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So here’s some background on why I’m writing this post, which I hope may be slightly more useful than the last one. I wanted to install Backtrack 3 to a USB drive so I could boot into it and haxx0r around a bit

BackTrack is the result of merging the two innovative penetration testing live linux distributions Auditor and Whax. Backtrack provides a thorough pentesting environment which is bootable via CD, USB or the network (PXE). The tools are arranged in an intuitive manner, and cover most of the attack vectors. Complex environments are simplified, such as automatic Kismet configuration, one click Snort setup, precompiled Metasploit lorcon modules, etc. BackTrack has been dubbed the #1 Security Live CD by Insecure.org, and #36 overall.

So now that you know what Backtrack is, let me explain the problem I was having:

Well firstly I read the articles on in the Backtrack wiki on how to create a USB and they told me to extract all files from the ISO to the USB and then run a shell script to make it bootable. I was at a bit of a loss as to why it’s packaged as an ISO if all you need to do is extract the files (why couldnt they just pack the files into ZIP?). Nevertheless I followed the instructions, tried to boot and had no success.

So I had a bit of a trawl around the web looking for solutions and I finally found one: UNETBOOTIN or Universal Network Boot Installer – a simple standalone application which takes any given ISO image and writes it to your USB drive in one click.

Its simple and eliviates the need for you to install ISOBuster (or other tools to extract the files) I encourage you all to try it if you want to make bootable USB’s from your ISO’s. And I’m told it will work with any ISO – even Windows installation CDs which would be handy if, like me, you find yourself having to reinstall Windows fairly frequently whenever it decides to die.

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I have since discovered that UNETBOOTIN Will only work with Linux ISOs despite what I was led to believe by what I read on the Internet – If you are wanting to get a Windows install on a USB Drive might I suggest you read this: http://www.eeeguides.com/2007/11/installing-windows-xp-from-usb-thumb.html

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For your conveinience I’ve uploaded the program to here :

http://youreadmyblog.info/files/unetbootin-windows-299.exe

I guess this was sort of a tutorial but maybe not?

Craig

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