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Trouble Installing Linux on a USB

So recently I've decided that I would switch to Linux from my Mac OS X, however whenever I tried with unetbootin, it said that Macbook (or laptops in general) could not boot off of a USB. I attempted to install Linux onto a CD but I don't know how much space that CD has in the first place, but when I put it in nothing was on it. It then told me that there was not enough room on the disk.

I have no clue what I'm doing when it comes to doing this kind of stuff and I'd appreciate any help that I could get.
Any more information that is needed to help resolve my issue I can easily give.

Thank you in advance,
~Distributed
Macbooks CAN boot of a usb. You must first convert the .ISO to .IMG or .DMG, though.

So download the ISO for the disto you want and type this into console:
Code
hdiutil convert -format UDRW -o ~/path/to/place/file.img ~/path/to/distro.iso

That there will convert the iso. Then put in your usb and find its name with:
(it will looks something like /dev/diskX)
Code
diskutil list

unmount it with:
(X = drive number)
Code
diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX

use dd to create the bootable drive.
(X = drive number)
Code
sudo dd if=/path/to/distro.img of=/dev/rdiskX bs=1m
That will take a few minutes so leave it be for a little bit.

Then when you boot your macbook hold the option key and there will be a boot device selection.


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