bash-tutorial/tutorial/dd_command_flash_usb.org

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 USB¹.

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.

  lsblk

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

Obtain a ISO image:

• Trisquel
• Parabola GNU-Linux
• PureOS

open a shell and use dd to flash the device

  sudo dd if=/home/user/Documents/parabola-2016.11.03-dual.iso of=/dev/sdb1

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

Footnotes

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¹

The USB should be formatted as FAT 32. You may use GParted for that purpose