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<noinclude>
[[Image:mediawriter-icon.png‎|right]]
[[Category:LiveMedia]]
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[[Image:Artwork_DesignService_fedora-iso-usb.png‎|right]]
__TOC__
{{admon/note | Fedora Guide | The procedure documented in this guide is also detailed at http://docs.fedoraproject.org/readme-burning-isos/ . The Guide may have different content, and be more or less detailed. If you edit this page or find a problem with the Guide, please also file a bug against the guide to have its content updated.}}
 
This page explains '''how to create and use Fedora USB media'''.  A Live USB system stored on flash memory, sometimes called a ''stick'', lets you boot any USB-bootable computer into a Fedora operating system environment without writing to that computer's hard disk.
 
The Live USB stick can include a feature called a ''persistent overlay'', which allows changes made to persist across reboots.  Without a ''persistent overlay'', the stick will return to a fresh state each time it is booted.


It can also have a separate area to store user account information and data such as documents and downloaded files, with optional encryption for security and peace of mind.
This page explains '''how to create and use Fedora USB media'''. You can write all [https://getfedora.org/ Fedora ISO images] to a USB stick, making this a convenient way on any USB-bootable computer to either install Fedora or try a 'live' Fedora environment without writing to the computer's hard disk. You will need a USB stick at least as large as the image you wish to write.
 
You may also use a ''non-destructive'' method to create the stick, meaning existing files on the stick will not be destroyed.
 
By combining these features, you can carry your computer with you in your pocket, booting it on nearly any system you find yourself using.
 
However, if you do not need the extended features, it is recommended you use the simplest possible "direct write" method to write the stick, as this will provide the best chance of it booting on the widest possible range of systems (though it will destroy all data on the stick). The way to do this is described in the "quick start" sections at the top of this page. If you wish to use the extended features, those methods are described later in the page.
 
With current Fedora releases you can also write the non-live Fedora installation images (the DVD and network installation images) to a USB stick, which many users find more convenient and faster than writing to an optical disc. The "direct write" method is always recommended for writing the installation images.


{{anchor|quickstarts}}
{{anchor|quickstarts}}
== Windows quick start (direct write) ==
{{anchor|fmw}}
{{anchor|luc}}
== Quickstart: Using Fedora Media Writer ==
[[Image:Fedora_Live_USB_creator.png|thumb|right|Fedora Media Writer screenshot]]


{{admon/important | Destructive method | This method will destroy all data on the USB stick. Alternative, non-destructive methods are described later in this document.}}
For most cases, the best tool to create a Fedora USB stick is the [https://github.com/MartinBriza/MediaWriter Fedora Media Writer] utility, which was formerly known as LiveUSB Creator. It is available on Fedora, other Linux distributions using [http://flatpak.org/ Flatpak], Windows and macOS.


# Download a Fedora image, choose a USB stick that does not contain any data you need, and connect it
{{admon/important | Destructive method | This method will destroy all data on the USB stick. If you need a non-destructive write method (to preserve existing data on your USB stick) and/or support for 'data persistence', you can use the [[#litd|livecd-iso-to-disk]] utility on Fedora.}}
# Download and run [ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/kiwi/ImageWriter.exe SUSE Studio ImageWriter] or [http://www.netbsd.org/~martin/rawrite32/ Rawrite32]
# Choose the Fedora image as the '''Image''' (SUSE Studio) or '''Filesystem image''' (Rawrite32) - if the image file is not shown, you may have to change the file selector options or change the image's extension
# Choose the USB stick in the drop-down box by the '''Copy''' button (SUSE Studio) or as the '''Target''' (Rawrite32)
# Double-check you're really, really sure you don't need any of the data on the USB stick!
# Click '''Copy''' (SUSE Studio) or '''Write to disk...''' (Rawrite32)
# Wait for the operation to complete, then reboot your computer, and do whatever you need to do to boot from a USB stick - often this will involve pressing or holding down '''F12''', '''F2''' or '''Del'''.


== Linux (GNOME) quick start (direct write) ==
Fedora Media Writer is graphical and easy to use. It can download recent Fedora images for you as well as writing them to the USB stick.


{{admon/important | Destructive method | This method will destroy all data on the USB stick. Alternative, non-destructive methods are described later in this document.}}
On Fedora, you can use a Fedora graphical software installation tool to install the {{package|mediawriter}} package, or use the command line:


This method is for people running Linux with GNOME, Nautilus and the GNOME Disk Utility installed. A standard installation of Fedora, or a standard GNOME installation of many other distributions, should be able to use this method. On Fedora, ensure the packages {{package|nautilus}} and {{package|gnome-disk-utility}} are installed. Similar graphical direct-write tools may be available for other desktops, or you may use the [[#dd|command line "direct write" method]].
{{command|1=su -c 'dnf install mediawriter'}}


# Download a Fedora image, choose a USB stick that does not contain any data you need, and connect it
On Windows and macOS, you can download the installer from [https://github.com/MartinBriza/MediaWriter/releases the releases page]. On other Linux distributions, if they support the [http://flatpak.org/ Flatpak] application distribution system, you can download a flatpak from [https://github.com/MartinBriza/MediaWriter/releases the releases page].
# Run Nautilus (Files) - for instance, open the Overview by pressing the Start/Super key, and type ''Files'', then hit enter
# Find the downloaded image, right-click on it, go to '''Open With''', and click '''Disk Image Writer'''
# Double-check you're really, really sure you don't need any of the data on the USB stick!
# Select your USB stick as the '''Destination''', and click '''Start Restoring...'''
# Wait for the operation to complete, then reboot your computer, and do whatever you need to do to boot from a USB stick - often this will involve pressing or holding down '''F12''', '''F2''' or '''Del'''.


== OS X quick start (direct write) ==
To run the tool, look for '''Fedora Media Writer''' in the system menus. When you start Fedora Media Writer, the three dots in the bottom will be flashing while the tool checks for a new Fedora release.  
{{admon/important | Destructive method | This method will destroy all data on the USB stick. Alternative, non-destructive methods are described later in this document.}}
Unfortunately, there is no known useful graphical tool for a direct write on OS X. The [[#unetbootin|UNetbootin]] utility described later in this document works on OS X, but cannot be guaranteed to produce reliably bootable Fedora images. This console-based method is not as graphically easy as using UNetbootin, but it is more reliable.
# Download a Fedora image, choose a USB stick that does not contain any data you need, and connect it
# Open a terminal
# Run {{command|diskutil list}}. This will list all disks connected to the system, as {{filename|/dev/disk1}}, {{filename|/dev/disk2}} and so on. Identify - very carefully! - which one corresponds to the USB stick you wish to use. Hereafter, we'll assume it was {{filename|/dev/disk2}} - modify the commands as appropriate for your stick.
# Run {{command|diskutil unmountDisk /dev/disk2}}
# Type <code>dd if=</code>, then drag and drop the Fedora image file to the terminal window - this should result in its filesystem location being appended to the command. Now complete the command with <code>of=/dev/disk2 bs=1m</code>, but ''don't hit Enter yet''. You should wind up with something like {{command|sudo dd if<nowiki>=</nowiki>/Volumes/Images/Fedora-Live-Desktop-x86_64-20-1.iso of<nowiki>=</nowiki>/dev/disk2 bs<nowiki>=</nowiki>1m}}
# Double-check you have the correct disk number and you're really, really sure you don't need any of the data on the USB stick!
# Hit Enter
# Wait for the operation to complete, then reboot your computer, and hold down the left Alt/Option key to access the boot menu - you should see a Fedora logo. Click this to boot.


To write the stick:


# Choose which Fedora flavor you want to install or try.
#: On the title screen, you can choose Workstation, Server or your own .iso file. Other choices (including KDE, Cinnamon, Xfce and so on) are under the "..." button at the bottom of the list.
# Ensure your USB stick is plugged into the system.
# Click ''Create Live USB''.
# Ensure the right stick is selected.
# Click ''Write to disk'' and wait for the write to complete.
# Once the stick has been written, shut the system down and boot it from the USB stick (see [[#booting|the Booting section]]).


{{admon/important | Creating a live ISO image | A Live USB system is created from the same ISO image file that is used to create CD/DVD media.  You can download ISO images for the official Fedora release from [http://fedoraproject.org/get-fedora the Fedora download site]. Consult [[How to create and use a Live CD]] for more information on creating your own customized live ISO image file.}}
After writing, your USB stick will have a changed partition layout and some systems may report it to be about 10MB large. To return your USB stick to its factory configuration, insert the drive again while Fedora Media Writer is running. The app provides you with an option to restore to the factory layout. This layout includes a single VFAT partition.


== System Requirements ==
__TOC__


* A working computer running GNU/Linux, Windows or OS X.
{{anchor|booting}}
* A [[wikipedia:USB flash drive|USB flash drive]], also known as USB stick, thumb drive, pen drive, or jump drive. For most Fedora live images, you will need at least 1 GB or more of storage space. For the network install image, 400 MB or more should be sufficient. For a DVD image, you should have at least 4.7 GB.
== Booting from USB sticks ==
* A Fedora ISO file, which you can download from http://fedoraproject.org/get-fedora.


=== Ability to boot from USB media ===
[[Image:Bios_USB_boot.jpg|thumb|right|Set USB as first boot device. Your BIOS may be different.]]


* Not all computers can boot from USB media, due to different BIOS settings and system capabilities. If your computer cannot do so, this procedure will not be useful.  If you are not sure and don't mind downloading and installing an image on your USB drive (possibly wiping its data), the only risk is wasting some time.
Almost all modern PCs can boot from USB sticks (some very old ones may not be able to). However, precisely how you tell the system to boot from a USB stick varies substantially from system to system. First, just try this:


* If your USB stick is not in working order, this procedure may fail.  Watch for error messages during the process.
# Power off the computer.
# Plug the USB drive into a USB port.
# Remove all other portable media, such as CDs, DVDs, floppy disks or other USB sticks.
# Power on the computer.
# If the computer is configured to automatically boot from the USB drive, you will see a screen that says "Automatic boot in 10 seconds..." with a countdown (unless you do a native UEFI boot, where you will see a rather more minimal boot menu).


=== UEFI boot of USB sticks ===
If the computer starts to boot off the hard drive as normal, you'll need to manually configure it to boot off the USB drive. Usually, that should work something like this:


{{admon/important | Use a 64 bit image for UEFI | UEFI booting is only supported with the 64bit release of Fedora.}}
# Wait for a safe point to reboot.
Whether a Fedora image written to a USB stick will be bootable natively via [[wikipedia:UEFI|UEFI]] is a somewhat complex question which depends on the Fedora release, the type of image (live or non-live), and the method used to write it. The {{command|--efi}} parameter to the [[#litd|livecd-iso-to-disk]] tool attempts to make a stick written with that tool natively UEFI bootable.
# As the machine starts to reboot, watch carefully for instructions on which key to press (usually a function key, Escape, Tab or Delete) to enter the boot device selection menu, "BIOS setup", "firmware", or "UEFI".  Press and hold that key.  If you miss the window of opportunity (often only a few seconds) then reboot and try again.
# Use the firmware ("BIOS") interface or the boot device menu to put your USB drive first in the boot sequence.  It might be listed as a hard drive rather than a removable drive.  Each hardware manufacturer has a slightly different method for doing so.
#: '''Be careful!'''  Your computer could become unbootable or lose functionality if you change any other settings. Though these settings can be reverted, you'll need to remember what you changed in order to do so.
# Save the changes, exit, and the computer should boot from the USB drive.


As of {{FedoraVersion|long|20}}, all sticks written using [[#quickstarts|"direct write" methods]] should be UEFI-bootable, at least some sticks written with [[#luc|liveusb-creator]] should be UEFI-bootable, and all sticks written with {{command|livecd-iso-to-disk --format --reset-mbr --efi}} should be UEFI-bootable. Use of {{command|--efi}} without {{command|--format}} and {{command|--reset-mbr}} can be considered a 'best effort', and may not produce a UEFI-bootable stick. Sticks written with other methods and tools will most probably not be UEFI-bootable.
If your system has a [[Unified_Extensible_Firmware_Interface|UEFI]] firmware, it will usually allow you to boot the stick in UEFI native mode or BIOS compatibility mode. If you boot in UEFI native mode and perform a Fedora installation, you will get a UEFI native Fedora installation. If you boot in BIOS compatibility mode and perform a Fedora installation, you will get a BIOS compatibility mode Fedora installation. For more information on all this, see the [[Unified_Extensible_Firmware_Interface|UEFI page]]. USB sticks written from x86_64 images with [[#fmw|Fedora Media Writer]], [[#gnome|GNOME Disk Utility]], [[#dd|dd]], other dd-style utilities, and [[#litd|livecd-iso-to-disk]] with {{code|--efi}} should be UEFI native bootable. Sticks written with other utilities may not be UEFI native bootable, and sticks written from i686 images will never be UEFI bootable.
 
If you boot a Fedora stick in UEFI native mode and install from it, you will get a UEFI native installation of Fedora. If you wish to do a BIOS native installation of Fedora, you must ensure you boot your stick in BIOS compatibility mode, if your firmware has this capability. The interface for choosing the mode used to boot varies between systems, and so we cannot give precise instructions on this. If you have difficulty, you may want to use a method which is known ''not'' to produce a UEFI-bootable stick, and hence force your firmware to boot it in BIOS compatibility mode.


== Checking USB disk size / free space ==
== Checking USB disk size / free space ==


As noted before, the disk must have a certain amount of storage space depending on the type of image you select. If you use a destructive method, the stick must be at least that size; if you use a non-destructive method, it must have at least that much free space. Whichever operating system you are using, you can usually check this with a file manager, usually by right clicking and selecting ''Properties''. Here is a screenshot of how this looks on GNOME:
As noted before, the disk must have a certain amount of storage space depending on the image you select. If you use a destructive method, the stick must be at least the size of the image; if you use a non-destructive method, it must have at least that much free space. Whichever operating system you are using, you can usually check this with a file manager, usually by right clicking and selecting ''Properties''. Here is a screenshot of how this looks on GNOME:
 
[[image:Properties_USB_size.png]]
 
== Writing the image ==
 
Remember, the most reliable methods, which are recommended if you do not need to preserve the contents of your stick or use any of the advanced features such as storage persistence, are the "direct write" methods described [[#quickstarts|above]]. Only use these alternative methods if you need to preserve the contents of your stick, or use advanced features.
 
After the "direct write" methods, [[#litd|The livecd-iso-to-disk method]] is the second most reliable, and supports all Fedora images and the full range of advanced features. However, it is a command-line tool, and only available for Fedora. [[#luc|The liveusb-creator method]] is less reliable and cannot write non-live images, but it is graphical, supports data persistence and non-destructive writing, and is easily available for Windows, OS X and Fedora.
 
The reliability, ease of use and feature availability of other methods, including [[#unetbootin|UNetbootin]], is questionable, and Fedora may be unable to offer support for them.
 
{{anchor|luc}}
=== Using liveusb-creator (Windows and Fedora, graphical, non-destructive) ===
 
[[Image:Fedora_Live_USB_creator.png]]


Fedora live USB sticks can be created on Windows and Fedora using the [http://fedorahosted.org/liveusb-creator liveusb-creator] utility. It cannot create USB sticks from the non-live installer images.
[[image:Properties_USB_size.png|thumb|350px|none]]
 
It is graphical, easy to use, is non-destructive (does not destroy existing data on the stick), and supports [[#Data persistence|data persistence]]. However, please be aware that it is not quite as actively maintained or heavily tested as the "direct write" methods, and can produce a stick that fails to boot on some systems, depending on the pre-existing format of the stick and the system firmware.
 
On Fedora, you can use a Fedora graphical software installation tool to install the {{package|liveusb-creator}} package, or use the command line:
 
: {{command|su -c 'yum install liveusb-creator'}}
 
On Windows, you can download the installer from [http://fedorahosted.org/liveusb-creator the liveusb-creator site].
 
To run the tool, look for '''Fedora LiveUSB Creator''' in the system menus, or (in Fedora) run {{command|liveusb-creator}} on the command line.
 
To use the tool, click the refresh button next to the list of images at the top-right (to refresh the list of available images from the Fedora mirrors), then select a Fedora release to download from the drop-down box (or select an ISO you have already downloaded using the ''Browse'' button at top-left), select the USB stick to which you wish to write the image from the ''Target Device'' drop-down box, and hit the ''Create Live USB'' button.
 
You can use the slider at bottom-right to make some space available for data persistence if you choose: see the [[#Data persistence|data persistence]] section for details on how this feature works, and its implications.


{{anchor|#device}}
{{anchor|#device}}
=== Identifying a stick by {{filename|/dev}} name on Linux ===
{{anchor|device}}
== Identifying a stick by {{filename|/dev}} name on Linux ==


The following methods will require you to know the {{filename|/dev}} name for your USB stick - e.g. {{filename|/dev/sdc}} - when using them on Linux. To find this out:
Most of the [[#writing|alternative writing methods]] will require you to know the {{filename|/dev}} name for your USB stick - e.g. {{filename|/dev/sdc}} - when using them on Linux. You do not need to know this in order to use [[#fmw|Fedora Media Writer]]. To find this out:


# Insert the USB stick into a USB port.
# Insert the USB stick into a USB port.
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where sdX will be sdb, sdc, sdd, etc. '''Take note of this label''' as it is the name of the disk you will use. We'll call it ''sdX'' from now on. If you have connected more than one USB stick to the system, be careful that you identify the correct one - often you will see a manufacturer name or capacity in the output which you can use to make sure you identified the correct stick.
where sdX will be sdb, sdc, sdd, etc. '''Take note of this label''' as it is the name of the disk you will use. We'll call it ''sdX'' from now on. If you have connected more than one USB stick to the system, be careful that you identify the correct one - often you will see a manufacturer name or capacity in the output which you can use to make sure you identified the correct stick.


{{anchor|unetbootin}}
{{anchor|writing}}
=== Using [http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/ UNetbootin] (Windows, OS X and Linux, graphical, non-destructive) ===
== Alternative USB stick writing methods ==


{{admon/warning | Reliability not assured | Following each release, Fedora support volunteers receive reports of problems with installation images created by UNetbootin. Using the most recent version of UNetbootin available has been known to improve results. UNetbootin may work in some cases but not others - for instance, it will likely create a stick that is bootable in BIOS mode, but not UEFI mode. Fedora cannot guarantee support for UNetbootin-written images.}}
As explained above, the recommended method for writing the stick in most cases is [[#fmw|Fedora Media Writer]]. In this section, other tools which may be useful in specific circumstances are documented.


While your results may vary, it is usually the case that the [[#quickstarts|direct write]], [[#litd|livecd-iso-to-disk]], and [[#luc|liveusb-creator]] methods give better results than UNetbootin. If you encounter problems with UNetbootin, please contact the UNetbootin developers, not the Fedora developers.
{{anchor|gnome}}
=== Using GNOME Disk Utility (Linux, graphical, destructive) ===


UNetbootin is a graphical, bootable USB image creator. Using it will allow you to preserve any data you have in the USB drive. If you have trouble booting, however, you may wish to try with a blank, cleanly FAT32-formatted drive.
{{admon/important | Destructive method | This method will destroy all data on the USB stick. If you need a non-destructive write method (to preserve existing data on your USB stick) and/or support for 'data persistence', you can use the [[#litd|livecd-iso-to-disk]] utility on Fedora.}}


If you are running a 64-bit Linux distribution, UNetbootin may fail to run until you install the 32-bit versions of quite a lot of system libraries. Fedora cannot help you with this: please direct feedback on this issue to the UNetbootin developers.
This method is for people running Linux (or another *nix) with GNOME, Nautilus and the GNOME Disk Utility installed. Particularly, if you are using a distribution other than Fedora which does not support Flatpak, this may be the easiest available method. A standard installation of Fedora, or a standard GNOME installation of many other distributions, should be able to use this method. On Fedora, ensure the packages {{package|nautilus}} and {{package|gnome-disk-utility}} are installed. Similar graphical direct-write tools may be available for other desktops, or you may use the [[#dd|command line "direct write" method]].


[[Image:Unetbootin_gtk3.png]]
# Download a Fedora image, choose a USB stick that does not contain any data you need, and connect it
 
# Run Nautilus (Files) - for instance, open the Overview by pressing the Start/Super key, and type ''Files'', then hit enter
# Download the latest UNetbootin version from [http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/ the official site] and install it. On Linux, the download is an executable file: save it somewhere, change it to be executable (using {{command|chmod ugo+x filename}} or a file manager), and then run it.
# Find the downloaded image, right-click on it, go to '''Open With''', and click '''Disk Image Writer'''
# Launch UNetbootin. On Linux, you might have to type the root password.
# Double-check you're really, really sure you don't need any of the data on the USB stick!
# Click on '''Diskimage''' and search for the ISO file you downloaded.
# Select your USB stick as the '''Destination''', and click '''Start Restoring...'''
# Select Type: USB drive and [[#device|choose the correct device for your stick]]
# Click OK
 
{{admon/note | Drive not visible | If you do not see ''sdX'' listed, you might have to reformat the drive. You can do this from most file manager or disk utility tools, e.g. the GNOME disk utility ("Disks") on Fedora. The FAT32 format is most likely to result in a bootable stick. This will cause you to lose all data on the drive.}}


{{anchor|litd}}
{{anchor|litd}}
Line 161: Line 104:
{{admon/important | Potentially destructive method | This method will destroy all data on the USB stick ''if the '''--format''' parameter is passed''.}}
{{admon/important | Potentially destructive method | This method will destroy all data on the USB stick ''if the '''--format''' parameter is passed''.}}


The ''livecd-iso-to-disk'' tool is the most capable, non-destructive, and second most reliable method of writing a Fedora ISO image to a USB stick, but it can be used reliably only from within Fedora. It does not work in Windows or OS X, and is not supported (and will usually fail) in non-Fedora distributions. Please use (in order of preference) [[#quickstarts|the direct write methods]], [[#luc|liveusb-creator]], [[#unetbootin|UNetbootin]] or other third-party tool on other operating systems. It is also not a good idea to try and write a new Fedora release using the version of ''livecd-iso-to-disk'' in a much older Fedora release: It is best to only use a release a maximum of two versions older than the release you are trying to write.
The {{command|livecd-iso-to-disk}} method is slightly less reliable than Fedora Media Writer and can be used reliably only from within Fedora: it does not work in Windows or OS X, and is not supported (and will usually fail) in non-Fedora distributions. However, it supports three advanced features which FMW does not include:


Make sure the ''livecd-tools'' RPM is installed with the command:
# You may use a ''non-destructive'' method to create the stick, meaning existing files on the stick will not be destroyed. This is less reliable than the ''destructive'' write methods, and should be used only if you have no stick you can afford to wipe.
# On live images, you can include a feature called a ''persistent overlay'', which allows changes made to persist across reboots. You can perform updates just like a regular installation to your hard disk, except that kernel updates require [[#Kernel updates|manual intervention]] and [[#limited overlay|overlay space may be insufficient]]. Without a ''persistent overlay'', the stick will return to a fresh state each time it is booted.
# On live images, you can also have a separate area to store user account information and data such as documents and downloaded files, with optional encryption for security and peace of mind.


: {{command|rpm -q livecd-tools}}
By combining these features, you can carry your computer with you in your pocket, booting it on nearly any system you find yourself using.
 
You will see the name of the RPM and a version number if it is installed, or no output if it is not installed.
 
If ''livecd-tools'' is not installed, install it using this command, or a graphical software installation tool:
 
: {{command|su -c 'yum install livecd-tools'}}


Detailed usage information is available in the first pages of the [http://git.fedorahosted.org/cgit/livecd/tree/tools/livecd-iso-to-disk.sh#n27 livecd-iso-to-disk script], which you can also see by running this command:
It is not a good idea to try and write a new Fedora release using the version of {{command|livecd-iso-to-disk}} in a much older Fedora release: it is best to only use a release a maximum of two versions older than the release you are trying to write.


: {{command|su -c 'livecd-iso-to-disk --help'}}
Ensure the {{package|livecd-tools}} package is installed: {{command|su -c 'dnf install livecd-tools'}}


Basic examples follow. Remember to [[#device|identify your USB stick's device name]] first. In all cases, you can add the parameter {{command|--efi}} to (try to) render the stick bootable in native UEFI mode.
Basic examples follow. Remember to [[#device|identify your USB stick's device name]] first. In all cases, you can add the parameter {{command|--efi}} to (try to) render the stick bootable in native UEFI mode. Detailed usage information is available by running: {{command|livecd-iso-to-disk --help}} or {{command|man livecd-iso-to-disk}}.


To make an existing USB stick bootable as a Fedora image - without deleting any of the data on it - make sure that the USB drive is not mounted before executing the following, and give the root password when prompted:
To make an existing USB stick bootable as a Fedora image - without deleting any of the data on it - make sure that the USB drive is not mounted before executing the following, and give the root password when prompted:
: {{command|su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk Fedora-Live-Desktop-x86_64-20-1.iso /dev/sdX"}}
: {{command|su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk Fedora-Workstation-Live-x86_64-{{FedoraVersionNumber|next}}-1.1.iso /dev/sdX"}}
See [[#Data persistence|Data persistence]] below for how to create Live USB devices with more than temporary storage of user files and settings.


In case it is not possible to boot from a disk created with the method shown above, before re-partitioning and re-formatting, often resetting the master boot record will enable booting:
In case it is not possible to boot from a disk created with the method shown above, before re-partitioning and re-formatting, often resetting the master boot record will enable booting:


: {{command|su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk --reset-mbr Fedora-Live-Desktop-x86_64-20-1.iso /dev/sdX"}}
: {{command|su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk --reset-mbr Fedora-Workstation-Live-x86_64-{{FedoraVersionNumber|next}}-1.1.iso /dev/sdX"}}


{{admon/warning | CAUTION: | Using the {{command|--format}} option in the following command will erase all data on the USB drive!  Please read the instructions below ''carefully''.}}
{{admon/warning | CAUTION: | Using the {{command|--format}} option in the following command will erase all data on the USB drive!  Please read the instructions below ''carefully''.}}
Line 191: Line 129:
If necessary, you can have ''livecd-iso-to-disk'' re-partition and re-format the target stick:
If necessary, you can have ''livecd-iso-to-disk'' re-partition and re-format the target stick:


: {{command|su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk --format --reset-mbr Fedora-Live-Desktop-x86_64-20-1.iso /dev/sdX"}}
: {{command|su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk --format --reset-mbr Fedora-Workstation-Live-x86_64-{{FedoraVersionNumber|next}}-1.1.iso /dev/sdX"}}


{{anchor|dd}}
To include a persistent filesystem for {{filename|/home}}, use the {{command|--home-size-mb}} parameter. For example:
=== Command line "direct write" method (most operating systems, non-graphical, destructive) ===


{{admon/important | Destructive method | This method will destroy all data on the USB stick. Alternative, non-destructive methods are described elsewhere in this document.}}
: {{command|su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk --home-size-mb 2048 Fedora-Workstation-Live-x86_64-{{FedoraVersionNumber|next}}-1.1.iso /dev/sdX"}}


This method is equivalent to the other "direct write" methods described in the [[#quickstarts|Quickstarts section]], but uses a command line utility named {{command|dd}}. Like the other "direct write" methods, it will destroy all data on the stick and does not support any of the advanced features like data persistence, but it is a very reliable method. The {{command|dd}} tool is available on most Unix-like operating systems, including Linux distributions and OS X, and [http://www.chrysocome.net/dd a Windows port is available].
This will create a 2 GiB filesystem that will be mounted as {{filename|/home}} each time the stick is booted, allowing you to preserve data in {{filename|/home}} across boots.


The first step is to [[#device|identify the name of the USB drive partition.]] If using this method on Windows, with the port linked above, the {{command|dd --list}} command should provide you with the correct name.
To enable 'data persistence' support - so changes you make to the entire live environment will persist across boots - add the {{command|--overlay-size-mb}} parameter to add a persistent data storage area to the target stick. For example:


To write the ISO file directly to the disk, run:
: {{command|su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk --overlay-size-mb 2048 Fedora-Workstation-Live-x86_64-{{FedoraVersionNumber|next}}-1.1.iso /dev/sdX"}}


: {{command|su -c "dd if<nowiki>=</nowiki>/Users/me/Downloads/Fedora-Live-Desktop-x86_64-20-1.iso of<nowiki>=</nowiki>/dev/sdX bs<nowiki>=</nowiki>8M"}}
where 2048 is the desired size (in megabytes) of the overlay. The ''livecd-iso-to-disk'' tool will not accept an overlay size value greater than 4095 for VFAT, but for ext[234] filesystems it is only limited by the available space.
{{anchor|limited overlay}}
{{admon/note | Limited Lifetime of Persistent Overlay | Due to the way it's currently implemented, every single change to this form of overlay (writes AND deletes) subtracts from its free space, so it will eventually be "used up" and your USB stick will no longer boot (see this [http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel.device-mapper.devel/14644 dm-devel discussion] and [[LiveOS_image#Overlay_recovery|this page]] for emergency recovery). You can use {{command|dmsetup status live-rw}} to see how much space remains in the overlay: the output will contain something like {{code|snapshot 42296/204800}}, indicating that 42296 of 204800 512-byte sectors are allocated. Because of these limitations, it is advisable to use the system-level persistence sparingly, for configuration changes and important security updates only. Or, if you have sufficient disk space available, changes to the LiveOS root filesystem snapshot can be merged into a new copy of the root filesystem.  See [[LiveOS image#Merge overlay into new image|this page section]] for instructions.}}


Or, if you are running an Ubuntu-based distribution:
You can combine {{command|--home-size-mb}} and {{command|--overlay-size-mb}}, in which case data written to {{filename|/home}} will not exhaust the persistent overlay.


: {{command|sudo dd if<nowiki>=</nowiki>/Users/me/Downloads/Fedora-Live-Desktop-x86_64-20-1.iso of<nowiki>=</nowiki>/dev/sdX bs<nowiki>=</nowiki>8M}}
{{anchor|dd}}


Note that the process will take some time and you will not see any information while it is running.
=== Command line "direct write" method (most operating systems, non-graphical, destructive) ===


=== Creating a USB stick from a running live environment ===
{{admon/important | Destructive method | This method will destroy all data on the USB stick. If you need a non-destructive write method (to preserve existing data on your USB stick) and/or support for 'data persistence', you can use the [[#litd|livecd-iso-to-disk]] utility on Fedora.}}


If you are already running a live CD, DVD, or USB and want to convert that into a bootable USB stick, run the following command:
This method direct writes the image to the USB stick much like [[#fmw|Fedora Media Writer]] or [[#gnome|GNOME Disk Utility]], but uses a command line utility named {{command|dd}}. Like the other "direct write" methods, it will destroy all data on the stick and does not support any of the advanced features like data persistence, but it is a very reliable method. The {{command|dd}} tool is available on most Unix-like operating systems, including Linux distributions and OS X, and [http://www.chrysocome.net/dd a Windows port is available]. This may be your best method if you cannot use Fedora Media Writer or GNOME Disk Utility, or just if you prefer command line utilities and want a simple, quick way to write a stick.


: {{command|su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk /run/initramfs/livedev /dev/sdX"}}
# [[#device|Identify the name of the USB drive partition]]. If using this method on Windows, with the port linked above, the {{command|dd --list}} command should provide you with the correct name.
# '''Unmount all mounted partition from that device.''' This is very important, otherwise the written image might get corrupted. You can umount all mounted partitions from the device with {{command|umount /dev/sdX*}}, where X is the appropriate letter, e.g. {{command|umount /dev/sdc*}}
# Write the ISO file to the device:
#: {{command|1=su -c 'dd if=/path/to/image.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=8M status=progress oflag=direct'}}
# Wait until the command completes.
#: If you see {{code|dd: invalid status flag: 'progress'}}, your dd version doesn't support the {{code|1=status=progress}} option and you'll need to remove it (and you won't see writing progress).


(For versions before Fedora 17, use {{filename|/dev/live}} instead of {{filename|/run/initramfs/livedev}}.)
{{anchor|unetbootin}}
=== Using [http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/ UNetbootin] (Windows, OS X and Linux, graphical, non-destructive) ===


== Booting the image ==
[[Image:Unetbootin_gtk3.png|thumb|right|Unetbootin screenshot]]


[[Image:Bios_USB_boot.jpg|thumb|right|Set USB as first boot device. Your BIOS may be different.]]
{{admon/warning | Reliability not assured | Following each release, Fedora support volunteers receive reports of problems with installation images created by UNetbootin. Using the most recent version of UNetbootin available has been known to improve results. UNetbootin may work in some cases but not others - for instance, it will likely create a stick that is bootable in BIOS mode, but not UEFI mode. Fedora cannot guarantee support for UNetbootin-written images.}}


# Power off the computer.
While your results may vary, it is usually the case that the [[#fmw|Fedora Media Writer]], [[#litd|livecd-iso-to-disk]], [[#gnome|GNOME]] and [[#dd|dd]] methods give better results than UNetbootin. If you encounter problems with UNetbootin, please contact the UNetbootin developers, not the Fedora developers.
# Plug the USB drive into a USB port.
# Remove all other portable media, such as CD, DVD, or floppy disks.
# Power on the computer.
# If the computer is configured to automatically boot from the USB drive, you will see a screen that says "Automatic boot in 10 seconds..." with a countdown (unless you do a native UEFI boot, where you will see a rather more minimal boot menu).


If the computer starts to boot off the hard drive as normal, you'll need to manually configure it to boot off the USB drive.
UNetbootin is a graphical, bootable USB image creator. Using it will allow you to preserve any data you have in the USB drive. If you have trouble booting, however, you may wish to try with a blank, cleanly FAT32-formatted drive.


# Wait for a safe point to reboot safely.
If you are running a 64-bit Linux distribution, UNetbootin may fail to run until you install the 32-bit versions of quite a lot of system libraries. Fedora cannot help you with this: please direct feedback on this issue to the UNetbootin developers.
# As the machine starts to reboot, watch carefully for instructions on which key to press (usually a function key or Escape) to enter the boot device selection menu, or "BIOS setup".  Press and hold that key.  If you miss the window of opportunity (often only a few seconds) then reboot and try again.
# Use the BIOS setup menu to put your USB drive first in the boot sequence.  It might be listed as a hard drive rather than a removable drive.  Each hardware manufacturer has a slightly different method for doing so.  '''Use caution!'''  Your computer could become unbootable or lose functionality if you change any other settings. Though these settings can be reverted, you'll need to remember what you changed in order to do so. If you have a UEFI firmware, you may see choices to boot the stick in UEFI native mode or BIOS compatibility mode: remember that, if you intend to install Fedora, a UEFI native boot will result in a UEFI native Fedora installation, while a BIOS compatibility mode boot will result in a BIOS native Fedora installation.
# Save the changes, exit, and the computer should boot the Live USB drive.


== Data persistence ==
# Download the latest UNetbootin version from [http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/ the official site] and install it. On Linux, the download is an executable file: save it somewhere, change it to be executable (using {{command|chmod ugo+x filename}} or a file manager), and then run it.
# Launch UNetbootin. On Linux, you might have to type the root password.
# Click on '''Diskimage''' and search for the ISO file you downloaded.
# Select Type: USB drive and [[#device|choose the correct device for your stick]]
# Click OK


Data persistence means that your files and settings will remain even after you reboot your live system. You can perform updates just like a regular installation to your hard disk, except that kernel updates require [[#Kernel updates|manual intervention]] and [[#limited overlay|overlay space may be insufficient]]. The primary use of this feature is booting a USB stick with your live image as well as the persistent changes. Note that you will need to have space on your target USB stick for the live image plus your overlay plus any other data you want on the stick.
{{admon/note | Drive not visible | If you do not see ''sdX'' listed, you might have to reformat the drive. You can do this from most file manager or disk utility tools, e.g. the GNOME disk utility ("Disks") on Fedora. The FAT32 format is most likely to result in a bootable stick. This will cause you to lose all data on the drive.}}


Use the [[#luc|liveusb-creator tool]] described above to do this easily. There is a graphical slider in the interface you can use to assign space on the target stick for persistent storage.
=== Creating a USB stick from a running live environment ===


If using the ''livecd-iso-to-disk'' tool, add the {{command|--overlay-size-mb}} parameter to add a persistent data storage area to the target stick. For example:
If you are already running a live CD, DVD, or USB and want to convert that into a bootable USB stick, run the following command:


: {{command|su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk --overlay-size-mb 512 Fedora-Live-Desktop-x86_64-20-1.iso /dev/USBPARTITIONNAME"}}
: {{command|su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk /run/initramfs/livedev /dev/sdX"}}
 
where 512 is the desired size (in megabytes) of the overlay. The ''livecd-iso-to-disk'' tool will not accept an overlay size value greater than 4095 for VFAT, but for ext[234] filesystems it is only limited by the available space.
{{anchor|limited overlay}}
{{admon/note | Limited Lifetime of Persistent Overlay | One very important note about using the "primary" persistent overlay for system changes is that due to the way it's currently implemented (as a [[wikipedia:Device mapper|Device-mapper]] copy-on-write snapshot), every single change to it (writes AND deletes) subtracts from its free space, so it will eventually be "used up" and your USB stick will no longer boot (see this [http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel.device-mapper.devel/14644 dm-devel discussion] and [[LiveOS_image#Overlay_recovery|this page]] for emergency recovery). Because of these limitations, it is advisable to use the system-level persistence sparingly, for configuration changes and important security updates only. Or, if you have sufficient disk space available, changes to the LiveOS root filesystem snapshot can be merged into a new copy of the root filesystem.  See [[LiveOS image#Merge overlay into new image|this page section]] for instructions.


See [[#Mounting a Live USB filesystem|this section]] for mounting the root filesystem outside of a boot.
See [[#Mounting a Live USB filesystem|this section]] for mounting the root filesystem outside of a boot.
For normal, write-many storage, use the {{command|--home-size-mb}} option to create a home directory filesystem for personal files. Home.img can be re-used and loop mounted outside of the Live USB environment.}}
The persistent overlay status may be queried by issuing this command on the live system:
: {{command|dmsetup status live-rw}}
The returned value may look like this:
<pre>
live-rw: 0 8388608 snapshot 42296/204800 176
</pre>
where the fraction after 'snapshot' for the logical volume is that of 512-byte sectors consumed in the overlay.


== Troubleshooting ==
== Troubleshooting ==


=== liveusb-creator problems ===
=== Fedora Media Writer problems ===


* Try the [http://fedorahosted.org/liveusb-creator/wiki/FAQ liveusb-creator FAQ].
* Bugs can be reported to [https://github.com/MartinBriza/MediaWriter/issues GitHub] or [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/enter_bug.cgi?product=Fedora&component=mediawriter Bugzilla]. You can [http://bugz.fedoraproject.org/mediawriter browse existing Bugzilla reports]. Please report any problems you encounter that have not already been reported.
* Bugs are tracked in [https://fedorahosted.org/liveusb-creator/ Trac] - see e.g. [https://fedorahosted.org/liveusb-creator/report/1 existing tickets]. Please [https://fedorahosted.org/liveusb-creator/newticket open a new ticket] if you encounter any problems that have not already been reported.
* The [https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/liveusb-creator liveusb-creator mailing list] has [https://fedorahosted.org/pipermail/liveusb-creator/ archives] which may also be useful.


=== Partition isn't marked bootable! ===
=== livecd-iso-to-disk problems ===


If you get the following message, you need to mark the partition bootable.
==== Partition isn't marked bootable! ====
<pre>
$ su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk Fedora-Live-Desktop-x86_64-20-1.iso /dev/sdX"
Partition isn't marked bootable!
You can mark the partition as bootable with
    $ /sbin/parted /dev/sdX
    (parted) toggle N boot
    (parted) quit
Cleaning up to exit...
</pre>


To mark the partition bootable, run parted, and use the 'toggle X boot' command. For example:
If you get the message {{code|Partition isn't marked bootable!}}, you need to mark the partition bootable. To do this, run {{command|su -c 'parted /dev/sdX'}}, and use the {{code|toggle N boot}} command, where X is the appropriate letter and N is the partition number. For example:
<pre>
<pre>
$ parted /dev/sdX
$ parted /dev/sdb
GNU Parted 1.8.6
GNU Parted 1.8.6
Using /dev/sdX
Using /dev/sdb
Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands.
Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands.
(parted) print                                                             
(parted) print                                                             
Line 314: Line 230:
</pre>
</pre>


=== Partitions need a filesystem label! ===
==== Partitions need a filesystem label! ====


If you get the following message, you need to label the partition.
If you get the message {{code|Need to have a filesystem label or UUID for your USB device}}, you need to label the partition: {{command|su -c "dosfslabel /dev/sdX LIVE"}}
<pre>
$ su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk Fedora-Live-Desktop-x86_64-20-1.iso /dev/sdX"
Need to have a filesystem label or UUID for your USB device
Label can be set with /sbin/dosfslabel
Cleaning up to exit...
</pre>


To label the partition:
==== Partition has different physical/logical endings! ====
<pre>
su -c "dosfslabel /dev/sdX LIVE"
</pre>


=== Partition has different physical/logical endings! ===
If you get this message from fdisk, you may need to reformat the flash drive when writing the image, by passing {{code|--format}} when writing the stick.


If you get this message from fdisk, you may need to reformat the flash drive, as described earlier in this guide.
==== MBR appears to be blank! ====


=== MBR appears to be blank! ===
If your test boot reports a corrupted boot sector, or you get the message {{code|MBR appears to be blank.}}, you need to install or reset the master boot record (MBR), by passing {{code|--reset-mbr}} when writing the stick.


If your test boot reports a corrupted boot sector, or you get the following message, you need to install or reset the master boot record (MBR).
==== livecd-iso-to-disk on other Linux distributions ====
<pre>
$ su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk Fedora-Live-Desktop-x86_64-20-1.iso /dev/sdX"
MBR appears to be blank.
You can add an MBR to this device with
Cleaning up to exit...
</pre>


To install or reset MBR:
{{command|livecd-iso-to-disk}} is not meant to be run from a non-Fedora system. Even if it happens to run and write a stick apparently successfully from some other distribution, the stick may well fail to boot. Use of {{command|livecd-iso-to-disk}} on any distribution other than Fedora is unsupported and not expected to work: please use an alternative method, such as [[#fmw|Fedora Media Writer]].
$ su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk --reset-mbr Fedora-Live-Desktop-x86_64-20-1.iso /dev/sdX"


=== Issues using other Linux distributions ===
=== Ubuntu's ''usb-creator'' ===


Ubuntu and derivative Linux distributions have a usb-creator program similar to Live USB Creator. This ''does not work'' with Fedora ISO images, it silently rejects them. usb-creator requires the ISO to have a Debian layout, with a /.disk/info file and a casper directory. Do not attempt to use this utility to write a Fedora ISO image.
Ubuntu and derivative Linux distributions have a {{command|usb-creator}} program similar to Fedora Media Writer. This '''does not work''' with Fedora ISO images, it silently rejects them. usb-creator requires the ISO to have a Debian layout, with a {{filename|/.disk/info}} file and a casper directory. Do not attempt to use this utility to write a Fedora ISO image.
 
The livecd-iso-to-disk script is not meant to be run from a non-Fedora system. Even if it happens to run and write a stick apparently successfully from some other distribution, the stick may well fail to boot. Use of livecd-iso-to-disk on any distribution other than Fedora is unsupported and not expected to work: please use an alternative method, such as the [[#quickstarts|"direct write"]] methods described above.


== Testing a USB stick using qemu ==
== Testing a USB stick using qemu ==
Line 365: Line 263:
== Mounting a Live USB filesystem ==
== Mounting a Live USB filesystem ==


You can use the [https://git.fedorahosted.org/cgit/livecd/tree/tools/liveimage-mount ''liveimage-mount''] script in the {{package|livecd-tools}} package to mount an attached Live USB device or other LiveOS image, such as an ISO or Live CD.  This is convenient when you want to copy in or out some file from the LiveOS filesystem on a Live USB, or just examine the files in a Live ISO or Live CD.
You can use the [https://github.com/rhinstaller/livecd-tools/blob/master/tools/liveimage-mount ''liveimage-mount''] script in the {{package|livecd-tools}} package to mount an attached Live USB device or other LiveOS image, such as an ISO or Live CD.  This is convenient when you want to copy in or out some file from the LiveOS filesystem on a Live USB, or just examine the files in a Live ISO or Live CD.


== Kernel updates ==
== Kernel updates for ''livecd-iso-to-disk''-written images with a persistent overlay ==


If you have [[#limited overlay|sufficient overlay space]] to accommodate a kernel update on a Live USB installation, the kernel and initramfs will be installed to the /boot directory.  To put these into service they must be moved to the /syslinux directory of the installation partition.  This is accessible from the running Live USB filesystem at either the /mnt/live or /run/initramfs/live mount point. The new initramfs (such as initramfs-3.12.5-302.fc20.x86_64.img) and kernel (such as vmlinuz-3.12.5-302.fc20.x86_64) should be moved to replace the /run/initramfs/live/syslinux/initrd0.img and /run/initramfs/live/syslinux/vmlinuz0 files, respectively.
If you have [[#limited overlay|sufficient overlay space]] to accommodate a kernel update on a Live USB installation, the kernel and initramfs will be installed to the /boot directory.  To put these into service they must be moved to the /syslinux directory of the installation partition.  This is accessible from the running Live USB filesystem at the /run/initramfs/live mount point. The new initramfs (such as initramfs-4.9.13-200.fc25.x86_64.img) and kernel (such as vmlinuz-4.9.13-200.fc25.x86_64) should be moved to replace the /run/initramfs/live/syslinux/initrd.img and /run/initramfs/live/syslinux/vmlinuz files, respectively.
* '''Note''': ''[[dracut]]'' no longer includes the ''dmsquash-live'' module by default. Starting with Fedora 19, ''dracut'' defaults to the {{command|hostonly&#61;"yes"}} option, which precludes the ''dmsquash-live'' module. So, one can edit the dracut config file, as root, before updating the kernel (and after any update to the dracut package):
* '''Note''': ''[[dracut]]'' no longer includes the ''dmsquash-live'' module by default. Starting with Fedora 19, ''dracut'' defaults to the {{command|hostonly&#61;"yes"}} option, which precludes the ''dmsquash-live'' module. So, one can add a dracut config file, as root, before updating the kernel:
<pre>
<pre>
sed -i 's/^hostonly="yes"/hostonly="no"/' /usr/lib/dracut/dracut.conf.d/01-dist.conf
echo 'hostonly="no"
echo 'add_dracutmodules+=" dmsquash-live "
add_dracutmodules+=" dmsquash-live "' > /etc/dracut.conf.d/01-liveos.conf
compress="xz"' >> /usr/lib/dracut/dracut.conf.d/01-dist.conf
</pre>
</pre>


The following commands will move the new kernel and initramfs files and create symbolic links to them, in case one later wants to perform a full install of the image to a hard disk. 
The following commands will move the new kernel and initramfs files to the device's /syslinux directory:
<pre>
<pre>
bootpath=run/initramfs/live/syslinux
bootpath=run/initramfs/live/syslinux
bootpath=mnt/live/syslinux
new=4.9.13-200.fc25.x86_64
new=3.12.5-302.fc20.x86_64


cd /
cd /
mv -f boot/vmlinuz-$new ${bootpath}/vmlinuz0
mv -f boot/vmlinuz-$new ${bootpath}/vmlinuz
mv -f boot/initramfs-${new}.img ${bootpath}/initrd0.img
mv -f boot/initramfs-${new}.img ${bootpath}/initrd.img
</pre>
 
{{admon/note | Fedora Guide | The procedure documented in this guide is also detailed at http://docs.fedoraproject.org/readme-burning-isos/ . The Guide may have different content, and be more or less detailed. If you edit this page or find a problem with the Guide, please also file a bug against the guide to have its content updated.}}
 
==Multi Live Boot installations==
The ''livecd-iso-to-disk'' --multi option allows one to install more than one LiveOS image on a single device. Version 24.2 of {{package|livecd-tools}} will automatically configure the device boot loader to give a Multi Live Boot Menu for the device.


ln -fs -T ../${bootpath}/vmlinuz0 boot/vmlinuz-$new
<noinclude>
ln -fs -T ../${bootpath}/initrd0.img boot/initramfs-${new}.img
[[Category:LiveMedia]]
</pre>
</noinclude>

Revision as of 00:21, 8 March 2017

Mediawriter-icon.png

This page explains how to create and use Fedora USB media. You can write all Fedora ISO images to a USB stick, making this a convenient way on any USB-bootable computer to either install Fedora or try a 'live' Fedora environment without writing to the computer's hard disk. You will need a USB stick at least as large as the image you wish to write.

Quickstart: Using Fedora Media Writer

Fedora Media Writer screenshot

For most cases, the best tool to create a Fedora USB stick is the Fedora Media Writer utility, which was formerly known as LiveUSB Creator. It is available on Fedora, other Linux distributions using Flatpak, Windows and macOS.

Important.png
Destructive method
This method will destroy all data on the USB stick. If you need a non-destructive write method (to preserve existing data on your USB stick) and/or support for 'data persistence', you can use the livecd-iso-to-disk utility on Fedora.

Fedora Media Writer is graphical and easy to use. It can download recent Fedora images for you as well as writing them to the USB stick.

On Fedora, you can use a Fedora graphical software installation tool to install the Package-x-generic-16.pngmediawriter package, or use the command line:

su -c 'dnf install mediawriter'

On Windows and macOS, you can download the installer from the releases page. On other Linux distributions, if they support the Flatpak application distribution system, you can download a flatpak from the releases page.

To run the tool, look for Fedora Media Writer in the system menus. When you start Fedora Media Writer, the three dots in the bottom will be flashing while the tool checks for a new Fedora release.

To write the stick:

  1. Choose which Fedora flavor you want to install or try.
    On the title screen, you can choose Workstation, Server or your own .iso file. Other choices (including KDE, Cinnamon, Xfce and so on) are under the "..." button at the bottom of the list.
  2. Ensure your USB stick is plugged into the system.
  3. Click Create Live USB.
  4. Ensure the right stick is selected.
  5. Click Write to disk and wait for the write to complete.
  6. Once the stick has been written, shut the system down and boot it from the USB stick (see the Booting section).

After writing, your USB stick will have a changed partition layout and some systems may report it to be about 10MB large. To return your USB stick to its factory configuration, insert the drive again while Fedora Media Writer is running. The app provides you with an option to restore to the factory layout. This layout includes a single VFAT partition.

Booting from USB sticks

Set USB as first boot device. Your BIOS may be different.

Almost all modern PCs can boot from USB sticks (some very old ones may not be able to). However, precisely how you tell the system to boot from a USB stick varies substantially from system to system. First, just try this:

  1. Power off the computer.
  2. Plug the USB drive into a USB port.
  3. Remove all other portable media, such as CDs, DVDs, floppy disks or other USB sticks.
  4. Power on the computer.
  5. If the computer is configured to automatically boot from the USB drive, you will see a screen that says "Automatic boot in 10 seconds..." with a countdown (unless you do a native UEFI boot, where you will see a rather more minimal boot menu).

If the computer starts to boot off the hard drive as normal, you'll need to manually configure it to boot off the USB drive. Usually, that should work something like this:

  1. Wait for a safe point to reboot.
  2. As the machine starts to reboot, watch carefully for instructions on which key to press (usually a function key, Escape, Tab or Delete) to enter the boot device selection menu, "BIOS setup", "firmware", or "UEFI". Press and hold that key. If you miss the window of opportunity (often only a few seconds) then reboot and try again.
  3. Use the firmware ("BIOS") interface or the boot device menu to put your USB drive first in the boot sequence. It might be listed as a hard drive rather than a removable drive. Each hardware manufacturer has a slightly different method for doing so.
    Be careful! Your computer could become unbootable or lose functionality if you change any other settings. Though these settings can be reverted, you'll need to remember what you changed in order to do so.
  4. Save the changes, exit, and the computer should boot from the USB drive.

If your system has a UEFI firmware, it will usually allow you to boot the stick in UEFI native mode or BIOS compatibility mode. If you boot in UEFI native mode and perform a Fedora installation, you will get a UEFI native Fedora installation. If you boot in BIOS compatibility mode and perform a Fedora installation, you will get a BIOS compatibility mode Fedora installation. For more information on all this, see the UEFI page. USB sticks written from x86_64 images with Fedora Media Writer, GNOME Disk Utility, dd, other dd-style utilities, and livecd-iso-to-disk with --efi should be UEFI native bootable. Sticks written with other utilities may not be UEFI native bootable, and sticks written from i686 images will never be UEFI bootable.

Checking USB disk size / free space

As noted before, the disk must have a certain amount of storage space depending on the image you select. If you use a destructive method, the stick must be at least the size of the image; if you use a non-destructive method, it must have at least that much free space. Whichever operating system you are using, you can usually check this with a file manager, usually by right clicking and selecting Properties. Here is a screenshot of how this looks on GNOME:

Properties USB size.png

Identifying a stick by /dev name on Linux

Most of the alternative writing methods will require you to know the /dev name for your USB stick - e.g. /dev/sdc - when using them on Linux. You do not need to know this in order to use Fedora Media Writer. To find this out:

  1. Insert the USB stick into a USB port.
  2. Open a terminal and run dmesg.
  3. Near the end of the output, you will see something like:
[32656.573467] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdX] Attached SCSI removable disk

where sdX will be sdb, sdc, sdd, etc. Take note of this label as it is the name of the disk you will use. We'll call it sdX from now on. If you have connected more than one USB stick to the system, be careful that you identify the correct one - often you will see a manufacturer name or capacity in the output which you can use to make sure you identified the correct stick.

Alternative USB stick writing methods

As explained above, the recommended method for writing the stick in most cases is Fedora Media Writer. In this section, other tools which may be useful in specific circumstances are documented.

Using GNOME Disk Utility (Linux, graphical, destructive)

Important.png
Destructive method
This method will destroy all data on the USB stick. If you need a non-destructive write method (to preserve existing data on your USB stick) and/or support for 'data persistence', you can use the livecd-iso-to-disk utility on Fedora.

This method is for people running Linux (or another *nix) with GNOME, Nautilus and the GNOME Disk Utility installed. Particularly, if you are using a distribution other than Fedora which does not support Flatpak, this may be the easiest available method. A standard installation of Fedora, or a standard GNOME installation of many other distributions, should be able to use this method. On Fedora, ensure the packages Package-x-generic-16.pngnautilus and Package-x-generic-16.pnggnome-disk-utility are installed. Similar graphical direct-write tools may be available for other desktops, or you may use the command line "direct write" method.

  1. Download a Fedora image, choose a USB stick that does not contain any data you need, and connect it
  2. Run Nautilus (Files) - for instance, open the Overview by pressing the Start/Super key, and type Files, then hit enter
  3. Find the downloaded image, right-click on it, go to Open With, and click Disk Image Writer
  4. Double-check you're really, really sure you don't need any of the data on the USB stick!
  5. Select your USB stick as the Destination, and click Start Restoring...

Command line method: Using the livecd-iso-to-disk tool (Fedora only, non-graphical, both non-destructive and destructive methods available)

Important.png
Potentially destructive method
This method will destroy all data on the USB stick if the --format parameter is passed.

The livecd-iso-to-disk method is slightly less reliable than Fedora Media Writer and can be used reliably only from within Fedora: it does not work in Windows or OS X, and is not supported (and will usually fail) in non-Fedora distributions. However, it supports three advanced features which FMW does not include:

  1. You may use a non-destructive method to create the stick, meaning existing files on the stick will not be destroyed. This is less reliable than the destructive write methods, and should be used only if you have no stick you can afford to wipe.
  2. On live images, you can include a feature called a persistent overlay, which allows changes made to persist across reboots. You can perform updates just like a regular installation to your hard disk, except that kernel updates require manual intervention and overlay space may be insufficient. Without a persistent overlay, the stick will return to a fresh state each time it is booted.
  3. On live images, you can also have a separate area to store user account information and data such as documents and downloaded files, with optional encryption for security and peace of mind.

By combining these features, you can carry your computer with you in your pocket, booting it on nearly any system you find yourself using.

It is not a good idea to try and write a new Fedora release using the version of livecd-iso-to-disk in a much older Fedora release: it is best to only use a release a maximum of two versions older than the release you are trying to write.

Ensure the Package-x-generic-16.pnglivecd-tools package is installed: su -c 'dnf install livecd-tools'

Basic examples follow. Remember to identify your USB stick's device name first. In all cases, you can add the parameter --efi to (try to) render the stick bootable in native UEFI mode. Detailed usage information is available by running: livecd-iso-to-disk --help or man livecd-iso-to-disk.

To make an existing USB stick bootable as a Fedora image - without deleting any of the data on it - make sure that the USB drive is not mounted before executing the following, and give the root password when prompted:

su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk Fedora-Workstation-Live-x86_64-40-1.1.iso /dev/sdX"

In case it is not possible to boot from a disk created with the method shown above, before re-partitioning and re-formatting, often resetting the master boot record will enable booting:

su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk --reset-mbr Fedora-Workstation-Live-x86_64-40-1.1.iso /dev/sdX"
Warning.png
CAUTION:
Using the --format option in the following command will erase all data on the USB drive! Please read the instructions below carefully.

If necessary, you can have livecd-iso-to-disk re-partition and re-format the target stick:

su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk --format --reset-mbr Fedora-Workstation-Live-x86_64-40-1.1.iso /dev/sdX"

To include a persistent filesystem for /home, use the --home-size-mb parameter. For example:

su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk --home-size-mb 2048 Fedora-Workstation-Live-x86_64-40-1.1.iso /dev/sdX"

This will create a 2 GiB filesystem that will be mounted as /home each time the stick is booted, allowing you to preserve data in /home across boots.

To enable 'data persistence' support - so changes you make to the entire live environment will persist across boots - add the --overlay-size-mb parameter to add a persistent data storage area to the target stick. For example:

su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk --overlay-size-mb 2048 Fedora-Workstation-Live-x86_64-40-1.1.iso /dev/sdX"

where 2048 is the desired size (in megabytes) of the overlay. The livecd-iso-to-disk tool will not accept an overlay size value greater than 4095 for VFAT, but for ext[234] filesystems it is only limited by the available space.

Note.png
Limited Lifetime of Persistent Overlay
Due to the way it's currently implemented, every single change to this form of overlay (writes AND deletes) subtracts from its free space, so it will eventually be "used up" and your USB stick will no longer boot (see this dm-devel discussion and this page for emergency recovery). You can use dmsetup status live-rw to see how much space remains in the overlay: the output will contain something like snapshot 42296/204800, indicating that 42296 of 204800 512-byte sectors are allocated. Because of these limitations, it is advisable to use the system-level persistence sparingly, for configuration changes and important security updates only. Or, if you have sufficient disk space available, changes to the LiveOS root filesystem snapshot can be merged into a new copy of the root filesystem. See this page section for instructions.

You can combine --home-size-mb and --overlay-size-mb, in which case data written to /home will not exhaust the persistent overlay.

Command line "direct write" method (most operating systems, non-graphical, destructive)

Important.png
Destructive method
This method will destroy all data on the USB stick. If you need a non-destructive write method (to preserve existing data on your USB stick) and/or support for 'data persistence', you can use the livecd-iso-to-disk utility on Fedora.

This method direct writes the image to the USB stick much like Fedora Media Writer or GNOME Disk Utility, but uses a command line utility named dd. Like the other "direct write" methods, it will destroy all data on the stick and does not support any of the advanced features like data persistence, but it is a very reliable method. The dd tool is available on most Unix-like operating systems, including Linux distributions and OS X, and a Windows port is available. This may be your best method if you cannot use Fedora Media Writer or GNOME Disk Utility, or just if you prefer command line utilities and want a simple, quick way to write a stick.

  1. Identify the name of the USB drive partition. If using this method on Windows, with the port linked above, the dd --list command should provide you with the correct name.
  2. Unmount all mounted partition from that device. This is very important, otherwise the written image might get corrupted. You can umount all mounted partitions from the device with umount /dev/sdX*, where X is the appropriate letter, e.g. umount /dev/sdc*
  3. Write the ISO file to the device:
    su -c 'dd if=/path/to/image.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=8M status=progress oflag=direct'
  4. Wait until the command completes.
    If you see dd: invalid status flag: 'progress', your dd version doesn't support the status=progress option and you'll need to remove it (and you won't see writing progress).

Using UNetbootin (Windows, OS X and Linux, graphical, non-destructive)

Unetbootin screenshot
Warning.png
Reliability not assured
Following each release, Fedora support volunteers receive reports of problems with installation images created by UNetbootin. Using the most recent version of UNetbootin available has been known to improve results. UNetbootin may work in some cases but not others - for instance, it will likely create a stick that is bootable in BIOS mode, but not UEFI mode. Fedora cannot guarantee support for UNetbootin-written images.

While your results may vary, it is usually the case that the Fedora Media Writer, livecd-iso-to-disk, GNOME and dd methods give better results than UNetbootin. If you encounter problems with UNetbootin, please contact the UNetbootin developers, not the Fedora developers.

UNetbootin is a graphical, bootable USB image creator. Using it will allow you to preserve any data you have in the USB drive. If you have trouble booting, however, you may wish to try with a blank, cleanly FAT32-formatted drive.

If you are running a 64-bit Linux distribution, UNetbootin may fail to run until you install the 32-bit versions of quite a lot of system libraries. Fedora cannot help you with this: please direct feedback on this issue to the UNetbootin developers.

  1. Download the latest UNetbootin version from the official site and install it. On Linux, the download is an executable file: save it somewhere, change it to be executable (using chmod ugo+x filename or a file manager), and then run it.
  2. Launch UNetbootin. On Linux, you might have to type the root password.
  3. Click on Diskimage and search for the ISO file you downloaded.
  4. Select Type: USB drive and choose the correct device for your stick
  5. Click OK
Note.png
Drive not visible
If you do not see sdX listed, you might have to reformat the drive. You can do this from most file manager or disk utility tools, e.g. the GNOME disk utility ("Disks") on Fedora. The FAT32 format is most likely to result in a bootable stick. This will cause you to lose all data on the drive.

Creating a USB stick from a running live environment

If you are already running a live CD, DVD, or USB and want to convert that into a bootable USB stick, run the following command:

su -c "livecd-iso-to-disk /run/initramfs/livedev /dev/sdX"

See this section for mounting the root filesystem outside of a boot.

Troubleshooting

Fedora Media Writer problems

livecd-iso-to-disk problems

Partition isn't marked bootable!

If you get the message Partition isn't marked bootable!, you need to mark the partition bootable. To do this, run su -c 'parted /dev/sdX', and use the toggle N boot command, where X is the appropriate letter and N is the partition number. For example:

$ parted /dev/sdb
GNU Parted 1.8.6
Using /dev/sdb
Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands.
(parted) print                                                            
Model: Imation Flash Drive (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdX: 1062MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start   End     Size    Type     File system  Flags
 1      32.3kB  1062MB  1062MB  primary  fat16             

(parted) toggle 1 boot
(parted) print                                                    
Model: Imation Flash Drive (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdX: 1062MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start   End     Size    Type     File system  Flags
 1      32.3kB  1062MB  1062MB  primary  fat16        boot 

(parted) quit                                                             
Information: Don't forget to update /etc/fstab, if necessary.             

Partitions need a filesystem label!

If you get the message Need to have a filesystem label or UUID for your USB device, you need to label the partition: su -c "dosfslabel /dev/sdX LIVE"

Partition has different physical/logical endings!

If you get this message from fdisk, you may need to reformat the flash drive when writing the image, by passing --format when writing the stick.

MBR appears to be blank!

If your test boot reports a corrupted boot sector, or you get the message MBR appears to be blank., you need to install or reset the master boot record (MBR), by passing --reset-mbr when writing the stick.

livecd-iso-to-disk on other Linux distributions

livecd-iso-to-disk is not meant to be run from a non-Fedora system. Even if it happens to run and write a stick apparently successfully from some other distribution, the stick may well fail to boot. Use of livecd-iso-to-disk on any distribution other than Fedora is unsupported and not expected to work: please use an alternative method, such as Fedora Media Writer.

Ubuntu's usb-creator

Ubuntu and derivative Linux distributions have a usb-creator program similar to Fedora Media Writer. This does not work with Fedora ISO images, it silently rejects them. usb-creator requires the ISO to have a Debian layout, with a /.disk/info file and a casper directory. Do not attempt to use this utility to write a Fedora ISO image.

Testing a USB stick using qemu

You can test your stick using QEMU as shown in the screenshot below.

Screenshot qemu gtk3.png

For example, you could type the following commands:

su -c 'umount /dev/sdX1'
qemu -hda /dev/sdX -m 1024 -vga std

Mounting a Live USB filesystem

You can use the liveimage-mount script in the Package-x-generic-16.pnglivecd-tools package to mount an attached Live USB device or other LiveOS image, such as an ISO or Live CD. This is convenient when you want to copy in or out some file from the LiveOS filesystem on a Live USB, or just examine the files in a Live ISO or Live CD.

Kernel updates for livecd-iso-to-disk-written images with a persistent overlay

If you have sufficient overlay space to accommodate a kernel update on a Live USB installation, the kernel and initramfs will be installed to the /boot directory. To put these into service they must be moved to the /syslinux directory of the installation partition. This is accessible from the running Live USB filesystem at the /run/initramfs/live mount point. The new initramfs (such as initramfs-4.9.13-200.fc25.x86_64.img) and kernel (such as vmlinuz-4.9.13-200.fc25.x86_64) should be moved to replace the /run/initramfs/live/syslinux/initrd.img and /run/initramfs/live/syslinux/vmlinuz files, respectively.

  • Note: dracut no longer includes the dmsquash-live module by default. Starting with Fedora 19, dracut defaults to the hostonly="yes" option, which precludes the dmsquash-live module. So, one can add a dracut config file, as root, before updating the kernel:
echo 'hostonly="no"
add_dracutmodules+=" dmsquash-live "' > /etc/dracut.conf.d/01-liveos.conf

The following commands will move the new kernel and initramfs files to the device's /syslinux directory:

bootpath=run/initramfs/live/syslinux
new=4.9.13-200.fc25.x86_64

cd /
mv -f boot/vmlinuz-$new ${bootpath}/vmlinuz
mv -f boot/initramfs-${new}.img ${bootpath}/initrd.img
Note.png
Fedora Guide
The procedure documented in this guide is also detailed at http://docs.fedoraproject.org/readme-burning-isos/ . The Guide may have different content, and be more or less detailed. If you edit this page or find a problem with the Guide, please also file a bug against the guide to have its content updated.

Multi Live Boot installations

The livecd-iso-to-disk --multi option allows one to install more than one LiveOS image on a single device. Version 24.2 of Package-x-generic-16.pnglivecd-tools will automatically configure the device boot loader to give a Multi Live Boot Menu for the device.