[SOLVED] Arch won't install on an usb stick

joakoej · 2014-05-21 23:37:44

Hello there, my problem is that I can't install arch on my pendrive
In the past, I've tried to install it on the pendrive, and I succeed, then I failed to install it in the netbook, but that' s another story.
Anyway, now it' s totally different, no matter what I try, it won' t (even) install on my pendrive. I' ve tried everything in the wiki: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/US … tion_Media (dd for windows, dd for Gnu/Linux, Unetbootin, LinuxLiveusbtool, etc), but it just won't install.

In almost all cases it sends me this message: "This is not a bootable disk. Please insert a bootable floppy and press any key to try again " and I don't know why, because I do everything as it's said in the wiki.

Please If you know the answer, let me know.

EDIT: Thanks to Herbalist I've found the answer, you' ve just got to use "Rufus", a software for Windows for burning images. It just worked right, really really great.
http://rufus.akeo.ie/

Last edited by joakoej (2014-06-05 03:46:50)

Archer1X · 2014-05-22 03:08:51

I've always used Windows Image Writer/Win32 Disk Imager to install Arch on my pendrive.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager/

Kartious · 2014-05-23 10:27:10

Depends what system he is trying to install the USB installation media on. I have never had issue with USB installation media booting using dd with my Arch system... but OP hasn't even elaborate what system he is trying to create the installation media on?

Trilby · 2014-05-23 11:29:44

Nor what he has done, nor what system he is trying to boot with it.

While that is all important info, I think first we need to find out if you are actually trying to install to a usb flash drive, or just write the iso to the usb so you can use it as an installation medium for other systems?

So:
0) Are you trying to install to a usb, or just write the iso to a usb

1) If the former, see here. Otherwise, go on to 2.

2) What exact command(s) have you tried to write the iso to the usb?

3) What system are you trying to write the iso from? What system are you trying to boot with the live usb? Is it a macbook?

4) The only actual error message you post has nothing to do with the usb being bootable - the most likely cause of that message is having the wrong boot priority in your bios. So when/where is this message appearing?

Awebb · 2014-05-23 11:40:35

Please post the exact line you used dd with.

joakoej · 2014-05-24 06:01:07

Archer1X: Thank you for the answer, but it didn't work for me.

Kartious , Trilby , Awebb:
0) I'm trying to write the iso to an usb stick, so that, once it's written, I can plug the usb to my netbook, boot the instalation image from the usb stick and install arch linux there.
1) The exact command was: dd bs=4M if=/home/joaco/archlinux-2014.05.01-dual.iso of=/dev/sdb && sync
2) The usb stick is a kingston DT101 G2 8GB and the pc is a normal netbook, which came with windows 7 and Gnu/Linux (I don't know which one) preinstalled in dual boot.
The netbook specifications are this ones:

CPU: Intel Atom N455 (512K Cache, 1,66 GHz, 64 bit bus)
Form Factor: Clamshell
Motherboard: ECS E11IS1 bios Phoenix w/ PnP & ACPI 2.0
Chipset: Intel® NM10
Display:10,1″ LCD 1024×600 WVGA Anti Glare
RAM:1GB DDR3 667Mhz
Hard disk: 5400rpm 2,5” 160GB (SATA)
Connectivity: 10/100 Ethernet Full-Duplex, Realtek 8103EL onboard IEEE802.3u – 100BaseTX
Wi fi 802.11 b/g/n
Security: Kensington Lock Slot, TPM security chip incorporaated 1.2 HDD protection. Lockable BIOS Setup & Password booting
Expansibility: Card Reader: SD; SDHC; MMC memory stick USB 2.0 interface. CR support unit
Colaboration: Audio Codec Realtek ALC269-VB onboard, 24 bits, 2 builtd-in speakers, internal microphoeo, 300K Web Cam, Maximum video resolution 640×480 @ 30fps
Ports: 3 x USB 2.0 ports 1 x RJ-45 LAN (UTP), 2 x Jacks for Micro-in/auriculares, 4 in 1 SD/MMC/MS/MS Pro memory stick, 1x D-Sub 15Pin VGA port
Batery: 6 cell battery : 4400mAH Li-ion, Delta Electronics ADP-40PH-AB 40W AC adapter, Autoswitch 100/240V 50-60Hz

4) My bios configuration let the usb have priority during the boot, so I know for sure that the usb always boots first if its pluged, otherwhise the system starts normally and no error message appears.

Thank for your help

Last edited by joakoej (2014-05-24 06:02:13)

Kartious · 2014-05-24 10:12:16

Bit of a mediocre reply but I know some motherboards are pre configured not to boot from other media even if it's the first prioity. Have you tried looking for anything in the bios / efi like secure boot or legacy boot ?

Awebb · 2014-05-24 10:37:35

Most USB dongles are not being detected as USB dongles, but as hard disks. Boot to bios with the stick and see if you can change the boot order.

joakoej · 2014-05-24 19:32:22

Ok, I will try that, but I don't understand why it works with every other distribution of Gnu/Linux, but not Arch.

R3D · 2014-05-26 22:31:00

Try to zero out the first 512 bytes first, like this:

# dd count=1 bs=512 if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb && sync

Then follow up with the dd approach again. Are you getting any error messages when you run dd? Can you post the output?

Herbalist · 2014-06-02 10:39:16

If you're creating the bootable usb from windows,Rufus never fails with pretty much any distro.
http://rufus.akeo.ie/

WillM · 2014-06-02 11:26:12

If dd ain't working, that's odd!

I'd try redownloading the ISO. Preferably using a torrent client.

joakoej · 2014-06-05 03:40:05

Herbalist wrote:

If you're creating the bootable usb from windows,Rufus never fails with pretty much any distro.
http://rufus.akeo.ie/

God I love you, sorry for the sincerity, but I though I wouldn't find the answer and then BAM, I see your answer, I use RUFUS and BAM problem solved. Thank you very much.

R3D: Sorry I dind't prove that, so I can't tell if it works, but thanks anyway.

Arch Linux

#1 2014-05-21 23:37:44

[SOLVED] Arch won't install on an usb stick

#2 2014-05-22 03:08:51

Re: [SOLVED] Arch won't install on an usb stick

#3 2014-05-23 10:27:10

Re: [SOLVED] Arch won't install on an usb stick

#4 2014-05-23 11:29:44

Re: [SOLVED] Arch won't install on an usb stick

#5 2014-05-23 11:40:35

Re: [SOLVED] Arch won't install on an usb stick

#6 2014-05-24 06:01:07

Re: [SOLVED] Arch won't install on an usb stick

#7 2014-05-24 10:12:16

Re: [SOLVED] Arch won't install on an usb stick

#8 2014-05-24 10:37:35

Re: [SOLVED] Arch won't install on an usb stick

#9 2014-05-24 19:32:22

Re: [SOLVED] Arch won't install on an usb stick

#10 2014-05-26 22:31:00

Re: [SOLVED] Arch won't install on an usb stick

#11 2014-06-02 10:39:16

Re: [SOLVED] Arch won't install on an usb stick

#12 2014-06-02 11:26:12

Re: [SOLVED] Arch won't install on an usb stick

#13 2014-06-05 03:40:05

Re: [SOLVED] Arch won't install on an usb stick

Board footer