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I am trying to create a bootable USB startup disk in 20.04

According to instructions, I should use "Startup Disk Creator". But this application does not appear to be installed on my machine. So to Ubuntu Software Centre, but a search there only give the message application not found.

Where is it then?

joel
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A. Gilroy
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    Press left windows key and type "startup" in the search box – graham Feb 10 '21 at 15:26
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    Interesting, on my 20.04, the package usb-creator-gtk whose alias is "Startup disk creator" is provided through the ubuntu-focal-main repository, which is THE default source for new software... (Also, I believe it was installed by default, because I have it installed, but I don't remember installing it.) – Levente Feb 10 '21 at 16:11

2 Answers2

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If you are comfortable using the command line, you can install it as follows:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install usb-creator-gtk

Note:

On my system, I have two "software centers" installed.

  1. Software
  2. Ubuntu Software

When I search for "Startup Disk Creator" in either of these, I do get a listing for this application. I am also able to search using "usb-creator-gtk", and I get a result.

Try searching for "usb-creator-gtk". If you don't get a result, there may be another issue on your system.

However, executing the (apt) commands above will show you if there is another underlying error.

Enterprise
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  • Can confirm, on 20.04, Ubuntu Software lists it both by the names "Startup disk creator" and by usb-creator-gtk. Its source is ubuntu-focal-main. (And I believe it was installed by default, because I have it installed and I don't remember installing it.) – Levente Feb 10 '21 at 16:14
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You ask about the specific software, but I hope there is enough room here to point out that you do not necessarily need that software.

I have created my live USB installer with the terminal's copy utility (the cp command).

I have taken that guidance from here:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/USB_flash_installation_medium#Using_basic_command_line_utilities

(This guide contains guidance for other CLI utility procedures too, like cat, dd, and tee. I picked cp because it seemed the least complicated.)

An excerpt of the above would amount to the following:

  • Be aware that this procedure will destroy all data on the USB stick that it previously contained.
  • After you have plugged in the USB stick, use the lsblk command to determine its identifier (e.g. sdx or something like that — replace the here symbolically used x to the actual letter your system indicates).
  • Make sure it's not mounted.
    • If the system has automounted it for you, then unmount it with the umount command.
  • Use the cp path/to/ubuntu-desktop-image.iso /dev/sdx command to copy the image to the USB stick.
    • Make sure that you specify the entire device and not a partition on it:
      • That's done by ensuring that the identifier does not end with a number:
        • sdx1: not good
        • sdx: good

In case the resulting USB installer does not seem to work, it's worth attempting the procedure at least once more, before trying with something else.

Levente
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