Are you set on Gentoo?  [Other's are a bit more powerful?]
(Don't flame me, I have hand scripted gentoo builds [For AZWSX.COM] but it's not the most secure distro or best for a pendrive)!

Here's a fast Ubuntu (I have used):
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LiveUsbPendrivePersistent

Here's a nice Knoppix USB:
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/usb-knoppix-510/


obnosis.com | wiki.obnosis.com| (503)754-4452
PLUG HACKFESTS 2nd Saturday Each Month@Noon - 3PM

Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:41:35 -0800
From: trent_shipley@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: flash bios dos usb stick
To: plug-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us

I haven't even gotten to the moment of truth where I try to boot from the usb stick.  I still need to get MBR, vfat-16, Grub, and FreeDOS all loaded correctly.

I actually did burn a CD, boot successfully into FreeDOS, and launch the Dell BIOS flash package.  Then the BIOS flasher crapped out complaining that it couldn't write back to a drive.  So I need to flash from a read-write medium.


From: Stephen <cryptworks@gmail.com>
To: tshipley@deru.com; Main PLUG discussion list <plug-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 3:32:07 PM
Subject: Re: flash bios dos usb stick

I know this will depend on the bios i think and what order it places
yoru USB devices compared to your Hard disk device.

On Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 9:56 PM, Trent Shipley <tshipley@deru.com> wrote:
> I am trying to build a bootable DOS memory stick so that I can flash my BIOS.
>
> The instructions (http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/FreeDOS_Flash_Drive) say:
>
> And finally, you can install GRUB :
> grub
> grub> device (hd5) /dev/sdb
> grub> root (hd5,0)
> grub> setup (hd5)
> grub> quit
> --------------------------
> The line:  grub> device (hd5) /dev/sdb
> is giving me trouble.
>
> I know that the stick is mounted at /dev/sdd  but I don't know how to find the
> value that goes in the (hd5) part of the command.
>
> http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/articles/grub_intro/
> suggests
>
> # grub
> grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
>  (hd0,1)
>  (hd2,0)
>
> followed by
>
> grub> find (hd2,0)/boot/im<TAB>
> grub> find (hd2,0)/boot/images/
>
> but this has been decidedly unsuccessful.
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------
> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
>



--
A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from
rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

Stephen
---------------------------------------------------
PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss



Access your email online and on the go with Windows Live Hotmail. Sign up today.