USB-boot Other Linuxes: EasyDD and ISObooter

[mikeslr]

The problem of how to create a bootable Linux (not a Puppy) on a USB-Key arose under Fossapup64: that is, running Fossapup64, how does one go about 'burning' some other Linux distro to a USB-Stick which will then boot. Finally, grey's recommendation of USBImager was recalled, https://www.forum.puppylinux.com/viewto ... 443#p26443
But as noted in that post USBImager wouldn't run from Bionicpup64. I thought of hunting for an older version of USBImager --one not so fussy about insisting on the latest glibc libraries-- and creating a more Kennel friendly pet. But fortunately dinner intervened. [Never put-off 'til tomorrow what you can put-off 'til the day after tomorrow. In the interim, the entire need to do anything may have evaporated. ].
So by the time I got back to my computer I had remembered that MIke Walsh had packaged BarryK's Easydd. Links to versions are available from here, https://oldforum.puppylinux.com/viewtop ... 3#p1031161. But I already had one. Much easier hunt. .
Easydd was developed as an easy way to 'burn' an OS packaged as an IMG file to a USB-Key. But an IMG file is merely a different way of packaging than the ISO format commonly used to distribute Puppys, 'DebianDogs' and other Linux distros. I had previously used EasyDD to burn IMGs to USB-Keys. Would EasyDD work with a distro packaged as an ISO?
Well it does. Once again I obtained Kodachi bootable from a USB-Key. And unlike USBImager, Easydd has security checks if you bother to read them.
But there are two draw-backs. Although packaged as a 'no-arch', it is a 32-bit application. To use with 64-bit Puppys, you'll have to load the 32-bit compatibility SFS. The second is more fundamental. The USB-Stick ends up being formatted as an ISO9660 device. You won't be able to create a SaveFile or SaveFolder on it. And, although I didn't test with any 'debiandog' I suspect a similar problem will exist.
So it's mostly of use to create 'an installation-media'.
See following posts for discussion about ISObooter.

[rcrsn51]

If the target computer is BIOS (as opposed to UEFI), the simplest tool continues to be ISObooter.

[esos]

"used EasyDD to burn IMGs to USB-Keys"

Not sure what is the purpose to convert ISO file to IMG and burn the image to USB.

The easy way just boot directly from ISO and multiboot also possible. Grub4dos will do the job very well.

Alternative you can use ventoy.
For testing just copied EASYOS image to ventoy partition and worked fine r/w capable.

[mikeslr]

esos, EasyDD was developed to manage distros which are published in IMG format.

Thanks, rcrsn51, for reminding us of ISObooter. Here's a link to your instructions and package on the old Forum. http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=67235.

I couldn't find a package or anything beyond a brief mention about it on this Forum except --finally, after 10 minutes of searching-- a link.

If you think ISObooter still has sufficient value to warrant it -- I note that it won't create a UEFI-bootable USB-Key-- perhaps copy the text from the post on the old Forum and post it, together with the tar.gz, in an appropriate place on this Forum. [I make this suggestion because links between posts on the old forum don't always work; and not everyone was as conscientious as you in updating the OP to always provide the most recent version of an application. And if I do that I become the 'Author' of the thread creating complications down the road].

P.S. @ mikewalsh: if you're reading this, 'the find it' problem also applies to EasyDD.

[BologneChe]

@mikeslr
I have used easyDD and ISO's before. It seems to me that everything was working. It's been a while but I'll double-check.

[rcrsn51]

@mikeslr
I have used easyDD and ISO's before. It seems to me that everything was working. It's been a while but I'll double-check.

Does easyDD let you put multiple ISOs on the same flash drive?

[BologneChe]

@rcrsn51
I do not believe

[cthisbear]

I use Rufus for multiboot.

Chris.

[sonny]

@mikeslr
I have used easyDD and ISO's before. It seems to me that everything was working. It's been a while but I'll double-check.

Does easyDD let you put multiple ISOs on the same flash drive?

Use Ventoy to flash multiple ISOs into one USB.
It's one of the best, if not the best right now.
Supports Secure Boot also.
https://www.ventoy.net/en/index.html

[Jafadmin]

Much of the confusion stems from the fact that half the people using these things don't understand what they are.

An '.iso' file is not a disk image. It is an extractable ISO 9660 read-only file system. It's sole purpose is to create a CD/DVD.

An '.img' file is usually a disk image. You can use the 'dd' utility to create disk image files: 'dd bs=512 if=/dev/sdb of=sdb.img'
In this instance. "sdb.img" will contain a bitwise clone of '/dev/sdb'.
You can then clone the "sdb.img" file to a different physical disk by: 'dd bs=512 if=sdb.img of=/dev/sdX'

dd for windows: https://www.techwalla.com/articles/how- ... otable-usb

Cloning an 'iso' to a disk medium is akin to using a wheelbarrow to move water. It can be done, but the results are far from satisfactory ..

[mikeslr]

The following is an AppImage of grey's 32-bit pet.

usbimager32bit.gz

(355.98 KiB) Downloaded 62 times

Remove the false ".gz" --added as necessary to provide an upload supported by the forum.
See the posts here https://www.forum.puppylinux.com/viewto ... 706#p38706, https://www.forum.puppylinux.com/viewto ... 768#p38768 and here, https://www.forum.puppylinux.com/viewto ... 792#p38792.

As noted by those posts, while it did not create a bootable Puppy on a USB-Key, it did install the Linux Mint to a USB-Key from which I am posting. Note, however, that the USB-Key is formatted READ-ONLY. You won't be able to have 'persistence'. You will be able to use the Key as installation media.

Also remember that the attached is a 32-bit application. It is likely that a 32-bit compatibility application will be necessary to use it under 64-bit Puppies.