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Bootable Linux USB stick: Difference between revisions
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→initializing the media
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=== initializing the media === | === initializing the media === | ||
Low level formatting | Low-level formatting restores the write performance, and removes any sensitive information (e.g. passwords) - important for workshops. | ||
==== "very good" USB sticks ==== | ==== Low-level formatting of "very good" USB sticks ==== | ||
<code>hdparm</code>'s (ENHANCED) SECURITY ERASE initializes the whole stick in a few seconds, and restores it to an almost factory-fresh condition, including zeroing the device. This works on all sticks where <code>hdparm -I /dev/sdX</code> reports "supported: enhanced erase" but if used wrongly (e.g. on the wrong device, or with the wrong options, or ...) it may brick your device, or delete valuable data! So use at your own risk: | <code>hdparm</code>'s (ENHANCED) SECURITY ERASE initializes the whole stick in a few seconds, and restores it to an almost factory-fresh condition, including zeroing the device. This works on all sticks where <code>hdparm -I /dev/sdX</code> reports "supported: enhanced erase" but if used wrongly (e.g. on the wrong device, or with the wrong options, or ...) it may brick your device, or delete valuable data! So use at your own risk: | ||
* check if <code>hdparm -I /dev/sdX</code> reports "supported: enhanced erase" and "not frozen" (to unfreeze a frozen diks, suspend your system with <code>pm-suspend</code> and wake it up again) | * check if <code>hdparm -I /dev/sdX</code> reports "supported: enhanced erase" and "not frozen" (to unfreeze a frozen diks, suspend your system with <code>pm-suspend</code> and wake it up again) | ||
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hdparm --user-master u --security-unlock Eins /dev/sdX</code> | hdparm --user-master u --security-unlock Eins /dev/sdX</code> | ||
==== (micro)SD cards ==== | ==== Low-level formatting of (micro)SD cards ==== | ||
In a SD slot, <code>blkdiscard /dev/mmcXXXXXXX</code> initializes the card. | In a SD slot, <code>blkdiscard /dev/mmcXXXXXXX</code> initializes the card. | ||
==== other USB sticks ==== | ==== Low-level formatting of other USB sticks ==== | ||
One may try to write zeroes on the whole stick | One may try to write zeroes on the whole stick | ||
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdX bs=8192k | dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdX bs=8192k | ||