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Re: Install images on non-Linux (Was: USB Installer suggestion note)

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Hello Joachim,

On 02/01/2026 13:53, Joachim Ebel wrote:
> I was wondering about your suggestion of using balena-etcher for installing an iso-image to a cd or usb stick as a net-install device.

Can you point out exactly where you did read this suggestion?
If that is 'https://www.debian.org/CD/faq/#write-usb', did you use the 
most recent version of the tool, or the version that is downloaded from 
debian.org?

> First, balena etcher does not start (on windows 7) at all, only a blank window (using the portable version).
> Did you ever test it? Please add a note that there may be only specific versions supported.

Work is currently under way to test the preparation of the live images 
with various tools that have been mentioned favourably in the past 
(Rufus, Ventoy, BalenaEtcher, maybe others). These tests will run on the 
openQA instance [1] and are prepared by the Outreachy participants. 
These tests are under development and need some more time before they 
are ready.

Should this list be extended to contain other tools, see e.g. [2]? (I'm 
especially interested in tools that are suitable for newcomers)

> Second, using the installer this seems to impose massive security concerns (beside that it also does not work on windows 7, exiting with a log-note).
> In the log, this program seems to scan for all kinds of unrelated system setups, in addition to the log entrys that it relys on microsoft teams installation (which I do not have).
> Besides, it seems to scan several registry entries trying to use its 'squirrel' whatsoever.
> 
> Huh? Whats going on there? Debian team suggests using a software that relys to work on microsoft teams and office installation? Sounds really crazy.
> Can you please add a note whats going on at balena-etcher?
> Can you suggest a working utility?

There have been other complaints about BalenaEtcher [2]. I've not used 
any of the tools mentioned above, because I typically use the ISO files 
directly in a VM or (since I'm using Debian) use dd to prepare a USB stick.

> Thought of doing a quick copy, now starting up my linux machine and using dd for the job.

That's the best way to do it.

I understand that there is a need for preparing live images on a 
non-Linux platform, but it all needs time...

With kind regards,
Roland Clobus
Maintainer of the live images
Mentor for the current Outreachy project

[1] https://openqa.debian.net
[2] https://lists.debian.org/debian-cd/2023/08/msg00008.html

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USB Installer suggestion note Joachim Ebel <ebse@akk.org> - 2026-01-02 14:30 +0100
  Re: Install images on non-Linux (Was: USB Installer suggestion note) Roland Clobus <rclobus@rclobus.nl> - 2026-01-07 12:50 +0100

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