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I'm wanting to create a live usb linux so I can easily access it everytime when I need it without taking up any space. But with other sources, they say to rEFInd and I did so, however when restarting and accessing the boot menu, nothing happens.

I am running Yosemite 10.10 on a Macbook Pro - I still have rEFInd on my mac.

I already have .iso version of the linux and UnetBootin

Any way how to make a live usb linux on a Yosemite Macbook Pro?

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  1. Download the desired .img file
  2. Open a Terminal (under Utilities)
    • If you have and .iso file, you could convert to .img with the command hdiutil convert -format UDRW -o ~/path/to/target.img ~/path/to/source.iso.
  3. Run diskutil list to get the current list of devices
  4. Insert your flash media
  5. Run diskutil list again and determine the device node assigned to your flash media (e.g. /dev/disk2)
  6. Run diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskN
  7. Execute sudo dd if=/path/to/downloaded.img of=/dev/diskN bs=1m
  8. Run diskutil eject /dev/diskN and remove your flash media when the command completes

Restart your Mac and press / key while the Mac is restarting to choose the USB stick.

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  • there's only a .iso file - I'm trying to get Kali Linux running from a usb | Will running terminal do the same to .iso instead of .img? if this works i'll wont need rEFInd from now on
    – MrU
    Oct 31, 2014 at 22:06
  • Updated my previous answer.
    – jherran
    Oct 31, 2014 at 22:23
  • Ok i'll try tonight when I get back home/to boarding house. But thanks for the answer!
    – MrU
    Nov 2, 2014 at 3:46
  • sorry, it turned out I was hesitant and the downloads page on Kali did provide an image file, but when I downloaded it, it downloaded something like "kaillinux.img.xz" what was the .xz ? I renamed it to .img then put it through terminal and after giving it permission, it "did" nothing. typing anything gives it no response.
    – MrU
    Nov 2, 2014 at 22:11
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    Images are for ARM and you can't use it. You have to use Kali Linux 64 bit ISO. Anyway, you could convert the iso downloaded to img as I told you in the answer, with hdiutil command.
    – jherran
    Nov 2, 2014 at 22:30

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