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Last active May 15, 2019 01:49
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ISO images and Boot
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iso.boot.md

ISO images and Boot

How to check if bootable?

Command: file livecd.iso
Output: livecd.iso: ISO 9660 CD-ROM filesystem data 'disks' (bootable)

How to pretest it?

Install qemu and run qemu-system-i386 -cdrom livecd.iso

ISO to USB vs BIOS?

  1. Nix/Tux:

Typical case: copy to usb drive with dd
sudo dd if=livecd.iso of=/dev/sdb oflag=direct bs=1M
Same thing, with a nice progress bar...
-install pv then run
ls -l livecd.iso
-copy file_size_value from console output and paste it on next command
dd if=livecd.iso bs=1M |pv -s file_size_value |sudo dd of=/dev/sdb bs=1M

If won't boot, look at isohybrid and plpcfgbt.
Why my ISO won't boot from USB?
Short answer: file system.
Some ISO images (e.g. Windows Installation Disc) use OSTA's
UDF which will only boot from its intended optical disc medium.
Refresh your memory → El Torito Bootable CD Specification.

  1. DOS/Windows:

Use grub4dos or rufus.

  1. macOS/OSX:

Use BCA or Etcher.

Other resources

How to copy mbr
Grub2/Rescue
Grub2/ISOBoot
Grub Multiboot USB
Windows ISO edit
Linux ISO edit is nearly identical with ISO Master
Microsoft WIM to ISO
Microsoft TechNet RTFM
UEFI-Windows-Boot-Stick

Why not UDF/USB combo again?

Hmm, nice article and comments
Aha, there's an "app" for that

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