Dual boot on an Asus E406SA

[TheDead]

"Standard" Sandisk can be quite slow yes, the Sandisk "Ultra" models are usually the fastest models, i.e. Higher class.
There is no special drivers for SD cards so any brand Class 10+ should be OK, I guess... but you can ask your Magic 8-ball!

[minesheep]

I can do benchmark later on my sandisk ultra 16gb vs 64gb

[minesheep]

Yes ultra 64 gb read 30-40MB/s write 20-30MB/s they are slow except the access time which was 1,2 ms = OK. When benchmarking the drive my data was in it.
Empty 16gb drive was bit slower to write no difference on read or access time (0,98ms)
same empty drive but with 1mb samples and 1000 of them no difference
So even the ultra models are pretty slow, but I have used them for full installation so if patience is not a problem then 32 gb sandisk ultra is enough
Bonus: the boot time of 35MB/s reading flash drive is douple (about 10 minutes) of the boot time with internal non ssd drive (about 5 minutes I think) when non ssd drive can read about 70MB/s

[minesheep]

[quote author=pelouk link=topic=6754.msg49012#msg49012 date=1570185647]
Thanks firenice03.  Sounds like a 64 or 128 SD might be the solution. Is it possible, though to have a SD containing, say, LL4.6 and still be able to save files to that SD?

[member=421]pelouk[/member]
It's treated like an internal disk... You would install the OS to the SD, files could be saved within the OS as normal.
- Would you want to pull the SD and put it in something else as storage???
  - I wouldn't; though I haven't tried... maybe if you split the SD disk into a separate partitions having 1 solely for storage - I wouldn't want to write to the LL partitions unless via the booted OS...
[/quote]
It is possible to have two partitions on same SD card one for storage and one for data. I don't recommend you trying to use the same SD as camera for an example it will almost 100% sure fail and the OS became overwritten or formatted in some way, but in manual usage like usb flash drive it is possible to have two partitions (OS and data). Be carefull avoid using small partition to write a lot of data this can wear out the card faster if possible format your "data" partition as f2fs it may gain performance boost or longer lifespan for doing so.

[TheDead]

I don't know if this is a general fact but maybe USB Keys are faster (onboard circuit, etc.) .I use these to boot Linux Distros and even Windoze 10 :
https://www.sandisk.com/home/usb-flash/ultra-usbSays "up to" 100MB, but maybe more in the 80MB read and 20MB write depending on tests.
If you can aford it, there is also these bad boys :https://www.sandisk.com/home/usb-flash/extremepro-usb
200MB+ read / 200MB+ Write. I personnaly got around 150/150 most of the time in USB3.
So maybe SD cards to look for could be the "Extreme" models then... ?

[pelouk]

[member=6733]TheDead[/member], Thanks for your input. It seems, though, I've got a hurdle to cross before even buying the right SD/USB drive.
As a first step, I thought I'd use a USB drive on which I already had a copy of LL 3.8 just to see what it looked like.

I couldn't get my laptop to boot to that drive. I've followed the steps in BIOS, made the changes to boot order, saved them and exited but my laptop still persists in booting to Windows. I guess I must be doing something wrong but I can't get a screen shot of the BIOS to show you where I', at.

[TheDead]

Hi,

Getting back to what was said in the thread... :
" If the laptop is UEFI only then it will need to use of experimental UEFI build."

When I look at the laptop specs, I'm pretty sure that is accurate. a Win10 laptop with a 64GB emmc "drive".
Are you using the3.x  UEFI build? If so I would maybe try the version 4 UEFI test build. The laptop being recent.
Sorry gotta go work, but link to UEFI builds download shouldn't be too far in the forums... Cheers!

[pelouk]

Thanks.  It was good of you to take the time when you're rushing to work.


I don't think my machine is UEFI only because I can enter BIOS by the usual route ( hold f2 key on start-up)  and can navigate through the tabs. I've disabled security control and fast startup;  Ive enabled CSM and made my usb drive the number 1 option on start up then saved and exited.


Damn thing still boots up to Windows!!

[TheDead]

Hi,
Not for the same Asus but there is an Option in Asus BIOSes in "Boot" called "Hard Drive BBS Properties".Note : You have to be in "Advanced" BIOS mode, not the nice graphics interface. The Advanced mode is the ugly text one
You have to choose your USB key from there.
From :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us1VEhzFQPU
I also though of something... I had some trouble in the past using some USB3 keys.On some combination of USB3 key versus USB computer controller I had (rarely) to use a USB2 key.
Ok... that what I have for now