I'm trying to set up a bootable USB stick to install Linux on my old Lenovo ThinkPad, moving away from Windows 8. I've downloaded the Linux Mint ISO (specifically the Cinnamon version) and have used a couple of different flash drive writing tools. However, my USB only shows up as "FDD" instead of "HDD" and I keep getting a message saying I need to insert a floppy disk, which I obviously don't have. After trying to troubleshoot, I even ended up deleting the files, and now my USB won't show up at all when I connect it to my PC. When I attempt to verify the files, I get errors that say the files can't be located. I could really use some guidance on how to get this working. Any suggestions on what I might be doing wrong?
3 Answers
A good alternative is to use Balena Etcher to flash the ISO to your USB stick. After that, make sure to enter your BIOS and select the correct drive to boot from. Just a heads up, make sure you have the right file type, though.
Just a note, Balena Etcher is not the best choice according to some sources, especially the Arch Wiki. You might wanna consider other options.
Make sure you're using the correct method to create your USB. If you're on Windows, I'd recommend Rufus. Here's what you need to do:
1. Plug in a USB stick (at least 8GB).
2. Open Rufus and select your Mint ISO.
3. Set the partition scheme to MBR, and target system to BIOS (or UEFI-CSM).
4. Use FAT32 for the file system.
5. Choose "DD Image mode" when prompted, then write the image.
This method helps old BIOS systems recognize the USB correctly.
You should try using Ventoy. Just install it on your USB drive and then you can copy as many ISO files as you want onto it. When you boot up your PC, it will show you a menu to select which one to boot from. It's a really handy tool that makes the whole process much simpler!
I love Ventoy! It's great because you only need one large USB drive for multiple ISOs, and you can easily update the files just by swapping them out. Super convenient!
I have a file labeled "efi" instead of an actual .iso. I end up with a .rar file that contains a bunch of folders when I try to download from the site. Should I still use Balena?