- After you retrieve your ISO, wherever that may come from, it’s time to use DD to write that ISO onto a “usb thumb drive” of some sort. If you’ve used Windows in the past to create Linux OS.
- Linux’s GRUB2 boot loader can boot Linux ISO files directly from your hard drive. Boot Linux live CDs or even install Linux on another hard drive partition without burning it to disc or booting from a USB drive.
- Boot an ISO Image Directly From VirtualBox. VirtualBox is a hugely popular free software to create and run virtual operating systems and it can run a virtual CD/DVD disc inside a virtual machine (VM) by using the computer’s real optical drive or an ISO image.
- Free Linux LiveCD Distributions - Bootable Live Linux on a CD or DVD. Unlike the regular Free Linux Distributions, the distros listed on this page provide a Linux distribution that runs directly from a CD or a DVD.Basically, once you download the ISO file and burn it to a CD or DVD, you can simply boot from the Live CD and run a complete Linux operating system directly from that media.
A live CDHow To Make Your Own Windows Live CDHow To Make Your Own Windows Live CDRead More (or “live disc”) is a bootable CD, DVD, or USB drive with an operating system ready to run when the disk is inserted. While an operating system is most commonly found mounted on a hard disk drive, bootable media is pretty useful.
Whether for system recovery or merely a portable disk for guest devices, a live CD offers lots of functionality. Problems with boot records, lost passwords, and infections can be quite nasty. However, a live CD may be used to recover data, defrag drives, partition, and more.
For Linux, it’s pretty simple to create a DIY bootable live CD. From third-party tools to official Linux distributionThe Best Linux Operating DistrosThe Best Linux Operating DistrosThe best Linux distros are hard to find. Unless you read our list of the best Linux operating systems for gaming, Raspberry Pi, and more.Read More live CDs, there’s an easy solution. Check out how to build your own bootable Linux live CD, from software to creating a disc and finding an ISO.
Linux Live CD Requirements
Create Bootable USB in Linux, via Command Line, using Unetbootin Linux Live USB Creator. Ubuntu Linux - How to create a bootable USB from an ISO image? Install Unetbootin Linux Live USB Creator in Ubuntu Systems. It loads distributions either by downloading a ISO (CD image) files for you, or by using an ISO file you’ve already downloaded. KNOPPIX can be used as a productive Linux system for the desktop, educational CD, rescue system, or adapted and used as a platform for commercial software product demos. It is not necessary to install anything on a hard disk.
Let’s start with the prerequisites. While creating a Linux live CD4 Reasons Every Windows User Should Have An Ubuntu Live CD4 Reasons Every Windows User Should Have An Ubuntu Live CDRead More isn’t terribly difficult, you’ll need a few items first. Namely, an ISO file, burnable media, and a means to mount the ISOCreate a Bootable USB From an ISO With These 10 ToolsCreate a Bootable USB From an ISO With These 10 ToolsWant to create a bootable USB drive from an ISO file? We've got the ten best bootable USB drive creators around.Read More. I used FalconFour’s Ultimate Boot CD, but there are loads of tools available. Although I’ve got a spindle of blank DVDs and CDs, I instead opted to use a flash drive for my bootable media. You’ve likely got plenty of USB drivesThe Best, Fastest, Most Rugged USB Flash Drives You Can Buy Right NowThe Best, Fastest, Most Rugged USB Flash Drives You Can Buy Right NowUSB flash drives are some of of the coolest inventions for geeks. We've rounded up five of the fastest, most rugged, and overall best drives on the market. Here's what we've found.Read More lying around, and a major advantage is that you can reuse these over and over. Plus, it’s a great use for smaller drives, as most ISOs can be mounted on a 2 GB or smaller drive.
Choosing an ISO
There’s no shortage of available live CD software available for Linux. Here’s a list of top contenders:
Hiren’s Boot CD
Hiren’s Boot CD comes packed with goodies. There’s a MiniXp environment (a customized Windows XP), Linux environment for rescue, and lots of tools for defrag, partitioning, backup, and more. MBRCheck as the name implies checks the Master Boot Record (MBR), Tor Browser is a secure browser for surfing the internet, DRevitalize repairs bad hard drive sectors, there are removal tools from Norton and McAfee, and the list continues. Plus, it’s wrapped in a 592.5 MB ISO.
FalconFour’s Ultimate Boot CD
FalconFour’s Ultimate Boot CD isn’t just dubbed ultimate for nothing. As it’s based on Hiren’s Boot CD, FalconFour’s disk has a comprehensive starting point. For this reason, Ultimate Boot CD is my Linux Live CD of choice. Like Hiren’s Boot CD, there are options to boot into Linux or MiniXP environments as well as a bevy of tools. However, FalconFour’s maintains a miniscule footprint. Moreover, it comes pre-loaded with lots of tools including CCleaner (one of my go-to tools on my Windows PC).
Trinity Rescue Kit
Another excellent choice comes in the Trinity Rescue Kit. This Linux-based software can be used for recovery of Linux and Windows computers, and arrives stacked with a host of tools for data recovery and backup, antivirus scanning, password reset, and a slew of others functions.
SystemRescueCD
SystemRescueCD boasts a hefty list of features. From rootkit and malware removal to data backup, partition repair, and lots of file system support, SystemRescueCD is a beefy live disk in a small package. It’s lightweight and versatile. For instance, you can boot into the command line, perfect for Linux, or into a GUI.
Ultimate Boot CD
Need help troubleshooting? Ultimate Boot CD is a stellar pick. Comprised of diagnostic tools, it’s a solid pick for data recovery, testing peripherals such as RAM and CPU, managing BIOs, and system maintenance. The DOS-based UI may remind you of searching for books at the public library, but hey, Ultimate Boot CD is a well-rounded tool in a tiny 624 MB package.
Boot Repair Disk
If you’re merely looking to repair your boot, Boot-Repair-Disk is a solid choice. While it’s aimed at Linux distro boot repair, Boot-Repair-Disk is compatible with select Windows systems. There’s a nice one-click repair mechanism, GRUB reinstaller, file system repair, and other awesome features.
Dedicated Linux Distro CD
In addition a smattering of third-party tools, many Linux distros offer their own live CD ISOs. Ubuntu, Puppy Linux, and Knoppix all provide ready made live Linux CDs. While recovery and system administration is one purpose, these live disks are pretty useful. Another consideration is as a boot disk for a guest computer. These Linux distros usually include tools such as an office suite like Open Office or LibreOffice, web browser such as Mozilla, and other programs. Accordingly, you can merely boot into an operating system and use it as just that.
Essentially, whichever tool you choose comes down to your needs.
Mounting Your ISO
Once you’ve picked your ISO of choice, it’s time to mount it to media to create a bootable disk. I used a spare USB drive care of Basho Technologies, but you can use a blank CD or DVD so long as it’s got sufficient space to hold your ISO. When it comes to creating a live CD, you’ll need a program capable of burning an ISO. Since I’m running Ubuntu 16.04, I simply used Disk Image Writer, but UNetbootin is an excellent option with installers for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
If you’re using Disk Image Writer, right-click your desired ISO, and navigate to Open With > Disk Image Writer.
Once open, select your media (USB drive, or blank DVD/CD). When you’ve picked the location to mount your ISO file for burning a live Linux CD, click Start Restoring…
Wait as the ISO mounts (usually only a few minutes). After this finishes, you should have a live CD!
Depending on your program, the process may vary, but the general steps are:
- Select a source (the ISO you want to burn.
- Select a destination (burnable media).
- Mount the ISO to a disc.
What to Do With a Linux Live CD
So long as you have your boot order in the correct sequence to boot from USB drives first, you should be able to launch your Linux live CD with ease. The process for this is rather easy, and just requires booting into your BIOS to edit the boot order. This varies by device, but on my Acer netbook, I just pressed F2 during the initial boot which loaded the BIOS. From there I tabbed over to the Boot option, and edited the device sequence.
You’ll have to check for your specific device how to load the BIOS.
Live CDs have plentiful options. I reserve at least one flash drive as a Linux live CD simply to carry around as a sort of portable guest account for when I’m borrowing a computer. However, they’re also awesome to have around when you need to troubleshoot, like when you lost a password or trying to recover data.
What live CDs do you have lying around, and what do you use them forThe 50 Cool Uses for Live CDsThe 50 Cool Uses for Live CDsLive CDs are perhaps the most useful tool in any geek's toolkit. This live CD how-to guide outlines many uses live CDs or DVDs can offer, from data recovery to enhancing privacy.Read More the most? Tell us in the comments.
Explore more about: Linux, Live CD.
The title of the article is totally misleading. The article is NOT about about creating your own customised Linux distro, it is merely about how to write an ISO to a disc or usb stick.
Yes, totally agree. Writers like this should be banned. Eating other's time.
We all know thatinstalling an operating systemfrom a USB driveis muchfasterthaninstalling fromDVD.In this article we will look atseveral ways to createa bootable USB drive.
1. LinuxLive USB Creator (only for Windows users)
If you are a userof the Windows operating systemand want to makea bootable USB flash drivewith aLinuxdistribution - this program is for you.
Itis very simple, select the USB flash drive,please specifythe iso imagewill be copied,turn on the optionto format the USB stick andclick on the lightning.
You can download the programonthe official developer's website http://www.linuxliveusb.com/en/download.
2. Rufus (only for Windows users) http://rufus.akeo.ie/?locale=en_EN
Rufusis a utility thathelpsformatand create bootableFlash/Pen/Keydrives, memory cards, etc.
Rufuswill be especiallyusefulin cases where:
-you need to createa bootable USB disk froma bootableISO image (Windows, Linux, UEFI, and others)
-need to workon systemsthat have noOS installed
-you needto flash aBIOSorother firmwarefrom DOS
-you need to runa low-levelutility
-Despite its small size, Rufusknows how to do everything!
3. UNetbootin (for Linux, Windows, Mac users)
A very common program. The principle of operationis the sameas the previous program. Selectthe image, select the flash drive, and clickOK. For details, see the screenshots below.
Official websitehttp://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/
Installation latest version into Linux Mint 14/15/16/17/17.1:
4. LiveUSB MultiSystem (for Linux users) -To createa bootable USB flash drivewithmultiple operating systems (windowsorlinux) readarticle Create your LiveUSB MultiBoot very simple in Linux Mint.
5. Either - program to burn the iso image with the distro on a USB flash drive or micro SD card (Windows, MacOS and Linux)readarticle Either - program to record the iso image on a USB flash drive
6. YUMI – Multiboot USB Creator (for Linux, Windows users)
YUMI (Your Universal Multiboot Integrator), is the successor to our MultibootISOs. It can be used to create a Multiboot USB Flash Drive containing multiple operating systems, antivirus utilities, disc cloning, diagnostic tools, and more. Contrary to MultiBootISOs which used grub to boot ISO files directly from USB, YUMI uses syslinux to boot extracted distributions stored on the USB device, and reverts to using grub toBoot Multiple ISO files from USB, if necessary.
Important Note: YUMI was intended to be used to try to run various 'LIVE Linux' Operating Systems from USB. Installing Linux from the YUMI created USB Drive to a Hard Drive is not officially supported. If the installer portion of any Live Linux distro does work, consider it a bonus.
Websitehttp://www.pendrivelinux.com/yumi-multiboot-usb-creator/
Installation latest version into Linux Mint 14/15/16/17/17.1:
Download DEB package 'YUMI for Ubuntu Linux' from website
Install it.
7. USB image writer (for Linux users)Adobe premiere pro preset pack.
Linux Mint have default utility USB image writer. One time I used this program, but personally I have not always made a bootable USB flash drive.
Locate menu, the program will run. Select the image, select the USB drive and click Write.
8. MultiBoot USB - another Multiboot USB flash drive
Multiboot USB flash drive designed for loading and installing operating systems Windows/Linux and restoration-resuscitation tools directly from the USB drive.
9. WinUSB - Create Windows Usb stickis a simple tool that allows you to create your ownWindowsinstallation onUSB stickfrom an ISO image or DVD disk inLinux Mint.
10. Using the terminal (in my opinionthe best100% of the way)
As is known, the terminal is installedinany Linux distributionby default, soinstalladditional softwareis not required.
The terminal commandto write the isoimage,the distributionis as follows:
Whereinstead of /home/USER/linuxmint.isoyou need to specify the path to theiso file. sdbinthe end, it's a stickonwhichis writtenthe way.
NoteaboutDD utility
To determineyour flash drive, runin terminal:
Andif youstickdecideddifferently, changein the command.
To be entered correctlyinthe commandpath to the file, open the folderwith the file, opennext tothe terminalanddrag the fileinto the terminal:
Nowwe are ready to start. I gotthe command:
The cursorof the terminalisblinking andit seems thatnothinghappens, butactuallybeing recorded. Wait for theimage captureandat the endyou should seein the terminallike this:
That's all
Good Luck!!!
Live Linux Iso
Edited by: Shekin - 11-07-2017, 02:25
Reason: added new information