bootable USB flash
 

I need to make a bootable USB stick. Please somebody tell me:
1) How to format it with ext3
2) How to make a master boot record
3) How to create a files system
4) How to put syslinux, syslinux.cfg and a real kernel on the stick

Thnk you in advance.

The easiest methods are to use unetbootin or pendrivelinux. Google them and go to the site. You may have usb creator software on whatever distribution of Linux you already have.

There are basically two ways to make a flash drive. One is to use native linux tools such as what you want. Most newer distros have all the tools and they also usually have a gui made to do what you want. There is basically no difference between a usb flash and a hard drive to all the tools are the same. Consider using a distro that makes a flash drive install from the live cd maybe.

The other way is to use the flash with how to's shown at pendrivelinux.com. They in most pages have a way to take an ISO and simply make a flash drive either with or without persistence. I think one is the suse how to that is a different way.

Not all usb flash drives can be made to be bootable too. I have had to use HP tools on a few but all of mine have ended up working.