How to boot from usb instead of hdd?

Help and Support Apple TV
1

I’ve osmc on both hdd and usb, can I force apple tv to boot from the usb instead of the hdd ?

2

Just install OSMC to USB.

USB is checked first before HDD

3

Thanks, will using the usb be better, I’m worried about keeping the hdd running 24 hrs

4

It should spin down when not in use if your system idles.

5

ok, I’m loading osmc from usb now but noticed a strange thing, I had composite enabled when I was running from hdd, surprisingly it works from the usb also without the need to set the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file in the usb!

6

Hello there, I created my OSMC USB pen drive for an Apple1 TV, but it’s not booting from there…
What can I do?
thanks!

7

I suggest showing a screenshot of the contents of the USB drive
You could also hold minus and menu on the Apple TV remote when booting to force the external drive to be read.

8

thanks Sam, I was able in the end to boot OSMC by pressing the keys on my remote! Looks like I ALWAYS must do this, even after installing…

Is there a way to make the aTV boot into OSMC automatically? I assumed that “installing” meant “install onto internal disk” but maybe I was wrong: I downloaded the “USB” version, but maybe I need to use “hard disc” version - in which case I hope I’ll be able to install to the internal disc without removing it…

9

If you use the HDD image, the internal HDD is imaged and the original Apple TV OS (Frontrow) is erased.
You can restore the original Apple TV OS but I suspect a lot of the links and recovery images aren’t online anymore.

You shouldn’t need to hold the keys on your remote every time. The only reason you need to do this is to force the drive to be read. From the top of my head: either the drive has some power draw and isn’t enumerated by the EFI bootloader in time and forcing it causes a re-scan, or the aTV firmware is quite out of date. Try and get on 2.3 (around November 2008) or later.

Cheers

Sam

10

Perfect, thank you very much:
I wouldn’t care too much about original OS, so I will try installing on the internal HDD, and see how it goes.

I have one last doubt about drivers for the WiFi, which was not seen: I will recheck OSMC website!

11

It will work from memory, but most people replace the WiFi card with the CrystalHD decoder obviously.

Sam