install CentOS6.4 64bit from an USB stick

Here’s an explanation of how to install CentOS 6.4 64bit minimal from an USB stick.

prepare a USB stick. I have prepared a 8GB USB stick.

I downloaded CentOS-6.4-x86_64-minimal.iso.

launch unetbootin to make an USB-based CentOS installer.

If you have not installed unetbootin , you can install it by just typing “apt-get install unetbootin”

choose CentOS-6.4-x86_64-minimal.iso as an ISO image and then click.

copy the ISO to the top directory in the USB stick

# cp CentOS-6.4-x86_64-minimal.iso /path-to-USB-stick/

The top directory in the USB stick would be like this:

# ls CentOS-6.4-x86_64-minimal.iso  RELEASE-NOTES-en-US.html       images        ubnfilel.txt CentOS_BuildTag                RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-6           isolinux      ubninit EFI                            RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-Debug-6     ldlinux.sys   ubnkern EULA                           RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-Security-6  menu.c32      ubnpathl.txt GPL                            RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-Testing-6   repodata Packages                       TRANS.TBL                      syslinux.cfg

If the ISO image isn’t in the USB stick , you would face the following error during the installation and fail to install the OS into HDDs.

Missing ISO 9660 Image The installer has tried to mount image #1, but cannot find it on the hard drive.

In my experience , when using CentOS 6.4 normal DVD ISO image , 8GB USB stick does not have enough space to make an USB-based installer.

That’s why I use the minimal ISO image.

After preparing USB-based installer , insert the USB stick into your PCs and boot the USB first. You could install CentOS 6.4 from an USB stick.