Related to: A Free Utility that Creates Bootable USB Drives

evans627 · 15. Oct 2014, 06:29 PM

The Free Utility page here:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/cont...comment-119204

What if you have followed all of these instructions and your USB still shows a boot error? Or rather, the USB is already set to "Active" but still doesn't boot?

And I understand there are other variables, however, what should I try after all else fails?

Burn-IT · 19. Oct 2014, 04:22 PM

Yes, details of the errors/messages you are getting would help.

You should be aware that not all USB devises (that are supposed to be bootable) use the same method, Some emulate a floppy boot method, some pretend to be a CD, Some pretend to be a hard drive. Some are clever and emulate any or all of them.
Also the BIOS on machines that are supposedly bootable from USB vary widely in what they expect.

I have done a lot of research into many different USB bootable? devices on a fair selection of machines and the results are so varied that it is difficult to find any pattern.

Try it in a different machine and see if it works.

blues direction · 24. Oct 2014, 10:50 AM

I've tried multiple pieces of software to create a boot USB but had no luck, either (including UNetBootin); the only one that worked for me was this: Bootable USB Drive Creator Tool. It creates a boot USB based on Windows Me (the only good thing about that OS). I've tried so many that failed me that I have this in a folder named 'USB That Actually Works!' I don't know why the others didn't work and this one did, but give it a shot

BTW, I'm running a Win2K box if that helps.

Burn-IT · 25. Oct 2014, 02:34 PM

Have you tried different USB devices?
As I implied, different sticks(even from the same manufacturer) often behave differently.

I have two stick here ( a 2Gb one and a 4Gb one) from the same manufacturer and one will boot quite happily, but the other refuses to.

Pendaws · 30. Oct 2014, 07:52 AM

Have you tried using diskpart? It's a part of Windows AND free.

Here is a link for how to do this:
Using Disk Part

sicknero · 13. Nov 2014, 12:04 AM

I've always used Rufus for this, it's basically a supercharged version of the Windows "Format Disk" dialogue that adds options to make bootable, burn ISO, etc.

It's extremely fast and light and works with old flash drives that other such programs don't recognise too.

George.J · 13. Nov 2014, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sicknero

I've always used Rufus for this, it's basically a supercharged version of the Windows "Format Disk" dialogue that adds options to make bootable, burn ISO, etc.

It's extremely fast and light and works with old flash drives that other such programs don't recognise too.

This one's really good. Thanks.

I'll be replacing UNetBootin with this.

Panzer · 13. Nov 2014, 10:37 AM

Some more:
http://www.linuxliveusb.com/
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/yumi-mu...t-usb-creator/
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/univers...easy-as-1-2-3/

Joe A.TT · 13. Nov 2014, 03:54 PM

I agree with sicknero. Rufus is definitely better than the others. However, I also like YUMI for its ability to put several bootable ISO's on one flashdrive.

Panzer · 14. Nov 2014, 09:35 AM

http://sourceforge.net/projects/multisystem/

Features:

- Just Drag & Drop your .iso on a window and that's it!
- MultiSystem enables a LiveUSB to do everything
- ideal for exploring different Linux distributions without installing them on your PC, easily !

http://live.learnfree.eu/

Features:

- install hundreds of Linux distributions (911 in total)
- automatically download distributions from Internet – no need to download the ISO-image yourself!
- multiplatform – runs on Linux AND Windows
- created entirely with Free Software tools – Python, GTK, GIMP, Inkscape
- create “persistent” installs of Ubuntu and Debian-based distributions (so your documents are not lost after you reboot the thumb drive)
- can format flash drives bigger than 32GB

15. Oct 2014, 06:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
evans627 Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 1	Related to: A Free Utility that Creates Bootable USB Drives The Free Utility page here: http://www.techsupportalert.com/cont...comment-119204 What if you have followed all of these instructions and your USB still shows a boot error? Or rather, the USB is already set to "Active" but still doesn't boot? And I understand there are other variables, however, what should I try after all else fails?

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19. Oct 2014, 04:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
Burn-IT Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 555	Yes, details of the errors/messages you are getting would help. You should be aware that not all USB devises (that are supposed to be bootable) use the same method, Some emulate a floppy boot method, some pretend to be a CD, Some pretend to be a hard drive. Some are clever and emulate any or all of them. Also the BIOS on machines that are supposedly bootable from USB vary widely in what they expect. I have done a lot of research into many different USB bootable? devices on a fair selection of machines and the results are so varied that it is difficult to find any pattern. Try it in a different machine and see if it works.

24. Oct 2014, 10:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
blues direction Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 6	I've tried multiple pieces of software to create a boot USB but had no luck, either (including UNetBootin); the only one that worked for me was this: Bootable USB Drive Creator Tool. It creates a boot USB based on Windows Me (the only good thing about that OS). I've tried so many that failed me that I have this in a folder named 'USB That Actually Works!' I don't know why the others didn't work and this one did, but give it a shot BTW, I'm running a Win2K box if that helps.

25. Oct 2014, 02:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
Burn-IT Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 555	Have you tried different USB devices? As I implied, different sticks(even from the same manufacturer) often behave differently. I have two stick here ( a 2Gb one and a 4Gb one) from the same manufacturer and one will boot quite happily, but the other refuses to.

30. Oct 2014, 07:52 AM	#5 (permalink)
Pendaws Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 1	Have you tried using diskpart? It's a part of Windows AND free. Here is a link for how to do this: Using Disk Part

13. Nov 2014, 12:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
sicknero Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: England Posts: 657	I've always used Rufus for this, it's basically a supercharged version of the Windows "Format Disk" dialogue that adds options to make bootable, burn ISO, etc. It's extremely fast and light and works with old flash drives that other such programs don't recognise too.

13. Nov 2014, 10:37 AM	#8 (permalink)
Panzer Editor Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 713	Some more: http://www.linuxliveusb.com/ http://www.pendrivelinux.com/yumi-mu...t-usb-creator/ http://www.pendrivelinux.com/univers...easy-as-1-2-3/

13. Nov 2014, 03:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
Joe A.TT Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,028	I agree with sicknero. Rufus is definitely better than the others. However, I also like YUMI for its ability to put several bootable ISO's on one flashdrive.

14. Nov 2014, 09:35 AM	#10 (permalink)
Panzer Editor Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 713	http://sourceforge.net/projects/multisystem/ Features: - Just Drag & Drop your .iso on a window and that's it! - MultiSystem enables a LiveUSB to do everything - ideal for exploring different Linux distributions without installing them on your PC, easily ! http://live.learnfree.eu/ Features: - install hundreds of Linux distributions (911 in total) - automatically download distributions from Internet – no need to download the ISO-image yourself! - multiplatform – runs on Linux AND Windows - created entirely with Free Software tools – Python, GTK, GIMP, Inkscape - create “persistent” installs of Ubuntu and Debian-based distributions (so your documents are not lost after you reboot the thumb drive) - can format flash drives bigger than 32GB