Use Etcher to burn this onto a USB key

Oct 13, 2025 by ludoplayers7.com 149 views

Introduction

The Talos operating system is designed to provide a secure and reliable platform for edge computing devices. However, some users have reported an issue where the Talos installation defaults to installing on the USB drive instead of the local disk when booting from a USB key. This article aims to provide a detailed explanation of the issue, its expected behavior, and the steps to reproduce it.

Is There an Existing Issue for This?

Before we dive into the details of the issue, it's essential to check if there's an existing issue for this problem. After conducting a thorough search, we found that this issue has not been reported previously.

Current Behavior

When provisioning bare metal devices at the edge, it's common practice to boot the device from a USB key that has an ISO image flashed on it. However, when using the Omni-provided ISO, the Talos installation defaults to installing on the USB drive rather than the local disk. This behavior is unexpected and can cause issues with the installation process.

Expected Behavior

The expected behavior is for the installer to be smart enough to know that it's booted from a USB ISO and default to installing on the local disk. This would eliminate the need for users to create a machine patch forcing this behavior.

Steps to Reproduce

To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

Download an ISO from Omni: Obtain the latest Talos ISO from the Omni website.
Use Etcher to burn this onto a USB key: Use a tool like Etcher to flash the ISO onto a USB drive.
Boot the device from the key: Boot the device from the USB key.
Try to install Talos OS: Attempt to install the Talos operating system.
Note that it defaults to installing on the USB, not the local disk: Observe that the installation process defaults to installing on the USB drive instead of the local disk.

What Browsers are You Seeing the Problem On?

Unfortunately, this issue is not browser-specific, as it's related to the Talos installation process.

Anything Else?

There's no additional information to provide at this time.

Possible Causes and Solutions

There are several possible causes for this issue, including:

Incorrect configuration: The Talos installation process may be configured to install on the USB drive by default.
Missing or corrupted files: The ISO image may be missing or corrupted, causing the installation process to default to the USB drive.
Hardware issues: The device's hardware may be causing the issue, such as a faulty USB drive or a malfunctioning local disk.

To resolve this issue, users can try the following solutions:

Check the configuration: Verify that the Talos installation process is not configured to install on the USB drive by default.
Reflash the ISO: Reflash the ISO image onto the USB drive to ensure that it's not corrupted.
Check the device's hardware: Inspect the device's hardware to ensure that it's functioning correctly.

Conclusion

The Talos installation issue where the operating system defaults to installing on the USB drive instead of the local disk is a significant problem that needs to be addressed. By understanding the possible causes and solutions, users can take steps to resolve this issue and ensure a smooth installation process. We hope that this article has provided valuable insights into this issue and has helped users to troubleshoot and resolve it.

Future Development

To prevent this issue from occurring in the future, the Talos development team can take the following steps:

Improve the installation process: Enhance the Talos installation process to detect when it's booted from a USB key and default to installing on the local disk.
Add a configuration option: Provide a configuration option to allow users to choose the installation location.
Test the installation process: Thoroughly test the installation process to ensure that it's working correctly.

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed the issue where the Talos operating system defaults to installing on the USB drive instead of the local disk when booting from a USB key. This article aims to provide a Q&A section to address common questions and concerns related to this issue.

Q: What is the cause of this issue?

A: The cause of this issue is not yet fully understood, but it's believed to be related to the Talos installation process. It's possible that the installation process is not correctly detecting the local disk or is defaulting to the USB drive for some reason.

Q: How can I resolve this issue?

A: To resolve this issue, you can try the following solutions:

Check the configuration: Verify that the Talos installation process is not configured to install on the USB drive by default.
Reflash the ISO: Reflash the ISO image onto the USB drive to ensure that it's not corrupted.
Check the device's hardware: Inspect the device's hardware to ensure that it's functioning correctly.

Q: Why is this issue only happening when booting from a USB key?

A: This issue is only happening when booting from a USB key because the Talos installation process is not correctly detecting the local disk in this scenario. When booting from a USB key, the installation process may be defaulting to the USB drive because it's not able to detect the local disk.

Q: Can I prevent this issue from occurring in the future?

A: Yes, you can prevent this issue from occurring in the future by taking the following steps:

Improve the installation process: Enhance the Talos installation process to detect when it's booted from a USB key and default to installing on the local disk.
Add a configuration option: Provide a configuration option to allow users to choose the installation location.
Test the installation process: Thoroughly test the installation process to ensure that it's working correctly.

Q: Is this issue specific to the Omni-provided ISO?

A: This issue is not specific to the Omni-provided ISO, but it's more likely to occur when using this ISO. It's possible that the issue is related to the way the ISO is created or the tools used to create it.

Q: Can I get help from the Talos development team?

A: Yes, you can get help from the Talos development team by submitting a bug report or reaching out to them through their support channels. They will be able to provide you with more information and assistance in resolving this issue.

Q: What are the consequences of this issue?

A: The consequences of this issue are that the Talos operating system will be installed on the USB drive instead of the local disk, which can cause issues with the installation process and the overall performance of the system.

Q: Can I prevent data loss due to this issue?

A: Yes, you can prevent data loss due to this issue by taking the following steps:

Backup your data: Make sure to backup your data before attempting to install the Talos operating system.
Use a different installation method: Consider using a different installation method, such as installing from a local disk or using a different ISO image.

Conclusion

The Talos installation issue where the operating system defaults to installing on the USB drive instead of the local disk is a significant problem that needs to be addressed. By understanding the possible causes and solutions, users can take steps to resolve this issue and ensure a smooth installation process. We hope that this Q&A article has provided valuable insights into this issue and has helped users to troubleshoot and resolve it.