Bootable Ubuntu USB drive with OS X

[Haole]

O.k...

Sorry if this sounds stupid because that's how I feel.

I'm trying to create a bootable Ubuntu USB stick on a Macbook Pro.  I'm using a brand new 8GB Transcend USB drive that is currently formatted to FAT32.  I've tried formatting it to Mac OS Extended before going through the procedure but get the same results which is nothing.

I have downloaded the Ubuntu Desktop and have converted it to a .dmg file through Terminal.

I have followed the instructions on the Ubuntu site as to how to create a bootable USB drive in OS X and the commands seemed to have run alright (although they don't mention having to type one's system password which appeared to be necessary to begin the "installation").  I end-up with one partition with a file of 789MB on it, the same as the .dmg file on my hard drive. 

When I restart and hold the Option key all I get is the option to boot to my laptop's hard drive.  I have gone through Ubuntu's installation instructions a number of times with no results.

I cannot read the drive in Finder after the "installation" (get an error message about the drive not being readable or something to that effect) but the drive does show-up when I erase/format it again.

Can anyone clue this dummy into what he's doing wrong please?

Any help is much appreciated, I've spent hours on this now and gotten absolutely nowhere.

Cheers!

[bruj0]

I tried for a while to get this working the general consensus was though give up and use virtual box / parallels / vmware

[Haole]

OMFG...

Thanks a lot for the reply!

I find it utterly asinine that this procedure is referred to in security tutorials and outlined on Ubuntu's site yet it doesn't work.

**** Perhaps the stickied security tutorial above should be updated to reflect this so more idiots like me wanting to learn about Bitcoin usage don't spend hours pointlessly trying to conjure-up some magical bootable USB drive? ****

It's apparent to me that Bitcoin will continue to be the somewhat exclusive "money" of "geeks" and the computer savvy until it's simplified to the point that one doesn't have to be a software engineer or computer programmer to use it securely. 

I have no idea what vmware or virtual box is and after spending hours on this bootable USB drive fiasco I'm not about to waste more time on it.

Thanks again for your reply bruj0 , sincerely!

"Un-fucking-believable" - Gordon Ramsay



 

[bruj0]

I found the mac gui miner works the easiset

  I with i could remember where i got it from I think it might have been the 50btc pool website anyway its up and running on this MBP as we speak

[doctortime]

I use rEFit to boot into Linux and an Ubuntu USB on my Mac. I don't recall it being terribly difficult to install.

[Kazimir]

Is this article on ubuntu.com of any help?

How to create a bootable USB stick on OS X

[Haole]

@doctortime:  Thanks a lot for the suggestion but as someone who's not computer savvy, I've sworn-off all the Ubuntu bootable USB stick, multiple installations of software I don't understand, command line, auxilliary encryption malarkey, etc.  If someone wants to hack my personal network, install a keylogger on my machine or in any way go to the trouble of stealing a bitcoin or two from me then frankly they can have it.  If all this is necessary to be able to securely and easily retain and transact in bitcoin then it sure as hell isn't for me at this time.  Thanks again.

@Kazimir:  These are the exact instructions I followed numerous times and once again, it does not work through no fault of my own.  Thank-you though for the suggestion.

[firefop]

@doctortime:  Thanks a lot for the suggestion but as someone who's not computer savvy, I've sworn-off all the Ubuntu bootable USB stick, multiple installations of software I don't understand, command line, auxilliary encryption malarkey, etc.  If someone wants to hack my personal network, install a keylogger on my machine or in any way go to the trouble of stealing a bitcoin or two from me then frankly they can have it.  If all this is necessary to be able to securely and easily retain and transact in bitcoin then it sure as hell isn't for me at this time.  Thanks again.

@Kazimir:  These are the exact instructions I followed numerous times and once again, it does not work through no fault of my own.  Thank-you though for the suggestion.

It does work... that is... on some macs. The issue with apple is they really don't have any idea about how to design a computer.

A few things to consider: if you've got those wireless keyboards that run on bluetooth - yah you aren't going to be able to actually get the mac to know you're holding that boot menu key down until it's too late. if you're plugging your flash drive into a USB port that isn't directly on the mac (like on a keyboard or hub) then yah, that isn't going to work either because mac isn't able to discover deeper than one device before it's booted.

If you're on a macbook - you're going to need the have the mac plugged into an external power source before any bootkey will work, if it's not on power the mac waits to turn the keyboard on until you're at the desktop.

Those are about the only things I can think of that might affect your ability to boot to a usb stick.

GoodLuck

[Haole]

It does work... that is... on some macs. The issue with apple is they really don't have any idea about how to design a computer.

Yeah, whatever you say... Now I'm supposed to take anything else you say seriously?

A few things to consider: if you've got those wireless keyboards that run on bluetooth - yah you aren't going to be able to actually get the mac to know you're holding that boot menu key down until it's too late. if you're plugging your flash drive into a USB port that isn't directly on the mac (like on a keyboard or hub) then yah, that isn't going to work either because mac isn't able to discover deeper than one device before it's booted.

No wireless keyboard on bluetooth.  USB stick plugged directly into the side of the laptop.

If you're on a macbook - you're going to need the have the mac plugged into an external power source before any bootkey will work, if it's not on power the mac waits to turn the keyboard on until you're at the desktop.

Plugged into the external power adapter continually throughout hours of failure attempting a procedure that obviously does not work and I'm not the only one who's been SOL trying by far apparently. 

Those are about the only things I can think of that might affect your ability to boot to a usb stick.

Well thanks for playing then...

[Phraust]

if you've got those wireless keyboards that run on bluetooth - yah you aren't going to be able to actually get the mac to know you're holding that boot menu key down until it's too late.

I use a bluetooth keyboard on my mac mini, and the option key allows me to choose boot devices.  Haven't tried it from my MacBook yet, but I'll give it a shot in a few minutes.

As to the USB stuff, I don't know, cause I just plug em in straight to the back.

The rEFit option was the direction I was going to use, I was considering a linux install just a day or two ago, but when i really thought about it, decided I didn't need to go through the hassle.  I already have a bootcamp install of windows 7 (just in case, for when the asics from BFL drop), as well as a Paralells VM of both Windows 7 and Ubuntu 12 on my macmini.  With archlinux running on my dockstar, I figured adding linux again to my macbook was just overkill.

Maybe I'll try it out, just for the practice.

**EDIT**

This was the HowTo I was trying.

[Rudd-O]

The Ubuntu bootable USB drive is not to be made by either:

- Formatting your stick with FAT
- Converting it to a DMG

What you have to do is either:

- Create a live USB boot drive using another computer (every time you reboot this Ubuntu, all will be lost)
- Install Ubuntu to the USB stick, with the bootloader saved to the USB stick (changes you make to this Ubuntu will persist)

After having done that, you should be good.

[Crookid]

why not use a different mediem source?

[dontgoforless]

O.k...

Sorry if this sounds stupid because that's how I feel.

I'm trying to create a bootable Ubuntu USB stick on a Macbook Pro.  I'm using a brand new 8GB Transcend USB drive that is currently formatted to FAT32.  I've tried formatting it to Mac OS Extended before going through the procedure but get the same results which is nothing.

I have downloaded the Ubuntu Desktop and have converted it to a .dmg file through Terminal.

I have followed the instructions on the Ubuntu site as to how to create a bootable USB drive in OS X and the commands seemed to have run alright (although they don't mention having to type one's system password which appeared to be necessary to begin the "installation").  I end-up with one partition with a file of 789MB on it, the same as the .dmg file on my hard drive. 

When I restart and hold the Option key all I get is the option to boot to my laptop's hard drive.  I have gone through Ubuntu's installation instructions a number of times with no results.

I cannot read the drive in Finder after the "installation" (get an error message about the drive not being readable or something to that effect) but the drive does show-up when I erase/format it again.

Can anyone clue this dummy into what he's doing wrong please?



Any help is much appreciated, I've spent hours on this now and gotten absolutely nowhere.

Cheers!

I had lots of errors and i finally gave up and bought ready to go USB from smart coin bank. It works perfect. My time is worth more than trying to fix things.