Unable to laod on Toshiba, SanDisk USB

[Barzelious]

I have an IBM T43; only one HD allowed. It is loaded with Xp on the one HD, and others have and do use it regularly.

I have loaded Lenny on Kingston USB flash on this machine without problem (sdb1 root and bootable.) I refuse to allow GRUB to be installed on the HD, tell it to load on /dev/sdb1, it completes and reboots. I then edit GRUB (HD0, 1) to (HD0, 0.) It then boots in fine. Later I edit the Boot entry.

When I attempt to do this with a Toshiba 8Gb Transmemory USB or a SanDisk 8Gb unit it simply restarts and displays a “"Error Loading Operating System" message.

I’ve noted on the SanDisk the U3 business and have removed it via the provided tool; it still does not load.

In G Parted I’ve noted on the Toshiba a hidden file at the beginning of the formatted partition. but can do nothing to remove it. It takes up quite a bit of territory. And, it too will not load.

Suggestions on how to make the SanDisk and Toshiba units compatible with GRUB?

[whych]

Have you checked to see if the drive has the bootable flag set?