Howto: Create LiveUSBs from Windows using a GUI (UNetbootin)

[klausthorn]

@thisisasignin: after the error message "Could not find kernel image: linux" in my case appeared a prompt "boot:".

After this prompt I could enter a kernel file name and options. in my case worked:

ubnkern initrd=/ubninit file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper

ubnkern is the kernel filename relative to the main directory of my usb stick. the same is true for ubninit, the filename of the inital ramdisk filesystem image.

The other options I got from reading syslinux.cfg in the same directory.

[thisisasignin]

ubnkern initrd=/ubninit file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper

Thank you.
I will give that a try.

[dbbd8]

I created a bootable USB using unetbootin, and installed
ebuntu 2.0 iso on it.

When I boot using the USB, I get the Unetbootin screen. It has
"Default, Help & oem entries, and it counts down to automatic boot. When the count down hits 0, then refreshes the same screen and starts to count down again (same happens when I hit enter).

Any way to see a log? errors? debug it?

(Might be relevant - I first burned a CD with the same distro, when I boot it, I get the splash screen, but when I hit install, the cd spins, but nothing happens. The live cd won't start either)

Thanks,
Dan

[thisisasignin]

ubnkern initrd=/ubninit file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper

After trying that command at the boot: prompt, I get

Could not find kernel image: ubkern

[Slym.fr]

I've made a software to make a LiveUSB very easily.

You can try it out at http://usbuntu.slym.fr

It's only working with Ubuntu 8.10, Kubuntu 8.10 and Xubuntu 8.10.

Don't be afraid, the webpage is in french but the software is multilanguage (French/English)

It's really easy to use and if you are lucky you will be able to boot directly your usb key in windows through the integrated Portable VirtualBox.

I hope you will enjoy it.

I also opened a dedicated thread there : http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1011152

[bradsmith]

Hi,

I'm trying to get a bootable/runnable openSUSE distro onto a USB stick that will persist data.

I got it installed and booting from my USB stick using the Windows UNetbootin utility, but step 3 on the website (http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/) says "After rebooting, select the UNetbootin entry from the menu list as the system boots up", however there doesn't seem to be any option like this. The only options are:

1. Default
2. openSUSE_Live_(KDE)
3. Failsafe_Settings
4. mediacheck
5. memtest

Choosing ANY of the options runs through the usual text boot echos, but it hangs at the following:

------->Waiting for CD/DVD devices to appear...
------->Mounting live boot drive.....
------->Couldnt find live image configuration file
------->rebootexception: error consoles at Alt-F3/F4
------->rebootexception: reboot in 120 sec....

Ive tried this with 2 USB sticks, one was a 2GB Sony, the other a 4GB LG
I used the live cd distro: "openSUSE-11.1-KDE4-LiveCD-i686.iso". Is this the right one to use?

Any help for a noob would be greatly appreciated.

[le12]

I created a bootable USB using unetbootin, and installed
ebuntu 2.0 iso on it.

When I boot using the USB, I get the Unetbootin screen. It has
"Default, Help & oem entries, and it counts down to automatic boot. When the count down hits 0, then refreshes the same screen and starts to count down again (same happens when I hit enter).

Any way to see a log? errors? debug it?

(Might be relevant - I first burned a CD with the same distro, when I boot it, I get the splash screen, but when I hit install, the cd spins, but nothing happens. The live cd won't start either)

Thanks,
Dan

I also have the same problem using liveusb. Can someone help please?

[le12]

I found the solution for my problem. The file was corrupted. Download Ubuntu again and it works. You should download it again dbbd8.

[Patrick Snyder]

Is there any difference in the outcome between these two? Is the USB stick the same in the end?

1. "Create a USB Startup Disk" in Ubuntu 8.10
2. Installing Ubuntu 8.10 on a USB with Unetbootin

[oomingmak]

i've used unetbootin before,but now it doesn't install the bootloader,why?

when i boot using the USB option,it ignores it and boots from my hard disk,what did i do wrong??

I get the exact same problem.

All files are copied across correctly, but when I switch boot device in the BIOS (so that the system boots from the USB stick) nothing happens, and it ends up booting from my default hard disk instead.

UnetBootin DID work for me when I let it install files to my c:\ drive, but obviously that is not a preferred method. I don't want to be scattering stuff all over my system drive, even if only temporary.

I tried various different ISO distros, but same problem occurred every time I tried to use USB.

Plus, I have 3 USB sticks in and only the two that I DON'T want to use are shown in the UnetBootin drop list. I have to check "show all drives" to show the USB key that I wnat to use. I don't know why it only shows the other two USB devices.