HELP - 24.7 dvd iso file NOT accepted by Rufus or Etcher

[ozuser]

Hi guys

Am a newbie so pls cut me some slack -but there is something wrong with the dvd iso images for Opnsense 24.7
I keep getting errors show below (by rufus and the etcher) trying to put it on a bootable USB so I can install Opnsense FW on my dedicated HW - pls help urgently

[cookiemonster]

Nothing wrong with the images. They've been used by many users successfully. Normally this is something with the tools or a damaged download. Follow the installation guidelines to verify the download as a first step.
https://docs.opnsense.org/manual/install.html

[ozuser]

Thank you for a very quick reply - could I ask if anyone has successfully used either Rfus 4.6 (latest version) or Etcher to burn the 24.7 dvd iso image to USB ?

and if so, how ?

[dseven]

Use the "vga" image for USB devices, not the ISO one.

[cookiemonster]

Use the "vga" image for USB devices, not the ISO one.

good point.

[phoenix]

I use Ventoy for installing software from an .iso image, take a look at their website: https://www.ventoy.net/ - I've never had a problem with it.

[EricPerl]

Per install instructions Installation Media

After unpacking the image you can create the installation media. The easiest method to install OPNsense is to use the USB "vga" Image.

On Windows, you can do the unpacking in WSL. Rufus from the Windows Store was sufficient last time I tried.

[ozuser]

THANK YOU all very very much for your kind help and quick replies - am very grateful for the kindness and support !
I started out with the vga image, download it from Australian's AARNET site and followed the installation instructions to check for its integrity etc.. right to the last integrity check step where I get the "Verified OK" response - I the proceeded to use Rufus to put the vga 24.7 image onto a USB stick and boot from that image (Rufus was happy with the vga image)  What was puzzling to me was that after booting from the vga image and started the installation, it install process was supposed to ask me to format the disk of my dedicated PC BUT it did not ! It went through the install process and after rebooting it seems to run from the USB stick itself, which was not what I want - hence me downloading the ISO image
Did I miss something with the 24.7 vga image ? why did the install process NOT give me the option to install on my hard disk ?

[passeri]

Excuse the "plug it in" style of query :) but it won't boot from the USB if it isn't there, it will if it is. Shut down, remove the USB and boot again. It is supposed to be removed during the reboot cycle after install.

[EricPerl]

@ozuser, the first part of the overall installation experience gets you to a live environment.
https://docs.opnsense.org/manual/install.html#live-environment
You essentially have OPNsense running.
The next step is the actual installation of what you have configured so far. Login as installer with default password.
This is the step where you select the hard drive on which the configured OPNsense is persisted.
You stopped too early...

[cookiemonster]

It went through the install process and after rebooting it seems to run from the USB stick itself, which was not what I want - hence me downloading the ISO image

Not to bash you but to highlight it. You installed it then. After reboot, you must re-order the BIOS/uEFI to boot from your desired media. Must be done for any OS installation.

Did I miss something with the 24.7 vga image ? why did the install process NOT give me the option to install on my hard disk ?

Yes, read the instructions apparently ;) . Seriously, the instruction you've been pointed to is pretty helpful. Have it ready next to you as you go along.

[dseven]

After reboot, you must re-order the BIOS/uEFI to boot from your desired media.

Or just unplug the USB device - can't boot from it if it's not there! ;)