How do I create an Ubuntu live usb using Debian?

Question

I have Debian (Lenny) installation on a Dell Vostro v13. The laptop doesn't have a CD/DVD-ROM drive so the only way for me to install Ubuntu on it is via USB- unless I attach an external CD/DVD-ROM. How can I create an Ubuntu live USB on my Debian machine? Is UNetbootin my only option or is there another way? Thanks.

Solution 1

I believe dd would also be a viable option:

dd if=________.iso of=/dev/sd_

Where 'if' is your input file and 'of' is your output file (ie device).

Solution 2

You can use tools like UNetbootin, usb-creator etc to do it. Or you could manually do it :

• Copy/Extract files from the ISO to the root dir of your USB Drive
• Set the boot flag for your usb ddevice(use gparted or cfdisk)
• run : syslinux -sm /dev/your_usb_dev
• Create syslinux.cfg file in usb root dir with content : include isolinux/isolinux.cfg

Solution 3

As root, just:

cat the_ubuntu.iso > /dev/sdX

then

sync

… and voilà.

Comments

[cYrus]

According to man syslinux there's no such option as -m. Very interesting though, I'll try it soon!

[kinokijuf]

Or you can use dd. Will be faster.

[quant]

Have you tried this? It doesn't work on newer Ubuntu versions (the drive is not bootable).