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Groups > comp.sys.raspberry-pi > #37800 > unrolled thread

Can I dd copy an sdcard image to a USB stick for a Pi 4B?

Started byChris Green <cl@isbd.net>
First post2026-03-09 16:51 +0000
Last post2026-03-26 22:00 +0000
Articles 10 — 8 participants

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  Can I dd copy an sdcard image to a USB stick for a Pi 4B? Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> - 2026-03-09 16:51 +0000
    Re: Can I dd copy an sdcard image to a USB stick for a Pi 4B? JJenssen <joemajen@arcor.de> - 2026-03-09 18:54 +0100
      Re: Can I dd copy an sdcard image to a USB stick for a Pi 4B? Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> - 2026-03-09 18:28 +0000
    Re: Can I dd copy an sdcard image to a USB stick for a Pi 4B? paul lee <usenet@vk3heg.net> - 2026-03-10 14:00 -0700
      Re: Can I dd copy an sdcard image to a USB stick for a Pi 4B? druck <news@druck.org.uk> - 2026-03-10 19:52 +0000
        Re: Can I dd copy an sdcard image to a USB stick for a Pi 4B? Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-03-11 00:48 +0000
          Re: Can I dd copy an sdcard image to a USB stick for a Pi 4B? John R Walliker <jrwalliker@gmail.com> - 2026-03-11 09:08 +0000
        Re: Can I dd copy an sdcard image to a USB stick for a Pi 4B? Michael J. Mahon <mjmahon@aol.com> - 2026-03-25 18:37 +0000
          Re: Can I dd copy an sdcard image to a USB stick for a Pi 4B? druck <news@druck.org.uk> - 2026-03-25 20:58 +0000
            Re: Can I dd copy an sdcard image to a USB stick for a Pi 4B? rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-26 22:00 +0000

#37800 — Can I dd copy an sdcard image to a USB stick for a Pi 4B?

FromChris Green <cl@isbd.net>
Date2026-03-09 16:51 +0000
SubjectCan I dd copy an sdcard image to a USB stick for a Pi 4B?
Message-ID<kca38m-4nod2.ln1@q957.zbmc.eu>
Does a bootable USB stick for a Pi 4B have the same format as a
bootable SD card?  I.e. can I just use dd to copy one to the other
(not on the Pi itself) and expect it to work?

-- 
Chris Green
·

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#37801

FromJJenssen <joemajen@arcor.de>
Date2026-03-09 18:54 +0100
Message-ID<10on1hc$3h9ls$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#37800
Am 09.03.26 um 17:51 schrieb Chris Green:
> Does a bootable USB stick for a Pi 4B have the same format as a
> bootable SD card?  I.e. can I just use dd to copy one to the other
> (not on the Pi itself) and expect it to work?
> 

My experience is that you can.

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#37802

FromChris Green <cl@isbd.net>
Date2026-03-09 18:28 +0000
Message-ID<n2g38m-d54e2.ln1@q957.zbmc.eu>
In reply to#37801
JJenssen <joemajen@arcor.de> wrote:
> Am 09.03.26 um 17:51 schrieb Chris Green:
> > Does a bootable USB stick for a Pi 4B have the same format as a
> > bootable SD card?  I.e. can I just use dd to copy one to the other
> > (not on the Pi itself) and expect it to work?
> > 
> 
> My experience is that you can.

OK, thanks.

-- 
Chris Green
·

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#37803

Frompaul lee <usenet@vk3heg.net>
Date2026-03-10 14:00 -0700
Message-ID<11b1c21a.1.105.420@vk3heg.net>
In reply to#37800
 CG> Does a bootable USB stick for a Pi 4B have the same format as a
 CG> bootable SD card?  I.e. can I just use dd to copy one to the other
 CG> (not on the Pi itself) and expect it to work?

While I don't understand the 'format' bit, yes you can absolutely dd a USB to and SD for a Pi image...

dd if=/dev/xxx of=/dev/xxx

(There are other options you can use that I prefer;)

dd if=/dev/xxx of=/dev/xxx bs=4M status=progress conv=fsync

Find USB/SD devices:
lsblk

Verify write after dd:
sync



|07p|15AULIE|1142|07o
|08.........

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#37805

Fromdruck <news@druck.org.uk>
Date2026-03-10 19:52 +0000
Message-ID<10opsqg$h7mi$1@druck.eternal-september.org>
In reply to#37803
On 10/03/2026 21:00, paul lee wrote:
>   CG> Does a bootable USB stick for a Pi 4B have the same format as a
>   CG> bootable SD card?  I.e. can I just use dd to copy one to the other
>   CG> (not on the Pi itself) and expect it to work?
> 
> While I don't understand the 'format' bit, yes you can absolutely dd a USB to and SD for a Pi image...
> 
> dd if=/dev/xxx of=/dev/xxx

Just make sure you put the source device name in for xxx on the left, 
and the correct destination device name for xxx on the right. If you do 
get it wrong the disc will be corrupted instantly and pressing Ctrl+C 
wont be quick enough.

Use lsblk to list the available drives and make sure you don't write to 
anything that is mounted. If your destination drive is temporarily 
mounted under /media/username do a

sudo unmount /dev/xxx

before using the dd command.

---druck

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#37806

FromLawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid>
Date2026-03-11 00:48 +0000
Message-ID<10oqe5a$mufh$3@dont-email.me>
In reply to#37805
On Tue, 10 Mar 2026 19:52:49 +0000, druck wrote:

> Use lsblk to list the available drives and make sure you don't write
> to anything that is mounted.

It is useful add output of the SIZE, VENDOR and MODEL fields in lsblk,
as additional verification that you’re destroying the right volume. ;)

> sudo unmount /dev/xxx

s/unmount/umount/

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#37807

FromJohn R Walliker <jrwalliker@gmail.com>
Date2026-03-11 09:08 +0000
Message-ID<10orbeq$urv0$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#37806
On 11/03/2026 00:48, Lawrence D’Oliveiro wrote:
> On Tue, 10 Mar 2026 19:52:49 +0000, druck wrote:
> 
>> Use lsblk to list the available drives and make sure you don't write
>> to anything that is mounted.
> 
> It is useful add output of the SIZE, VENDOR and MODEL fields in lsblk,
> as additional verification that you’re destroying the right volume. ;)
> 
>> sudo unmount /dev/xxx
> 
> s/unmount/umount/

Then check it again.  Then one more time to be sure.
John

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#37893

FromMichael J. Mahon <mjmahon@aol.com>
Date2026-03-25 18:37 +0000
Message-ID<BcmcnVDb_IvQtln0nZ2dnZfqn_adnZ2d@giganews.com>
In reply to#37805
druck <news@druck.org.uk> wrote:
> 
> Just make sure you put the source device name in for xxx on the left, 
> and the correct destination device name for xxx on the right. If you do 
> get it wrong the disc will be corrupted instantly and pressing Ctrl+C 
> wont be quick enough.

…sounds like the voice of experience. ;-)

-- 
-michael - NadaNet 3.1 and AppleCrate II:  http://michaeljmahon.com

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#37895

Fromdruck <news@druck.org.uk>
Date2026-03-25 20:58 +0000
Message-ID<10q1i9c$29hb6$1@druck.eternal-september.org>
In reply to#37893
On 25/03/2026 18:37, Michael J. Mahon wrote:
> druck <news@druck.org.uk> wrote:
>>
>> Just make sure you put the source device name in for xxx on the left,
>> and the correct destination device name for xxx on the right. If you do
>> get it wrong the disc will be corrupted instantly and pressing Ctrl+C
>> wont be quick enough.
> 
> …sounds like the voice of experience. ;-)

Yes, anyone that's used dd more than a couple of times has lost at least 
one disc that way. It does teach the importance of attention to detail 
and BACKUPS!

---druck

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#37903

Fromrbowman <bowman@montana.com>
Date2026-03-26 22:00 +0000
Message-ID<n2lok9FgtkrU2@mid.individual.net>
In reply to#37895
On Wed, 25 Mar 2026 20:58:20 +0000, druck wrote:

> On 25/03/2026 18:37, Michael J. Mahon wrote:
>> druck <news@druck.org.uk> wrote:
>>>
>>> Just make sure you put the source device name in for xxx on the left,
>>> and the correct destination device name for xxx on the right. If you
>>> do get it wrong the disc will be corrupted instantly and pressing
>>> Ctrl+C wont be quick enough.
>> 
>> …sounds like the voice of experience. ;-)
> 
> Yes, anyone that's used dd more than a couple of times has lost at least
> one disc that way. It does teach the importance of attention to detail
> and BACKUPS!
> 
> ---druck

They don't call it 'data destroyer' for nothing. 

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