How to create a bootable "isohybrid" USB Pendrive with "GParted LIve"

"GParted Live ISO" has a fascinating feature: the ISO Image (= binary content of a CDROM) may either be used to burn a CDROM or to create a bootable USB pendrive.

How to create a bootable "isohybrid" USB pendrive ( three alternatives )

ATTENTION: WITHOUT PRIOR BACKUP OF ITS CONTENT, YOU WILL LOOSE ALL DATA AND PROGRAMS STORED ON YOUR PENDRIVE !

Common for all alternatives

- Download latest "gparted-x.y-z.iso" to your harddisk ( keep download directory name in mind
   or write it down;  x y z stands for the actual "GParted" version number).

   Download directory
   Example Windows : C:\download
   Example Linux   : < mountpoint >/download
   (For Windows: use a Volume Label to easily identify the assigned partition in Linux;
   e.g. WIN_XP or VISTA)
   
- Download "isohybrid_gparted", if you intend to use the space, "GParted" doesn't need
  on your pendrive.  Because of a bug in the original "isohybrid" script, a recursive partition is
  created. "GParted" shows totally unallocated space. You  give away all space for "GParted".
  Depending on your situation (Alternative c), it might be  necessary to create the bootable
  stick twice, because you need a working Linux system to run "isohybrid_gparted". Do NOT
  delete "GParted" ISO file too early ! You "update" it with "isohybrid_gparted".

- Minumum USB pendrive size 128 MB (must be bigger than the ISO image file)

 
Alternative a)

   Using an older version of "GParted Live" on CDROM (if you don't have one, burn the down-
   loaded image to a CDROM; do NOT yet delete or move the downloaded file on your harddisk
   and continue)
   
- Plug-in USB pendrive before boot

- Boot "GParted"

- GParted Graphic : Keep device name of harddisk partition
   ( Example :sda1; look for Windows volume name ! )
   and device name of pendrive in mind or write it down
   (example :sdb; whole drive; NOT sdb1 for 1st partition !)

- Open "Terminal window"

- Mount your harddisk partition (use YOUR detected names and locations
   instead of the example  strings):
    mkdir -p /mnt/hdd # creating a mountpoint (folder) for your harddisk
    mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/hdd # mounting HDD
    cd /mnt/hdd/download # changing directory to the download folder
    # if you downloaded "isohybrid_gparted" to the same folder :
       ./isohybrid_gparted ./gparted-0.x.y-z.iso
    ls -la ./gparted-0.x.y-z.iso # x y z stands for the actual version number, replace it.

- continue with "Common for a) + b)"

Alternative b)

   Using a working (Live) Linux system other than "GParted", e.g. Ubuntu, Debian or else
   
- If your harddisk is not yet mounted, mount it

- Attach your pendrive and look for its device name (example above). You might use
   echo /dev/sd* within a Terminal/console window before and after plug-in.
   Be aware, that it's crucial to choose the right name ! In doubt, mount it and
   inspect its content. Unmount it afterwards.

- Open console / Terminal window
   cd < path to download folder >
   if you downloaded "isohybrid_gparted" to the same folder :
   ./isohybrid_gparted ./gparted-0.x.y-z.iso

- Detect file size of "gparted-x.y-z.iso" in Bytes   

Common for a) + b)
   Write down file size in Bytes of ISO file (e.g 102760448 Bytes)
   For the next step - the "upload" to the pendrive - it's useful to virtually chunk the file,
   because you might run out of memory, if the latter isn't that big. We choose 4 pieces
   ( must be a power of 2). Of course Linux will do the calculation for us, see below.
   
THE NEXT STEP IS CRITICAL : YOU DIRECTLY WRITE TO A STORAGE DEVICE. THERE IS NO "UNDO", IF YOU MAKE A TYPO OR CHOOSE THE WRONG DEVICE ! YOU LOOSE ALL DATA
ON THE SELECTED DEVICE !
   
Use YOUR locations, sizes and drive names, whenever an example string occurs here.
   
   dd if=./gparted-0.x.y-z.iso of=/dev/sdb bs=$(( 102760448 / 4 )) count=4
   # bs x count = filesize

   Use a USB2.0 connector. But even with a slow USB stick (< 10MB/s) "upload" lasts
   less than a minute !

- Continue with "Common for all Alternatives (End)"

Alternative c)

   Create bootable pendrive directly with Windows
   
- Download "dd-0.5.zip", extract "dd.exe"

- Press [WIN-KEY] + R, type
     cmd
     cd C:\download
     (replace it with your download location !)

- Detect real size of "gparted-x.y.-z.iso" in Bytes ("properties", but NOT size on disk,
   example: 102760448 Bytes)

- You can use dd --list instead of the following, but it's a little bit more confusing.
     wmic diskdrive get name
     (the print-out shows the currently "mounted" volumes; do NOT clear screen)

- Plug-in your pendrive

- Repeat the last commandline and compare print-outs. You see the device name of your
   pendrive as new line ( Example : \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE3 ). Keep the number (here "3") in mind.
   
THE NEXT STEP IS CRITICAL : YOU DIRECTLY WRITE TO A STORAGE DEVICE. THERE IS NO "UNDO", IF YOU MAKE A TYPO OR CHOOSE THE WRONG DEVICE ! YOU LOOSE ALL DATA
ON THE SELECTED DEVICE !
     
   dd if=.\gparted-x.y.-z.iso of=\\?\Device\Harddisk3\Partition0 bs=102760448 count=1 # one commandline !
   ( use harddisk number, detected above; "Partition0" means "whole disk";bs= file size; )

Appendix for "Alternative c)

   If you downloaded "isohybrid_gparted" to enable partitioning of your bootable USB pendrive,
   follow instructions "Alternative a)" with working USB "GParted" until  command
   ./isohybrid_gparted ./gparted-0.x.y-z.iso (inclusive), then repeat "Alternative c)"
   without downloading anything, of course.

 
Common for all Alternatives (End)

- Shutdown and restart or reboot (with plugged USB pendrive !)

- Change Boot Sequence in BIOS ( pendrive MUST be detected here as bootable USB Harddisk)

   READY !

Have successful work with "GParted" !

cmdr