OK simply put:
To make the USB drive bootable:
dd a hybrid iso to it directly onto it's root.
or
Use something like unetbootin that makes the job easier.
If you dd the iso image to the USB drive the drive doesn't ahve to be formatted at all.
If you use unetbootin, as far as I know, the UISB drive does have to be formatted but it can be left as VFAT or whatever you buy it with -- there is no need to format it with a Linux file system if you do not want to and/or know how.

To make your system boot from USB can be as simple as pressing a key like F2 on boot and selecting the USB drive by name (e.g. "Kingston Data Traveller"). Or, it can be as complex as going into BIOS and changing the hard disk drive order to put the device first but, there also, you can usually select the drive by name.

I sincerely don't want to appear argumentative but you are talking above me. I have never used gparted and know nothing about it. I just want to dump the ISO to the thumb drive and have it auto-start the installation process as CentOS does when placing a bootabe CD or DVD does.

there really is no "auto start " , not even on a windows machine ( unless you as the end user turn it back on , viruses are installed that way. )


put the install image on the usb

have the usb pluged in and reboot

hit " f2 " at the VERY VERY beginning of the boot process
this will bring up a dialog
use the down arrow to navigate to the usb drive
hit < enter >


or

set the machine to check for a usb and boot from THAT first
-- though booting from the cd/dvd drive is normally set as the first

Please read what I posted not what you think I posted.
I never mentioned using gparted in relation to unetbootin or to dd'ing an image do the USB stick.
Please read what I typed before trying to find a problem.
I'm out.

To both of you. I am not trying to be difficult but it seems that may not be a two way street.

@273 I never said anything about you referring to gparted. John VV did 4 times on page 1. I don't know what gparted even is. Because you recommended unetbootin I looked it up and plan on using it. Please read what I have written TO YOU before looking for a problem.

@John VV What? Auto-play is a features that has been available for years. Pop a CD in and the program begins to run. It's the same with CentOS installers. It loads up and offers you the choice of installations.

We seem to be having a misunderstanding and I don't know why. So I created a Centos 6.3 LiveCD from a ISO directly from the CentOS web site and recorded the boot-up process. Just as I have explained it auto-starts. At first it says at the bottom Boot From CD... but then presents the Linux info and straight to the Linux screen. The user then presses the space bar for the menu and selects INSTALL. I need the USB stick to do the same thing.

http://controlservers.net/linux-auto-boot.avi

http://controlservers.net/linux-auto-boot.mpg

So I've now shown you exactly what I am talking about and silence? Centos installation CD's DO auto-play at boot-up. Would you please tell me how to get it onto a USB stick as a boot device?

Let's not start trolling, ok.

Two choises as explained already, either dd the iso file or use unetbootin and select the image you have downloaded.
No need to argue about something as trivial as this.

/cheers

Here:

http://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/InstallFromUSBkey

Being the voice of reason can be helpful but became counter productive when you refereed to me as a troll. I speak in direct statements and its a shame that I had to prove that CentOS auto-plays. Maybe now we can move forward with an answer. You are late to the conversation and may be unaware that the CentOS version is impractical. It is my hope for a straight answer. I wish I knew more and didn't need to ask but at least someone else down the road will read this thread and benefit. I am working on older servers ( 3 years hardly seems old ) but they are power houses. Dual Opteron 275's, 2MB caches, 9550SXU RAID controllers with battery back-up and 128MB caches, plus 16GB of DDR400. The silly things have Teac CD-224e's. Now I'd just love a straight answer and I apologize for the animosity. I need to upgrade a bunch of servers and this isn't trivial to me. I am sorry that you feel otherwise.

Cheers, Mate. I'm surprised. You just showed up and decided that Krazy Bob is a troll. Just reading this thread it appears to me that two senior members decided they knew more than the rookie, and they do, but were wrong on this one. The OP just went out of his way to prove what he hs been saying. Centos CD's DO boot right into the installer. Either way why pick on the guy? He's trying to learn something. I usually just read here and couldn't remember my ogin. But why did you register just to call hoim a troll? Seriously. Everyone take a chill pill and see if we can help the guy out.

I gave you a straight answer.
I told you how to make a a bootable CentOS USB drive.
If your problem is getting the servers to boot from it then I understand and may be abke to help but it could equally be a lost cause.
I replied again because I was a bit harsh before, but I stand by my statemebt to read my post and try it then let me know why it didn't work or, at least, what happened when you tried it.

Actually 273, you replied to John's post not mine. But it's ok. I don't want to get all crazy and I'm appreciative of the advice. Let's just take a step back and hope that the next person looking for the same answer finds it here through the unintentional animosity. I don't like being a rookie but we've all got to start somewhere. You know how it can be on the forums. People cannot see one another eye to eye and misunderstandings happen. It's kewl on this end. Same towards John VV.

Thank you for your advice. I already d/l'd unetbootin for WinXP and Linux and I'll take your advice. I'll try it on a 4GB no-name drive first rather than the better PNY's.

Peace Out!

Chill..

I did not mean to be mean.
And i've been registered here since 2006, and your account was made this month, so..

Anyways have a nice weekend everyone.

/cheers

Let us know how it goes and ask for advice if you run into problems.

/cheers