Creating a CSI Linux bootable drive

For those that are trying to use the CSI Linux boot drive found here: https://csilinux.com/download.html

Make sure the MD5 hash of the DD image matches the one on the download page or the one inside the HASH.md5 file. Usually with a compressed file it should. This is a DD forensic copy of the virtual machine drive using DCFLDD. This is the entire drive with an EXT4 partition inside it containing the CSI Linux OS.

For the external drive, make sure it is empty and nothing you want on it is still there because it will be wiped out. The drive needs to be at least a 64GB drive.

We have tested this process on several Western Digital/Seagate HDDs and a couple 128GB thumbdrives and all worked after the imaging process was completed. The drives were ejected and then we were able to boot off them. If this works, have fun!

If you get a grub error, that indicates that the image process failed. There is enough data there to boot partly into Linux, but the SB list is not matching up with the data or lack of data on the drive. Reimage the drive. If the same thing happens, format the drive (NTFS) or completely wipe the drive, then try again.

If you get to the CSI logo loading screen, that means it is trying to boot. If it fails at this point, press "esc" to identify the exact place it is failing on. This helps troubleshoot. Sometimes there is a driver issue. We need the exact area it fails on to help you.

Here is a video of using the Imaging tool found in the RAR file. Rufus should also work if you make sure to pick the DD image option during the creation wizard.