Can't boot Linux via USB

[Kano]

Not for Kanotix, there you need to format the partition manually

[curaga]

I have killed about 10 usb drives, just by using them. YMMV.

[Kano]

Haha, maybe send em to me

[curaga]

Hm, what would you do with dead usb sticks? Some won't even detect as sticks, some do but after writing a few megs disconnect and dmesg is spammed with usb error -1, or some such number.

[Kano]

Did you check fdisk -l or gparted? Sometimes you need a bit contact spray. Also some do not work on front panels but on atx or do not like usb 3 ports.

[curaga]

They all had valid partition tables, though maybe not aligned to that stick's particular erase block size. Even if not aligned, it should not kill the stick in normal use (= moving files over, not running a live OS).

I have no usb3 hardware, and this is mostly on laptops, so front/back panel is not really relevant.

[Kano]

Well 1 mb alignment can improve speed. I always wipe all sticks with non important data complely - when you have got too many you search too long for an empty one in the case you need one