My journey with the Linux Operating System

RUFUS software _ Troubleshooting RUFUS software

Copilot could you please help me to solve this problem ? I have download .iso for the Linux Operating System KNOPPIX 9.1 and the .iso file look something like this " KNOPPIX_V9.1DVD-2021-01-25-EN " but when I try to burn the .iso file which look something like this " KNOPPIX_V9.1DVD-2021-01-25-EN.iso " using the System Utility called RUFUS ........ I got this message " This image uses Syslinux 6.03/20150822 but this application only includes the installation files for Syslinux 6.04/pre1. As new versions of Syslinux are not compatible with one another, and it wouldn’t be possible for Rufus to include them all, two additional files must be downloaded from the Internet (‘ldlinux.sys’ and ‘ldlinux.bss’): Select ‘Yes’ to connect to the Internet and download these files Select ‘No’ to cancel the operation Note: The files will be downloaded in the current application directory and will be reused automatically if present " ........ and when I press the ENTER key ........ I got this message " Error: Failed to download file " but the funny thing is , my Computer is connected to the Internet but it cannot download the file ......... so what do you think could go wrong ? Copilot , could you please help me with this problem because I wanted to burn the KNOPPIX .iso to an External Hard Disk Drive and at the same time make that External Hard Disk Drive ....... BOOTABLE ! ........ THANKS Copilot for your answer.

MICROSOFT Copilot Answer

Got it — thanks for laying out the details so clearly. Let’s break down what’s happening with Rufus and your KNOPPIX ISO:

🔎 Why Rufus is failing

Syslinux mismatch: KNOPPIX 9.1 uses Syslinux 6.03, but Rufus only bundles Syslinux 6.04/pre1. Rufus tries to fetch the missing files (ldlinux.sys and ldlinux.bss) from the internet.
Download error: Even though your PC is online, Rufus cannot fetch the files. This usually happens because:
- The download server is unreachable (Syslinux project hosting has been inconsistent).
- Firewall/antivirus blocks Rufus from connecting.
- Proxy or network restrictions interfere with Rufus’s request.
- Rufus expects the files in its application directory, but if it can’t reach the source, it fails.

✅ How you can fix it

Here are practical steps to get KNOPPIX bootable on your external HDD:

Manually provide the Syslinux files
- Download ldlinux.sys and ldlinux.bss for Syslinux 6.03 from a trusted mirror (e.g., kernel.org or Debian repositories).
- Place them in the same folder as rufus.exe.
- Rufus will reuse them automatically instead of trying to fetch online.
Try another tool
- BalenaEtcher: Very simple, works well with ISO-to-USB/HDD burning, no Syslinux dependency.
- UNetbootin: Specifically designed for Linux ISOs, though older.
- Ventoy: Lets you copy multiple ISOs to one drive and boot them directly — KNOPPIX works well here.
Check your network setup
- Temporarily disable firewall/antivirus and retry Rufus.
- If you’re behind a proxy, Rufus may not support it — try a direct connection.
Alternative method (Linux users)
- If you have access to Linux, you can use dd:
  bash
  Alternative method (Linux users)
  If you have access to Linux, you can use dd:
  bash
  
  Hi Copilot, with VENTOY software I can create multiple .iso's to one FLASH DRIVE and boot them directly .......my question is.......... instead of using a bootable FLASH DRIVE to do that ....... can I use a USB External Hard Disk Drive to do that , meaning , how can I create a VENTOY Bootable "USB External Hard Disk Drive" instead of a VENTOY Bootable Flash Drive ....... for all my Linux Distro ??? THANKS Copilot for the answer.
  
  Great question — and yes, you absolutely can use Ventoy on a USB external hard disk drive instead of a flash drive. Ventoy doesn’t really care whether the device is a small thumb drive or a big external HDD; it just needs a USB‑connected storage device that can be formatted and made bootable.
  🔧 How to make an external HDD Ventoy‑bootable
  Download Ventoy
  Get the latest release from the official Ventoy GitHub page. It comes with a GUI installer for Windows and Linux.
  Run Ventoy installer
  Plug in your external HDD.
  Open the Ventoy installer (Ventoy2Disk.exe on Windows).
  Select your external HDD from the device list. ⚠️ Important: This will erase all data on the drive, so back up anything important first.
  Install Ventoy
  Click Install. Ventoy will create a small boot partition and a large data partition.
  After installation, your HDD will appear like a normal drive in your OS.
  Copy ISOs
  Simply drag and drop your Linux distro .iso files (KNOPPIX, Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.) onto the large data partition.
  No need to reformat or re‑burn each time — just copy new ISOs as files.
  Boot from HDD
  Restart your computer and select the external HDD as the boot device in BIOS/UEFI.
  Ventoy’s boot menu will appear, listing all the ISOs you copied.
  Pick one, and it boots directly.
  ⚠️ Things to keep in mind
  UEFI vs Legacy BIOS: Ventoy supports both, but check your system’s boot mode.
  Secure Boot: Some distros may require disabling Secure Boot unless you use Ventoy’s Secure Boot support.
  Performance: An external HDD is slower than SSDs or flash drives, but it works fine for live booting.
  Partitioning: Ventoy creates its own partitions. If you want extra storage space, you can resize or add partitions after installation.
  🚀 Why this is powerful
  With Ventoy on an external HDD, you can carry dozens of Linux distros (or even Windows installers) on one device, swap them in and out just by copying files, and boot them anywhere. It’s like having a portable multi‑OS toolbox.
  Would you like me to walk you through step‑by‑step using Ventoy on Windows (with screenshots and exact options), or do you prefer a Linux command‑line method for setting up Ventoy on your external HDD?