Stephen
In this article we will describe how we can make a USB Bootable drive for Backtrack 4 Linux distribution. The new release is based on Debian/Ubuntu and not on Slackware as it was used to be in earlier versions (Backtrack 3 and below).
In this article the UNetbootin Windows version tool has been used to demonstrate the above scenario.
Requirements:
Minimum USB Drive capacity 1 GB
Format the USB to FAT32
Tools:
http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/
http://www.remote-exploit.org/cgi-bin/fileget?version=bt4-beta-iso
Workaround:
1. Download BT4 Beta ISO
2. Download UNetbootin to make our usb bootable
3. Run Unetbootin and select bt4-beta.iso for diskimage
4. Select USB Drive letter and click on OK to start making a bootable usb drive
After the creation process finishes restart your machine and boot from the new usb bootable drive created and enjoy Backtrack 4 Beta on your system.
Default Backtrack 4 username is root and password is toor
Note: Be sure that your install the MBR on the USB drive by executing drive:\boot\bootinst.bat on your USB drive. (BT4 Beta Only)
The above article works for Backtrack 4 PreFinal and Final versions
April 14, 2009
cheers thanks man…
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April 26, 2009
Hi
Great info
I did everything as you mentioned, but can not type the password. Enter “root” and then cant enter “toor”
Can you please help me?
with regards
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April 26, 2009
Yes Josef..
After you boot into the system it should ask you for login and password. You should use login: root and password: toor
Can you be more specific?
Regards,
Glafkos
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May 8, 2009
If this is your first Linux distro, just FYI that the password does not show up on the screen as **** or anything. That threw me off when I started using Ubuntu a few years ago.
Backtrack FTW.
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May 26, 2009
If I have the live version of linux on a remoovable disk, can I install on it programs and on next use run it?
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Bruce Reply:
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Jakub, You’ve got to create a persistent install, not a Live Boot.
See the related article:
http://www.itsolutionskb.com/2009/04/how-to-make-backtrack-4-persistent-installation-on-usb-disk-drive/
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June 24, 2009
If you can’t login with root/toor than your install is not clean, do it again
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August 7, 2009
After pc booting shows windows’s boot. Help pls
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Glafkos Charalambous Reply:
August 8th, 2009 at 6:23 am
Make sure in BIOS you enable Boot from USB option
Regards
Glafkos
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August 9, 2009
I did what you said but Backtrack 4 doesn’t boot from usb.
When i use Backtrack 4 from dvd I have to use noapic nolapic acpi=off.
Now on usb is hanging and I can not pass these cheatcodes.
what can i do?
If you are greek you can answer me in greek!
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Glafkos Charalambous Reply:
August 9th, 2009 at 5:09 am
Hello Alexandre,
On USB drive under boot/syslinux modify syslinux.cfg file with your changes
Regards
Glafkos
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August 11, 2009
what did you mean with this and how to do it
Note: Be sure that your install the MBR on the USB drive by executing drive:\boot\bootinst.bat on your USB drive.
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August 19, 2009
awesome man !!!!!!!!
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August 23, 2009
OK, I did everything. It says cannot load module, corrupt download when trying to load the modules. I checked the MD5 and no problems it’s the same as what it’s supposed to be. So it goes through…sends me to to the login screen and everytime I press in root for login and toor for password it just scrolls down another login screen. What’s going on with this?
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September 17, 2009
i followed the directions carefully but ran into a problem. once i change the bios settings and try to boot from the usb a unetbootin screen appears with an automatic boot countdown timer ticking down from 10. once the timer reaches 0 the timer just restarts at 10 again. this happens repeatedly and never actually boots. i am using an 8 gig hp flash drive and have tried using unetbootin in both windows and knoppix to create the bootable usb and got the same result. i have spent hours with google searching many forums but cant find a solution to the problem. is anyone able to help me with this?
also im using BT4 pre release not beta but while i was searching for solutions i noticed that others have used unetbootin with the pre release with no problems.
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September 20, 2009
T, the same thing is happening to me. If you find the solution, please post it.
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November 26, 2009
Tried this with the pre-final. Used UNetbootin on Windows 7 to load the iso onto the USB key. Once loaded booted from the netbook. I didn’t change the BIOS. Just went to the boot menu and boot from the USB key.
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December 7, 2009
there’s no bootinst.bat script any more with bt4 so this guide is kinda outdated
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Glafkos Charalambous Reply:
December 8th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Yes that is true for Backtrack 4 PreFinal and Final versions. The article was written for Backtrack 4 Beta.
Thanks for pointing that out.
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December 17, 2009
i’m a bit confused about this as well
Note: Be sure that your install the MBR on the USB drive by executing drive:\boot\bootinst.bat on your USB drive.
Please if anyone knows the answer contact me. Thank you.
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Glafkos Charalambous Reply:
December 17th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
It would still work without executing bootinst.bat on Backtrack 4 PreFinal
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December 17, 2009
How do you get on the internet through fire fox in backtrack 4?
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December 24, 2009
there actually is no password, just the username “root” for password just hit enter key. then at prompt type “startx” and there you have it!
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Glafkos Charalambous Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
The username and password are needed only for BT4 Beta. Thanks for pointing that out..
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January 9, 2010
i have been trying to boot the pre final from usb using unetbootin and it just goes to the generic screen and dose nothing help please
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cameron Reply:
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:19 am
I think you got messed up on the boot sequencing. disable all other boot devices – HDD, Dvd/cd-Rom, etc. – and leave the USB boot only
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January 12, 2010
I have the same problem as above, nothing happens when I tried to boot from usb, once I select boot from usb in bios and in startup options it just hangs, though the light on the usb is flashing so it is communicating to some degree. I would appreciate any suggestion on this, I used unetbootin on vista sp2 with backtrack 4 beta, I tried to boot on the same pc I made it on, then also tried it with my desktop that runs xp pro as well as my new pc running windows 7. Nothing, I tried reinstalling it and still nothing.
If I find the solution I will post it, Thanks for reading my problem and I will look forward to the solution.
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February 2, 2010
Hey, can anybody tell me how to make a bootable usb drive with bt4 FINAL? It seems it this doesn’t work, I tried it but it got stuck on 85% while extracting the .iso file
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Glafkos Charalambous Reply:
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:00 am
This is normal. You should wait for some time because at 85% the read only filesystem (squashfs) is being copied which is around 1.5GB
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MrJosiahT Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 4:48 am
Are you sure? Mine is also stuck at 85% but it is taking a very long time? How long should I wait?
P.S. this is my like 10th time tryin to boot bt4 (bt3 won’t find any wifi connections?) and I continue to get:
…BusyBox…
(Initframs)
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February 4, 2010
I did all these :
2. Download UNetbootin to make usb bootable
3. Run Unetbootin and select bt4 final.iso for diskimage
4. Select USB Drive letter and click on OK to start making a bootable usb drive
I followed all the instructions and tried to boot from usb but it hangs.
Please HELP.
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February 10, 2010
i cant run backtrack final release via unebutin..it’s thre always like that?
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February 12, 2010
when i boot BT4 final LiveUSB created using unetbootin, it goes into BusyBox..
initramfs :
any advice?
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goodies Reply:
March 26th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
Hi huhu,
You find the solution ? for booting bt4 live usb
I have the same problem and i try a lot of think but it doesn’t work
Help me please
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February 20, 2010
Same problem as above… it goes to 10 and back over again. Im this is pissing me off
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March 8, 2010
For those having trouble with the Unetbootin bootloader:
I have noticed from a few other people in forums and during my own install that it is very possible you’re ISO is invalid. Try checking the md5 or simply just the file size. I know I began downloading via Chrome straight to the desktop and also via bittorrent to a less obvious folder. When I went to choose which ISO I went straight to the desktop though I had canceled that download in Chrome, Unetbootin didn’t have a problem with a 6 MB iso
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April 4, 2010
nice info,
thanx………!
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April 26, 2010
I created bootable USB for my bt4 final. It boot with no problem but during loading it got stuck and cant go to start screen, it appears a place to enter command in the loading screen
Anyone can help me pls!!
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Donkeys Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
DId you try typing startx when you get to the command screen
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May 11, 2010
How to install MBR in USB? I did already to download BT4 and unetbootin,but still nmot booting on the USB? Can you help me to fix this problem?
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ANONYMOUS Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 5:39 am
did you format the drive and hold f2/f8/f12 at startup?
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May 22, 2010
Hello,
I am having problems booting from the USB when installing the BlackTrack 4, I am getting the message Boot Error and nothing happens.
I follow the steps installing BT4 using unetbootin-windows-442.exe after I formatted my USB with FAT32.
My USB dive is 4 GB, I use Windows 7 and my system supports booting from USB.
Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
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June 25, 2010
I am using Ubuntu 10.04 LTS – the Lucid Lynx
I see the same boot: prompt
i see the password enter thing in unetbootin i enter toor
the screen flips and i am left with an empty unetbootin grey screen.
i used a freshly formatted fat 4gb stick – formatted in ubuntu
using bt4-beta.iso (although i havent checked md5 or file size lol) so maybe thats it.. but ive burnt it to cd before using this download and that works fine.
since lost the cd and cba to go get anymore when i have so many usb sticks.
i can boot from usb on my motherboards.. yes motherboardsss
but anyway from what ive read when prompted to enter a password i should just enter “root” …so im gonna go give it a try
and the prompt is an unetbootin style prompt.. i dunno ill be back to tell all..
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June 26, 2010
Any update on this my fellow BT geeks? .
. .
I’m planning to do the same on my pendrive but i’m just holding my ground until someone successfully installed and run the SW.
Temporarily, i got the option to installed on my L/T via Virtual Box. It runs fine but only with guest privileges. No too good though. . gotta try it with root and toor. . .
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August 24, 2010
Worked a treat, thank you.
This great tool saved me a lot of time when trying to setup a dual boot on my netbook.
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