Kali 2016.2 Luks Persistent USB Only Boots Failsafe Options No Specific Error Suspect
Hey everyone,
I have been digging through forums and googling for hours... to include countless techno blaring youtube videos.
So here is the following:
Kali version (KDE/GNOME, Arhitecture): Kali 2016.2 iso from the kali.org Downloads.
Kali installation (VM, HDD, USB): Followed the documentation from the website to the letter for creating a persistent usb with LUKS. I used a Kali Virtual Box to DD the image to the usb; then the terminal and followed all commands. Its a 32 gb SanDisk Ultra.
Basic output of commands (ifconfig, iwconfig, lspci, lsusb, dmesg, etc.): Which of these commands would be most useful here- I will be happy to post them.
An error message (if any): None.
Links to the same problem (if any): I haven't found a similar circumstance
Solutions tried and their result:
After disabling secure boot (it will only boot to USB due to invalid bootloader signature) and booting to the USB I selected Encrypted Persistence option and got the usual black screen and scrolls. Gave my luks passphrase and got more scrolls. It terminated with "End Kernel Panic - Not Syncing exit code = 0x00000200"
Solution: added nomodeset vga=normal to the linux line in EFI/BOOT/live.cfg on the usb.
Rebooted and it got further. This time it stopped on some error EXT4 etc. (my apologies- if this is uncommon I will try again and get exct).
Solution: copied and pasted the options from the failsafe command.
To be clear the following is now my entire EFI/BOOT/live.cfg after modifications.
------------------------------------follows this line-----------------------------------------
label live-amd64
menu label ^Live (amd64)
menu default
linux /live/vmlinuz
initrd /live/initrd.img
append boot=live username=root hostname=kali
label live-amd64-failsafe
menu label ^Live (amd64 failsafe)
linux /live/vmlinuz
initrd /live/initrd.img
append boot=live components memtest noapic noapm nodma nomce nolapic nomodeset nosmp nosplash vga=normal
label live-forensic
menu label Live (^forensic mode)
linux /live/vmlinuz
initrd /live/initrd.img
append boot=live noconfig=sudo username=root hostname=kali noswap noautomount
label live-persistence
menu label ^Live USB Persistence (check kali.org/prst)
linux /live/vmlinuz
initrd /live/initrd.img
append boot=live noconfig=sudo username=root hostname=kali persistence
label live-encrypted-persistence
menu label ^Live USB Encrypted Persistence (check kali.org/prst)
linux /live/vmlinuz
initrd /live/initrd.img
append boot=live components memtest noapic noapm nodma nomce nolapic nomodeset nosmp nosplash vga=normal persistent=cryptsetup persistence-encryption=luks noconfig=sudo username=root hostname=kali persistence
##append boot=live persistent=cryptsetup persistence-encryption=luks noconfig=sudo username=root
-------------------------------ends above this line--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Results: Kali boots into the persistent mode with LUKS at resolution of 800x600 and I can connect to Wifi.
I could start elimination failsafe options from the 'append boot' line until I find the one that is the trouble maker. However, for sanity and time I was hoping I could get some advice on what log or error output to post here and work through it more directly.
What I suspect:: From the dual booting days I remember an issue with Debian linux (Fedora worked great btw). Ubuntu and Mint etc. had some issues with integrated video card laptops and nvidia card combos. My laptop is a an intel video and nvidia 970m with not bios option to disable either one.
Prior to blindly doing 'apt-get purge nvidia*' and installing proprietary driver etc. I remember some sort of optimus or bumble bee drivers allowing the OS to recognize the integrated system. To be more clear prior to trying random solutions I would like to narrow the problem down to the root cause. Then administer the proper treatment.
Thanks in advance to a supportive community. I am ready to locate and post additional information as directed/needed with a little direction.
:cool:
