Using dotISO Files
For General Users
Purpose
Files having the extension *.ISO may be new to some readers. These files are essentially an image of a CD, DVD (or BlueRay ?) optical media and usually images of bootable media. dotISO files may be downloaded, saved, copied to other disks/volumes/folders etc, exactly like any other file. However, they require special processing to achieve their usual purpose of producing a bootable media
- originally dotISO were intended for CD/DVD media
- the same files may now be made into bootable USB/SD media
- this requires a different program to write the media
The bootable media are typically used for one of:
- a "live" demonstration system - often based on Linux
- running software for backing up systems and/or data
- installing operating systems
- "rescue" systems
those not familiar with operating systems need to execise caution with the last two |
Burning Bootable CD/DVD
- this will be the simpest and most reliable approach for beginners
- virtually any computer now in use can boot CD/DVD
- most OS have suitable software for burning CD/DVD
- a common mistake made by novices is to use their favourite burner software to copy a *.ISO file to a blank CD/DVD - incorrect as explained at http://www.puppylinux.com/cd-puppy.htm
Correct procedure is to use a special option in the burner software to "burn CD ISO image" or "burn DVD ISO image".
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Windows 7
- via Windows Explorer is the simplest procedure for beginners
- locate the ISO file in Windows Explorer and right-click it. You will get various options
- click on 'Open with' then choose 'Windows Disc Image Burner' to produce a bootable CD/DVD
- to be prudent, tick the 'Verify disc after burning' box
- popular burner software Nero has a similar option. Detailed procedure is available at the following site: http://partedmagic.com/doku.php?id=creating_the_livecd_with_nero
- simply select your dotISO file in lieu of partedmagic.iso
- if none of the above options are available get the product ftp://terabyteunlimited.com/burncdcc.zip and install that
It makes the operation foolproof, because its only function is to burn ISO images to CD/DVD |
Other OS
- most Linux will include CD/DVD burning software such as k3b, XFreeBurn etc, which include the function to "burn CD ISO image"
Choice of Optical Media
- dotISO disks must be "bit-perfect"
- avoid using cheap media blanks that are sold primarily for audio/video use
- setting a slower burn speed might produce more reliable results when using untested burner/media combination
- dotISO images that are smaller than 700 MB may be burnt to DVD media
- most burner software will cope with this
- doing so is likely to result in the media reading somewhat faster than would be the case with CD media and this can be advantageous for the uses described above.
- dotISO images >700 MB but << a full DVD of 4.3 GB will often be encountered
- these must be burned to DVD media
- dotISO images > a full DVD size of 4.3 GB are occassionally encountered
- these can be burned only to dual-layer DVD media
- such media is relatively expensive and
- not all releases of burner software handle it reliably
- avoid burning dotISO to 80 mm diameter mini-CD/DVD
- from which the read process would be relatively slow
- not all releases of burner software handle it reliably
Writing Bootable USB/SD
Writing ISO Files
- this method is relatively safe for Linux & Windows users
- it should suceed with all dotISO files, provided that those are bootable images
- obtain and install a suitable program
- unetbootin is now deprecated
- Linux users install instead packge Imagewriter
- Windows users obtain instead SUSE Studio Imagewriter https://github.com/downloads/openSUSE/kiwi/ImageWriter.exe
- ensure that the USB/SD media to be used is formatted FAT 32
- as a precaution, disconnect all other USB devices from the computer
- including scanners, mobile broadband sticks, modems etc
- launch Imagewriter
- locate the downloaded dotISO file on hard disk
- select the USB/SD media to be written
- click OK
Getting Technical
non Windows users README
Writing Bootable USB/SD
Linux users need to execise great caution with the this procedure - an error in selecting the USB/SD device could result in hard disk partition being overwritten |
Cross-check which removable device is to be written by examining the manufacturer ID, partition size, filesystem type (FAT 32) reported by the Operating System
Writing ISO Files
- this procedure can be achieved via GUI tools
- it shoulc suceed with all dotISO files, provided that those are bootable images
- obtain and install a suitable program
- unetbootin is one of the better known
- ensure that the USB/SD media to be used is formatted FAT 32
- as a precaution, disconnect all other USB devices from the computer
- including scanners, mobile broadband sticks, modems etc
- launch unetbootin
- locate the downloaded dotISO file on hard disk
- select the USB/SD media to be written
- click OK
Strictly for Geeks
Using/Creating ISOhybrid Files
This task is for intermediate/advanced users
Overview
Some dotISO files are now being provided as "ISOhybrids"
- which have the main advantage of typically booting much faster from USB/SD devices
- because most OS use conservative settings to boot USB/SD devices, in order to cope with older/buggy BIOS
- boot speed is also highly dependent on the "Class" of SD media and (probably) unstated/indeterminate grade of USB "thumbdrive"
ISOhybrids may also be burnt to conventional CD/DVD/Bluray optical media, or written to USB/SD media, as in general/intermediate procedures above
- hence the "hybrid" descriptor
- but require the alternative procedure below to achieve faster performance from USB/SD devices
Hybridisation
- this procedure may be skipped, if the ISO is known to already be hybridised
- dotISO of unknown type may safely be converted to hybridISO via the program "isohybrid"
- the conversion adds a few tens of kB, if the ISO is not already hybridised
- which may push the ISO beyond the maximum capacity of optical media
- alhough these ISOhybrids could still be written to USB/SD media, as in intermediate procedures above, or advanced precedures following.
- it makes no perceptable difference if the ISO is already hybridised
- the conversion adds a few tens of kB, if the ISO is not already hybridised
execise great caution with the following procedure - an error in selecting the USB/SD device could result in hard disk partition being overwritten |
Writing ISOhybrids
- as a precaution, disconnect all other USB devices from the computer
- including printers, scanners, mobile broadband sticks, modems etc
- any of which could include "storage"
- including printers, scanners, mobile broadband sticks, modems etc
- verify the drive letter/number of the USB/SD media
- in Windows use "Computer" menu and open the drive
- in other OS use "My Computer", hdparm, fdisk etc
- check by manufacturer ID, size, partitioning etc
- the partitioning/format of the USB/SD media to be used is probably immaterial
- if in doubt, format the single/first partition as FAT 32
- launch a program for direct writing disk images of storage media eg
- in Windows use http://www.softpedia.com/get/CD-DVD-Tools/Data-CD-DVD-Burning/Win32-Disk-Imager.shtml or "rawwrite"
- in other OS use "dd" (or preferably "ddrescue")
- in this procedure "dd" operates on an unmounted device
- more detailed instructions are at:
http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Live_USB_stick#Bootable_USB_from_DVD_or_Net-install
execise great caution with the above programs - an error in selecting the USB/SD device could result in hard disk partition being overwritten |
Booting from Media
--Rpeters 12:09, 24 August 2012 (EST)
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