot from USB pendrive:

@mitu I configured the pi and I wrote an image in a USB pendrive using Win Image writer But the pi continue to reboot.

Which image did you write ? Did you run raspi-config on the system you're trying to boot via USB ?
You can look at the boot loader diagnostic screen and see which is the boot order and bootloader version - https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/hardware/raspberrypi/boot_diagnostics.md.

I have my retropie build on the sd and a distro Android based on te USB pendrive.

mitu

@pscotto1234 said in How to boot from USB pendrive:

distro Android based on te USB pendrive.

I'm not sure how that works or if the bootloder on the EEPROM supports booting an Android image directly. Does the image work if you boot it from the sdcard ?

pscotto1234

@mitu said in How to boot from USB pendrive:

@pscotto1234 said in How to boot from USB pendrive:

distro Android based on te USB pendrive.

I'm not sure how that works or if the bootloder on the EEPROM supports booting an Android image directly. Does the image work if you boot it from the sdcard ?

Yes, it boots fine.