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I learned of a way to install Debian from USB using the netinstall image, which is fine. However it means I have to spend hours and hours downloading packages to do the install. Is there a way I can simply download (for example) the CD1 with most of gnome and then use that? The netinstall method using this does not work because there is not enough space. (I have enough space, it is that the method has a limitation). I rarely have CDs on hand and some machines do not have CD/DVD drives anyway.

I will research on this topic and answer my own question if need be, however any help in the meantime is appreciated.

Gilles 'SO- stop being evil'
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NightwishFan
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5 Answers5

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How about downloading the CD1 ISO, then put it on a USB and boot? (My favourite)

How about using an automated tool such as UNetbootin?

Here is another tool from Pendrivelinux.

Community
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phunehehe
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  • Ok, thanks. Though I am fairly sure most of the methods (at least unetbootin) have problems. – NightwishFan Jan 25 '11 at 07:03
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    Download the usb-hdd version. the cd version does not work on unetbootin (well at least in my experience) – Marc Vitalis Jan 25 '11 at 08:24
  • Actually, UNetbootin with the HD-Media worked! You just have to take care to ensure you have the correct one for your image (stable, testing, unstable). Thanks! :) – NightwishFan Jan 25 '11 at 10:21
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As of Debian 6.0 (Squeeze), the netinstall and disc 1 of the regular install CD/DVDs are 'hybrid' ISOs. They can be burned to an optical disc and booted or copied onto a USB drive and booted.

To copy the ISO onto a USB drive from a linux system all you need to do is cat the ISO onto the drive.

cat debian.iso > /dev/sdX

http://www.debian.org/releases/squeeze/i386/ch04s03.html.en#usb-copy-isohybrid

Arrowmaster
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I like installing from live image: http://www.debian.org/CD/live/

I prefer unetbootin for making usb stick. I don't trust myself with the "cat > /dev/sdX" - in case if I wipe some other partition. Less likely, but still.

Laj Mathew
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I had problems with the netinstall stable 64. I eventually overcame this: I found my binaries of nm and nm-applet and added the following to the top of the files with nano: #!/bin/busybox. I then cated them on to the usbinit that unetbootin puts onto the usb drive like so: cat /usr/bin/nm >> /media/sdc1/ubninit and cat /usr/bin/nm-applet >> /media/sdc1/ubninit.

If you try this and it doesn't work, no big loss, but just remember to delete the line you added to nm and nm-applet.

peterh
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  • I thought that was impossible. You may wish to suggest those changes to the debian unetbootin maintainer. (perhaps via the debian bugtracker) – Jasen Jan 27 '14 at 01:39
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Arrowmaster's answer is now outdated as of Stretch, cat is not used in the latest installation guide. Use cp instead as root in your GNU/Linux system (where X is a letter from a to c and corresponds to your USB flash drive):

 # cp <name of iso>.iso /dev/sdX
temy
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