Backtrack won't boot!!!

[bellumdomini]

Hey,
I've ran into a little problem,
I've tried to boot backtrack several times with several different outcomes:
First time-
Used Windows 7 and unetbootin
Wouldn't show up on my hp laptop but would boot with other computers (no big deal) but it wouldn't start!!!! I tried "startx" and a bunch of other things and still wouldn't work!

Second time-
Deleted it all and re-downloaded unetbootin and the iso image
same results

Third time-
Tried unetbootin with linux. When it booted there was a countdown timer for 10 seconds
and one option: "Default"
When I selected it, nothing happened, the timer just reseted, back to 10 seconds
So I waited for the timer to go down, but when it hit "1" it just reseted itself again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fourth time-
Same with the third time, only tried r1
same results!!!!!!!!!!!


Can anyone help me do the simple task of booting backtrack?!?!?!?!??!

[KMDave]

Burn the iso to a DVD and give it a try with that.
Are you sure that your laptop is configured to boot from an USB device?

[AzraelSepultura]

I had great success with "LiLi" Linux Live Disk Creator or something similarly Google-able. Made a persistent USB. Can even boot it inside Windows with VirtualBox if you choose that extra option.

Note: The persistence relies on reading-writing to an image file. The contents of which are not readily available to Windows (if you use it).

I took an 8 gig flashdrive, used EASEUS free partitioning software to shrink the partition to half and move it to the end of the available space, then used LiLi to install Backtrack onto that partition.

I then created a new primary partition at the beginning of the drive so that Backtrack, but most importantly Windows could still use half of the drive for everyday storage.

Windows only sees the first primary partition, but as far as booting from the flash drive, my computer and backtrack don't seem to mind at all that the Backtrack partition is at the end of the drive, and behind another primary partition I totally didn't expect it to work. Encrypted persistent hidden partition, anyone?

Good luck!

[Renek]

Burn the iso to a DVD and give it a try with that.

I was installing a new server at work last week and spent half the day banging by head against the wall trying to get the install to boot from a USB drive. Turns out those things fail after a while. Dumped it onto a different drive and *poof*, no issue. So try the DVD or if you are on a netbook that doesn't have an optical drive then try a new USB drive.

I tried "startx" and a bunch of other things and still wouldn't work!

Well if you are getting to the command line then Backtrack has indeed booted.

Tried unetbootin with linux. When it booted there was a countdown timer for 10 seconds
and one option: "Default"

Yep, this is the issue I had with the server install. That screen means (I think) that Unetbooting installed, but can't find any boot information from the ISO it installed with so it's just presenting you that dummy screen. Once again, DVD or a new usb drive. Hope this helps!

[bellumdomini]

Well, I can boot it from a DVD no problem (if I tried)
But I need it for my school's laptop,
where they removed the disk drive

Burn the iso to a DVD and give it a try with that.
Are you sure that your laptop is configured to boot from an USB device?

Yeah, but I don't really need it for my home computer
But the problem might be that it's a dual boot, but I'm no expert.

I was installing a new server at work last week and spent half the day banging by head against the wall trying to get the install to boot from a USB drive. Turns out those things fail after a while. Dumped it onto a different drive and *poof*, no issue. So try the DVD or if you are on a netbook that doesn't have an optical drive then try a new USB drive.



Well if you are getting to the command line then Backtrack has indeed booted.



Yep, this is the issue I had with the server install. That screen means (I think) that Unetbooting installed, but can't find any boot information from the ISO it installed with so it's just presenting you that dummy screen. Once again, DVD or a new usb drive. Hope this helps!

Yeah, I figured that. The iso didn't show up in the flash drive...
So just get a new one? hmm...

[Archangel-Amael]

Well, I can boot it from a DVD no problem (if I tried)
But I need it for my school's laptop,
where they removed the disk drive



Yeah, but I don't really need it for my home computer
But the problem might be that it's a dual boot, but I'm no expert.




Yeah, I figured that. The iso didn't show up in the flash drive...
So just get a new one? hmm...

First do not mult-post. Use the edit this post button instead.
Second you don't need BackTrack for your school's computers. Now stop doing stupid stuff that can get you detention or worse.
Try actually learning something while you are there. I mean for crying out loud there is most likely a law stating you have to be there for so many years anyway.