bash-tutorial/tutorial/dd_command_flash_usb.org

#+options: toc:nil num:nil author:nil

** Flashing USB with "dd"

~dd~ is a command to convert and copy a file. It is useful to copy information from a
disk.

It can be used to create bootable USB[fn:1].

Let's say that you need to create a 'live' usb to install or repair a GNU-linux system.

An example with parabola:

** List blocks

Please note that you should take a look to the USB device before create the
bootable device.

#+begin_src sh
  lsblk
#+end_src

Then, identify the device id (sdb1 in the example)

** Obtain a ISO image:

- [[https://trisquel.info/en/download][Trisquel]]
- [[https://wiki.parabola.nu/Get_Parabola][Parabola GNU-Linux]]
- [[https://pureos.net/download/][PureOS]]

** open a shell and use dd to flash the device

#+begin_example sh
  sudo dd if=/home/user/Documents/parabola-2016.11.03-dual.iso of=/dev/sdb1
#+end_example

The ISO image is copied to "sdb1" (USB volume)

* Footnotes

[fn:1] The USB should be formatted as FAT 32. You may use [[xhttps://gparted.org/][GParted]] for that
purpose