I want to create a bootable usb drive. Just to be sure I formated the complete stick with the command dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb
, where sdb
is the flash drive.
After that I created a new partition table with parted
and the command mklabel gpt
.
Where those two steps unnecessary? When I copy the iso with dd
on the usb drive and reboot my computer, it does not show an option to boot from a usb stick in the BIOS.
It already worked when I installed arch linux this way.
Best Answer
Cloning needs no preparation
If you clone from a hybrid iso file to a USB drive, everything relevant will be overwritten, so wiping and formatting will make no difference (except maybe making the final cloning faster, but the total time and effort will increase).
dd
deserves the nicknames 'disk destroyer' and 'data destroyer'Cloning with
dd
produces a reliable result, if you do it correctly,where x is the drive letter. But
dd
does what you tell it to do without questions. If you tell it to wipe the family pictures ... and it is a minor typing error away.Tools with a final checkpoint
So I would recommend that you use a tool with a final checkpoint, that gives you a chance to double-check that you will install the live system to the correct drive.
Two such tools come with Ubuntu,
gnome-disks
.You can install mkusb from its PPA.
If cloning does not work
Most modern linux distros provide iso files treated with
isohybrid
, which make them hybrid iso files. Such iso files can be used toBut some iso files are not hybrid iso files, for example Windows iso files and Knoppix iso files. These iso files must be extracted and special care must be taken to make the target drive bootable. (You can treat a Knoppix iso file with
isohybrid
, but it does not work with Windows iso files.)There are several extracting tools, for example Rufus, which is the officially recommended tool to install Ubuntu from Windows.