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Question: Question: How to create a Linux OS bootable drive ?

Surabhi Chaudhary
1739 days ago

Question: How to create a Linux OS bootable drive ?
Answers
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Download ISO (ISO is a special file format that represents the content of a small storage device)

dd (and its derivatives) is a command line tool integrated in every UNIX and UNIX-like system, and it can be used to write the ISO file into a block device bit per bit.

Due to the potential to brick your system, if you are not familiar with Linux we strongly recommend to use Etcher (https://www.balena.io/etcher/.

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Creating a bootable Linux OS drive involves creating a bootable installation media (such as a USB flash drive) from the Linux distribution's ISO file. The process can vary slightly depending on your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). Here are the general steps:

1. Download the Linux Distribution: First, download the ISO file of the Linux distribution you want to install. Visit the official website of the Linux distribution and find the download section. Choose the appropriate ISO file for your system architecture (usually 64-bit).

2. Choose a Bootable USB Creation Tool: There are several tools available to create a bootable USB drive. Some popular ones include:

  • Rufus (Windows): Rufus is a simple and easy-to-use tool for creating bootable USB drives on Windows.
  • Etcher (Windows, macOS, Linux): Etcher is a cross-platform tool that works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • dd (Linux/macOS): For Linux or macOS users, you can use the "dd" command in the terminal to create a bootable USB drive.

3. Create the Bootable USB Drive: The steps for creating the bootable USB drive differ depending on the tool you choose:

Using Rufus (Windows):

  • Insert the USB flash drive into your computer.
  • Run Rufus and select the USB drive from the device drop-down menu.
  • Click on "Select" or "Browse" and choose the downloaded Linux ISO file.
  • Configure any additional settings if required (usually, the default settings work fine).
  • Click "Start" to begin the process. This will erase all data on the USB drive, so make sure you have backed up important files if needed.
  • Once the process is complete, the USB drive will be bootable with the Linux OS.

Using Etcher (Windows, macOS, Linux):

  • Insert the USB flash drive into your computer.
  • Run Etcher.
  • Click on "Select image" and choose the downloaded Linux ISO file.
  • Etcher will automatically detect the USB drive. If it doesn't, click on "Select target" and choose the USB drive.
  • Click "Flash" to start the process.
  • Once the process is complete, the USB drive will be bootable with the Linux OS.

Using dd (Linux/macOS):

  • Insert the USB flash drive into your computer.
  • Open the terminal.
  • Identify the device name of the USB drive using the following command:
    bash
    diskutil list # macOS fdisk -l # Linux
  • Unmount the USB drive (replace "diskX" with the correct device identifier):
    bash
    diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX # macOS umount /dev/sdX # Linux
  • Use the "dd" command to create the bootable USB drive (replace "path/to/linux.iso" with the actual path to the downloaded ISO file and "X" with the appropriate device identifier):
    bash
    sudo dd bs=4M if=path/to/linux.iso of=/dev/diskX conv=sync # macOS sudo dd bs=4M if=path/to/linux.iso of=/dev/sdX conv=sync # Linux
  • The "dd" command may take some time to complete. Once it finishes, the USB drive will be bootable with the Linux OS.

4. Boot from the USB Drive: After creating the bootable USB drive, restart your computer and boot from the USB drive. The method to do this varies based on your computer's manufacturer and model. Usually, you can access the boot menu by pressing a specific key (such as F12, F10, Esc, or Del) during the boot process. Select the USB drive from the boot menu to start the Linux OS installation or live session.

Remember that creating a bootable USB drive will erase all data on the USB drive, so ensure that you have backed up any important files before proceeding. Additionally, be careful to select the correct USB drive to avoid accidental data loss.