the_information_nexus/tech_docs/macOS_usb.md

Creating a Bootable Debian USB Drive on macOS

Prerequisites:

• Debian ISO image (downloaded from https://www.debian.org/)
• USB drive with sufficient capacity (at least 4GB)
• macOS computer

Steps:

1. Identify the USB drive's disk identifier:

• Open Terminal and run diskutil list.
• Locate the entry for your USB drive and note its disk identifier (e.g., disk4).

2. Unmount the USB drive:

• Run diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX (replace X with the correct disk identifier).

3. Write the ISO to the USB drive:

• With progress bar:

  sudo dd if=/path/to/debian.iso of=/dev/rdiskX bs=1m status=progress
  

• Without progress bar:

  sudo dd if=/path/to/debian.iso of=/dev/rdiskX bs=1m
  
  

• Replace /path/to/debian.iso with the actual path to your ISO file.

4. Wait for the process to complete:

• This might take a few minutes, depending on the ISO size and USB speed.

5. Verify the process (optional):

• Run diskutil list again to check if the ISO was written correctly.

6. Eject the USB drive:

• Run diskutil eject /dev/diskX.

Additional notes:

• Password prompt: You'll be prompted for your password when using sudo.
• Double-check disk identifier: Ensure you're using the correct one to avoid overwriting data.
• Errors: If you encounter errors, carefully review the commands and disk identifiers. Seek assistance if needed.
• Progress bar options:
  • status=progress: Basic progress bar within the dd command.
  • pv: Pipe the output of dd through pv for a visual progress bar.
  • dialog: Combine pv with dialog for a more interactive progress bar.

Booting from the USB drive:

1. Insert the USB drive into the target computer.
2. Start or restart the computer.
3. Hold down the Option (⌥) key while booting.
4. Select the USB drive labeled "EFI Boot" from the Startup Manager.
5. The Debian installation process will begin.