Creating A Bootable Flash Drive

[joewillerols]

In Windows and DOS, I created a bootable FreeDOS flash drive using Rufus. So far so good. I then added HIMEM, EMM386, and a few other goodies to create a decent, colorful environment. From there the AUTOEXEC starts the main program on the flash drive. When the program ends, the screen tells you how to get back into the program. This was all done to simplify things for the user. So far so good. Then I used the latest version of Linux Mint and LMDE to create an ISO. Right click the drive, Compress, and choose ISO. That goes well enough.

The problem happens when putting the ISO file back onto the flash drive. Back in Windows, Rufus says the ISO is non-bootable so I used ISO2DISC. ISO2DISC does what it is supposed to do. It copied everything back to the flash drive with no errors.

Here is the problem. When the computer boots off the flash drive, I get a BOOT MGR missing error. Why? If the flash drive boots up before creating an ISO, and creating an ISO copies a flash drive verbatim, what is the ISO missing?

Help!

Thanks,
Joe

 

[Rick998]

Here is the REAL problem.
You have not once mentioned which ISO file you are trying to make bootable.
All the rest of your post is irrelevant until you provide that crucial information.

 

[joewillerols]

I am trying to make an ISO of the flash drive.

 

[joewillerols]

This is for Rick998.

Your suggestions did not work. AnyBurn did create an ISO from the flash drive but it is not bootable. It basically created the equivalent of a ZIP file.

ImgBurn is an installed and wouldn't download the files needed files to install but it did install some third party software. Oh, joy!

Joe

 

[Rick998]

I am trying to make an ISO of the flash drive.

In post #1 you wrote that you were trying to add an ISO file to a bootable flash drive.

In post #3 you wrote you are trying to make an ISO image of a flash drive.

These are different operations.

What is it you are trying to do?

 

[joewillerols]

I created a bootable flash drive using Rufus to put FreeDOS on that drive. The flsh drive will boot up the computer. I then used Linux Mint and LMDE to create an ISO of that flash drive. Now I have a ISO file of that flash drive.

When I use Rufus to put that ISO onto another flash drive Rufus tells me that the ISO file is not bootable. So I used ISO2Disc. It did put the ISO onto a flash drive. The flash drive will not boot. I get a BOOT MGR missing error. I tried your suggestions with no success.

How do I get the files into an ISO file that will also be a bootable ISO file when put onto a flash drive?

Does this make more sense?

Joe

 

[Rick998]

Once again... what is it you are trying to achieve... in very, very simple terms?

Don't write repetitively what you've done using ancient DOS tools. It makes no sense.

 

[joewillerols]

I will continue to repeat what I am trying to do until someone understands what I am trying to do. Ancient DOS tools has nothing to do with it especially since I am not using any DOS tools. I am using Rufus which is a Windows, NOT a DOS, program to create a bootable flash drive. I then use Linux Mint and LMDE, NEITHER of which is a DOS operating system, to create an ISO of the flash drive. The problem is putting the ISO onto another flash drive. The new flash drive is not bootable. I get a BOOT MGR missing error.

When I create the ISO something is not being copied to the ISO and hence not to the new flash drive. What is missing?

 

[Rick998]

You continue to write what you're doing, not what you're trying to achieve.
You wrote "I created a bootable flash drive using Rufus to put FreeDOS on that drive.".
FreeDOS?
Why FreeDOS? It's ancient.
Do you even understand that "When I create the ISO something is not being copied to the ISO" it just doesn't make any sense?
Oh, never mind.
You can't answer my very simple questions... so I'm out of here.

 

[joewillerols]

FreeDos (1994) is ancient, huh? It is just 31 years old. But it isn't as old as Linux (1991) which is 34 years old. It isn't as old as Windows (1985) which is 40 years old this year. And it certainly isn't as old as MacOS (1984) which is 41 years old.
The fact that I am using FreeDOS is of no consequense. I stated that to show that the flashdrive is bootable.

Since Rick998 is out of here. maybe someone else can understand what I can trying to do.

1. I created a flash drive that is bootable. The other info I gave was to show that the flash drive is bootable.

2. Then I used Linux Mint and LMDE to create a ISO. I right clicked the flash drive, clicked Compress and schose ISO.

3. When attempting to use Rufus to put the newly created ISO onto another flash drive, Rufus refuses because the iso is not bootable. okay. So i used ISO2DISC to put the ISO onto a flash drive. ISO2DISC colpied everything over to the flash drive.

4. When trying to put the computer from the new flash drive,I get a BOOT MGR missing error.

None of that is difficult to understand. My coworkers who are computer illiterate can even understand what is happeniong.

So my question is, what is not being copied from the original flash drive into the ISO?

Maybe this will make more sense. I am trying to create a bootable flash drive just like you do after burning Linux onto a fhash drive.

Joe

 

[mikrom]

Apparently your step #2 is not correct. Try to make the ISO from the USB stick using gnome-disks. I'm using Linux Mint MATE and the program is preinstalled in menu Accessories/Disks (see the screenshots). I haven't tried it yet because I don't have a bootable USB stick handy, but I think it's the right way to go.

 

[joewillerols]

mikrom,​

I knew someone in here would understand what I am trying to do.

I don't have access to a power cord for my two Linux laptops. They used the same cord. I'll get the cord in a few daysand try your suggestion.

Thanks,
Joe