current iso not burned to usb disk not booting.

mrapathy · 12-08-2025, 08:42 PM

got alien bobs current iso.

now when I send image of slackware 64 15.0 it works. 2 different debian dd or cp to drive and boot and work.

Do I need to do something more than write the current iso to usb drive?

frankbell · 12-08-2025, 08:49 PM

If I understand the question correctly, yes, you need to do more than just copy the *.iso to the USB drive.

You might want to take a look at Rufus. I haven't used it myself, but I've heard favorable things about it.

mrapathy · 12-08-2025, 09:44 PM

I used dd and tried cp to /dev/sdX

I just wrote a slackware 64 15 iso and it booted and was detected by bios and install is running now. Whats with the current iso's?

chrisretusn · 12-08-2025, 11:43 PM

Guessing you are using the ISO found here: https://slackware.nl/slackware-live/...-current-live/

Found on this page: https://download.liveslak.org/latest/. The "Documentation" link with take you here: https://docs.slackware.com/slackware:liveslak. Scroll down until you find this section "Transfering ISO content to USB stick"

mrapathy · 12-09-2025, 12:20 PM

Not using live iso. Appreciate the replies.

michaelk · 12-09-2025, 12:53 PM

In order for the ISO file to boot from USB it must be a hybrid file. The file command output should include DOS/MBR boot sector which indicates a hybrid fill and in addition the fdisk command should also show a MBR. I verified the current mini install ISO is a hybrid but did not verify the DVD install file. Which install ISO file are you using?

Daedra · 12-09-2025, 12:58 PM

That is odd. Try grabbing the current iso from Slackware UK located here. Then download the program caligula from here. Then image the iso to your USB drive like this

Code:

./caligula-x86_64-linux burn slackware64-current-install-dvd.iso

Caligula is basically a frontend to dd, but it will take care of the little special flags you might need and are not aware of.

mrapathy · 12-09-2025, 02:14 PM

Im using alien bob's iso from us mirror.

I recently downloaded slackware 15 iso and wrote it to usb /dev/sdc no problem. it boots and installs fine.

michaelk · 12-09-2025, 02:35 PM

What exact file from which US mirror?

mrapathy · 12-09-2025, 02:56 PM

https://us.slackware.nl/slackware/sl...4-current-iso/

larger iso image for what I guess is full install. downloading mini install to see if I have better luck.

net install or mini iso was not bootable and failed to showup in system efi boot menu pressing F12 for my laptop. so far just slackware 15 install iso work for me.

mini install no go. just the slackware 15 iso works right for me.

rkelsen · 12-09-2025, 05:34 PM

You should try Ventoy. It's free. https://ventoy.net/en/index.html

It'll allow you to boot iso files from a USB stick. You just copy them onto the stick, and it presents you with a list of iso files at boot. You can select which one you want to boot.

I've found it to be quite useful.

colorpurple21859 · 12-10-2025, 09:18 AM

Is the boot mode legacy or uefi?

mrapathy · 12-10-2025, 04:57 PM

jloco · 12-10-2025, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrapathy

https://us.slackware.nl/slackware/sl...4-current-iso/

larger iso image for what I guess is full install. downloading mini install to see if I have better luck.

net install or mini iso was not bootable and failed to showup in system efi boot menu pressing F12 for my laptop. so far just slackware 15 install iso work for me.

mini install no go. just the slackware 15 iso works right for me.

I have this same issue on my Apple hardware. 15.0 ISO boots/installs, but current ISO does not. However, the live ISOs do boot and install, so I've resorted to using them, even if I'm not a fan of installing a live system. Or I just boot another partition and install the pkgs with the --root flag to my desired partition.

What I don't know is what changed this from functioning in current, but the ISOs appear to be made the same, yet do not operate the same.

henca · 12-11-2025, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jloco

What I don't know is what changed this from functioning in current, but the ISOs appear to be made the same, yet do not operate the same.

Comparing

Code:

xorriso -as mkisofs \
  -iso-level 3 \
  -full-iso9660-filenames \
  -R -J -A "Slackware Install" \
  -hide-rr-moved \
  -v -d -N \
  -eltorito-boot isolinux/isolinux.bin \
  -eltorito-catalog isolinux/boot.cat \
  -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table \
  -isohybrid-mbr /usr/share/syslinux/isohdpfx.bin \
  -eltorito-alt-boot \
  -e isolinux/efiboot.img \
  -no-emul-boot -isohybrid-gpt-basdat \
  -m 'source/' \
  -volid "SlackDVD" \
  -output /tmp/slackware-dvd.iso \
  .

http://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackwa...nux/README.TXT

with

Code:

xorriso -as mkisofs \
  -iso-level 3 \
  -full-iso9660-filenames \
  -R -J -A "Slackware Install" \
  -hide-rr-moved \
  -v -d -N \
  -eltorito-boot isolinux/isolinux.bin \
  -eltorito-catalog isolinux/boot.cat \
  -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table \
  -isohybrid-mbr /usr/share/syslinux/isohdpfx.bin \
  -no-emul-boot -isohybrid-gpt-basdat \
  -m 'source/' \
  -volid "SlackDVD" \
  -output /tmp/slackware-dvd.iso \
  .

from
http://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackwa...nux/README.TXT

It seems as if current isos are not made like 15.0 isos and that 15.0 isos had some extra parameters regarding booting.

regards Henrik