Make USB bootable for kali linux

Question

I am using Ubuntu 14.04LTS. I want to make a bootable usb stick using kali iso image file for Kali Linux installation. I tried following ways:

1. unetbootin-linux-608 - it is just writing 4 text files and then asking for reboot without writing files.

2. I also tried http://docs.kali.org/downloading/kali-linux-live-usb-install. It created the live usb with 3.2GB data, but when i am rebooting by selecting pen drive as boot device, it is not loading rather Ubuntu is booting up.

3. Startup Disk Creator - but giving same problem as mentioned here

Can anybody please suggest me proper way/tool to create bootable pen drive.

Solution 1

Finally,Installed Kali!! Using Ubuntu's Disk Image Writer!!

Solution 2

I've had similar problems as you with Unetbootin. Give it a try with the dd utility instead.

First make sure that the usb-drive is not mounted.

Get the usb device name with:

lsblk

And then use the dd command like this to create the bootable usb:

sudo dd bs=4M if=/path/to/your.iso of=/dev/xxx && sync

Replace /dev/xxx with your usb device name. (Do NOT append a partition number, for example like this /dev/sdb1).

Comments

[Bilal]

Did you check md5 checksum of the kali iso file ?

[Narendra Jaggi]

I installed Kali 1 month back, that time i verified that and successfully installed also, so does it requires now again and every time i install the same image?, i think image is fine

[Bilal]

Yeh, if it's the same image, it's fine, can you try another usb stick ?

[Narendra Jaggi]

forgot to mention that i used the same pen drive that time also, that time i used PowerISO software of window 7. So pen drive is also fine, can u tell any way

[Narendra Jaggi]

@DavidFoerster if the 2 question have some common words it doesn't make it a duplicate. Please judge the question after properly reading it

[David Foerster]

@NarendraJaggi: Fair enough. I retracted my vote to close.

[clarity123]

I used to use Windows software such as unetbootin but I found I always had mixed results. But using dd approach, such as following Kali's dd instructions that you already linked, consistently works for me, for Kali 1.0.9 and Kali 2.0. Since you said you are able to get into Ubuntu, could plug the usb stick in, and copy the results of these commands, and update the question to include this info: Run uname -a. Run sudo fdisk -l. Finally, run the sudo dd command as instructed on Kali's website, but be sure to copy what command you are using, as well as the stats it gives you when done.

[ArUn]

Did you check the .iso file in virtual box or vm-ware make sure its not corrupted try using g-parted format the usb device and add flag 'boot' to it and apply changes then extract the .iso file and copy it to the usb device and try booting

[Narendra Jaggi]

@ArUn i was able to create the bootable with same iso file with USB image disk writer so there was no issue with iso

[Narendra Jaggi]

i mentioned the second approach, with dd atleast data was written but on bootup it didn't worked.

[SudoSURoot]

What is the actual name for apt-get install, or name to call if installed, or how do you access it? I am stuck trying to make a bootable Kali Linux USB now, and cannot.

[SudoSURoot]

nevermind... unetbootin works great!!!

[user568021]

same here.. did anybody successfully boot this?

[Vipin Verma]

I am trying to Triple boot Kali Linux with windows and Ubuntu. Ubuntu and Kali Linux are both already installed on my Dell-Inspiron. I was following the tutorial at this page to make the Bootable Kali USB Drive. I was able to create it on both windows as well as Ubuntu, but when I go to the boot menu and try to boot from the USB, nothing happens and I get the usual page where I have to select which OS to boot into. Can someone point me into the right direction?

[Vipin Verma]

able to write the data using dd if=kali-linux-light-2016.1-amd64.iso of=/dev/sdb bs=4M && sync but still not able to boot from USB