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I'm trying to create a bootable USB for Kali Linux. When I plug my USB in it recognises it in disks, but I'm not able to format or anything. Here is a picture:

screenshot of Disks

EDIT: I am not having trouble with uploading the ISO file and making the USB a bootable USB, I am having trouble because Ubuntu won't properly recognise the USB drive.

This is what I get when I launch startup disk creator Image here.

Barty 200YT
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  • I have got the latest version of ubuntu so i believe 19.04 and I tried used disks to create it – Barty 200YT Nov 04 '19 at 19:25
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    Disks does not create bootable USB. It helps you manage internal and external disks and partitions. You need "Startup Disk Creator" or another app like `mkusb` or `BalenaEtcher`. – user68186 Nov 04 '19 at 19:30
  • I used the restore disk image and selected the iso file – Barty 200YT Nov 04 '19 at 19:32
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    Possible duplicate of [How to create a bootable Ubuntu USB flash drive from terminal?](https://askubuntu.com/questions/372607/how-to-create-a-bootable-ubuntu-usb-flash-drive-from-terminal) – K7AAY Nov 04 '19 at 20:01
  • This is not a question on how to create a bootable usb, it's about what to do to get the usb to be recognised – Barty 200YT Nov 04 '19 at 20:03
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    @Barty200YT Thanks--sorry about the [tag:iso] tag, which may not apply here. It looks to me like the USB drive just doesn't have any partitions on it (or doesn't have a usable partition table), but if that's not the case or you don't think it explains what you're seeing, then I recommend running `dmesg` before and after plugging it in; the lines that are new after you plugged it in may make useful additions to your question. – Eliah Kagan Nov 04 '19 at 20:09
  • How do you add partions – Barty 200YT Nov 04 '19 at 20:11
  • Yes about a million times – Barty 200YT Nov 04 '19 at 20:52
  • @Barty 200YT The ISO writing software will overwrite any existing partition and create what it needs. https://askubuntu.com/questions/372607/how-to-create-a-bootable-ubuntu-usb-flash-drive-from-terminal contains instructions on how to use dd to write to any device, with or without existing partitions. If it fails, the USB flash drive has died without question. – K7AAY Nov 04 '19 at 21:04
  • @Barty200YT, If you still have problems, I suggest that you analyze the problem according to [this link](https://askubuntu.com/questions/144852/cant-format-my-usb-drive-i-have-already-tried-with-mkdosfs-and-gparted/933035#933035), and if you are lucky, get a working USB boot drive. – sudodus Nov 04 '19 at 22:49
  • Possible duplicate of [How to restore original size and unboot my bootable USB pendrive](https://askubuntu.com/questions/496309/how-to-restore-original-size-and-unboot-my-bootable-usb-pendrive) – karel Nov 05 '19 at 04:19

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Disks has a way to do it, with its --restore-disk-image option; once you have created a LiveUSB ISO image, you can replay it onto a USB Flash Drive to create a LiveUSB. From its GUI, pick the USB drive on the left panel. Then choose Restore Disk Image... from the drop-down ≡ menu. Many thanks to user68186 for that development!

The preferred method per Ubuntu Tutorials https://tutorials.ubuntu.com/tutorial/tutorial-create-a-usb-stick-on-ubuntu#0 has explicit step by step instructions using Startup Disk Creator to create a LiveUSB from an ISO file. In step 4, instead of selecting the Ubuntu ISO file, use your other ISO file.

If your USB flash drive is rejected by Startup Disk Creator, then it is failing or has a bad connection. Make sure to plug the flash drive into a socket on the PC, not through a cable or hub.

If it still fails, follow the instructions in How to create a bootable Ubuntu USB flash drive from terminal? or use a different USB drive.

K7AAY
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  • I have edited the post – Barty 200YT Nov 04 '19 at 19:52
  • My usb isn't connected through a hub and has a good connection and i don't have any other usb sticks with enough memory – Barty 200YT Nov 04 '19 at 19:57
  • It's not because it worked yesterday and i used it to install ubuntu on my computer – Barty 200YT Nov 04 '19 at 19:59
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    The `--restore-disk-image` option of `gnome-disks` allows creation of Live USB from ISO files. So based on the man page you linked in the answer, you **can** create a Live USB with Disks. I just tried it. It does create a Live (bootable) USB. – user68186 Nov 04 '19 at 22:04
  • @user68186 What was the command you used in Terminal? How did you specify the flash drive as the target for the ISO file? – K7AAY Nov 04 '19 at 22:15
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    I didn't use the command line option, though I see that it is available based on the man page. I used the Disks GUI. Selected the USB drive on the left panel. Then chose **Restore Disk Image...** from the drop-down ≡ menu. – user68186 Nov 04 '19 at 22:28