Can't boot from USB flash drive

[Guest]

Hi guys,
I burnt a lightweight linux distro -lubunutu to a USB flash drive using UnetBootin. (Mac OS X). I select to boot from USB HDD. Doesn't work.I try USB Zip, USB FDD, and even USB CD ROM and it constantly says "Missing Operating system". I try it on my other desktop computer and it says the same. Please help ASAP!
Many thanks,
AKNerd

 

[i7Baby]

You need to re-install the OS

 

[Guest]

The linux distro?

 

[Someone Somewhere]

I haven't tried UNetBootin.

Do you have access to a Windows machine? I'd suggest burning it on there.

Here's Ubuntu's instructions for burning USB drives: http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-mac-osx

 

[stillblue]

Hi guys,
I burnt a lightweight linux distro -lubunutu to a USB flash drive using UnetBootin. (Mac OS X). I select to boot from USB HDD. Doesn't work.I try USB Zip, USB FDD, and even USB CD ROM and it constantly says "Missing Operating system". I try it on my other desktop computer and it says the same. Please help ASAP!
Many thanks,
AKNerd

Some BIOSes see bootable USBs as hard drives. go to your BIOs and see if your USB is listed under hdd and promote it there. Why would they put USB as a boot option and then move it to hard drive? I have a theory the programmers were taking a smoking break and had a little of that california wacky tobacky and one of them said "Phhhft, you know what'd be funny?"

 

[i7Baby]

lol - yeah there's a lot of that with pc stuff - lots of WTF?

 

[Guest]

I did try that but it simply said "Missing operating system". I'm going to use a DVD now with Disk Utility. Thank you.

 

[stillblue]

You checked in the BIOS and there was no + next to hard drive?