Create Bootable Media

Learn how to create bootable installation media for Debian 13 using USB drives or DVDs.

🎯 Choose Your Method

Method	Difficulty	Speed	Capacity
USB Drive	⭐ Easy	⚡ Fast	8GB+
DVD	⭐ Easy	🐌 Slow	4.7GB
Blu-ray	⭐⭐ Medium	🐌 Slow	25GB+

💾 USB Drive Method (Recommended)

Requirements

📋 What You Need

USB Drive: 8GB or larger
Computer: Windows, macOS, or Linux
ISO File: Downloaded Debian 13 image
USB Tool: Balena Etcher, Rufus, or dd command

Tools for Different Operating Systems

Windows Users

Rufus (Recommended)

bash

# Download from: https://rufus.ie/
1. Insert USB drive
2. Select Debian ISO file
3. Choose GPT partition scheme
4. Select UEFI target system
5. Click START

Balena Etcher

bash

# Download from: https://www.balena.io/etcher/
1. Select ISO image
2. Select USB target
3. Click Flash!

macOS Users

Balena Etcher (GUI)

bash

# Download from: https://www.balena.io/etcher/
# Same steps as Windows

dd Command (Terminal)

bash

# Find USB device
diskutil list

# Unmount USB
diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX

# Write ISO to USB
sudo dd if=debian-13.0.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso of=/dev/rdiskX bs=1M

# Eject safely
diskutil eject /dev/diskX

Linux Users

GNOME Disks (GUI)

bash

# Install if needed
sudo apt install gnome-disk-utility

# Steps:
1. Open Disks application
2. Select USB drive
3. Click hamburger menu → Restore Disk Image
4. Select Debian ISO
5. Click Start Restoring

dd Command (Terminal)

bash

# Find USB device
lsblk
# or
sudo fdisk -l

# Unmount if mounted
sudo umount /dev/sdX*

# Write ISO to USB
sudo dd if=debian-13.0.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=1M status=progress

# Sync filesystem
sync

Step-by-Step USB Creation

Using Balena Etcher (Cross-platform)

Download Etcher
- Visit: https://www.balena.io/etcher/
- Download for your operating system
- Install and run

Prepare USB Drive

bash

# Insert USB drive (8GB+ recommended)
# Backup any important data (will be erased!)

Flash Process

bash

Step 1: Click "Flash from file"
Step 2: Select your Debian ISO
Step 3: Click "Select target" 
Step 4: Choose your USB drive
Step 5: Click "Flash!"

Verification

bash

# Etcher automatically verifies the write
# Wait for "Flash Complete!" message

💿 DVD/Blu-ray Method

DVD Creation

Windows

bash

# Using Windows built-in burning
1. Right-click ISO file
2. Select "Burn disc image"
3. Choose DVD drive
4. Click "Burn"

# Using ImgBurn (Free)
1. Download ImgBurn
2. Choose "Write image file to disc"
3. Select ISO and DVD drive
4. Click Write button

macOS

bash

# Using Disk Utility
1. Open Disk Utility
2. Insert blank DVD
3. Click "Burn" in toolbar
4. Select Debian ISO
5. Click "Burn"

# Using Terminal
hdiutil burn debian-13.0.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso

Linux

bash

# Using Brasero (GUI)
sudo apt install brasero
# Open Brasero → Burn Image → Select ISO

# Using command line
sudo apt install wodim
sudo wodim -v -dao debian-13.0.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso

🔍 Verification and Testing

Verify Boot Media

bash

# Check USB contents (should see these folders)
- boot/
- dists/
- pool/
- EFI/

# Test boot without installing
1. Insert USB/DVD
2. Restart computer
3. Enter BIOS/UEFI
4. Set USB/DVD as first boot device
5. Save and restart

Boot Testing

⚠️ Important Notes

Backup Data: Save important files before testing
BIOS Settings: May need to disable Secure Boot
Boot Order: USB/DVD should be first in boot sequence

Common Boot Issues

🚫 USB Not Detected

bash

# Solutions:
1. Try different USB ports (USB 2.0 preferred)
2. Recreate bootable USB with different tool
3. Check BIOS settings:
   - Enable Legacy USB Support
   - Disable Fast Boot
   - Enable USB Boot

🖥️ Black Screen on Boot

bash

# Try these boot parameters:
1. Press 'e' at GRUB menu
2. Add to linux line:
   nomodeset acpi=off noapic
3. Press Ctrl+X to boot

# Or select "Safe Graphics Mode" if available

🛠️ Advanced Options

Multiple ISOs on One USB

Ventoy (Recommended)

bash

# Download from: https://www.ventoy.net/
1. Install Ventoy on USB drive
2. Copy multiple ISO files to USB
3. Boot and select which ISO to use

YUMI (Windows)

bash

# Download from: https://www.pendrivelinux.com/yumi/
# Allows multiple distributions on one USB

Creating USB from Another Linux System

bash

# Using cp command (simple)
sudo cp debian-13.0.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso /dev/sdX

# Using cat command
cat debian-13.0.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso | sudo dd of=/dev/sdX bs=1M

# Using pv (with progress bar)
sudo apt install pv
pv debian-13.0.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso | sudo dd of=/dev/sdX bs=1M

Hybrid ISO Creation

bash

# Make ISO hybrid (works with both CD and USB)
sudo apt install syslinux-utils
isohybrid debian-13.0.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso

📱 Mobile Device Methods

Android Devices

bash

# Apps available:
- EtchDroid (Free, open source)
- ISO 2 USB (Premium features)

# Requirements:
- USB OTG cable
- File manager with root access

iOS Devices

bash

# Limited options due to iOS restrictions
# Consider using:
- iSH Shell (for advanced users)
- Lightning to USB adapter

🔧 Troubleshooting

USB Creation Fails

❌ Common Issues

bash

# Problem: "Access denied" or permission errors
Solution: Run tool as administrator/root

# Problem: USB appears corrupted
Solution: 
1. Format USB completely
2. Use different USB port
3. Try different creation tool

# Problem: ISO file corrupted
Solution:
1. Verify ISO checksum
2. Re-download from different mirror
3. Check disk space during download

Boot Media Not Working

🔄 Boot Troubleshooting

bash

# Check BIOS/UEFI Settings:
- Boot Mode: UEFI (recommended) or Legacy
- Secure Boot: Disabled
- Fast Boot: Disabled  
- USB Boot: Enabled

# Hardware Issues:
- Try different USB ports
- Test USB drive on another computer
- Use different USB drive
- Check USB drive health

Speed Optimization

bash

# For faster USB creation:
1. Use USB 3.0 drives and ports
2. Close other applications
3. Use tools with multi-threading support
4. Disable antivirus temporarily

# For faster boot:
1. Use USB 3.0 ports
2. Enable UEFI mode
3. Disable unnecessary BIOS options
4. Use SSD-based USB drives

📊 Performance Comparison

Tool	Speed	Verification	GUI	CLI	Multi-OS
Balena Etcher	⭐⭐⭐	✅ Yes	✅	❌	✅
Rufus	⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅ Yes	✅	❌	❌ Win only
dd command	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	❌ Manual	❌	✅	✅ Unix
Ventoy	⭐⭐⭐	✅ Yes	✅	✅	✅

🎯 Quick Start Checklist

Before proceeding to installation:

[ ] Downloaded correct Debian 13 ISO
[ ] Verified ISO checksum
[ ] Created bootable USB/DVD
[ ] Tested boot media
[ ] Configured BIOS settings
[ ] Backed up important data

📚 Next Steps

Test Boot: Verify your media boots correctly
BIOS Configuration: Configure boot settings
Installation: Begin Debian installation
Troubleshooting: Solve installation issues

Boot media ready? Configure BIOS settings →

Create Bootable Media ​

🎯 Choose Your Method ​

💾 USB Drive Method (Recommended) ​

Requirements ​

Tools for Different Operating Systems ​

Windows Users ​

macOS Users ​

Linux Users ​

Step-by-Step USB Creation ​

Using Balena Etcher (Cross-platform) ​

💿 DVD/Blu-ray Method ​

DVD Creation ​

Windows ​

macOS ​

Linux ​

🔍 Verification and Testing ​

Verify Boot Media ​

Boot Testing ​

Common Boot Issues ​

🛠️ Advanced Options ​

Multiple ISOs on One USB ​

Creating USB from Another Linux System ​

Hybrid ISO Creation ​

📱 Mobile Device Methods ​

Android Devices ​

iOS Devices ​

🔧 Troubleshooting ​

USB Creation Fails ​

Boot Media Not Working ​

Speed Optimization ​

📊 Performance Comparison ​

🎯 Quick Start Checklist ​

📚 Next Steps ​

Create Bootable Media

🎯 Choose Your Method

💾 USB Drive Method (Recommended)

Requirements

Tools for Different Operating Systems

Windows Users

macOS Users

Linux Users

Step-by-Step USB Creation

Using Balena Etcher (Cross-platform)

💿 DVD/Blu-ray Method

DVD Creation

Windows

macOS

Linux

🔍 Verification and Testing

Verify Boot Media

Boot Testing

Common Boot Issues

🛠️ Advanced Options

Multiple ISOs on One USB

Creating USB from Another Linux System

Hybrid ISO Creation

📱 Mobile Device Methods

Android Devices

iOS Devices

🔧 Troubleshooting

USB Creation Fails

Boot Media Not Working

Speed Optimization

📊 Performance Comparison

🎯 Quick Start Checklist

📚 Next Steps