(Chimera) Impossible to boot from a linux live usb

[Joyfult]

Hi everybody,

I created an linux live usb (fedora 18) using unetbootin on my mountain lion. The problem is that when I try to boot from it, I can't. When the laptop boot, I press F9 to choose from where it have to boot and I select the USB, but chimera starts normally like is booting from the hard disk. How can I solve the problem?

Thanks in advance!

 

[RehabMan]

Hi everybody,

I created an linux live usb (fedora 18) using unetbootin on my mountain lion. The problem is that when I try to boot from it, I can't. When the laptop boot, I press F9 to choose from where it have to boot and I select the USB, but chimera starts normally like is booting from the hard disk. How can I solve the problem?

Thanks in advance!

What kind of USB stick? You might need to try a different one. And make sure it is in a USB2 port.

 

[Joyfult]

What kind of USB stick? You might need to try a different one. And make sure it is in a USB2 port.

RM, is a 2GB USB stick with no brand (birthday present). I use it to try new linux live distros. In the past, I had no problem using it (I always created it on windows).
I tried all the USB2 ports and the USB3 port with no results.

Thanks!

 

[Joyfult]

Check with fdisk whether the partition on the usb stick that contains linux is flagged as active. If not, set it so.

Thank you. Using fdisk I solved my problem. Now it boot from the USB but it stack at the initial fedora 18 logo. I think is an unetbootin problem (maybe is too old program). It exist any other program (newer) that I can use instead of unetbootin on mountain lion?

Thanks!

 

[Joyfult]

Not that I'm aware of, unfortunately. Windows has excellent LinuxLive USB Creator (LiLi) and Universal USB Installer, you might want to use a Windows-powered machine to create an USB stick or set up a Virtualbox-based environment with Windows and do so there. That would be the most fail proof method.
There is a way to copy contents of an ISO to the usb stick with dd, not sure whether grub2 (the bootloader) will be working after that though.

Thank you for your help. One more question: Please, if you can, explain me the differences between debian, ubuntu and mint.. Basically are the same, right?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Joyfult]

The most easy way to describe the connection between them would be this:
Debian -> Ubuntu -> Mint
Debian was historically the first one. Ubuntu was build upon Debian (and uses lots of its features, .deb packaging system for example). Mint is a "fork" of Ubuntu - Ubuntu moved into their new Unity desktop interface while Mint developed its own Mate (based on GNOME 2) and Cinnamon (based on GNOME 3) desktop environments.
Keeping it short: each system is targeted towards different groups of users. While Debian keeps to its roots and lets users have total control over their system (netinstall is an *amazing* way to install the system without any unnecessary crap), Ubuntu and Mints are focusing more on desktop usability, ease of use and maximum hardware compatibility (out-of-the-box, anything is doable in Debian as well).
If you are beginning your journey with Linux, I highly recommend to try Ubuntu first. If you find its Unity desktop environment difficult to use and too "revolutional", try Mint.

Thank you for the easy to understand explication. I started to use mint 14 cinnamon and maybe is the emotion of the new OS, but I noticed that is very responsive and smooth, maybe more than os x too. Is an almost perfect alternative to os x.

Thanks again to introduce me in the linux (mint) world!