[RESOLVED] Bootable USB

[buf]

I have just looked at this and can't decide if this is doable or not. Anyone used this free software? http://www.rmprepusb.com/. As always, TIA.

[fink]

In theory it's doable if your BIOS supports booting from the USB drive. However mine does and although I've never tried this specific method every other one I've tried just doesn't work and I know a few others who have the same problem.. whereas for others the USB boot option does work.

There's really no harm in trying though since if it doesn't it hasn't cost you any money and the drive can be easily reformatted and reused.

Worth noting is that the Hiren's CD they refer to no longer contains illegal software as of over a year ago so that option is still available to try legally if you use the most recent version(s).

[SuperSparks]

I always keep an old 2GB USB drive with the latest version of Ubuntu on it. It can work wonders for fixing broken Windows installations, as Ubuntu can happily read and write to NTFS drives.

Unetbootin will create a bootable USB drive, and you can use many recent Linux distros if you prefer something other than Ubuntu:

http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

[Midknyte]

Never heard of rmprepusb, but I'll second the Unetbootin.

Just saw this article, but haven't tried XBOOT yet.
http://lifehacker.com/5716173/xboot-...able-usb-drive

[SuperSparks]

That looks like a good one MK

Here's one that I've recently heard good things about, it's like Unetbootin, but with a few useful additions. I haven't tried it yet:

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/univers...easy-as-1-2-3/

[Train]

Pendrive worked OK for me.
Had to knock out a special USB stci for something.

[fink]

Unetbootin is a nice little utility.. I used it to create a UBUNTU live install on a spare stick. Unfortunately, like every other way I've tried to create a bootable usb drive, it doesn't boot LOL.

[buf]

These are interesting replies and that is just one of the reasons I keep coming to our board. Am gonna wait for any addition replies. I have looked at my BIOS in the past could not readily tell if my motherboard allows such booting or not.

[Midknyte]

I have looked at my BIOS in the past could not readily tell if my motherboard allows such booting or not.

Which board are you talking about? You would see an option like USB-HDD or something similar in the bios. If it's an old board, then it probably only has floppy, CD, and HD.

[buf]

MBoard in in my HP Compaq Presario Q5210f and it is MN268-LA(Narra5)

[Train]

Does your Boot menu settings match the one here?
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport...D=c02028457#A4

If yes, then no, you will not be able to boot to any USB device.

[SuperSparks]

Unetbootin is a nice little utility.. I used it to create a UBUNTU live install on a spare stick. Unfortunately, like every other way I've tried to create a bootable usb drive, it doesn't boot LOL.

I've never had an issue with a Unetbootin stick on any machine built since 2007 or so, that I've built, bought, or worked on. Machines older than that, I've found to be very hit and miss (mainly miss).

[buf]

You got the nail on the head Train and I have struck out. Oh well, nothing ventured nothing gained.Guess I don't need a bootable thumb drive
Thanks for the other replies.