Debian released the 2.6.30 kernel yesterday. We are still waiting for aufs modules. Then I can publish USB keys again. If things don't settle down rapidly, I will be obliged to publish my own APT repository to store custom kernel. As this is a great loss of time, I would like to avoid it and leave a chance that Debian live is fixed rapidly.

Edit: http://debian-live.alioth.debian.org/
Images for squeeze broken do to squashfs-tools mismatch, images for sid are waiting for 2.6.30 kernel modules. [2009-06-14]

Finally, with the help of Debian live IRC, I was able to integrate my own packages and make USB Keys for Kdenlive/MLT snapshots and kernel 2.6.30. The USB Keys for 32bits and 64 bits systems are now available. They include some new features, such as Nividia drivers with VDPAU extensions, support for persistence (works like a real disc), etc ...

Some progress, but I'm stuck!
I've got a 2GB USB stick... I've spent 2.5hrs downloading the image file, I've installed RawWrite for Windows as per the instructions, but I can't select I: for my USB stick! The drop-down list only has A: for the floppy drive my PC doesn't have! I've tried SUBST but haven't had any luck getting a: to map to i: - it just won't play :)
So I'm a bit stuck now... I can't get I: in the writer program.
Any suggestions gratefully received as to how on earth I get this image file onto the memory stick!!
Thanks.

Does your USB stick display on the Windows desktop? What version of Window are you using?
Did you download from http://www.chrysocome.net/rawwrite?

Good morning
Yes I downloaded it from there, it's Windows XP, and I can read/write to it as normal as drive I:
It looks like I might need http://www.chrysocome.net/dd instead, but although I'm quite happy with a command line, that utility looks like it requires a level of understanding that I simply don't have (and it doesn't explain).
Unless there's some other freebie that does the same thing, it looks like I might be stumped and will have to buy the Sony Vegas which is under half price at the moment on Amazon :(

... update ...

I had a brainwave :) ... I thought I'd try the RawWrite prog on a Win 2k PC here at the office, and again it ignored the e: where the USB key showed up, only giving me a: to choose from. As there was no b:, I wondered if it gave up scanning the other drive letters if there was one missing in the sequence...
.. so I tried this in a command window:
SUBST b: e:\
and voila I've now got a: and b: options to choose from!
I'll try the same thing on my home PC later, as that one doesn't have a b: drive either, so the subst command should work there too.

UPDATE : success... it's writing to the USB key right now...

Fail!

Key written to... at first when rebooting it didn't offer me the chance to boot with it, so I tried again with another normal USB key (no image written to it) and did get offered the chance to boot with that one. So I swapped keys at that point but it just booted up in Windows.

One final try and I did get the boot device selection with the new key available... but now there's an error message :
Invalid or damaged Bootable partition

No Linux & Kdenlive for me then! :(

Does the image file work for anyone else? I've got 3 days to decide to take up that special offer on Vegas 9 Platinum Pro....!!

EDIT: We've tried the BIOS settings for advanced USB support, emulation of floppy/harddisk/Forced etc but none of that made any difference.
I've booted back into Windows and allowed it to reformat the USB stick as 2GB FAT32 again... so at least it hasn't trashed it :)

So it's goodbye from me unless anyone has any bright ideas!

The USB keys are okay, I tested them in a virtual environment.

1) It looks like your USB key is damaged.
After copying the USB key, do not unplug it immediately.
Windows may still be writing on it.
Wait until Windows tels you it is safe to unplug the USB key.


2) In the BIOS, go to the section which allows you to boot into your USB Key.
The boot order should be DVD / USB / Disc.


3) If you fail to ask to boot on USB, burn a live DVD.
You will be able to use the live DVD to create the USB key.

4) Don't give up. It is able to boot for sure.
What version of USB key are you using?

It's a Dane-Elec 2GB that comes up in the boot options as :
USB Flash MemoryPMAP

I've tried again, making sure it was finished before 'ejecting' the USB key, but it's still not working with the same error.

Looks like it's a dead end with this USB stick, I googled about for that error message and it seems like some USB keys simply don't work as boot devices. I can't face buying a different type just to risk the same thing :(

I am uploading new Kdenlive 0.7.5 images, which will be available tonight. Can you try a live DVD? They also include persistence, although not documented. At least, you will be able to try and use Kdenlive.

I bought a 4GB key for about €11 in my local supermarket. It boots very nice, but comes up with "Mlt's SDL module not found" when I try to start Kdenlive. Melt segfaults in the konsole. The stack trace blaims selinux.

I then tried to disable selinux as documented on http://www.crypt.gen.nz/selinux/disable_selinux.html

At first it complained about permissions. I then did
apt-get install policycoreutils
echo 0 >/selinux/enforce

Then I was able to start kdenlive and it seemed to work well. Perhaps you (jmpoure) should disable selinux on the DVD/USB images? I think this selinux problem may only manifest itself on certain machines. Please ask if you need me to test some more.

This is the 0.7.4 version - looking forward to trying again with the 0.7.5 - this is a great feature of the Kdenlive project.

Thanks, I'll try the new version later.
I'm going to try another USB stick, it's an older one and still Dane-Elec but maybe... :)

If that doesn't work, the DVD option will be my last resort.
Cheers

The live 64 bits USB key is available.

D'Oh... I wish you'd done the 32 bits one first... that's set me back a day in my race against time, LOL :)

too late... I've just ordered the half price Sony Vegas before the offer ran out, so I guess it's goodbye from me :)

I might actually keep an eye on how things are going, and try the USB stick at some point if I can get it to work, just out of curiosity and to see what this Linux thing is all about! If it looks like I would have been happy with it.. well.. that's life, I couldn't wait... but 40 quid for software that complex and capable (hopefully!) isn't a bad deal (considering I've used freebies for everything else up to now I haven't done badly)... and I'll certainly recommend Kdenlive on any forums I inhabit, if I think Joe Average could manage with it.

All the best