Issue with creating bootable USB stick, help needed

Support and Help
1

Ubuntu Version:
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, GNOME, Wayland.

Problem Description:
have not been here for some time. I think I am currently logged in but not sure. H
Here is my system now:

2026-07-24 16:02:24 ## Hardware Information: -
Dell Inc. Dell Tower ECT1250
16.0 GiB
Intel® Core™ Ultra 5 225 × 10
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS 64-bit - **GNOME Wayland Linux 7.0.0-28-generic.

My mistake is that I am running with 26.04 and I have found it is a mess. What I have tried to do is to try and setup an installer and then create a new boot drive. For that I hve a 2.1tb stick that I think will work fine. Everything I try to install the installer it failes. I have 2 ubuntu iso that I have recently downloaded:
ubuntu-24.04.4-custom.iso (3.4gb)
Ubuntu-24.04.4-desktop-amd64.iso (6.7gb)I have tried make startup disk creator. I have also tried to creat an inaller to create a boot disk. I have spent 3 days with that with ai and failed every day. I am obviaslly not doing it right. HELP!

2

I find AI useful but there are other ways of getting information. Ways that we used before AI. Such as looking for tutorials on Ubuntu.com.

Tutorial on using Startup Disk Creator

Here is another tutorial using image restore with the Disks utility.

Using Disks utility Image Restore to create a USB installer

Personally, I have no problem using Startup Disk Creator.

We need to know the folder where the ISO image is stored and make sure that we are writing the image to the correct drive.

Regards.

1 Like
3

What exactly does this mean?

It tells the volunteer users absolutely nothing when you don’t explain the issues you are having.

For example, I am having issue A and I think it is because of B and here are screenshots and terminal output.

How do you expect volunteers to help you if you don’t provide basic, clear information?

I edited your topic title which was vague and provided no information as to what you are seeking help with.

Please make an effort to help us help you.

2 Likes
4

Well…you would not have been able to post a new topic had you not been logged in…

5

Your issue might be with the USB-stick. Have you tried any other stick? 8gb is often enough and very large USB-sticks can be fake sometimes.

Also, have you tried using the dd command?

Example: sudo dd bs=4M if=/path/to/iso_file of=/dev/your_usb_stick status=progress oflag=sync

NOTE! Be absolutely sure that you set the ofparameter correctly! This command WILL erase the disk.

6

Another question, have you verified the download of the iso which is explained on the download page?

1 Like
7

And I’m sure it won’t because it’s a fake.

For reference, a reputable store with decades in the business goes up to 1TB and here are the prices: https://www.memoryc.com/usb-products/usb-flash-drives/c-12?Capacity[]=1TB

A “2.1TB” flash drive, if those existed already, is expected to cost more than double of those in the link above.

Not long ago, at AskUbuntu, a person was convinced their recently bought external SSD drive was good because they “payed USD25 and it wasn’t the cheapest” for a capacity that actually costs ~USD1000!!! Needless to say proper tests showed exactly why that was a fake one.

2 Likes
8

As @celticwarrior pointed out, there are too many USB sticks misrepresenting themselves as large capacity, when in fact just puny in size! :frowning: For something important, stick with known reputable brands.

If you are trying to replicate your system disk on a USB stick, that is usually, IMHO, inadvisable.

I suggest you aim for full system replication/backup on an external USB drive (non-bootable) and a separate USB stick (recommend using minimum 16GB stick for current Ubuntu Desktop) as the target for installing a new OS on that stick.

Then boot from the stick to perform the desired operations/installation before restoring your data from offline storage (external backup drive).

1 Like