Bootable Media and Images Preparation Guide with How-to Approach

Technical blog:

A How-to Guide on Preparation of Bootable Media and Images (PDF)

This page contains links to software based on IGLib, developed by Igor Grešovnik and his coworkers.

Investigative Generic Library (IGLib). Base library for efficient development of technical and other applications.

IGShell - example shell application based on IGLib. Includes a Visual Studio / Mono project and two hosted applications:

HashForm - a GUI-based user friendly application for file verification. Performs calculation and verification of various kinds of file or text hash values.
HashShell - a command-line application for file verification.

NeurApp - approximation with artificial neural networks (for education & exploration purposes).

Software for modeling linear & nonlinear oscillators by Marko Petek.

Blog contents: A How-to Guide on Preparation of Bootable Media and Images (PDF)

The guide contains relevant explanations, a number of useful links offering more detailed information, software and procedures, and step by step descriptions of common tasks you will want to perform in relation to bootable media, whether you need them for troubleshooting an unresponsive computers or for testing and distribution of your customized software.

Among others, the guide answers the following questions:

How to manipulate ISO image files
- How to extract contents of an ISO file
- How to mount an ISO file as a new volume
- How to create an ISO file from a directory
- How to burn an ISO file to CD or DVD
- How to create a bootable ISO file from various sources:
  - How to create a bootable ISO file from modified contents of another bootable ISO
  - How to create a bootable ISO file from a bootable disk
- How to create a bootable ISO for legacy (BIOS/MBR) boot
- How to create a bootable ISO for UEFI boot
- How to create a double-bootable ISO (bootable both under both legacy BIOS and UEFI mode)
How to create a bootable USB drive (flash or external disk) from a bootable ISO
How to convert legacy BIOS-based bootable media (CD, DVD or USB drive) to UEFI-based media
How to create a customized bootable media with added software
- Create a customized bootable USB for troubleshooting your computer (e.g. when the system does not boot)
- Create a self-contained portable software package that can be run on any computer, running any system
How to test bootable ISO, DVD or USB or other bootable media
- How to test bootable media on a computer
  - How to enter BIOS or UEFI firmware setup
  - How to change BIOS settings to boot from your media
  - How to change booting scheme on your computer
  - How to change boot sequence on your computer
- How to test bootable media on virtual machines
  - How to create, set up and use virtual machines for testing bootable media
  - Howo to boot from USB drives on VirtualBox
  - How to boot virtual machines from bootable ISO or bootable CDs
How to use a bootable CD, bootable DVD or bootable USB drive to troubleshoot your computer when the system is offline
How to use customized bootable media to run software anywhere, any time
- Run demonstrations of software without knowing anything about target environment
- Run your software in isolated environment on virtual machines
- Run your software on any computer, regardless of the operating system it uses