[SOLVED] Unable to create a bootable USB-live from Arch

dockland · 2015-06-30 18:52:33

I'm dd-ing a USB-stick (actually i've tried 9 of my sticks) with another distro (Funtoo) to install on the other computer but it fails to boot.
I use $ sudo dd if=/home/arch/isos/systemrescuecd-x86-4.5.0.iso of=/dev/sdb && sync
I've tried without the " && sync" option as well. No luck.
When burning to a DVD it works like charm, but unfortunately that target computer doesn't have a DVD, just USB.
I've googled around and tried "everything" except unetbootin or what it's called.
For the record, all the files has been copied to my USB-stick(s), but it's simply not bootable on any of my computers.
When trying a USB-stick with Fedora it works right out of the box. But that USB-image is created in Win7 @ work (SUSE imagewriter).
And it's not mounted when i'm "creating" the live USB-stick and i "eject" it before removing the USB-stick.

Am i missing something fundamental here, being new to Arch? (I've read the arch wiki about creating live USB-media)

Last edited by dockland (2015-06-30 21:05:27)

Malkymder · 2015-06-30 18:58:47

Post the following

sudo fdisk -l

dockland · 2015-06-30 19:04:58

Malkymder wrote:

Post the following
sudo fdisk -l

It looks identical on those USB-sticks i've tried.

[arch@Arch ~]$ sudo fdisk -l
[sudo] password for arch: 
Disk /dev/sda: 953.9 GiB, 1024209543168 bytes, 2000409264 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: gpt
Disk identifier: 4194567C-62EA-425D-B16D-F85702CFBEF3

Device          Start        End    Sectors   Size Type
/dev/sda1        2048    1050623    1048576   512M EFI System
/dev/sda2     1050624  105908223  104857600    50G Linux filesystem
/dev/sda3   105908224 1775028223 1669120000 795.9G Linux filesystem
/dev/sda4  1775028224 1807796223   32768000  15.6G Linux swap

[b]Disk /dev/sdb: 3.8 GiB, 4013948928 bytes, 7839744 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes[/b]

Malkymder · 2015-06-30 19:12:59

Try formatting it then re-dd your iso

sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/sdb -I

Slithery · 2015-06-30 19:13:19

Are you sure that the Funtoo iso is able to be used as a USB image?

You can't just dd any old iso to a USB stick and expect it to work, it has to follow a special 'hybrid iso' specification.

dockland · 2015-06-30 19:16:14

Malkymder wrote:

Try formatting it then re-dd your iso
sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/sdb -I

I'll try that immediately.

Malkymder · 2015-06-30 19:17:15

Could also use 'bs=4M'

sudo dd bs=4M if=/home/arch/isos/systemrescuecd-x86-4.5.0.iso of=/dev/sdb && sync

Slithery · 2015-06-30 19:17:34

Further to my previous post...

http://www.funtoo.org/LiveUSB

dockland · 2015-06-30 19:18:21

slithery wrote:

Are you sure that the Funtoo iso is able to be used as a USB image?
You can't just dd any old iso to a USB stick and expect it to work, it has to follow a special 'hybrid iso' specification.

Yes. It should work. As it states it's an option on their Wiki/Handbook-page.

Live CD
In order to install Funtoo Linux, you will first need to boot your computer using a Linux-based Live CD or USB stick. We recommend the Gentoo-based System Rescue CD as it contains lots of tools and utilities and supports both 32-bit and 64-bit systems. It can be burned to CD/DVD or installed on a USB stick. Download it here:

Download from osuosl.org
Download from funtoo.org

dockland · 2015-06-30 19:20:03

slithery wrote:

Further to my previous post...
http://www.funtoo.org/LiveUSB

Ah, missed that, thank you. How do i do that from Arch? Thinking of the "emerge syslinux"-part.

Slithery · 2015-06-30 19:21:28

pacman -S syslinux

Malkymder · 2015-06-30 19:22:18

emerge is the same as pacman -S

edit: Im too slow

Last edited by Malkymder (2015-06-30 19:22:49)

dockland · 2015-06-30 19:24:21

slithery wrote:

pacman -S syslinux

Oh, that "simple" Thank You. Trying as we speak.

2ManyDogs · 2015-06-30 19:38:45

slithery wrote:

You can't just dd any old iso to a USB stick and expect it to work, it has to follow a special 'hybrid iso' specification.

slithery is right. systemrescueCD is not a hybrid iso. You can't use "dd" to simply copy it to a usb stick. Note that the text you quoted says "It can be burned to CD/DVD or installed on a USB stick."

Follow the procedure here:

http://www.sysresccd.org/Sysresccd-manu … from_Linux

I know this works, because I have systemrescueCD on a USB stick -- I used it to install Gentoo.

Last edited by 2ManyDogs (2015-06-30 19:42:58)

dockland · 2015-06-30 21:04:52

slithery wrote:

pacman -S syslinux

That did the trick. Totally news for me. Thank you all. Compiling 3.19 from debian-sources right now on the other computer.

I'll mark thread as solved.

dockland · 2015-06-30 21:06:13

2ManyDogs wrote:

slithery wrote:
You can't just dd any old iso to a USB stick and expect it to work, it has to follow a special 'hybrid iso' specification.
slithery is right. systemrescueCD is not a hybrid iso. You can't use "dd" to simply copy it to a usb stick. Note that the text you quoted says "It can be burned to CD/DVD or installed on a USB stick."
Follow the procedure here:
http://www.sysresccd.org/Sysresccd-manu … from_Linux
I know this works, because I have systemrescueCD on a USB stick -- I used it to install Gentoo.

I dont think I'll ever forget this. Great news for me. Thank you all.

Arch Linux

#1 2015-06-30 18:52:33

[SOLVED] Unable to create a bootable USB-live from Arch

#2 2015-06-30 18:58:47

Re: [SOLVED] Unable to create a bootable USB-live from Arch

#3 2015-06-30 19:04:58

Re: [SOLVED] Unable to create a bootable USB-live from Arch

#4 2015-06-30 19:12:59

Re: [SOLVED] Unable to create a bootable USB-live from Arch

#5 2015-06-30 19:13:19

Re: [SOLVED] Unable to create a bootable USB-live from Arch

#6 2015-06-30 19:16:14

Re: [SOLVED] Unable to create a bootable USB-live from Arch

#7 2015-06-30 19:17:15

Re: [SOLVED] Unable to create a bootable USB-live from Arch

#8 2015-06-30 19:17:34

Re: [SOLVED] Unable to create a bootable USB-live from Arch

#9 2015-06-30 19:18:21

Re: [SOLVED] Unable to create a bootable USB-live from Arch

#10 2015-06-30 19:20:03

Re: [SOLVED] Unable to create a bootable USB-live from Arch

#11 2015-06-30 19:21:28

Re: [SOLVED] Unable to create a bootable USB-live from Arch

#12 2015-06-30 19:22:18

Re: [SOLVED] Unable to create a bootable USB-live from Arch

#13 2015-06-30 19:24:21

Re: [SOLVED] Unable to create a bootable USB-live from Arch

#14 2015-06-30 19:38:45

Re: [SOLVED] Unable to create a bootable USB-live from Arch

#15 2015-06-30 21:04:52

Re: [SOLVED] Unable to create a bootable USB-live from Arch

#16 2015-06-30 21:06:13

Re: [SOLVED] Unable to create a bootable USB-live from Arch

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