Unetbootin for Mac? (makes a USB bootable)

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Level 1

8 points

Unetbootin for Mac? (makes a USB bootable)

Hi

Is there something similar to Unetbootin for Macs? Unetbootin allows one to download, say a version of Linux, and then make it bootable on a USB stick. There's a Windows and Linux version, but I wonder if there's a compatible app made for Mac? Thanks

http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Sep 30, 2008 9:54 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Sep 30, 2008 10:21 AM in response to Madwida

It's not required. You can install OS X directly onto a USB flash drive. You will need one that is at least 8 GBs for a basic install (requires about 6.9 GBs. A formatted 8 GB flash drive provides 7.45 GBs of formatted storage.) You will need to partition the device using GUID if it's used to boot an Intel Mac or APM for a PPC Mac. It should be formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled) for either hardware.

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Answer 2

Madwida Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 30, 2008 10:45 AM in response to Kappy

Hi

Thanks for the quick reply. But what I want to do is download a version or two of Linux (Fedora, Zenwalk) and then out them on a USB that I can make bootable, like one can do with Unetbootin. I don't want to put OS X on a flash drive.

Thanks for any more ideas

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Answer 3

Sep 30, 2008 10:53 AM in response to Madwida

there is a program that will let you do that, although regretably i got rid of it and no longer have the link

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Answer 4

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Sep 30, 2008 10:54 AM in response to Madwida

Then why are you posting this question on the Apple Discussions? Go to the forums for the distros you want to install to find out if and how you install them on flash drives. I'm afraid you're in the wrong place. Support here is only for OS X and other Apple products - not Linux.

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Answer 5

Madwida Author

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8 points

Sep 30, 2008 10:58 AM in response to Kappy

I am posting here b/c I use a Mac (and Linux) and want to find a similar program to Unetbootin--which is only available for Windows and Linux. I can of course post this on a Linux forum, but thought I would check here for a Mac app.

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Answer 6

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Sep 30, 2008 1:07 PM in response to Madwida

I'm not sure why you would think that a LInux program would be found here just because you use a Mac. Linux runs on different hardware of which the Mac is just one. The software you require is found at the sites that support the particular Linux distros, not this site. Many Linux sites have their own active forums to provide you with help. That's where you need to go.

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Answer 7

Madwida Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 30, 2008 1:40 PM in response to Kappy

Boy. All I wanted was some advice on a Mac app that would allow me to download and then store on a bootable USB drive a Linux distro. That's it. I figured that because I am asking about an app THAT I WANT TO USE ON MY MAC that asking Mac experts would be the way to go. I guess not.

Since I do not use Windows I want to download a Linux distro ON MY MAC and then put it on my Linux machine. Thus I am looking for a Mac app not a Linux one.

So, if someone has an answer rather than telling me to go somewhere else I'd appreciate it. Of course I will also post this question in the Mac forum of the Ubuntu Forum--a place where you can ask questions about other OSs.

Thanks for any help

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Answer 8

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Sep 30, 2008 2:44 PM in response to Madwida

I'm sorry you don't seem to understand. There is no Mac app for what you want. Putting Linux on a flash drive requires modifying Linux, not using a Mac application. It doesn't make any difference what the hardware is you run Linux on. I don't know what's so hard to understand about it. I've done this several times using Ubuntu. It isn't done with Mac software. Sure, you can download the distro, you can install it on your Mac, and even boot it from your Mac. But if you want to put it on a flash drive or any external drive, you will need to make that mod from Linux.

You can argue with me 'til the cows come home, but this ain't gonna change. And, I do have a bit of experience with it.

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Answer 9

Sep 30, 2008 2:47 PM in response to Madwida

Hi OMSC4;

Go somewhere else. The answer isn't here.

Allan

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Answer 10

Madwida Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 30, 2008 2:54 PM in response to Allan Eckert

Alright last time: I am not trying to be a jerk, I simply thought that b/c I was able to download, for example, Slackware, Xubuntu, and TinyFlux, on my Mac and then put them on a bootable CD (in the case of Slackware a DVD) that I could also put them on a USB drive and make that bootable. I guess not. I've done this with a Windows machine using Unetbootin.

Sorry for the hassle

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Answer 11

biovizier

Level 5

7,925 points

Sep 30, 2008 2:56 PM in response to Madwida

sshhhh...
AAPL stock price - some people around here touchy.
It's not your fault, but tread lightly...

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Answer 12

Madwida Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 30, 2008 2:59 PM in response to biovizier

I'll be more careful next time! Thanks

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Answer 13

Oct 6, 2008 2:59 PM in response to Madwida

Hi OMSC4
Just had to write some words myself!!
Have been looking for the same program as you look for! I use OSX mostly myself - and has an EEE for use when I am traveling.
Now I want to change the OS on my EEE - and then I need to get the OS from an img file over to the EEE (which dont have a CD-drive) using my MAC...
I am afraid Kappy didn't understand your question....

But maybe it is possible to use the command: dd if=xxx.img of=/dev/sdxxxx - but then one has to find out where the USB-stick is mounted!!

Regards,
Jarle

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Answer 14

Madwida Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 7, 2008 6:57 AM in response to Jarle Igeltj?rn

Exactly! I am glad you understood me.

I have an EEE also and of course would like to get the .iso for several Linux distros and then make a bootable USB. I used Ubuntu HH on the EEE and Slackware on an old Dell. My main computer is a MacBook and life would be easier if I could download isos to a bootable USB rather than CDs. For now, I use an external CD drive for the EEE and will have to until theres' a Mac Unetbootin. Hopefully we'll find something.

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Answer 15

WDZaphod

Level 1

0 points

Oct 21, 2008 12:16 AM in response to Madwida

Hi,

I'm also sure, your request is perfect HERE. You are looking for a Mac App. (Fullstop).
This App has to download (or use an available .iso) an OS (Linux), modify or create a bootloader, and put it to a Pendrive. Exactly what UNetbootin for Windows (or Linux!) is doing.
I am also looking for such an application, without result. The "dd" will not work, because an iso is not same like a raw image of dd.
An idea is to boot knoppix (or another debian based live distribution) on ur mac, install UNetbootin for Linux, and write the pendrive.
Another way cold be WINE (using the win-version, it's a simple exe), VMWare (Cannon to little birds) or another virtualisation.
Maybe there will be a version running via mac ports or fink one day? Pls tell me when you find something...

regards,
Michael

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