FreeNAS error while installing – the fix

By Matt Gadient

For those installing FreeNAS to a USB drive, a common error message is as follows:

gzip: stdout: Broken pip
Error: Failed to dd image on ‘/dev/da0’
Unmount CDROM.
There was a problem while copying files.

Fortunately, the fix is easy.

Step 1: Restart the computer WITHOUT the USB drive plugged in.
Step 2: Let the Live CD boot completely until you’re back at the same menu.
Step 3: Plug the USB drive in, then choose the option to install. It should now work.

–

From what I read when looking around, it looks like while the CD boots it installs some temporary files of some sort to the USB drive if it’s plugged in at the time, which causes the above error. Just wait until it’s finished booting – the installer’s smart enough to find your USB drive once it’s plugged in.

9 Comments | Leave a Comment

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  1. Newbie on January 1, 2011 - click here to reply
    Thanks Matt,

    Clear and easily Googlable answer.

    Cheers
  2. Alex on January 2, 2011 - click here to reply
    Thank you very much!
  3. Zoltan on January 26, 2011 - click here to reply
    Great thank's.... succesfully..
  4. derp on January 27, 2011 - click here to reply
    i had so much trouble with that error over the last week, then I read this.

    thanks
  5. Anonymous on July 2, 2011 - click here to reply
    Thanks, very thanks
  6. MArco on August 13, 2011 - click here to reply
    Thank you very much for your clean solution to a troublesome problem!
  7. Alan on November 29, 2011 - click here to reply
    You're a genius. Thanks for the quick fix.
  8. Lukas on January 10, 2015 - click here to reply
    Thanks :D
  9. Jimmy Marbles on April 16, 2020 - click here to reply
    This fix still is applicable. Thanks!!

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