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Contents
Introduction
IsoDumper is a tool primarily for writing downloaded bootable ISO images to a USB stick.
It is a fork of usb-imagewriter but it has been expanded to additionally feature:
- backup of a bootable USB stick to free it up for other use - but the backup (saved as an .img file) can simply be restored to the stick if required
- formatting of a USB stick in a simple manner
The tool will check some things before writing:
- the partition of the USB device is unmounted
- the size of the ISO should be smaller than the size of the USB device
- if the size of the stick is greater than 32GB, you will be asked to confirm that it is actually the intended target device
This guide was written using the Qt version of IsoDumper v0.59, within the KDE Plasma desktop environment and Mageia 6.
However, this guide may be used against v0.41 & 42 (Mageia 4) and v0.42 to 48 (Mageia 5).
Installation
Isodumper is available in Mageia software repositories.
You can install it via the MCC. Or, as a root (Administrator) user, via the command-line by typing: urpmi isodumper
or dnf install isodumper
.
Usage
Starting
Launch IsoDumper via any of the following methods:
- pressing Alt+F2 at the desktop, and typing isodumper in the field that pops up
- clicking the 'Start' menu icon and then typing IsoDumper in the search field
- clicking the 'Start' menu icon and then Tools > System Tools > IsoDumper
- the command-line by typing:
isodumper
If you use any of the first three methods, you will have the option of launching either the Qt (for KDE Plasma-based desktops) or Gtk (GNOME-based desktops) interface.
If starting via the command-line, it will launch the version corresponding to your desktop environment.
You will be asked for the root (Administrator) password to continue:
Writing
Warning! The writing method overwrites the entire target device, and any existing data on the device will be erased! |
- select target device from the Device to work on drop-down field.
- (this may be blank, even if a USB stick is plugged in, until you click on the field. Or you can try clicking the refresh button)
- the selected device is shown in the Report window
- Click on the Write image field
- in the file window that opens up, select the ISO to be written to the USB device
- the ISO file is now shown in the Report window
- ensure that the ISO and target device (especially) is correct
- click on the Write to device button
- a confirmation warning will then appear
- if you are satisfied with your choices, then click Yes and the writing will commence
- the writing progress is now displayed
- this can take a while, as the entire space on the USB device is overwritten
- once the ISO file has been written to the USB device, it is then checked
- MD5 and the SHA1 checksums on the USB device are computed and displayed in the Report window
- Note, however, that no matching against the original sums is done - this will need to be done manually
- a 'success' window pops up signalling the end of the end of the process, and the USB device may now be safely removed
Backup
- in the Device to work on drop-down field, highlight the USB device you would like to backup
- then use the Backup to field to chose the destination for the backup
- when you are happy with your choices, click Backup the device
- the backup progress is now displayed
- the 'success' window pops up and the backup is complete and it is safe to remove the USB device
Formatting
- from the Device to work on drop-down field, choose the USB device that you wish to format
- the selected device will appear in the Report window
- if you are happy that you have the correct device, then click Format the device
- a pop-up window will appear, for choosing the file-system type to format the device (if you are unsure, use FAT32)
- you may optionally use the Label field to name the device
- click Execute to proceed
- a confirmation window will appear
- having read and understood the warning, click Yes and the formatting will begin
- all being well, a 'success' window will pop up
- you may now remove your freshly formatted USB device
- the report window showing the results of the formatting process
See also
- Source repository and bug reports
- IsoDumper's source code is hosted at Mageia's git repositories
- Bug reports should be filed in Mageia's Bugzilla against the "isodumper" RPM package.